What choices do I have if I no longer want aggressive therapies and my symptoms are worsening?
Patients who are most successful in managing their heart failure at home are those who understand the goals of their treatment. It is important that each patient understand their treatment options, the risks and benefits of those options, and the consequences of refusing care. No matter what course of treatment you choose, our goal is to help you make and informed decision about your treatment choices and ultimately to respect your wishes. Palliative care approaches heart failure management so that your comfort and function is the priority while minimizing heart failure symptoms and avoiding more aggressive therapy such as open-heart surgery or treatment in the intensive care unit. This approach takes into account a person’s physical, social, spiritual, and psychological well-being.
Often a specialized heart failure clinic or palliative care program (or both) will offer symptom management for heart failure patients. Patients living with chronic medical conditions, such as heart failure, may change their approach to treatments based on their response to therapies tried or as their condition progresses. Learning about your condition and all available treatment options is an ongoing process that requires continued dialogue between you, your family, and your healthcare providers. Whether you choose a palliative care program, a hospice program, or more aggressive therapies for advanced heart failure, you still need to advise your family about your preferences for your medical care should you become unable to express your wishes yourself. Making your healthcare preferences known in advance is called “advance care planning”. All adults should make their healthcare directives known in writing. Ask your physician or nurse for a copy of the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare form or visit the Heart Failure Society of America patient education module “Advanced Care Planning” for more information.
