Home Care: Assisting Seniors with Congestive Heart Failure through Improved Health Literacy and Self-Management

Open Communication + Improved Health Literacy + Self-Management= Fewer Emergencies, Fewer Hospital Visits, and Improved Overall Health

Obstacles to Health Literacy Faced By Seniors- Lack of understanding of doctor’s

explanations, prescribed medications, and recommended treatments

- Physical limitations (e.g. hearing problems,)

- Mental limitations ( e.g. onslaught of complex information) ₃

Health Literacy State at which clients and health care professionals understand each other ₂

1 in 5 Americans were shown to read at HALF the level required for understanding most health care material ₁

“an excess of $29 billion dollars in additional annual health care costs” could be “attributed to poor health literacy skills” ₁

“It is important for all people [involved] to understand what is important to the client and base decisions on that persons individual needs.” ₂ For a caregiver to be effective in increasing a senior’s health literacy and self-management, the senior must determine for his or herself that personal health is important.”

Caregiver Overcoming Obstacles-Listen to doctor’s explanations, detached-Make notes of mediations and treatment options- Help senior to repeat back information to the doctor to insure understanding-Gather materials and review-Make note of doctor’s contact info for future questions

“Heart failure is a progressive disease, but the rate of progression varies a great deal. At least three-quarters of patients who practice self-care can help themselves in very meaningful ways.” ₄

Tips For Caregivers of Seniors with CHF1- Keep a daily log2- Know when to call the doctor3- Be prepared with information the doctor will want4- Have an action plan ₅

The most important step a home caregiver can take

to help a senior with congestive heart failure is

to record weight “at the same time every day and

report significant changes.” ₂

“Healthcare is a very complex system. It is easy to get lost and be pushed around, not heard. It’s about taking an active role in meeting [one’s] own needs.” – Roseanne Harris, MSN, RN

Resources

₁ Cooke, Catherine, Jann Keenan, and Richard Safeer. Dec 2006. "The Impact of Health Literacy on Cardiovascular Disease." Vascular Health Risk Management. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1994011/Accessed June 15, 2014.

₄ Freeman, David. 2007. “Living with Advanced Heart Failure.” WebMD http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/features/living-with-advanced-heart-failure?page=3 Accessed June 6, 2014.

₃ Gynn, Mary, RN. 2013. "Health Literacy for Seniors." The Florida Nurse.

₂ Harris, Roseanne, MSN, RN, Instructional Development Specialist UAMS. Personal Interview. June 18, 2014.

₅ Schuster, Janice, MFA, Carol Spence MS, RN, Michelle Jacobs, MPH, Anne Wilkinson, PhD, Casey Milne RN, BSN, Suzanne Pieklik, and Sarah Myers, MPH. 2002. “Living with Advanced Congestive Heart Failure: A Guide for Family Caregivers.” The Washington Home Center for Palliative Care Studies.