Recovery Family support is critical to help ensure that the person with heart disease understands and adheres to any medication, diet, exercise program, or other prescriptions. The family can also be helpful by trying to be more understanding of what the patient is experiencing. The patient in turn needs to be considerate and sensitive to the spouse and other immediate family members, who are under stress and at least temporarily facing possible role changes. An important aspect of recovery is the goal of having the heart patient return to his or her normal role in the family and community. It is important not to make the patient feel like an invalid.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of coping with the situation.
To be mutually supportive, it will be helpful if family members express their feelings. One good outlet for expressing your feelings is to talk with members of Mended Hearts. Some heart patients may experience depression after diagnosis, treatment or surgery. This is not uncommon and is not confined to those with heart disease. It can occur with anyone facing a serious illness.