Hiring Senior Home Care For Your Loved One With A Cardiac Arrhythmia

If you are participating in the selection of a home care attendant for your senior loved one with a cardiac arrhythmia, you probably have special needs beyond basic geriatric care. Hiring someone with familiarity with cardiac patients can be a big plus, especially when it comes to common problems with heart rhythms. Read on to learn about three types of arrhythmias and what your home care provider should know.

Atrial Fibrillation

When the heart is in atrial fibrillation it doesn't fill and empty normally because it doesn't go through the range of electrical changes associated with normal sinus rhythm. The upper chambers of the heart (the atria) pulse too rapidly to work effectively at taking in oxygenated blood and sending it to the lower chambers (ventricles) for dispersal to the body. A home care provider should be familiar with the basic physiology of this arrhythmia and its common symptoms:

• shortness of breath
• lack of energy or fatigue
• dizziness
• palpitations
• chest pain or pressure

The provider must also be able to recognize when these symptoms interfere with daily life, especially if they worsen suddenly, indicating the atrial fibrillation is uncontrolled and may need further medical intervention. Most atrial fibrillation patients are on at least aspirin to prevent blood clotting, but some are also on more powerful anticoagulant medications and anti-arrhythmic drugs. An in-home care person should be familiar with these medications, what they are used for, and how they are dosed.

Shockable Rhythms

Some people suffer from ventricular fibrillation, where the lower chambers of the heart contract rapidly, in a manner somewhat similar to atrial fibrillation. This is a more dangerous arrhythmia, however, along with ventricular tachycardia, which is essentially a prolonged run of premature ventricular contractions, or "skipped" heart beats. Because these arrhythmias occur in the ventricles, where blood is pumped to the body, if they go on for more than a minute or so, the body, including the brain and lungs, can be deprived of oxygen carried in the blood.

People who are known to suffer from ventricular arrhythmias often receive a pacemaker/defibrillator or ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator). The ICD senses when the heart is in a dangerous rhythm and delivers a shock, just like an external paddle defibrillator can do on an ambulance or in the ER.

An in-home care provider should have some knowledge of how ICDs work and be able to help your loved one follow their protocol for defibrillator firing. They may need to send a rhythm strip to the cardiologist's pacemaker laboratory, see their cardiologist in the office, or even go to the ER if the defibrillator fires repeatedly. Since ventricular arrhythmias can also be fatal, your provider should be certified in CPR.

Unknown Arrhythmias

Your loved one may have an arrhythmia of an unknown nature. They may experience palpitations, flutters, or missed beats, and an irregular pulse may be felt either by them or their physician.

Usually, when a patient has these symptoms, the doctor orders a temporary heart monitor for the patient to wear at home to help make a diagnosis. Sometime these monitors are worn for an extended time period or intermittently when it is suspected symptoms may occur. Home portable heart monitors may also be prescribed for patients who have recently had heart surgery or a heart attack to ensure they remain in normal sinus rhythm.

Ideally, your care provider should be familiar with Holter and event monitors, so they can assist your loved one with their use. They should know where the electrodes are placed, how to fix loose electrodes, and how to obtain a rhythm strip with an event monitor when symptoms are felt.

Heart arrhythmias are a common problem for senior citizens, so it shouldn't be difficult to find an in-home care provider who is knowledgeable about them. By making sure your loved one's provider has some basic background in this area, you can rest assured that the cardiac patient's needs are being fully met. If you have further questions, click here for more info on in-home care.