The Importance of Support While Your Parent Recovers from a Heart Attack
Elder Care Springfield PA
Experiencing your parent go through a heart attack can be one of the most frightening and unnerving events that you can go through with your elder parent. This can happen very suddenly, even if your parent has not been showing warning signs or does not have the most common risk factors. Once it has happened, your focus needs to be on giving your parent the care that they need to get through this potentially devastating situation in the best way possible. While many of the recommendations for caring for an elder after a heart attack revolve around the physical care efforts that you will put forth, one of the most important things that you will need to do is offer them support and encouragement.
Many elderly adults who experience a heart attack go through negative emotional reactions after this event. Your parent might feel frightened by what they have gone through or what they might encounter in the future now that they have had a heart attack. They might be overwhelmed by the prospect of all of the lifestyle changes that they will have to make to their usual routine in order to recover from their heart attack and keep themselves healthier for the future. They might even be upset and confused by the fact that they have had a heart attack because they feel that they are not the type of person that would have one, or that they did not have the risk factors and warning signs that would tell them that they might have a heart attack. These emotions can not only be extremely difficult to handle for your parent, but can also impact the way your parent heals.
Giving your loved one support throughout the experience of recovery from a heart attack is one of the most important things that you can do to help them get through this time in the most effective way possible. Use these tips to help you provide the support that your parent needs when they are recovering from a heart attack:
- Acknowledge what they are going through. Do not ignore what your loved one is experiencing. Many people feel that if they talk about negative emotions they will make them worse. The truth, however, is that if you do not talk about difficult feelings you can actually make them worse. Talk to your parent about the emotions that they are going through and welcome them to talk about them with you so that they can work through them.
- Talk about your own feelings. Do not be afraid to talk to your parent what you are going through. As their caregiver you are going to have your own thoughts, emotions, and responses to this challenging time, and talking about them will be beneficial for both of you. By being open with your parent, you will show them that they are not alone and that they are safe in expressing their thoughts.
- Encourage a support system. While you can be a valuable source of support for your parent, this should not mean being the only source. Encourage your parent to take advantage of other forms of support as well, such as a support group, a therapist, or even just the love and encouragement of other friends and family.
Source: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/PreventionTreatmentofHeartAttack/Life-After-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_487069_Article.jsp#.V5Vw0bgrK01
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Springfield PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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