Module 7 Pull Down Navigation - Select a Page to View ------------------- Introduction Helping with Symptom Monitoring Helping with Diet Recommendations Helping with Activity and Exercise Other Ways to Help with the Treatment Plan Teaching Good Self-Care Behaviors Helping with Daily Activities Emotional and Social Support Care for the Caretakers Other Ways to Provide Support Learn More About Heart Failure

Emotional and Social Support for Persons with Heart Failure

People with heart failure who have emotional support from family and friends often feel better and have a more positive outlook on life. Many people with heart failure also find that getting involved socially helps them keep their mind off their symptoms and improves their quality of life.

Family and friends can offer emotional support to a person with heart failure by:

• Discussing their heart failure treatment plan.
  
  Let the patient know when he or she is doing a good job of following the prescribed self-care plan and making lifestyle changes such as following a low-sodium diet and increasing their activity level. This encourages the patient to continue and lets them know that you have noticed his or her actions.
  
  Also, try to avoid critical comments when the patient's self-care behaviors are not as good as they could be. Instead, discuss ways that you might help the patient manage self-care better.
  
  
• Allowing the person with heart failure to make decisions about health care and lifestyle behaviors.
  
  If you want to help with decision-making, offer choices, but limit the number of choices so as not to confuse the patient. For example, when discussing what to have for dinner, offer two low-sodium choices, and let the person decide which one he or she would prefer.
  
  
• Providing positive reinforcement when you see improvements in the person's condition, symptoms, or ability to do activities.
  
  
• Discussing feelings and fears about heart failure.
  
  If you think the patient is depressed or anxious, discuss it with them. There are many things that can be done to manage these feelings, but the first step is recognizing them.
  
  
• Asking the patient if he or she would like to visit with someone from a pastoral care service. Affirm choices regarding faith based or other type of spiritual support.
  
  

Refer to Module 6: Managing Feelings About Heart Failure for more information on recognizing and managing feelings of depression and anxiety.

You can offer social support by:

• Visiting, calling, sending e-mail, or communicating through other means on a regular basis.
  
  
• Inviting the patient to a planned event such as a baseball game, family birthday or anniversary celebration, movie, play, or concert.
  
  
• Helping the person with heart failure meet his or her work goals if the person is returning to work.
  
  
• Encouraging the person with heart failure to establish social networks by getting involved in group activities such as heart failure support groups, cardiac rehabilitation programs, church groups, senior programs, and other social groups.