Other
Ceres Community Feeding Program
(2019)
Abstract
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a complex cardiac condition affecting five million
patients in the United States. This condition accounts for a tremendous financial burden
nationwide of 34 billion dollars per year with 75% of the overall healthcare costs attributed to
inpatient hospitalization and high readmission rates (Bhimaraj, 2013). Presently, treatment for
CHF patients in the hospital focuses on fluid volume overload, stabilizing vital signs, managing
cardiac medications and education for self-management at home. Post discharge, efficacious
self-management is the foundation for living with CHF and hindering disease progression.
However, up to 80% of CHF patients fail to maintain lifestyle recommendations such as
following a healthier diet. This condition can be disabling, and patients may become too fatigued
while trying to prepare healthy food for themselves especially after initial discharge.
Unfortunately, during hospitalization and after discharge there is little emphasis for addressing
nutrition in clinical practice, albeit many CHF patients suffer from malnutrition which
exacerbates their condition. In response, over the past four years there is growing evidence to
support home food delivery programs for CHF patients post discharge to help reduce
readmission rates and assist with recovery. Kaiser Santa Rosa has also acknowledged the
positive impact home delivered heart healthy food can have on CHF patients and has launched
the Ceres Community Feeding Program as a feasible intervention post discharge to help reduce
readmission rates and support recovery between July 2018 through July 2019.
Disciplines
- Nursing and
- Other Nursing
Publication Date
Summer August 2, 2019
Citation Information
Erica Gomez. "Ceres Community Feeding Program" (2019) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/erica-gomez/1/