Heart failure self-management with the House of Care model

Abstract

Health-care models must evolve in order to deliver proactive care to the growing numbers of patients with long-term conditions. The House of Care model seeks to do this through championing person-centred care, thereby facilitating a person's self-management of their condition. Chronic heart failure is a long-term condition with poor quality-of-life outcomes, yet many self-management options are available to help a person live as well as possible. This article critically comments on the application of each element of the House of Care model in enabling the self-management of chronic heart failure. Specifically, it discusses the self-management skills of daily weight monitoring and subsequent titration by the patient of prescribed diuretic drugs. Barriers to the application of the House of Care model are noted, and recommendations made to ensure excellent person-centred delivery of health care is achieved.