With advancements in medicine, more people are surviving heart attacks, and that’s great news. However, about a quarter of seniors feel depressed, afraid, and angry after going through a heart attack, and they need their loved ones. You can help by visiting often (keeping visits short at first) and being encouraging regarding lifestyle and diet changes. Making the same changes to your own lifestyle and diet is a great way to be encouraging and benefit your own health, while helping to ensure that the person who experienced the heart attack doesn’t feel resentful.
Dr. Donna Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, RN(NP), MN, DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice, NPCanada.ca