Care plans for the older heart failure patient

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) professionals are managing an older population with multiple, often interconnected comorbidities. The average age of the HF patient has increased substantially and many have a number of comorbidities. For the older HF patient, diligent planning of care has the potential to reduce hospitalization, improve quality of life and mortality; nevertheless, this vital component is often overlooked. Frailty, cachexia, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment are all common in the older HF patient and require special care considerations. Many older HF patients live for many years with troublesome symptoms that could be better addressed through the incorporation of a palliative approach to care. Effective care plans can help patients maximize their health potential through both lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. However, current evidence remains scarce on what constitutes an optimal plan, therefore further studies are urgently needed. We review the care that could be implemented for the complex older HF patient with comorbidities.

Keywords: Care plan; Elderly; Frailty; Heart failure.