Page 36 - Mended Hearts-HeartGuide

Caregivers

CAREGIVER TIPS The Caregiver’s Role in Recovery

ƒƒ Communicate how you Heart patients count on medical experts, nurses, and rehabilitation staff to be
are feeling. with us on our journey to heart health. Often our friends and family are with
us too—listening to our diagnoses, reviewing test results, waiting for us after
ƒƒ Allow time to grieve the surgery, picking up medications, and doing so much more. Caregivers help us
lack of normal. cope with new or evolving health issues and get well. This section covers ways
that caregivers can stay strong, healthy, and positive throughout this journey.
ƒƒ Reflect on the journey
—in writing. Stay Informed
Heart disease is no doubt unfamiliar territory for many caregivers. This
ƒƒ Educate yourself about HeartGuide will help you, as a caregiver, get familiar with this new world and
the disease. what your loved ones can expect before and after treatment. As a partner with
the patient and medical staff, you can listen and learn alongside your loved one
ƒƒ Get involved in your loved as they go through this process.
one’s care.
Acknowledge Your Experiences
ƒƒ Involve others who Caregivers to heart patients may be affected physically and emotionally by this
can help. experience. It’s frightening when a loved one gets this diagnosis. And suddenly
being around machines and health professionals in a busy medical setting can
ƒƒ Visit with other Mended be stressful.
Hearts members.
All of this can create feelings of anxiety and depression or resentment at the
ƒƒ Eat right. disruption to your life. You may at times feel guilty, thinking you are somehow
ƒƒ Rest—get sleep and responsible for your loved one’s heart condition.

take breaks. We’ve experienced these issues too and gotten past them with time and
support. If you think counseling would alleviate any of these feelings, ask your
Learn more at health team for a referral. Ask questions. Don’t go it alone.
www.mendedhearts.org and at
the Caregiver Action Network, Stay Cool
www.caregiveraction.org. We can become overprotective of loved ones in heart recovery. Our mission
becomes protecting them from further harm. These sentiments are also
normal, but can cause feelings of anger, frustration, and worthlessness if the
patient cannot live up to our expectations. So try to understand the recovery
process and be there for support, but don’t overdo it. Balance your love and
support with a willingness to step back and let your family member chart his or
her own course to heart health.

32 Mended Hearts HeartGuide