Senior Care Experts Promote Importance of Active Lifestyle for American Heart Month
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Senior Care Experts Promote Importance of Active Lifestyle for American Heart Month

Statistics show significantly reduced risks for heart disease in seniors that get up and get moving

February 03, 2011 // Franchising.com // It's a fact – heart disease is the single biggest health risk for seniors across the United States. It is the leading annual cause of death and hospitalizations among all older Americans, but one local company is showing local seniors that simple nutrition tips and lifestyle tricks can significantly lower the risk of them becoming another statistic.

February is American Heart Month, and as groups around the nation are raising awareness about heart disease, local senior care experts from Senior Helpers are working with the elderly each day to help fight the battle on the front lines.

"Many of the families and seniors we work with locally don't understand that a proper diet and even the modest of exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks among seniors by more than 25 percent," said Peter Ross, founder and CEO of Senior Helpers, a senior care company that provides in-home and companion care services for seniors across the area

"Getting older doesn't have to mean getting lazy, so we do everything we possibly can to help our clients continue to live a healthy, happy lifestyle," Ross said.

Statistics About Seniors and Heart Disease*:

  • 5.3 million Americans are living with heart disease and over 600,000 more are diagnosed each year
  • 1 in 5 seniors (those over the age of 65) develop some sort of heart disease
  • The number of seniors hospitalized annually for heart failure has increased more than 130 percent since 1980
  • Simple regular light to moderate physical activity (walking, gardening, outdoor chores, etc.) can reduce the risk of heart disease among seniors by 25 to 36 percent.

*Source: American Heart Association

In addition to physical exercise, a healthy diet and lifestyle can also significantly reduce the risk of suffering heart disease, heart attacks and irregular or rapid heartbeats – all red flags of potential heart failure among the elderly.

"The heart is a muscle, and like every other muscle group in the body, you need to exercise it and give it the nutrients it needs to work properly," Ross said. "Especially as you get older."

Nutrition Tips for a Heart-Healthy Senior Diet:

  • Quit smoking and minimize alcohol consumption
  • Avoid foods with trans-fats (margarine, bakery goods, fast foods) to reduce cholesterol levels
  • Eat plenty of fish, green vegetables and nuts with omega-3 fatty acids to improve overall heart health
  • Drink black or green tea after meals – antioxidants in these beverages decreases blood vessel constriction and improve overall circulation

"Each senior we work with needs different help and assistance to remain independent," Ross said. "Our caregivers are all trained and certified, and they know how to safely promote an individual heart-healthy lifestyle among aging loved ones. Whether it's help in the kitchen preparing meals, assistance moving around the house during the day, or simply a friend to motivate an aging family member to get out for an afternoon walk, we can help."

This February, tell the story of American Heart Month, seniors and the resources available to help them live a heart-healthy lifestyle. We can provide interviews/photo/video opportunities with senior care experts and active caregivers working with local seniors. This story touches a huge portion of your audience; help us spread the word.

About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has nearly 300 franchises in 40 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care.

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