Caring For a Loved One Who Has Congestive Heart Failure at Home

Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart is not able to pump blood throughout the body as well as it once could. Since blood is not about to get through the system well, blood begins to back up in areas of the circulatory system which increases blood pressure and forces fluid from the blood vessels directly into the body.

Though congestive heart failure is progressive, as the caregiver of a loved one who has been diagnosed with the condition, you can certainly help them live a full and happy life at home throughout the stages of this disease. Knowing what to expect as the disease progresses and what you can do to ensure comfort can be extremely important and will be discussed befor tting into home care tips.

Understanding Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

Congestive heart failure will typically affect one side of your loved ones heart over another and your loved one’s doctor will be able to tell which side simply by the symptoms.

When it affects the left side of the heart, you may notice your loved one having difficulty breathing. This can come in the form of wheezing, having shorter breaths than normal and possibly a hard time catching their breath if they are moving or lying down.

When the right side of the heart is affected, fluid will begin to pool in the lower part of the body. This will show itself by bringing swelling to the feet and legs. Your loved one may feel pain when they walk or you may notice they are struggling to move their feet or legs. As the disease begins to progress, fluid retention will become noticeable in the upper legs and eventually the abdomen, which will cause a lot of weight gain.

Once your loved one has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, it will probably not affect their daily lives so much, but they will need to take a series of medications that you, as the caregiver, may want to ensure they are taking.

Your loved one’s doctor will also recommend diet and specific daily activities may need to be monitored.

As your loved one’s caregiver, it is important that you are making sure they are following the doctor’s orders when it comes to diet and activity level as it can help extend their life in a very positive way.

As the disease progresses, your loved one will likely need assistance with administering this medication which will likely be a role for you to take on in a caregiver capacity.

When you are caring for your loved one at home, you may come across various situations as the disease progresses. Here is some information to help keep your loved one as comfortable as possible.

Decreased Mobility:

• If your loved one is having problems getting around, either due to pain or lack of breath, offering the use of a cane, walker or wheelchair can help. Making sure that your home is easy to maneuver will also be important. It is much easier for someone to trip and fall when suffering from congestive heart failure. As progression occurs, your loved one may need assistance with certain activities as well, including bathing, feeding and other physical activities. As mobility decreases, here are some things you can do at home to assist your loved one:
• Keep the floors clutter free. If your loved one is walking with a cane or walker, it is very easy for the tips to get caught in a random item that is on the floor.
• Have chairs available near doorways. When your loved one is moving around the house on their own, they may need to rest often. Having chairs or sofas that they can use to rest on can be very helpful.
  Consider installing hand rails in hallways and certainly up staircases.

Decreased Breathing:

• It can be increasingly difficult for someone with congestive heart failure to take good breaths at times. Having oxygen on hand is always a good idea, especially as the disease gets worse. Here are a few tips on oxygen use in the home:

• Though your loved one may not be on oxygen all the time, it should be
  available when needed.
• As the caregiver, you should learn how to assist with changing tanks and tubes.
• Make sure that you are storing oxygen tanks correctly. Never let anyone smoke near oxygen tanks.

Excessive Fluid Build Up:

• Though your loved one should see their doctor quite often, fluid buildup will likely occur between visits. As mentioned before, diuretics may be prescribed to combat this and help your loved one feel more comfortable. Here are some important points when it comes to fluid buildup:
• Diet should be particularly modified and as the care giver, you should make sure your loved one is sticking to the best diet they can.
• You should also be monitoring your loved ones weight and keeping the doctor informed if it goes too high.
• Swelling of the feet and legs is a good indication that your loved one should get in to see a doctor or make a diet change. When in doubt, always call their physician.

Additional Information on Congestive Heart Failure

As the condition progresses, you may find that you will need a nurse to come assist your loved one and care for them when you cannot. You may need to invest in home medical equipment such as a hospital bed, ventilator and other machines that can enhance your loved one’s quality of life.

Many years can pass between an initial diagnosis and the completion of the cycle when it comes to congestive heart failure.

It is certainly understandable that you would want to give 110% to your loved one, but it is also important that you take some time, rest and relaxation for yourself.