@actsoflight A lot of the effort of the caregiver duties will be based on how ill the patient is before a heart is received. For me I came in with a ton of residual health and so what my wife was told to she would do never really happened. Her major task was to hold me back as I felt like I should b e slaying dragons. Of course she supervised my weekly pill pack and regularly asked me if I took my pills (generally followed by an exaggerated and exasperated yes from me). She did drive me to numerous follow-up appointments which are 3-4 times per week for the first two months and then maybe one a week thereafter. I think the worst thing for her was tolerating the emotions due to steroid use in recovery. Luckily for both of us I was a crier and not a jerk.
Best always,
s!
Scott Jensen

@actsoflight Time would depend on if he has anyone else available in his local area and the distance to the hospital. I'm guessing he is living alone at the moment and can get around somehow. So for the wait before receiving the heart would be like it is now. If it was me I would probably plan on a couple of weeks during the time before to go and be with him during the initial planning stage with the hospital and Doctors. Then you probably could go home until he gets word. If he can get himself.to the hospital during the wait period. Then when the call comes he heads to the hospital and you grab the next flight done to him. He will probably be in the hospital for about 2 weeks after transplant but they will want his caregiver to be there also to get briefed on how to care for him at home and to prepare for the return home. At that point I probably would say 6 months maybe less but here is where it can be so different between people. The first month after leaving the hospital you are at the hospital almost daily. My wife and I stayed in a hotel the first month close by to the hospital since we lived about 70 miles away and found it easier than driving back and forth. Month 2&3 your up at the hospital at least once a week for labs and follow up and it keeps tapering off to bi weekly up to the 6 month. Then after that probably monthly up until the first year. Now if he's close to the hospital after about 2 months post he could maybe drive himself or get some kind of taxi, Uber etc. It's just the biopsies that require a driver usually. But I would definitely plan a time to talk with the particular hospital and what protacalls they have about this. I'm in Arizona and had mine at Mayo Clinic. The only other 2 campuses are Minnisota and Florida so I'm not sure which hospital he may be using.

@actsoflight Good Morning, the primary caregiver could stay as long as they can up to 6 weeks with you. If the primary could not stay up to 6weeks, as long as you have alternates to take over when they need to leave, that is fine. The caregiver is very important to prepare meals and grocery shop, do the necessary laundry and clean your spaces often. Timely medication is vital and food is important at pill times! Also that person will need to be available to drive the patient to appointments at the medical building every other day for the first several weeks. Sometimes they might need to pick up extra prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy! It is a busy job for those weeks but good sleep is super important for them to be recharged every day. My mom of 75, was our caregiver. She is naturally a loving and caring soul who would jump at this chance to help my husband (kidney receiver ) and myself (kidney donor). It is a very important job!