Getting support

There are many different sources of support available for people with heart failure and their caregivers. Healthcare professionals often know about various groups and programmes available in your community and so you may wish to discuss these with your doctor or nurse. Additional information can be found in the sections Living With Heart Failure and Family and People that may be involved in your care.

Are there any local support groups that I can contact and attend?
Your doctor will be able to put you in contact with your local support group, who will have regular meetings run by specialist nurses and/or other patients. During these meetings, you will learn more about the day-to-day management of your heart failure and be able to share your experiences with other heart failure patients.

Do I have access to a heart failure management programme at my hospital?
Many hospitals have a multidisciplinary outpatient heart failure management programme organised by nurses and cardiologists in cooperation with other related services such as primary care physicians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dieticians, geriatricians and social workers. These programmes usually manage people with relatively serious symptoms. You doctor or nurse will be able to tell you if such a programme is available and appropriate for you.