Heart Health Tips For Seniors

Companion Care at Home in Manalapan NJ

Companion Care at Home in Manalapan NJ

Heart disease is becoming even more common than it used to be among seniors. There are medications that can increase a senior’s chances of developing heart disease but lifestyle factors like smoking, being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and eating a lot of unhealth foods can all increase the chances that a senior will develop heart disease. If you want to help your senior loved one manage their heart disease or prevent heart disease in the future share these tips with them:

Maintain a Healthy Weight

One of the best things that seniors can do to keep their hearts healthy is maintain a healthy weight. Obesity or being overweight puts a huge strain on the heart. Seniors who need to lose weight can get advice from their doctors on the best ways to approach losing weight. If weight gain is a side effect of medication talk to your senior loved one’s doctor about changing medications if it’s possible.

Get Active

The more your senior loved one moves the healthier they will be. Movement is an easy thing that seniors can do to take charge of their health. If your senior parent is reluctant to get up and move companion care at home from a home care provider is a great way to get your senior loved one motivated. Having companion care at home means that your senior parent will have someone around daily to motivate them to get up and walk, or go for a bike ride, or go swimming. And a home care provider can also make it easier for senior loved one to get to the gym, or to the senior center for exercise classes, or to the park for a walk by helping arrange transportation for them.

Eat Heart Healthy Meals

Diet is another key component in heart health. Cutting back on salt and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods from the microwave will make a big difference in a senior’s heart health. If your senior parent doesn’t cook healthy meals because they don’t like to shop, or they can’t carry grocery bags easily you can look into using a grocery delivery service or let companion care at home help your parents with their shopping. That way you can be sure that they have access to the fresh fruits and vegetables that will keep them healthy.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is another essential for a healthy heart. And sleep is something that millions of seniors don’t get enough of. Make sure that your senior loved ones have a bedroom that is cool, dark, and comfortable to improve the quality of their sleep. You can install a ceiling fan to help regulate the temperature and make sure there are plenty of warm and cozy blankets and pillows. Going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning will also help seniors establish a regular sleeping pattern and improve the quality of their sleep.

Sources:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/heart-healthy-habits-for-seniors.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/any_age.htm
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/heart-health-and-aging
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/coronary-heart-disease-brief.html

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Manalapan, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.

Care Street Home Care Staff