From SanoLabs, the makers of the Sam app
Help with heart failure without taking over
Supporting a parent with heart failure means helping with weighing and medication if they want that, preparing the appointment together and knowing the emergency signs.
What can you do, concretely?
- Organize the weighing togetherFor example in the morning after the toilet, in similar clothes, written in a log. The practice says how often.
- Know when to tell the practiceThe European Society of Cardiology's patient site advises telling the doctor or nurse about a gain of more than 2 kg (3 pounds) in 3 days. The practice says what to do.
- Help sort the medicationYou sort along, the doctor decides on every dose.
- Prepare the appointmentThe weight log, medication list and new symptoms go in the bag.
What can you say?
You could say How are the weighing and writing it down going for you right now?
You ask about the routine, not the number.
You could say Shall we ask the practice when we should get in touch?
The practice sets the limit, not you.
You could say I am happy to drive you to the appointment and take notes.
A clear offer.
Sam for your parent
Symptoms and a weekly trend for the visit
The practice says how often to weigh. Sam adds how the weeks felt and how sleep and activity went.
- Symptoms with datesBreathlessness, tiredness, swollen legs or cough go in with a day and a strength, in just a few taps.
- Apple Health feeds inSam picks up sleep, steps and resting heart rate from Apple Health. Sam measures nothing itself and rates nothing.
- Monthly report for practiceThe report sums up a month of sleep and activity. Your parent takes it along as a PDF.
- Share what they chooseWith Care Circle your parent shares symptoms or steps. You see them read-only, and you both need Sam.
Shortness of breath, Leg swelling
Duration and history
from today
from today
Better prepared for the practice
Instead ofsymptoms on loose slips of paper that are missing at the visit
In SamSymptoms with dates in Sam, taken along as a report.
Instead oftelling the doctor from memory how the last weeks were
In SamSleep and activity as a monthly history that the doctor puts in context.
Instead ofasking every day how things are today
In SamSelected entries your parent shares, read-only.
Sam measures neither weight nor heart rate and rates nothing; only a doctor can make sense of the history.
Questions adult children ask
EmergencyWhen should I get help right away?+
This is general safety information, not a diagnosis. It does not tell you whether your parent has a health condition. These signs need help right away:
- Severe breathlessness: gasping, struggling for air or unable to speak full sentences
- Lips or skin turn pale, blue or grey
- Coughing up frothy pink phlegm
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Sudden confusion
In these cases get help now: call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US). Do not use this list to decide on your own whether something is wrong.
Should my father weigh himself every day?+
The European Society of Cardiology's patient site suggests weighing every day at the same time. Your parent's care team decides how often fits.
Can I change or skip medication myself?+
No. Only the treating doctor changes doses. Ask the practice or pharmacy how a medication is taken.
Does Sam measure my mother's heart rate?+
No. Sam measures nothing itself. Sam reads values from Apple Health and shows them over time, without rating them.
Does Sam replace the doctor?+
No. Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. A doctor makes the assessment.
Sources
Last updated: October 2026
Go to the appointment with a trend line
Sam sums up the trends as a monthly report, so you both have something concrete to bring to the doctor.
Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. Sam does not measure heart rate, does not diagnose or treat anything and does not replace a doctor. For acute symptoms call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).