Exploring Hospice for Heart Disease Relieves Mental Burden, Uncertainty

By Emmanuel Hospice

Every 34 seconds, heart disease claims another life. For more than a century, it’s been the nation’s top cause of death.

Despite that fact, patients with heart failure have historically underutilized hospice care, even though it can help manage or even prevent symptoms and keep them out of the hospital.

Dr. Jordan Sall, Emmanuel Hospice’s medical director, says the less predictable nature of the disease is a major factor. Heart disease progression varies significantly person to person, making it difficult to accurately predict a prognosis of six months or less, which can delay a hospice referral.

“Heart disease affects everyone – men, women and people of all ethnicities – but it can present in many different ways,” Sall says. “It can come on abruptly in some cases. In others, people gradually ease into it as symptoms slowly become part of their life until it hits a critical point.”

Sall says even if someone isn’t sure they’re ready for end-of-life care, connecting with a hospice provider early on to discuss their situation can take away some of the mental burden they may be feeling.

“Having an early conversation with hospice surrounds families with a compassionate team that has expertise in this disease and can recognize early symptoms,” Sall explains. “Together, we can help determine when the time is right to transition to comfort care.”

Heart disease takes a notable physical toll, which hospice can help manage. When the heart fails, the body shows signs such as swelling in the legs, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and anxiety, among other symptoms.

“Far and away the most beneficial part of hospice care for patients with advanced heart disease is the ability to aggressively control symptoms,” Sall says. “That can include medications to manage pain, shortness of breath, anxiety and constipation. Patients may often continue their previously prescribed medications when it is beneficial to them.”

Hospice teams are also well equipped to support patients and family deal with the emotional impact of the disease.

“Heart disease is emotionally draining because the progression is difficult to predict, but also because of the vicious crisis cycle cardiac patients often end up in with frequent visits to the hospital or specialty clinics,” Sall explains. “Spending so much time treating something that comes back so quickly has a way of taking the energy out of life.”

Decision fatigue, Sall says, also happens from constantly having to analyze new developments of the disease and make health care choices. Coordination of care through hospice becomes a huge relief for patients and their loved ones.

“With hospice, families get better cohesion of services related to comfort and quality of life,” Sall adds. “We coordinate all physician and nurse visits, handle medication refills, offer spiritual care, provide social work support and obtain specialty equipment that is often difficult or expensive for families to get on their own. Patients and caregivers rest easier knowing our team has all that handled.”

In addition to traditional medical care and spiritual support, complementary therapies and services can be used to manage symptoms as well as prioritize emotional well-being and time at home with loved ones. At Emmanuel Hospice, that includes services such as massage therapy, music therapy, essential oils, pet visitors and more.

Sall emphasizes that hospice care is “highly individualized” for each patient, “which makes intervention more successful because it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

“Everyone has different care needs and preferences,” Sall says. “We listen to what is a priority for our patients. We guide them through their options, but they make the ultimate decisions around their care.”

For more information, call 616.719.0919 or visitEmmanuelHospice.org/cardiac-care.