Cardiac Rehab @ Home
The Cardiac Rehab @Home Service brings cardiac rehabilitation right to people’s homes.
The six-month program builds on our highly successful Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. It meets the needs of people who can’t participate in an onsite program because they live far away, have transportation or mobility issues or face scheduling challenges.
Heart Health at Home
Participants begin the program by coming to Toronto Rehab for an initial cardiopulmonary exercise assessment. This measures their baseline heart fitness.
Based on their needs and abilities, our interprofessional health care team creates a personalized program of exercise and education. Individuals try the exercise program once at Toronto Rehab. Then they follow the program at home.
Regular Telephone Consultations Provide Support
Support is provided by a cardiac rehab supervisor.
Participants keep a weekly exercise log and send it to their supervisor. Their progress is monitored and feedback provided in a weekly telephone consultation. (In the last three months, the consultation is monthly.)
A program workbook provides information on heart health topics to help individuals adopt long-lasting lifestyle changes.
Educational lectures are also available by webcast. Topics include:
- exercise safety and guidelines for sports and leisure activities
- stress management
- medications
- risk factors for heart disease, and
- good nutrition
Other support is available by telephone or by appointment at Toronto Rehab. A dietician helps individuals develop personal nutritional plans. A psychologist or social worker provides one-to-one counseling to deal with issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, anger, and social and emotional issues.
At the end of six months, participants return to Toronto Rehab for a follow-up cardiopulmonary exercise assessment.
Getting Started
Your doctor must refer you to this program. Ask your doctor to complete the
referral form and fax it to (416) 425-0301.
Maintaining Heart Health
Heart health is lifelong commitment. To help program graduates maintain their lifestyle changes, Toronto Rehab offers the program Heart Health for Life presented by Scotiabank.