Healthy Eating � � � nutrition . gov heart . org / en / healthy-living / healthy-eating
nhlbi . nih . gov / health-topics / dasheating-plan
Support for the Patient and Caregiver � � � � � mendedhearts . org aarp . org wellspouse . org caregiveraction . org
CARE Zone app : assists with medication reminders and organize health information .
Other Supportive Services
Mount Carmel Palliative Care
Heart failure is a serious , progressive illness . At times , symptoms may get worse but improve with treatment . Other times , treatments may no longer be helpful and the symptoms worsen despite intense medical management .
Palliative care is an integrative approach to care that focuses on relieving symptoms and easing the stress of serious illness . Palliative care does not take the place of medical care for your condition , but instead works together with your doctors to help manage the illness , related symptoms , and treatment side effects . Palliative care focuses on symptom relief at all stages of the disease and can improve not only symptoms , but also quality of life and satisfaction with care . It is often confused with hospice care , which begins when an illness has advanced to the end stages of life .
The goal of palliative care is to prevent suffering and provide the highest quality of life possible for both patients and their families .
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Palliative care can : �
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Set goals for care based on the patient ’ s values and preferences
Provide help with advanced directives
Improve communication between care providers
Provide symptom management
Provide psychosocial and spiritual support to patients and caregivers
Palliative care services are available in the hospital , in the community in conjunction with home health care , and at Heart Failure Management .
Mount Carmel Hospice
End-stage heart failure is difficult . Patients often struggle with shortness of breath , fatigue , and frequent hospital visits as their condition worsens . At some point , many patients at this stage change their focus from treatment to comfort .
Hospice care provides expert treatment , counseling , and care for patients and their families who are facing an end-stage disease . The focus of hospice is comfort . A team of physicians , nurses , social workers , aides , counselors , trained volunteers , and chaplains provides compassionate care .
Hospice care is patient-centered care that focuses on managing pain and discomfort and providing emotional and spiritual support to the patient and family during a difficult time .
For more information about palliative care or hospice care , call 614-234-0200 .