​What Should You Know About Heart Failure?

Home Health Care Wilmette IL - ​What Should You Know About Heart Failure?

If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult, heart health is probably something that you think about regularly. This is why terms such as heart failure can sound so frightening. Fortunately, heart failure is not what it may sound like.

Many people hear the term and think that this means that the heart stops or that death is imminent. Instead, this condition refers to the heart muscle weakening to the point at which it is no longer capable of pumping as much blood as the body needs, or removing waste products from the bloodstream effectively.

Understanding this condition and what it is and is not can help you to recognize your parents risk, identify ways to protect them, and enjoy the day get the care and management that they need to guard their heart health and keep them as healthy as possible as they age in place. 

Some things that you should know about heart failure include: 
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• According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, more than five and a half million people throughout the United States are currently living with heart failure.  
• Approximately one in 9 deaths throughout the United States have heart failure listed as a contributing factor.  
• This number accounts for more than 10  percent of all deaths throughout the United States. 
• Approximately half of all people who receive a diagnosis of heart failure will die within 5 years of diagnosis. Proper care and management of the condition, however, can greatly extend life expectancy and improve quality of life while living with the condition. 
• People who are living with coronary heart disease, have a history of heart attack, or who have high blood pressure are at higher risk of suffering from heart failure.  

If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult, you will need to make a wide variety of decisions for your parents. One of the best can by to start home health care for them. An in-home health care services provider can fill care gaps, be with your parent on a regular basis, and help them to pursue their own care goals as well as supporting you and giving your parent to care that they need.

This care provider can be there for your parent to provide safe and reliable transportation so that your parent can get to where they need and want to go for a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. They can also provide assistance with personal care needs and activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, meal preparation and eating, grocery shopping, housekeeping, and other tasks to help you or loved ones live the highest quality of life possible at the age in place. 

 Sources:  https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_failure.htm 
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/Heart-Failure_UCM_002019_SubHomePage.jsp 

​​If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care Services in Wilmette IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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