Helping with medical care issues 

Medical care issues may be particularly confusing and overwhelming at first because there may seem to be a lot of information to remember.

Here are some suggestions for how you might help with your partner or relative's medical needs:

• Take an active role during visits to the doctor by asking questions and taking notes but without dominating the conversation. This will allow you to help your partner or relative keep track of information about their heart failure medicines, diet and exercise.
  
  
• Help your partner or relative follow the doctor's and nurse's advice with both practical and moral support. For example:
  
• help them manage their medicines
  
  
• offer to exercise together regularly and, if you also smoke, stop smoking at the same time
  
  
• buy and prepare healthy low-salt foods that you and your partner or relative will like and gently remind them why it is important for them to change their diet
  
  
• help them monitor their symptoms by weighing themselves daily and measuring their heart rate and blood pressure twice a week.
  
• Encourage your partner or relative to have influenza and pneumonia vaccinations if recommended by their doctor or nurse.
  
  
• Monitor your partner or relative's progress. Doctors and nurses often rely on family caregivers for information about the patient's condition, changes in symptoms and progress with diet and exercise recommendations. You can learn more about what to look out for in the warning signs section.

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