The purpose of Deaconess HomeCare’s therapy intervention in the care of the homebound cardiac patient is to assist the patient in achieving an optimal level of function without compromising cardiac performance. Therapy is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and consists of a graded progression of physical activities, patient education and counseling.

Activities include strengthening exercises, aerobic exercises and functional activity training. The progression of each patient’s program is individualized based on the initial assessment and subsequent responses to exercise. Patients also receive education and counseling regarding safe exercise parameters, energy conservation, self-monitoring and stress reduction techniques.

Treatment Objectives:

• Provide support to assist patient and family with the acceptance of cardiac illness
• Increase ability to perform physical activities
• Decreased dyspnea, improve ventilatory muscle strength and endurance
• Increase joint ROM (range of motion), muscle strength and tone
• Ensure safe progression of activity through monitoring the patient’s responses to exercises
• Education of patient and family regarding activity parameters and self-monitoring, aerobic exercise principles, and home activity guidelines and cardiac symptom recognition
• Provide instructions for energy conservation including adaptive equipment or task modification
• Our presence provides opportunities for early recognition of symptoms signaling cardiac decompensation.