1 / 17

My Loved One in a Nursing Home Has Congestive Heart Failure

My Loved One in a Nursing Home Has Congestive Heart Failure. ltcpractice.com. Congestive Heart Failure: Prevalence. Affects 4.6 million Americans each year Leading cause of hospitalization > age 65. Understanding Congestive Heart Failure.

wright
Télécharger la présentation

My Loved One in a Nursing Home Has Congestive Heart Failure

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. My Loved One in a NursingHome Has Congestive Heart Failure ltcpractice.com

  2. Congestive Heart Failure: Prevalence • Affects 4.6 million Americans each year • Leading cause of hospitalization > age 65

  3. Understanding Congestive Heart Failure Heart is unable to pump blood as much as needed to keep up with the body’s needs In response the heart walls stretch & thicken to hold more blood & to attempt to maintain pump efficiency

  4. Understanding Congestive Heart Failure • Over time these compensations fail • Heart’s ability to stretch & snap back decreases • Heart muscle wears out & blood flow backs-up into feet, ankles, legs, liver, arms & lungs • The body is overloaded with fluids – hence “congestive” heart failure

  5. Congestive Heart Failure: Causes Coronary artery disease (CAD): • Blocked arteries reduce flow to heart which can lead to a heart attack • A heart attack can leave the heart muscle damaged • This can further reduce the heart’s ability to pump efficiently

  6. Congestive Heart Failure: Causes Cardiomyopathy: • The heart can be damaged by infection, drug or alcohol abuse, or for no apparent cause • The damage to the heart leaves it unable to meet the body’s needs for oxygen and nutrients

  7. Congestive Heart Failure: Causes An overworked heart from: • High blood pressure or valvular heart disease • Thyroid disease • Kidney disease • Diabetes • Obesity • Anemia

  8. Congestive Heart Failure: Symptoms • Shortness of breath or cough from fluid back-up in lungs • Increased weight or swelling from kidneys retaining fluid • Dizziness from decreased blood pressure and decreased blood supply to brain • Fatigue or weakness from decreased blood to major organs and muscles • Irregular or rapid heart beat from heart pumping faster attempting to meet needs

  9. Congestive Heart Failure: How will it be diagnosed? • The Doctor or Nurse Practitioner will take a history and do a physical examination. • They may order one or more of the following: blood work, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram. These tests give a general overview of heart function and the body’s response to the heart failure. • They may also order medications to relieve symptoms while awaiting results of tests.

  10. Congestive Heart Failure: How will it be treated? Treatment will be aimed at: Relieving symptoms Managing risks that would worsen condition Reducing need for hospitalizations

  11. Congestive Heart Failure Treatment: Relieving symptoms • Intake of fluids and salt may be reduced • Medications to eliminate retained fluids or strengthen heart action may be ordered • Oxygen will be provided if needed

  12. Congestive Heart Failure Treatment: Managing risks that could worsen condition • Weight reduction may be recommended if obese • Exercise will be increased if possible • Cessation of smoking will be recommended • Medications that can worsen condition may be discontinued • Hypertension & diabetic control will be continued

  13. Congestive Heart Failure Treatment: Reduce need for hospitalizations by • Close monitoring by nursing staff checking weight, blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen level. Of these, the most important is watching the weight. • Preventing respiratory infections with pneumonia & influenza vaccinations • Blood work, chest x-rays, Doctor or NursePractitioner visits as needed

  14. Congestive Heart Failure Prognosis: • Outcome for most is poor • Even highly specialized cardiac medications do not alter the inevitable and often fairly rapid course towards death • Heart transplants are not available for frail elderly patients

  15. Congestive Heart Failure: Family Involvement • Comfort and Quality of Life are always important for a nursing home resident • Over time the heart failure will worsen even with aggressive treatment • You may be asked to make decisions about aggressiveness of care or hospitalization for or with your loved one

  16. Congestive Heart Failure: Family Involvement • Whenever possible talk to your loved one about their wishes for care • Discuss with the Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Social Worker or RN your wishes and expectations for care • Assist your loved one in appointing a Health Care Proxy and requesting a Do Not Resuscitate order

  17. Congestive Heart Failure: Final Thoughts • Relief of symptoms, even with advanced Congestive Heart Failure, is usually possible • Relief of symptoms and Quality of Life are always the goals of care • Interactions with families and residents are valuable in achieving these goals

More Related