Whether he lives alone, with you, or in a long-term care facility, you should encourage him to care for himself as much as possible. Although you may be tempted to take care of everything for him, he'll feel better about himself if you help him perform tasks on his own. As long as he's able, he should be involved in managing his symptoms and making decisions about his treatment. By taking on too much responsibility for him, you risk taking away his independence (which can lead to depression) -- and exhausting yourself in the process.

Plan for the future

Depending on the severity of his congestive heart failure, he may still have many years of active living ahead of him. But you both should realize that his condition could ultimately worsen. As the disease progresses, talk to him about what end-of-life treatments he does and doesn't want. Find out at what point he wants a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order added to his medical chart. Talk to him about a living will and an advance health care directives. Although these conversations can be painful, it's useful to remember that these are important decisions.

You should also discuss future plans with his doctor. Ask about his prognosis whenever his condition or treatment plan changes, and don't hesitate to ask tough questions about what you can reasonably expect. Having as much information as possible will make it easier for everyone to make difficult choices.