HEART/STROKE: THE CAREGIVER
What to do once the person in your care is back home
BY:BETH POLAZZO
Once your loved one is back home, it's up to you, as the primary caregiver, to make sure the patient doesn't wind up back in the ER. Although each heart condition has different warning signs, the most important thing to remember is to call 911 immediately if you think it's an emergency. It's better to be possibly embarrassed than to be too late.
Because you're the one who's most familiar with your patient, it's critical that you notice any sudden or unexpected physical or behavioral changes. If you see anything, make sure that you call the appropriate person on the health care team so that any and all symptoms can be taken careof immediately. It's also important that the patient follow whatever medication and diet has been prescribed. It may be tough for your loved one to stick with a new way of eating or having to take pills when he or she "feels fine," but in order to get better and/or stay alive, it'll be up to you to act as chief cheerleader and supportive partner. What you may not be prepared for is depression. Various studies have demonstrated that heart disease patients develop varying degrees of depression. There's a great deal to be said for "quality-of-life issues" and making sure that depression is treated will go a long way to making both your job and your patient's recovery easier.