Posted: February 16, 2022
February is American Heart Month, a time to honor lives lost to heart disease and also focus on good heart health.
More than 600,000 Americans die every year due to heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States and the world. Because of changes that occur in the cardiovascular system as we age, older adults are more likely to develop coronary heart disease or suffer a heart attack or stroke. According to the CDC, older adults who experience loneliness from being socially isolated at home may increase their risk of heart failure. Professional home care support benefits the heart health of older adults including those living with heart disease or who are recovering from a heart attack or congestive heart failure.
Managing heart health at home begins by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and getting regular exercise can reduce the risk of a cardiac event. Most older adults want to live in their home for as long as possible, and there are many benefits of aging in place. However, social isolation, mobility issues, and a lack of support can make it difficult to make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve heart health.
At Rhythms Home Care, our professional care partners work with you or your family member to create a personalized care plan around your needs. This can include creating a healthy meal plan and helping with as much of the preparation as you like. Other non-medical support includes helping with exercise, transportation to and from medical appointments, medication reminders, assistance with monitoring blood pressure, and providing emotional support.
Caring for a family member after a heart attack or with congestive heart failure can be overwhelming and may lead to caregiver burnout. Some heart failure patients end up being readmitted to the hospital after a cardiac event due to poor nutrition, missed medications, and changes in vital signs like weight gain and blood pressure. Our professional medical services team can support you in following your doctor’s recommendations for meals, assisting with monitoring and reporting vital signs, encouraging prescribed activities including respiratory exercises, and helping with supplemental oxygen monitoring. We also provide medication management, catheter care, IV management, and transportation to and from follow-up medical appointments. Home care support benefits your heart health and can reduce the chance of being readmitted to the hospital after a heart attack or congestive heart failure.
With more than 25 years of experience serving clients in the Denver Metro area, our medical and non-medical home health team is here to help support you or your family member on the road to better heart health. We are committed to helping you find the right home care partner who can meet your needs after a cardiac event and improve your heart health through beneficial lifestyle changes. Read what our clients have to say about us and contact us to learn more about our compassionate at-home senior care.
© 2024 Rhythms Home Care
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