February is American Heart Month, making it the perfect time to discuss cardiac care and rehabilitation for seniors recovering from heart surgery, heart attacks, or managing chronic heart conditions. If your loved one is being discharged from the hospital after a cardiac event, understanding what quality cardiac rehabilitation looks like in a skilled nursing facility can help you make the best care decision.

At Alpine Fireside Health Center in Rockford, Illinois, we’ve been providing comprehensive cardiac care and rehabilitation services for over 50 years. Our family-owned facility works closely with SwedishAmerican Hospital, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, and Javon Bea Hospital to ensure seamless transitions for cardiac patients who need specialized recovery care.

Understanding Cardiac Rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help heart patients recover, regain strength, and reduce the risk of future cardiac events. When hospital discharge planners recommend skilled nursing care, it’s because your loved one needs more intensive monitoring and therapy than can be safely provided at home.

What Is Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation combines several key components:

Medical Monitoring: Regular vital sign checks, EKG monitoring when needed, and medication management by skilled nurses who understand cardiac care protocols.

Physical Therapy: Carefully designed exercise programs that gradually rebuild cardiovascular endurance and strength without overexertion. Our HealthPro Heritage therapy team creates individualized plans based on each patient’s cardiac function and physician orders.

Occupational Therapy: Helps patients safely perform daily activities like bathing, dressing, and cooking while managing their heart condition and conserving energy.

Education: Teaching patients and families about heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medication compliance, recognizing warning signs, and when to seek emergency care.

Nutritional Support: Heart-healthy meal planning that manages sodium, cholesterol, and portion sizes while still being enjoyable and nourishing.

Who Needs Cardiac Rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing?

Not every heart patient requires skilled nursing care, but it’s often recommended after:

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): Especially when patients need close monitoring during initial recovery or have complications.

Heart Surgery: Including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve replacement or repair, stent placement, or pacemaker/defibrillator implantation.

Heart Failure: When symptoms are severe enough to require daily skilled nursing care, medication adjustments, and careful fluid monitoring.

Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms that require medication management and monitoring.

Cardiac Catheterization: Some patients need short-term rehabilitation after procedures, especially if they have complications or limited support at home.

Your hospital discharge planner will work with your loved one’s cardiologist to determine if skilled nursing rehabilitation is appropriate based on their medical complexity, home situation, and recovery needs.

What to Expect: The Cardiac Rehab Timeline

Every patient’s journey is unique, but here’s what a typical cardiac rehabilitation stay looks like at a skilled nursing facility:

Days 1-3: Assessment and Stabilization

When your loved one arrives at Alpine Fireside from the hospital, our nursing team conducts a comprehensive admission assessment. We review all hospital discharge instructions, current medications, dietary restrictions, and activity limitations.

During the first few days, we focus on:

• Monitoring vital signs closely (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels)
• Ensuring medication compliance and watching for side effects
• Beginning gentle mobility activities as approved by the physician
• Establishing a comfortable routine
• Meeting with our therapy team for initial evaluations

Week 1-2: Building Foundation

As patients stabilize, therapy intensity gradually increases. Physical therapy might begin with simple activities like:

• Seated exercises to improve circulation
• Short walks in the hallway with heart rate monitoring
• Breathing exercises
• Gentle stretching to prevent stiffness

Occupational therapy focuses on essential self-care tasks:

• Bathing and grooming with energy conservation techniques
• Transferring safely from bed to chair
• Managing clothing and dressing

Nurses continue close monitoring and work with the physician to optimize medications.

Week 2-4: Progressive Strengthening

As endurance builds, therapy becomes more challenging:

• Longer walking distances
• Stair training (if appropriate)
• Light resistance exercises
• More independent self-care activities
• Practice with home management tasks

Throughout this phase, we’re constantly monitoring how the heart responds to increased activity. If a patient experiences concerning symptoms—chest pain, excessive shortness of breath, dizziness, or abnormal heart rhythms—we adjust the program and communicate with their cardiologist.

Discharge Planning: Going Home Strong

The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to help your loved one return home safely with the knowledge and strength to manage their heart condition. Before discharge, we ensure:

• Patient and family understand all medications
• Home exercise program is clearly explained
• Follow-up appointments are scheduled
• Warning signs are understood
• Dietary guidelines are reviewed
• Emergency protocols are in place

Many patients continue outpatient cardiac rehabilitation after leaving skilled nursing care to further improve their cardiovascular fitness.

The Alpine Fireside Approach to Cardiac Care

At our 66-bed facility in Rockford, we’ve developed a comprehensive approach to cardiac rehabilitation:

Experienced Nursing Team

Our registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are trained in cardiac care protocols. They know how to recognize subtle changes that might signal a problem—a slight increase in blood pressure, new swelling in the ankles, or changes in breathing patterns.

We maintain detailed documentation and communicate regularly with cardiologists to ensure every patient’s care plan is optimized.

HealthPro Heritage Therapy Partnership

Since partnering with HealthPro Heritage in 2025, our rehabilitation services have expanded significantly. Their therapists bring specialized expertise in cardiac rehabilitation, using evidence-based protocols to help patients progress safely.

Physical and occupational therapists work together to create comprehensive programs that address all aspects of recovery—from cardiovascular conditioning to daily living independence.

Heart-Healthy Nutrition

Diet plays a crucial role in cardiac recovery. Our dietary team prepares meals that follow cardiac diet guidelines:

• Controlled sodium to manage blood pressure and fluid retention
• Limited saturated fats and cholesterol
• Appropriate portion sizes
• Balanced nutrition with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

We accommodate individual preferences and dietary restrictions while maintaining heart-healthy standards.

Family Education and Involvement

We believe family members are essential partners in cardiac recovery. We encourage families to:

• Participate in care plan meetings
• Learn about medications and their purposes
• Understand dietary requirements
• Observe therapy sessions
• Practice home care routines before discharge

The more prepared families feel, the more successful the transition home will be.

Recognizing Warning Signs: When to Seek Emergency Care

We teach all cardiac patients and their families to recognize symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

Call 911 if you experience:

• Chest pain or pressure (especially if it radiates to the arm, jaw, or back)
• Severe shortness of breath
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Fainting or near-fainting
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat with dizziness

Call your doctor if you notice:

• Gradual increase in shortness of breath
• New or worsening swelling in ankles or legs
• Sudden weight gain (3+ pounds in a day or 5+ pounds in a week)
• Persistent cough, especially if producing pink or frothy sputum
• Increasing fatigue with routine activities

Medicare Coverage for Cardiac Rehabilitation

Medicare Part A typically covers skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days. For cardiac patients, coverage includes:

• Semi-private room
• Meals
• Skilled nursing care
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy as needed
• Medications administered during the stay
• Medical supplies and equipment

Medicare covers 100% of costs for days 1-20, and days 21-100 require a daily copayment. Coverage continues as long as your loved one requires skilled services and is making progress.

Our admissions team at Alpine Fireside can verify Medicare eligibility and explain your financial responsibilities before admission. Call us at (815) 877-7408 for a free benefits check.