I see many questions about heart failure. Are you or your family member going to a cardiologist who specializes in heart failure?

My Dad sees a very good cardiologist and was successfully treated for afib with cardioversion several years ago, He will soon be 87! He had a quadruple bypass 24 years ago and several stents over the years. His doctors marvel at his survival. He is on a lot of meds to maintain. Of course, he’s suffered with weakness for years. He’s no longer able to do what he wants all the time. I have prepared myself, because I know he’s getting up in age. I wonder what others have encountered with senior heart patients.

As a retired RN who spent a good deal of the latter part of my career in nursing on a Step-down telemetry unit, it's just my humble opinion, but any cardiologist should be able to adequately treat Congestive Heart Failure. We really are limited as to what can be realistically done about it in the aged. There are only so many diuretics, so many tests to be certain that diuretics side effects on washing out electrolytes are addressed, and so many ways to bring comfort.

I think the problem we have today is that no one can get in to ANY KIND of doctor. and that visits are scheduled for so far out that they don't address patients with cardiac problems.

CHF often causes a need for EMERGENT care. The lack of same can have dire results, and for me what is TRULY MISSING is patient and family educations. It takes little time to explain the basics of CHF care, and what to watch for. No one seems to take that time. Insurance companies dictate 10-20 minute visits. People don't look up conditions on their own to learn about them.

Many lives could be saved with just a little education.

Linda,

Welcome to the AgingCare forum!