February is recognized as Heart Health Month in the United States, and although it’s important for senior care providers to focus on the cardiovascular well-being of their patients all year, they may want to recommit themselves to doing so this month. Seniors are often at a greater risk for heart issues during the winter months, and there are some steps senior caregivers can take to helping protect them from such incidents.
Meal preparation often plays the biggest role in a senior’s heart health. What a person eats can drastically raise or lower his or her risk of developing heart disease, and often it’s up to senior care providers to craft nutritious meals. The best way to do so is to include plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods. According to the Mayo Clinic, both contain high levels of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, which help manage cholesterol levels.
Senior care providers can also help older adults during Heart Health Month by making sure they adhere to their medication regimen. It’s not unusual for seniors to have a prescription to manage high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes, and combined with other medication, it could be easy to overlook.
Heart disease remains one of the biggest threats to senior health. An estimated 600,000 people die each year from the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
