SPECIAL GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTS ELDERS NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH
CHF
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) can be a daunting diagnosis
when first heard. And its symptoms of shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue,
problems breathing when lying flat, swelling in the ankles and feet, and a
racing or skipping heart can be scary. But
fortunately, there are many things a person with CHF can do to help the heart
and keep symptoms under control. In
fact, a new grant-funded program is offering education and Telehealth technology
to do just that.
Designed for the newly diagnosed, or elders who have had a
recent exacerbation of symptoms, the CHF Telehealth program is being offered by
Norwell VNA (NVNA) and Hospice to people in Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham,
Holbrook, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate and Weymouth. It is
funded in part by a Title IIID grant of the Older Americans Act through South
Shore Elder Services, Inc.
The proactive program utilizes technology, data and clinical
expertise to oversee and improve care for elders living with CHF. Offered to elders
over age 60 who are not homebound, the program runs for a 30-day period during
which lifestyle changes and positive behaviors are incorporated to enable the
person to self-manage their disease. A Telehealth telemonitoring unit is
installed in the elder’s home to transmit biometric readings for 30 days to the
central monitoring station at NVNA and Hospice. These readings include blood
pressure, pulse rate, pulse oximetry and weight. During that 30-day monitoring
period, the NVNA and Hospice clinical team intervenes at teachable moments to
coach and encourage the person.
Elders who are interested in participating, or clinicians
who wish to refer an elder, may call 781-610-1420.