Dealing with a chronic disease like heart disease isn’t easy but it becomes even more challenging as people get older. Understandably, most people prefer to live as independently and self-sufficiently as they can at home, for as long as possible. However, as we age, our ability to take care of ourselves may not be as reliable as it once was. We may not be able to prepare regular meals or eat as nutritiously as we should. We might forget to take our hypertension or cholesterol-lowering medication, or visit the doctor on schedule. Or we might neglect to pay bills on time.

Home health care can provide that much-needed helping hand. Professional caregivers can assist with nearly every aspect of your life, allowing you or a loved one to remain in a safe, comfortable, familiar environment, while having your personal needs fulfilled. To that end, you might consider help with the following:

• Personal care, including bathing, dressing, and taking care of other aspects of basic hygiene
• Introduction of a personal emergency response system at home
• Ambulatory service, such as transportation and an escort to and from various doctors’ appointments, which may be necessary in your heart disease care
• Medication management to prevent potentially dangerous drug interactions or side effects and to ensure that prescribed drugs, including those for blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities, are being taken properly
• Money management, such as paying bills, updating bank records, and the like
• Assistance with accessing financial or insurance entitlements and other benefits, and dealing with legal issues such as power of attorney or advance directives
• Scheduling of doctors’ appointments and other necessary meetings
• Arrangements for getting medical equipment and other supplies for home use
• Companionship or respite care, which may allow loved ones a needed break