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Do Assisted Living Facilities Accept Heart Transplant Patients?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
With over a decade of dedicated experience, Andrea Miller boasts an extensive background in healthcare writing and editing. Her expertise spans various facets of the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on nursing, senior care, Alzheimer’s disease, and public health. Andrea has also contributed her editorial talents to reputable publishers in the Philadelphia region, complementing her extensive freelance work.
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
What should I expect during heart transplant recovery?
When you wake up from a heart transplant, you have a breathing tube. The health care provider removes it once you’re completely awake. Most people stay in the hospital for about 2 weeks after a heart transplant. Medical staff helps you get out of bed and walk around within the first few days after your surgery. They also show you how to do coughing and deep breathing exercises to prevent post-procedure pneumonia.
Several days after surgery, your surgeon performs a heart biopsy to check if your body has accepted the donor heart. Your surgical team also refers you for cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen your new heart.
How does assisted living help after a heart transplant?
Assisted living staff helps with activities of daily living after a heart transplant. During and after heart transplant recovery, assisted living makes sense if you need help with some activities but don’t require 24/7 supervision or skilled nursing care. You have frequent post-op checkups in the first few months, and many assisted living facilities provide transportation to medical appointments.
Assisted living communities offer nutritional services. They create a diet plan that fits your needs after the heart transplant and monitor your progress as you adjust. Most people need a high-fiber, low-salt diet with lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains to support recovery.
Does assisted living help with medications after a heart transplant?
Assisted living staff members have the training to help manage and administer medications after a heart transplant. They also help keep track of possible side effects and adverse drug events. Your surgical team prescribes immunosuppressant medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new heart, along with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial drugs.
Communicate with staff members about your medication needs. Before entering the hospital for your surgery, talk to a knowledgeable person at the assisted living community to make sure it can care for you during recovery.