A Compassionate Journey Through Caregiving, Patient Perspectives, Palliation, and End of Life: The Circle of Life

Stage D heart failure represents the advanced stage of the disease, characterized by persistent and severe symptoms, structural heart disease, and frequent hospitalizations despite optimal medical therapy. Palliative care becomes crucial at this stage, as it focuses on managing distressing symptoms, improving communication about prognosis and treatment options, providing emotional and psychosocial support, coordinating care among healthcare providers, and facilitating advance care planning.

This didactic session aims to focus on HFSA’s recent consensus-based recommendations on the integration of palliative care in heart failure, in addition to providing a holistic understanding of heart failure care. Speakers will delve into the crucial aspects of caregiving—exploring patient and provider perspectives, addressing palliative measures, and navigating the challenging terrain of end-of-life care.

Agenda

• Moderator - Sonja Brune, MSN, APRN, CCNS, CHFN, HF-Cert, AACC, FHFSA
• Moderator - Catarina Canha, MD
• The Lion King’s Role: The Caregiver as a Vital Heart Failure Advocate - Melissa Owen, PhD, RN, FHFSA, CNE
• Remember Who You Are: Patient-Centered Heart Failure Perspectives - TBD
• No Worries: Hakuna Matata - Enhancing Quality of Life - TBD
• Wise Rafiki: “He Lives in You” Accepting End of Life - Sarah Chuzi, MD
• Panel Discussion -  ,