CHF - 4 - Condition & Symptoms

Goal: Find and discuss areas where the individual can improve – monitoring weight & blood pressure & salt intake, smoking/tobacco/e-cigarette use, medications, activity.

Possible Action Steps

Elicit individual’s concerns, questions and ideas related to better managing their CHF.
Jointly problem-solve, plan and try one new approach to mitigate a troubling symptom.
Discuss why symptoms are reduced when targets for weight, blood pressure, activity, and salt intake are achieved.

Supporting Resources

Goal: Identify situations where self-management of CHF can be further improved. Revisit past goals as needed.

Possible Action Steps

Discuss what happened the last time the individual tried to make a change in a health behavior. Were they successful? Did they relapse?
Together, make a short list of health behaviors the individual would like to make.
What would cause the individual to prevent making a positive health change?
What would help the individual make one additional health behavior change?

Supporting Resources

Possible Action Steps

Discuss why it is often difficult to adhere to the doctor's prescribed medication schedule.
Have individual identify ways that are likely to throw them off-track in managing CHF.
Discuss relapse of high-risk behaviors (smoking/tobacco, diet, inactivity, alcohol) -- affirm that it happens to everyone.
Ask individual to identify a few steps they could take to get back on track.

Supporting Resources

Goal & Action Planning Worksheet

Goal: Discuss complementary and alternative medical therapies for CHF, including the potential they have to impact symptoms and health.

Possible Action Steps

With an open mind, discuss complimentary and alternative medical therapies that are of interest to the individual. Find out what they have used or are currently using.
Together, explore complimentary and alternative treatment modalities.
Ask individual to always consult a physician before moving forward with any new therapy.

Supporting Resources