Objective To deeply understand the experience of volume management in home-dwelling elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and provide information for targeted interventions. Methods The interview outline was developed based on the integrated theory of health behavior change, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 elderly CHF patients to gather their experience of volume management. Results Four themes and ten sub-themes generated:inadequate awareness of volume management (cognitive deficits after hospital discharge, unsuccessful knowledge-seeking behavior), negative beliefs due to psychological aspects of ageing (despising self-value, differences in personal responsibility), lack of knowledge and skills for volume regulation (poor maintenance of volume balance, ineffective self-monitoring of volume load, low identification accuracy of volume overload and handling errors), and social support needs (emotional support from the family and society, resource support from the community and hospital, telehealth support and counseling services). Conclusion Elderly CHF patients have inadequate awareness, knowledge and skills, negative attitudes and insufficient social support in volume management. Medical staff should pay great attention to and take targeted interventions to improve their current situation.