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Learning that your loved one needs a ventricular assist device (VAD) means there will be big changes in both of your lives. It may also mean that you will become a care partner. This will shift your priorities and daily tasks for at least three months.

Recovering from VAD implantation surgery can be a long road. Support from competent care partners can make a huge difference.

This life change can bring up big emotions and may seem scary or impossible at first. It’s important to validate and acknowledge those feelings.

With support and education, you, your loved one, and the rest of their support team can get through this experience stronger and more bonded than ever.

Here’s what you need to know about supporting someone with a VAD.

What Does It Mean to Be a Care Partner?

First off, it’s important to know that you are not alone. More than 6 million people in the United States have heart failure that requires some sort of assistance from care partners.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), over 63 million Americans are care partners. That’s 1 in 4 adults.

Care partners provide essential support to family members, friends, or other loved ones who cannot care for themselves independently. This includes caring for people who:

• Are declining with age.
• Are healing from a traumatic accident.
• Are recovering from surgery or a lengthy procedure.
• Have permanent physical or mental disabilities.

What Is VAD Surgery?

There are two types of VADs:

• Bridge-to-transplant VADs — These are implanted in someone with heart failure who is waiting for a heart transplant.
• Destination therapy VADs — These are for end-stage heart failure. They are permanent solutions that will remain implanted for the rest of the person’s life.

Both surgeries are big procedures on an already fatigued heart and vulnerable body. Care partner support is crucial for these people’s health and survival.

What Do I Need to Know About Supporting Someone with a VAD?

Living with any type of VAD requires big changes at home. Especially in the first six to 12 weeks, people will need significant help throughout the day.

Here are some of the most important tasks care partners will oversee.

Checking driveline connection and changing dressing

The driveline is the cable that runs from the pump inserted into the heart to the controller outside the body. It’s the one piece of equipment that is both inside and outside the body. Because of this location, it’s important to know what issues to look for, such as driveline pulling or kinking.

The driveline site, where the cable exits the body, requires close attention and post-op care. You need to change the dressing around the area often to prevent infection.

Knowing the signs of infection — such as the driveline site becoming irritated or red — is also important. That way, you know when to call their VAD care team.

Daily activity support

In the first few months at home, people with VADs will need specific help with everyday tasks.

This may include needing help to:

• Change clothes.
• Cook heart-healthy meals.
• Complete household chores, such as cleaning, pet care, and watering plants.
• Drive to appointments and other places.
• Get in and out of bed.
• Go to the bathroom.
• Keep their water glass full and encourage hydration.
• Lift anything heavier than ten pounds.
• Manage medications, including blood thinners (which may be injections).
• Meet with their VAD/care team to share information.
• Shower with a protective VAD-shower cover.

Tracking health information

You may also need to track key health information for your loved one. This includes their:

• PT/INR (prothrombin time/international normalized ratio).
• Temperature.
• Weight.
• Blood pressure.
• Device parameters.

You may use a scale, thermometer, and an at-home PT/INR machine to record these numbers.

Recording these data points is important to ensure the machine is working. It can also catch signs of infection or complications early. Keep these numbers in a health journal, on an online platform, or a mobile app designed for tracking medical information.

Understanding and recording VAD alarms and readings

VADs share several points of data, including:

• Battery levels.
• The blood flow.
• The pump speed.

They also create alarms if the battery is low, blood flow is affected, or the VAD has stopped working.

Before leaving the hospital, your loved one’s VAD team should explain the VAD alarm system to you and let you know how to respond, depending on what alarm sounds. They should also provide emergency contact numbers and instructions on what to do if an alarm sounds.

Understanding these readings and alarms is critical to caregiving for someone with a VAD.

Your loved one’s VAD team should also go over emergency protocols, including what to pack and how to prepare ahead of time.

VAD connection to electricity

All VADs must be plugged in to work — either in a three-pronged wall outlet or a portable battery pack. Most VADs also come with a controller. People with VADs must always carry an extra controller and two extra batteries when leaving the house.

As a care partner, it’s important to ensure:

• Batteries are being charged overnight.
• Extra batteries and an extra controller are packed when leaving the house.
• Extra batteries are charged.
• The device has a stable connection to a wall outlet overnight.
• The device is always plugged into a wall outlet or a portable power source.

How Do I Take Care of Myself as a Care Partner?

Caregiving can be an all-encompassing role. It can be rewarding, bonding, and positive. But it can also be draining, burdensome, and bring up negative or sad emotions.

It’s important to understand that both positive and negative feelings can exist at the same time while being a care partner, even for a special loved one.

Many cliches apply to the role of caregiving — “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” and “You must put your oxygen mask on first.” They may seem corny, but these statements represent how best to show up for those to whom you’re giving care.

You must also take care of your own physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs. That way, you can fully show up to give intentional support to others.

Some VAD care partner tips include:

Understand your responsibilities

Caregiving can quickly take up most of your time, especially if you are the primary or sole provider. Before your loved one returns from the hospital with their VAD, take time to write out all your responsibilities outside of caregiving.

You may have elderly parents, children, pets, or other dependents. You may work, volunteer, study, run a household, participate in regular social activities, attend church, go to workouts or classes, or more. Your care partner responsibilities may affect all of these important facets of your life.

Take stock of your life and have an honest conversation with yourself about the mental and physical load you can take on at this time. It’s important to note that most people with VADs have multiple care partners who help break down tasks and responsibilities as they work toward living independently.

If you know you will need additional support in caregiving responsibilities, reach out to family, friends, or your loved one’s health care providers for resources and options.

Prioritize your own health

It may seem that because your loved one is in a vulnerable state, they need all the attention and care. While it’s true that they need more help than usual, you must also acknowledge your own needs. That will allow you to properly show up for them.

Taking time to address your own needs ensures you are staying healthy. It also means you can show up as your healthiest self for your loved one. Prioritizing your own health is not selfish — it’s an important facet of providing adequate care.

Consider your needs and schedule time to address your health so that you do not burn out or get sick.

Staying healthy may include:

Physical health needs

• Consider your own nutrition with meal planning, meal prepping, and having access to healthy snacks.
• Prioritize a healthy sleep routine, working to get two four-hour blocks of sleep a night.
• Schedule a workout class or physical activity such as pickleball or swimming.
• Take breaks with a walk outside or even a few minutes of sitting in the sun.
• Take time, even in short bursts, for some exercise, stretching, or yoga.

Emotional needs

• Find time during caregiving breaks to practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
• Reach out to a trusted loved one or mental health professional if you need to process your emotions with more support.
• Structure your day so that you know you will have small pockets of time to yourself to decompress.

Social and spiritual needs

• Find time to attend to your spiritual needs by attending church or taking a few moments each day for your spirituality or religion.
• Look for care partner support groups, networks, and resources. Talk with your loved one’s care provider about local options.
• Schedule time with loved ones doing activities you enjoy.
• Seek situations that are supportive, uplifting, calming, and rejuvenating.

Your health is just as important as the person you’re caring for. Caregiving is not an easy role. And it’s important to acknowledge how you are coping.

To show up as your best self to others, you must also show up for yourself, even if your time and options are more limited.

Remember: This recovery time is temporary. The care you’re providing is monumental for your loved one as they recover and regain independence.