Heart Care

With all of the options on store shelves, which are the most important vitamins for older adults?

Minerals, vitamins, and supplements – oh my! Nearly three in four older adults are taking them; but are they really needed as we get older? After all, a balanced and healthy diet offers older adults essential nutrients. But there are specific areas of deficiency that may make a case for the addition of a supplement. Make sure to talk with the doctor before making any changes, but with their recommendation or approval, consider the following important vitamins for older adults:

Calcium

Aging bones are susceptible to breaks and fractures when calcium intake is inadequate. This is especially true for post-menopausal women, with a full 50% of those over age 50 breaking a bone because of osteoporosis. However, men are also in … Read More »

Improving health and wellbeing for seniors is easier with these tips.

Though New Year’s Day is still months away, who says resolutions should only be made at the start of the year? There is no time like the present to start a new habit or goal, especially when it comes to improving health and wellbeing for seniors.

We have six strategies you can implement today. Pick one to begin, or jump right into all of them to attain the greatest benefit:

Make an appointment for a physical. Rather than waiting for an injury or illness to call the doctor, a yearly check-up is a great way for seniors to stay on top of their health and potentially prevent issues before they occur.
Get physical. With the physician’s approval and recommendations, kick off a new exercise routine – together! Working out … Read More »

Improve heart health with this one simple lifestyle change!

In our younger years, physical activity was a given. Our days were filled with participating in sports programs, recess on the playground, and games of tag with friends. All of this naturally gave our heart the workout it needed to stay healthy. But as we grow older, a more sedentary lifestyle can settle in – having serious repercussions on our hearts, including stiffness, a decreased efficiency in oxygen production, and an elevated risk of heart disease and failure. Is there anything we can do to improve heart health and possibly even restore its functioning to what it was when we were younger?

Be sure to include laughter in your program of exercises for seniors.

Have you ever found yourself in the awkward situation where you’re about to bubble over with uncontrollable laughter, usually at the most inappropriate moment – standing in a crowded elevator, sitting in a quiet waiting room, or in the middle of a religious service? While there are, naturally, times when we should suppress the silliness, author Jane Heller explains that, “Humor can keep us balanced, even in the grimmest of times. It reminds us that despite illness and disability, there are moments of real joy in life and we need to embrace them.”

The health benefits of laughter are simply incredible, including:

Releasing endorphins
Strengthening brain connectivity
Providing a social boost
Relieving pain
Enhancing the immune system
Improving mood
And many more

When putting together a plan of senior exercise, be sure to … Read More »

Learn the possible reasons why reducing saturated fat to improve heart health may not be working for you.

Our senior care experts in Santa Rosa, CA understand that it’s tough to make the right dietary choices when recommendations appear to constantly be changing. We’d been told that saturated fats from sources such as butter, red meat and fried food were detrimental and might affect a person’s odds of developing heart problems, but later research indicated there isn’t enough proof that people who gave up these delicacies improved their heart health – and so, we went back to our old ways due to the green light to select butter over margarine.

However, as reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, scientists clarify that the lack of noticeable results in reducing fatty foods is more likely related to equally … Read More »

Can caring for your heart help prevent Alzheimer’s? Learn more in Hired Hands Homecare’s article.

Taking good care of your heart can help you avoid Alzheimer’s disease, according to the latest scientific research. It turns out that things that are good for your heart – like regular exercise and a healthy diet – are also good for your brain.

There are many ways a heart-healthy lifestyle contributes to a better brain. Regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain, while a healthy weight reduces inflammation that can contribute to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease include high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. The same risk factors also contribute to the development of heart disease.

LDL or “bad” cholesterol could harm the brain by promoting the buildup of plaques that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Higher “good” … Read More »

Are you taking heart disease medication? You’ll want to read these tips from the Marin County, CA home care experts.

If you have heart disease, you know it’s important to take your heart disease medications properly. But what exactly does that mean? Here are some tips from Hired Hands Homecare, a professional Marin County, CA home care agency, that will help you get the most from your medications:

Know what medications you’re taking. Learn their generic and brand names and make sure you understand what each one does. Read the patient leaflet so you’re aware of possible side effects.
Take your medications at the same time every day. When you partner with Hired Hands Homecare, your home care companion can remind you when it’s time to take your doses. Don’t stop or change any medication without speaking to your doctor first.
Make … Read More »