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Helping a Loved One After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Table of Contents


Overview

People in recovery from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery may need assistance from family members and friends in a variety of ways. You may help your loved one for several weeks during recovery with a number of tasks, including shopping, cleaning, and driving. You can also help support your loved one in making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy foods. Also, he or she may rely on you for emotional support.

If you have a family member or other loved one who has just returned home from the hospital after CABG surgery, you may want to know what you can do to help. Your loved one may not be able to do normal activities and may also need a great deal of encouragement and emotional support.

Day-to-day activities

Your loved one who has just had open-heart surgery may have considerable physical limitations. So he or she may rely on others for help with relatively simple but important tasks. You and your friends and family may choose to assume a large role in managing his or her day-to-day life. You can help by:

Providing emotional support

Being a full-time caregiver may be an unfamiliar role for you. Maybe you never imagined yourself spending most of your time taking care of a loved one. There are several things you can do to help provide the emotional support needed.

Looking after yourself

Being a caregiver can be mentally and physically challenging. There are things you can do to help make the situation more manageable for yourself. Remember that you will only be an effective and loving caregiver if you are in good physical and mental shape. Try to find ways to reduce the stress of caregiving.


Credits for Helping a Loved One After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Current as of: October 2, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
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