Griswold’s Christopher Kelly MEd, Director of Learning & Development, Dianne Kelly, RN Cardiac Cath Lab Assistant Manager, and a person living with heart disease discuss the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment and impact of heart disease in older adults. This interactive webinar recognizing February as National Heart Awareness Month will also provide a Fight Heart Disease toolkit that provides tools and resources to improve care and quality of life for people with heart disease and their family caregivers.

1. The Griswold Solutions Series
TM
Older Adults
and Heart
Disease
Getting to the
Heart of the Matter
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

2. American
Heart
Month
Proclamation
2014
“Maintaining
a strong heart is key to a
long and healthy life. The number
one killer of American men and
women, cardiovascular disease is
responsible for one out of every four
deaths in the United States. During
American Heart Month, we renew our
fight, both as a Nation and in each of our
own lives, against the devastating
epidemic of heart disease.”
President Barack Obama
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

3. The American Heart
Association reports
that the number of
Americans with
heart disease has
increased to an
estimated 16.3
million, more than
half of whom are
65 or older.
16,300,000
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

4. Our Goals for Today
• Learn about the nature and impact of heart disease in older adults
• Understand how to diagnose and treat heart disease in older adults
• Learn from the stories and experiences of an experienced
cardiac nurse
• Access a Fight Heart Disease Toolkit that offers innovative
tools/resources for clients and their family/professional caregivers
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

5. Presented by:
Dianne J. Kelly, RN
Cardiac Cath Lab Assistant Manager
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
Chris Kelly, MEd
Director of Learning & Development
Griswold Home Care
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

6. Thank you for your courage, energy, and dedication!
Healthcare Providers
Professional Caregivers
Family Caregivers
Older Adults Living
with Heart Disease
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

7. Orange Arrow Button:
Minimizes or expands the
GoToWebinar control panel.
BRAIN WRITING
Solutions
Brainwriting is…
• a fun, engaging way to brainstorm
• sharing as many ideas as possible within a short timeframe
Brainwriting Process
• Listen for our questions
• When prompted, enter your solutions using the webinar chat function
• Don’t overthink or agonize…There are no right or wrong answers
Brainwriting Outcomes
• Peer-to-peer learning and sharing
• A publication that benefits others who are living with heart disease
Important
• Avoid sharing any information that you would not want others to see
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

8. About Heart Disease
“The Silent Killer”
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

9. Learn about Heart Disease
• Heart disease – also called cardiovascular disease and
coronary artery disease is a term used to describe
several conditions
• The most common cause of heart disease is plaque
buildup in the walls of the arteries of the heart
Normal Artery
Normal
Blood Flow
Artery Wall
Narrowed Artery
Artery Wall
Abnormal
Blood Flow
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

10. Other Forms of Heart Disease
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmia –
or irregular heartbeat
• Heart valve problem
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

11. Heart Disease Risk Factors
High
cholesterol
diet
High blood
pressure
Smoking
Being physically
inactive
Tool:
Diabetes
Being
overweight
Having a family
history of early
heart disease
Age (55 or
older for
women)
NIH Heart Disease
Risk Factors
http://1.usa.gov/1fwFpIe
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

12. Watch, Learn and Live
Heart Attack
Heart Failure
- Lou Gehrig
http://bit.ly/N6VJsc
http://bit.ly/1cWg3CQ
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

13. Recognizing
Heart Disease
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

14. Symptoms of Heart Failure
Shortness of breath
(also called dyspnea) –
especially while lying flat
Waking up tired
Feeling anxious
and restless
Persistent coughing
or wheezing
Swelling of the legs
(also called
Peripheral edema)
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

15. Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Chest pain
(also called “angina”)
Pain in jaw, arm,
back and/or neck
Shortness
of breath
Pallor (gray or
pale skin tone)
Breaking out in
a cold sweat
Indigestion
or nausea
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

16. Diagnosing Heart Disease
Echocardiogram
(ultrasound of heart)
A Physical Exam
Exercise
Stress Test
(or treadmill)
Imaging: Chest
X-ray, CT Scan
Cardiac
Catheterization
Blood tests
An Electrocardiogram
(ECG or EKG) a medical device that
makes a graphical
record of the heart's
electrical activity.
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

17. Treating
Heart Disease
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

18. Medical Treatments
Medication
Aspirin (thins blood)
Beta blockers
(control heart
rate/blood pressure)
Statins (Lower
cholesterol)
ACE Inhibitors
(control blood pressure)
Angioplasty/Stent
(Insert a balloon in
blocked artery and
metal “scaffold” to
keep it open)
Diuretics (prevent
excess fluid in the body)
Calcium channel blockers
(control blood
pressure/rhythm)
Nitrates
Anti-Platelet
(prevents platelets from
clumping together
Surgery
Coronary artery
bypass (fixes
multiple blockages)
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

19. Non-Medical Treatments
Eating healthy foods
Stress reduction
Staying active
Smoking cessation
Tools:
AHA Nutrition/
Stay Active Center
http://bit.ly/1cuJtLM
http://bit.ly/1bPna5A
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

20. Heart Health Care Team
Cardiovascular/
Radiological
Technologist
Cardiologist
Cardiothoracic
Surgeon
Exercise
Physiologist
Nurse
Practitioner
(NP)
Cardiac
Rehab
Therapist
Physician’s
Assistant (PA)
Dietician
Cardiac
Nurse
Non-medical
home care
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

21. Cardiac
Rehab for
Older Adults
Excerpt from the
“Secondary Prevention
of Atherosclerotic
Cardiovascular Disease
in Older Adults: A
Scientific Statement
from the American
Heart Association.”
“Despite clear benefits
of Cardiac Rehab in older
adults…the vast majority
of older patients do not
participate…the cumulative
effect of these factors is
abysmally poor Cardiac
Rehab use rates
among older adults.”
Source: http://bit.ly/1ebrExD
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

22. About Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehab can …
• Help people recover from heart attacks/surgery and heart procedures such
as stent and angioplasty
• Provide education and counseling services
• Help people to stay active and fit
• Reduce cardiac symptoms
• Improve overall health and quality of life
• Reduce the risk of future heart problems
Tool:
What is
Cardiac Rehab?
http://bit.ly/1ezjmiU
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

23. Living with
Heart Disease
Fight Heart Disease
Action Plan and Toolkit
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

24. Living with Heart Disease
Heart disease in older adults can cause:
Emotional challenges
(anxiety, depression)
Physical pain,
discomfort and fatigue
Isolation
Fear of death
(“Walking time bomb”)
Financial challenges
due to medical bills
and lost wages
Family stress
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

25. Fighting Heart Disease Action Plan
Work with your care team
Keep your appointments
Join a support group
Ask about cardiac rehab
Follow treatment plan
as prescribed
Get involved (Advocacy)
Eat healthy foods
Quit smoking
Relaxation (Tai Chi,
Meditation, Massage)
Stay active
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

26. Open Q&A
1. Click to expand
if necessary
2. Type questions here
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

27. Key Takeaways
It is important to recognize and
treat heart disease in older adults
Surround yourself with an expert, supportive cardiac
care team
Emotional issues are common but can be overcome
through education, support and advocacy
Lifestyle changes and treatment can prevent
worsening symptoms
Get involved, and fight back! http://bit.ly/1b2N7Ol
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

28. Brought to you by:
Griswold Home Care offers access to affordable
non-medical care options to assist your loved one.
CareAssure Screening System™
The Griswold Golden Rule: We only approve
caregivers we would trust in our own homes.
Extraordinary Home Care
at Affordable Rates Since 1982
QuickCare Placement™
We give each family access to the most
experienced caregivers available.
ValueCare Commitment™
Simple Rates. Unmatched Value. Our allinclusive rates are among the most affordable.
National 24x7 Care Line:
800-GRISWOLD
www.GriswoldHomeCare.com
© 2014 Griswold International, LLC