Caring for a heart patient

How to provide emotional support

If the person you’re caring for has found out about a heart condition or they’re recovering from something like a heart attack, it’s completely normal for them to feel lots of different emotions. They may feel different for days, weeks or longer.

While they adjust to the changes they’re going through:

• ask them about how they’re feeling
• reassure them that you’re there and that their feelings are valid
• encourage them to talk to others about their feelings and worries
• encourage and support them to be as independent as possible
• reinforce the achievements they’ve made, however small.

If they don’t feel like talking, or you want to learn more about what emotions they may be going through, our emotional support page can help. It covers everything from mental health, talking about a heart condition and dealing with death.

How to provide practical support

When someone returns from hospital, or if they have long-term health needs, you may have to take on more practical chores to help. Practical support may include:

• talking to healthcare professionals
• reminding the person you're caring for to take their prescribed medication
• changing dressings if needed
• help with washing and dressing
• helping with chores and paying bills
• cooking heart-healthy meals – check out our recipe finder for inspiration.

Supporting someone through everyday life can raise a lot of practical issues you may not have considered before. Our practical support page can help with everyday problems like finances, driving, work, sex and travel.

While you’re supporting someone, make sure that you look after your own emotional and physical health. Your life may have changed and you may have to make your own adjustments to make sure you’re looked after.

The importance of looking after yourself

Looking after someone can be physically and emotionally demanding. You may also be juggling caring with other commitments, such as family life and work.

Whether the care you give involves emotional, practical support, or both, it’s important to make time to take care of yourself. This can be helped by:

• asking others to help with caring responsibilities, such as family members and friends
• finding time for yourself to relax and taking regular breaks (time away from caring)
• talking to your GP and finding out what emotional and financial support is available to you
• eating healthily, staying active and trying to get enough sleep
• speaking to your workplace to see how they can support you with flexible working or time off for hospital appointments.

Helpful organisations

Whether you need practical advice or a sympathetic ear or to take a break, there are organisations ready to give you that support. They include:

• Carers Trust
• Carers UK
• Careline
• NHS Choices’ social care and support guide
• NHS Health Check – If you’re aged 40-74 and live in England you can get a free NHS health check which looks at your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.

Heart Helpline and other support

• Speak to our cardiac nurses by phone, callback, email or online chat on Heart Helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
• Search for local carer groups who may be able to provide support for you.
• Join our online community to talk to patients and carers, and read other people’s experiences and tips for living with heart and circulatory disease.
• Social services can carry out a carer’s assessment and needs assessment to make sure you get the services you’re entitled to.