Coming to Terms with Disease in Elderly Heart Failure People Recuperating at Home

Abstract

Objective: To identify how older adults with heart failure recuperate at home by coming to terms with and live with the condition.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven older adults (age range: 65–80 years), who had been diagnosed with heart failure and were recuperating at home. Qualitative data obtained were analyzed using steps for coding and theorization (SCAT).

Results: Participants’ acknowledgement and acceptance of the condition were found to consist of the following seven aspects: 1) physical awareness of abnormal sensations in the body, 2) adopting a lifestyle to accommodate their level of cardiac function, 3) hope for a significant recovery from the condition, 4) awareness of cardiac function degrading in stages, 5) fear of nearing death, 6) family’s support to enable recuperation at home, and 7) desiring peace of mind during recuperation.

Conclusions: Understanding physical conditions and devising a lifestyle that suits an individual’s level of cardiac function are important in older patients with heart failure to avoid deterioration of their pathological condition. Care providers must provide guidance in daily life to people living at home by carefully listen to their expressed concerns and feelings, and effectively apply their knowledge about people and people’s skill in helping patients cope with the condition.