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Every day, the heart quietly goes about its business, pumping blood and oxygen to organs and sustaining human life. It’s as natural as breathing, but when someone is suddenly smitten with a heart attack or faces the onset of cardiac disease, the consequences can be enormous, impacting not only the body but the person’s emotional state. Life for the person can be turned upside down — or at least it can feel that way.
Thankfully, science has come a long way in repairing damaged hearts through surgery and medications. But the truth is that full recovery involves much more, and at Whitehall Boca our popular, two-week cardiac rehabilitation program addresses all the components that make recovery complete and helps to avoid any future recurrences. We firmly believe that a multidisciplinary approach using various experts, therapies, psychological and educational elements is the key.
Beginning Assessment
No two patients are alike, which means that any adverse cardiac impact on every patient is different and may involve more or less complexity in the challenge of recovery. For that reason, the program we design for every cardiac rehab candidate is unique. Our assessment stage takes into account the effects of the cardiac issue on the person’s life. Factors we consider include any reducation in physical activity, occupational performance, and motivation to participate in his or her own care. Because our overriding goal is to return patients to their highest possible functional capacity, the ideal cardiac rehab candidate is one with moderate to moderately severe heart disease who is stable, on standard medical therapy, not limited by other serious or unstable medical conditions, and willing to learn about the disease.
Psychological and Emotional Considerations
Fear and anxiety are common problems for nearly all cardiac patients. And, because those kinds of stresses can impact recovery, all cardiac rehab patients automatically see a psychologist while they are in the program. A social worker continues to address issues of stress with each participant on a weekly basis. Likewise, because meditation and mild yoga can help reduce stress, patients are asked to participate in those activities during their second week.
Therapeutic Sessions
No cardiac rehabilitation program would be complete without a strong focus on therapies proven to work in recovery efforts. At Whitehall Boca, we include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and therapeutic recreation -- again, each of which is individually tailored to address the unique nature of every patient and his or her condition. Of course, physical therapy is critical and among the physical activities we promote is walking.
All of our therapy programs are balanced to ensure that patients steadily advance in short sessions, but have frequent and regular relaxation times.
Education
Because cardiac events can have lifelong consequences that typically require rethinking on nutrition, menu planning and meal preparation, exercise, stress management, energy conservation, medication management and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, Whitehall Boca puts great emphasis on education as part of its overall cardiac rehabilitation program. Education classes are held Mondays through Fridays, and are presented by seasoned medical professionals such as dietitians.
Follow-Up Support
Whitehall Boca offers free community support groups every month, including the Mended Hearts group -- a support group specifically for cardiac rehabilitation patients. The program, which takes place the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m., is not mandatory. However, patients who have participated in our cardiac rehab program are strongly encouraged to attend to help maintain the new approach to heart care they learned during their stay with us. (See more on all of our community support groups.)
Cardiac Rehabilitation Builds Strength and Confidence
Skilled Nursing & Short-Term Care Facility
Proudly Serving South Florida Since 1982
(561) 392-3000
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Watch our video on the program, then scroll down further for point-by-point details on how we work with our cardiac patients, and where we place our emphasis to get them where they need to be.
