Families provide resilience for people with heart failure

Family support is instrumental in improving the quality and longevity of life for heart patients, according to a report released today.

The Families Commission funded research Living with Chronic Illness: Support for family members who live with heart failure was conducted by Dr Lisa Whitehead from the Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies, University of Otago, Christchurch. Dr Whitehead interviewed 24 families and a group of health care providers.

Dr Whitehead said that families need to fully understand the condition and adjust to their new role as caregivers because family support is so integral to the health of the patient.

“Families need to be able to adapt to the care and support required of them. Those interviewed in the study showed a tremendous amount of flexibility and resilience. Their efficacy was enhanced by supportive, knowledgeable primary health carers and cardiology services.”

Health professionals need to recognise the importance of the family’s role and the needs that families have in order for them to be able to undertake it successfully.

“Collaborative relationships between families and health providers are vital and work best when the care professional builds on the strengths of the family. All of the participants expressed confidence in the health professionals.”

Effective family functioning was determined by belief systems, ability to make meaning out of adversity, family organisational patterns.

“Chronic illnesses affect family organisational patterns, family roles and family relationships. So family wellbeing and family functioning is an important consideration.”