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How Home Care Helps After A Heart Attack (AMI)

How Home Care Helps after a Heart Attack (AMI)

Home care specialists provide support and assistance as your loved one returns home after being hospitalized for a heart attack.

How Home Care Helps after a Heart Attack (AMI)

What is Home Care?

Home care is a more personalized alternative to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It provides services such as personal care, homemaking, companionship and more to individuals living at home, so they can remain comfortable and independent for as long as possible.

Home Care vs Home Health

Home health is typically short-term medical services administered in the home to treat an illness or injury. This type of medical assistance is usually provided by a registered nurse, physical, occupational or speech therapist. Home care agencies are often requested to provide supplemental care as the patient transitions.

Who is a Good Candidate for Home Care?

Home care can be beneficial for individuals who are getting older, are chronically ill, are recovering from a surgery or are disabled. Perhaps your loved one needs assistance with day-to-day tasks but does not need to be in a nursing home or hospital. Home care could be the right fit for them.

What Types of Home Care Services Are Available?

Home care looks different for everyone. Each individual’s needs are unique, and home care can be tailored to fit those needs. Depending on what your loved one’s needs are, caregiving services can be available 24-hours a day or a few hours each week. Some of the services include:

Personal Care

Homemaking

Companionship

  • Conversation
  • Reading Aloud
  • Hobbies and Projects
  • Outings and Events
  • Morning Wake-Up & Evening Tuck-In
  • Assistance with Attending Religious Services

Home Care Interventions for Patients being discharged for Heart Attack

Research shows that 19.9% of individuals who have suffered from a heart attack (AMI) will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days (www.beckershospitalreview.com). There are things that can be done to prevent a readmission to the hospital. Home care can help provide services so another trip to the hospital isn’t as likely.

Best practices that are proven to reduce the risk of readmission and promote the health of those who have recently had a heart attack:

Medication Reminders

Failure to take medications regularly—or not taking the proper dose— can cause a hospital readmission. Caregivers can help with medication reminders, knowing the proper doses, transportation to the pharmacy, and being educated on medication side effects.

Diet Prep and Planning

Individuals may need to change their diet completely to have a hearthealthy diet. Caregivers can provide meal planning and prepping, grocery shopping, and track if there are any dietary restrictions based on medications an individual takes.

Physical Activity Assistance

Doctors will recommend individuals get more physical activity than they did before their heart attack. A caregiver can help by providing accountability, encouragement and reminders for physical activity. A caregiver can also act as a walking partner, provide a ride to visit friends or a shopping assistance.

Home care is a valuable option for an individual who desires to maintain their independence and continue their life in the comfort of their home. A study done by the AARP showed that 90% of individuals over age 65 want to stay at home as long as possible.

If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation.  Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.

Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices in Campbell, CA, Palo Alto, CA, Pleasanton, CA, San Marcos, CA, and San Mateo, CA.

Sources:

  • https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1708580/Marketing%20Monthlies/PDFs%20from%20Windfarm%20Marketing/0916_HeartAttackAMI_CMYK.pdf
  • http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/what-to-do-after-a-heart-attack
  • http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/LifeAfteraHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Recovery-FAQs_UCM_303936_Article.jsp#.V8Svk5MrJME
  • http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/LifeAfteraHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Recovery-FAQs_UCM_303936_Article.jsp#.V8Svk5MrJME

Carol Pardue-Spears

Carol has worked in the healthcare field for more than forty years. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, she worked for El Camino Hospital in the cardiac unit, Los Gatos Community Hospital, The Women’s Cancer Center in Los Gatos and several home health and hospice agencies. Carol founded Family Matters in 2002 to fill a deficit she witnessed in high-quality, in-home services and care.

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