Managing heart disease at home

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, you are not alone. More than 25 million people are living with the disease. And they are learning to manage it just like you.

Perhaps you have heart failure and are unable to do things the way you used to. Maybe you’ve recently suffered a heart attack and are working to get back to normal life. Whatever your situation, Advocate Health at Home can help you take steps to manage your heart disease.

Our services

Below are some of the ways Advocate Health at Home might help you manage your heart disease if your condition warrants:

• Help with the transition home after a hospital stay
• Monitor your condition
• Help you manage your medications
• Teach you how to identify warning signs that your disease is worsening and take action before serious complications lead to a hospital readmission or emergency department visit
• Help you develop an action plan including steps to control your disease and when to seek help
• Assist with physician-prescribed exercises to improve cardiac function, boost endurance and reduce breathlessness
• Provide occupational therapy to teach you strategies for independent living
• Provide dietary counseling on heart-healthy eating and meal planning
• Connect you with services for help in quitting smoking
• Deliver oxygen therapy if needed and instruct you on how to use the equipment
• Assist you in creating an advance care plan so your health care wishes are spelled out for your family and physicians
• Educate you on transitioning to hospice care later in the disease process if you seek comfort instead of curative treatment

Our team

Advocate Health at Home specialists work with you to design a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs and goals. Depending on your condition, members of your home health team may include:

• Registered nurse
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Respiratory therapist
• Home health aide