Supporting your loved one

When a family member or friend has heart problems, there are many things you can do to make things easier, both for your loved one and yourself:

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.