Skilled Home Health Care for Congestive Heart Failure
About Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart鈥檚 ability to pump is decreased, causing less effective circulation of blood throughout the circulatory system. Many cardiac factors may contribute to a CHF diagnosis, such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease (CAD).
Components of the Program
Symptoms of congestive heart failure vary for each patient, but they may include:
- Atrial fibrillation, or a quivering or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Swelling and/or fluid retention
- Fatigue
- Fainting or passing out
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath
How do I know if I鈥檓 ready for home care to help manage my CHF?
Our team of experts assess each heart failure patient for home care eligibility. Some signs that you may be ready for home care for CHF are:
- Leaving home is taxing and/or requires assistance
- Hospitalization or ER visit in last 6 months
- New diagnosis of CHF (or other diagnosis)
- Recent exacerbation of CHF (or other diagnosis)
- Onset or increase in signs and symptoms
- Confusion about medications
- New or recent medication changes
- Falling in the past 6 months
- Decline in ability to perform ADLs/IADLs
- Concern from patient and/or family about recent health changes
Components of the Program
Each patient鈥檚 plan of care is tailored to meet their unique care needs and health goals. Most commonly, home care helps heart failure patients:
- Remain independent at home
- Reduce potential ER visits/hospitalizations
- Decrease their risk of falling
- Conserve energy
- Receive treatment at first signs of exacerbation
Home care services for CHF patients
色色视频 offers many skilled services, including a diagnosis-specific CHF program, to support patients as they manage their heart failure at home.
Home care nursing, for example, offers education to patients on the disease process and their medications. Nurses can assist with diet recommendations and provide effective symptom management tools and treatments.
Physical therapy helps patients with balance, strength and mobility. Therapy is customized for each patient and may include things like functional or endurance exercises or assistive device teaching.
Occupational therapy provides training to help patients accomplish their activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing and meal preparation. Occupational therapists can assess patients鈥� homes for safety issues or fall risks, too. Additionally, occupational therapy can help patients with energy conservation.
Home care services for CHF patients
Helen is an 80-year-old grandmother of four, who was diagnosed with CHF a year ago, but recently had an exacerbation. She enjoys sewing, and socializing with her friends. In the past month, she has experienced increased difficulty walking and getting around due to increased edema in her feet, making it difficult for her to manage the pedal of her sewing machine, and limiting her socialization opportunites. Because of increased weakness, it is difficult for her to get in and out of her chair without 鈥減ulling herself up by holding onto the table鈥�. Her daughter made an appointment with Helen鈥檚 physician and assisted her to the doctor to discuss recent health changes.
Though Helen already had a prescribed 鈥渨ater pill鈥� (diuretic) to help with swelling, she admits that she doesn鈥檛 really understand when and how to take it correctly. She does try to 鈥渓imit extra salt鈥� when eating, but doesn鈥檛 really make any other diet modifications. Her physician recommended home health services to address her changing health status and educate in an effort to slow the rate of further decline.
Home health SN assessment was ordered to teach on disease process and the Matters of the Heart program, medication, diet (low salt, fluid management, healthy choices), and signs/symptom identification and management. Physical Therapy needed for strength and balance training. Occupational Therapy to work with fine motor skills, energy conservation, and to teach safe mobility with tubing, related to her prescribed O2. Helen says that she is willing to work on better managing her symptoms so that so that she can finish the quilt she is working on for her new grandson.
Helen and her family are relieved to know that in-home support is on the way.
Do you need a little extra help at home?
Personal Care 色色视频 can be added to the care you鈥檙e already receiving from Home Health.
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Get in touch with 色色视频
Contact your local 色色视频 branch for more information or ask your physician if skilled home health with 色色视频 may be right for you.
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