Skip to main content

Course Programme Overview - Living with Heart Failure Course

Heart Failure (Left Sided) Self-Management Programme (LSHFSMP)

LSHFSMP is a course to help people who live with left sided Heart Failure to maintain and improve their quality of life through self-management.  

Week 1

  • Overview of self-management and heart failure 
  • Nutrition/Healthy Eating
  • Making an action plan
  • Monitoring Heart Failure

Week 2 

  • Nutrition/Healthy eating
  • Making an action plan 
  • Monitoring Heart Failure 
  • Problem Solving
  • Feedback 
  • Dealing Stress

Week 3

  • Nutrition/Healthy Eating  
  • Making an action plan
  • Monitoring heart failure
  • Problem-solving
  • Feedback
  • Planning and pacing 
  • Preventing complications 
  • Making Decisions 
  • Physical activity / Exercise 

Week 4

  • Nutrition/Healthy Eating  
  • Making an action plan
  • Monitoring heart failure
  • Problem-solving
  • Feedback
  • Difficult emotions

Week 5

  • Nutrition/Healthy Eating  
  • Making an action plan
  • Monitoring heart failure
  • Problem-solving
  • Feedback
  • Physical activity & exercise 
  • Low Mood and Depression
  • Positive Thinking
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Communication

Week 6 

  • Monitoring heart failure
  • Problem-solving
  • Feedback
  • Sick days
  • Getting a good nights sleep 
  • Medication
  • Working with your healthcare team
  • Looking back and planning for the future 

Out of Course Activities by Session 

Session 1:  

  • On 2 days, one work day and one non-work day or one week day and one weekend day, monitor your weight once in AM before eating. Write down all you eat on same 2 days, take note of what learned.  

  • Reading: Chapters1, 2, 4, 10 and 14   

  • Keep track of your action plan, note if there are any challenges and how you overcame them. 

Session 2:  

  • We will be covering decision-making next time; think of something for which you need to make a decision and have it ready for next week’s activity.  

  • On 2 days, one work day and one non-work day or one week day and one weekend day, monitor your weight once in AM before eating. Write down all you eat on same 2 days, take note of what learned.  

  • Reading: Chapters 2, 4, 10  

  • Keep track of your action plan.  

Session 3:  

  • Pay attention to labels of favourite foods; see if you are eating hidden fat and if it’s saturated or non-saturated.  

  • Look at serving sizes on labels of foods; bring 1-2 labels next week and be prepared to tell the group what you have discovered.  

  • Reading: Chapters 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14  

  • Keep track of your action plan.  

Session 4:  

  • Reading:  Chapters 4, 6 and 10  

  • Reading food labels; try having smaller servings of foods high in carbohydrates and/or fats.   

  • Keep track your exercise each day.  

  • Keep track of your action plan.  

Session 5:  

  • Pay attention to the types of thoughts you have about yourself; try to replace negative ones with positive ones.  

  • Keep track of exercise one weekday and one weekend day or one work day and one non work day; be prepared to share what learned.   

  • On 2 days, one work day and one non-work day or one week day and one weekend day, monitor your weight once in AM before eating. Write down all you eat on same 2 days, take note of what learned.  Do you notice a difference from when you did this at the beginning of the course? 

  • Reading: Chapters 6, 8, 11, 14  

  • You may wish to write a letter to your GP about what you have accomplished on this course.  Alternatively write a letter to the Coordinator of the organisation providing the training.  Tutors will provide the address.  You don’t have to post or show these letters but bring them with you next week for your own use in the sharing activity.  

  • Keep track of your action plan.  

Session 6:   

  • Create and/or update a medication list and ensure to keep it current  

  • Reading:  Chapters 13, 14 and 16  

  • Continue using your action plans as a support.