Does Congestive Heart Failure Mean Your Loved One’s Heart Has Stopped?

In your role as a family caregiver you are likely to encounter situations that are both frightening and confusing. When you encounter these, it is valuable to get as much information as you can so that you are able to handle it in the way that is right for your elderly parent.

One of these situations may be when you hear that your aging parent has congestive heart failure. This might sound as though your parent’s heart has stopped or that it is in imminent danger of stopping in the very near future. Fortunately, this is not the case. That does not mean, however, that the condition is not severe and life-changing for your parent.

Understanding what this condition actually is, and the complications that your parent might face as a result of it, can help you to devise an approach to home care that is effective, efficient, and nurturing for your loved one as they age in place.

Congestive heart failure, sometimes simply referred to as heart failure, occurs when the heart muscle is weakened to a point at which it is no longer able to pump enough blood through the body, or to pump the blood efficiently. Approximately 50 percent of people who develop this condition will die within the first five years after their original diagnosis.

Complications associated with congestive heart failure include:

• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Kidney failure
• Heart valve problems
• Issues with heart rhythm
• Severe swelling

If your elderly loved one has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure or you are concerned that they are at increased risk of developing this condition, now may be the ideal tie for you to consider starting home care services for them. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a fully customized schedule tailored to not only their individual needs, challenges, and limitations, but also their thoughts, beliefs, preferences, and goals, as well as the amount of care that you are able to give to them.

This enables your loved one to properly manage their CHF while also pursuing a lifestyle that is safe, healthy, comfortable, and fulfilling. As a family caregiver this can help you to feel more confident that your elderly parent will get the care, support, assistance, and encouragement that they need to live the highest quality of life possible, while also pursuing as much independence and activity as is right for them.

When it comes to helping your senior to manage their congestive heart failure and reduce the chances that they will experience some of the more serious complications associated with the condition, this home care services provider can be an invaluable source of assistance and support for your senior, and for you as their family caregiver. This care provider can help your loved one understand what their condition means as well as the guidelines and recommendations from their doctor. They can then devise an approach to care designed around compliance and healthy living so your senior can deal with their condition in the best way possible.