Support the heart patient

You can support your loved one in many ways.

• Attend clinic appointments with the patient. Write down any instructions, help ask questions and help remember answers.
• Ask your health care team to recommend support groups and educational classes. Attend alone or with the patient.
• If the patient is in the hospital, "rehearse" helping the patient get in and out of chairs, bed and the bathroom in front of a nurse. Then you'll know how to do it once you get home.
• Make a list of all important phone numbers and put a copy on the refrigerator and one by the bedside.
• Ask the health care team to carefully explain the medicine plan to you. Take notes.
• Ask the health care team to carefully explain the eating plan to you. Take notes.
• Help shop, prepare and arrange for healthy meals that fit the new eating plan.
• Record appointment times for rehabilitation, clinic visits, home health care and other services. Help the patient arrange transportation, if need be.
• Make a list of patient's questions for the health care team, and add in your own.