February is American Heart Month! American Heart Month was created to motivate individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease. Focusing on your heart health has never been more important. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same.
Inspire and motivate yourself and those you love to make heart health a regular part of your self-care routine.
Northern Colorado News
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Clients
Some of our clients have expressed concerns about not getting the COVID-19 vaccines. If you or a loved one are over 70 years old, they are in Phase 1B and are eligible for vaccinations. Please have them call 1-877-268-2926 if they haven't received instruction for vaccinations.
Supporting Our Dementia Community
Here at Senior Helpers, we love supporting our Alzheimer's and Dementia community. That being said, we volunteer with dementia nonprofits that give back to the Northern Colorado community. In fact, our owner and Executive Director, Gil, sits on the board of Dementia Together. With this organization, we often contribute to meal deliveries. This month we delivered meals from Paninos in Fort Collins. Additionally, our Community Relations Coordinator, Emily, is on the Larimer County Walk Committee for the Alzheimer's Association. If you'd like to join our walk team, visit our walk page!
Join Our Conversation on AGEism
As part of Changing the Narrative in Colorado’s on the same pAGE campaign, the Weld County Area Agency on Aging and Senior Helpers are hosting a virtual session about ageism on Friday, February 26th at 1:00-2:30 pm.
Why are we doing this? Ageism—the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the basis of their age—is pervasive! It can be directed at younger people or older people. Either way, it reduces opportunities and diminishes us all.
The good news: Research shows that education and intergenerational connection are effective in reducing ageism. When we come together to share our perspectives, people’s attitudes about age shift. Collectively, we can all participate in changing our biases and reducing ageism.
Want to participate? It’s easy—just register for the online session by calling (970) 658-8228 or email Emily at emily@seniorhelpers.com. We look forward to seeing you on February 26th.
Heart Disease and COVID-19: Focusing on Exercise, Mental Health, and Nutrition are Critical for High-Risk Groups
According to the American Heart Association, about one in three people with COVID-19 has cardiovascular disease, making it the most common underlying health condition. COVID-19 patients with underlying conditions are six times more likely to be hospitalized and 12 times more likely to die than patients without any chronic health problems. Nearly half of adults in the United States—more than 121 million people—have some type of cardiovascular disease. It is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States; nearly 650,000 die from it every year. Yet heart disease is preventable 80 percent of the time.
“It is critical to stay physically fit and in your best personal health to combat heart disease, COVID-19 infection and the post-COVID effects. We tell our patients that participating in home-exercise programs, taking a short walk, dancing, stretching, and even house cleaning will get them moving and make a difference. Keeping a good mental outlook is also key and it’s important for people to find ways to ensure that this happens by staying active, meditating, or simply doing things that make them happy,” says Icilma Fergus, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Disparities at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “During this pandemic some patients have expressed they’re dealing with stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. We discuss techniques to improve their mental and emotional wellness, which carries over to their cardiovascular health.”
Tips for Lowering Heart Disease Risk
Know your family history
Be aware of five key numbers cited by the American Heart Association: blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, body mass index, and fasting glucose levels
Maintain a healthy diet, eating nutrient-rich food and eliminating sweets
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day
Quit smoking
Watch your weight and exercise regularly
Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke, including chest discomfort; shortness of breath; pain in arms, back, neck, or jaw; breaking out in a cold sweat; and lightheadedness
Wellness-Boosting Valentine's Day Activities
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it could be looking a little bit different for you this year. No matter if you are with your loved ones or separated from them, we can all celebrate the holiday in our own unique way. Senior Helpers would like to share a few wellness-boosting activities you can participate in on this upcoming Valentine’s Day!
103-Year-Old COVID-19 Survivor Surprised with Sweet Birthday Parade by Friends and Family
An Oklahoma woman celebrated her 103rd birthday on Saturday, just a few months after beating COVID-19. Over the weekend, friends and family surprised Della Hathorne with a sweet, socially-distanced, birthday parade to celebrate the milestone, KOCO 5 reported. "I didn't know that they were gonna do all of that," the centenarian told the news outlet.
One family member said Hathorne was "very emotional" throughout the parade. Hathorne — a mother of seven, grandmother to 26 and great-grandmother to more than 100 — battled the coronavirus last year. She spent almost two weeks at Mercy Hospital Logan County in Guthrie, and successfully fought off the virus in mid-October, KOCO reported at the time.
Puzzles for the Elderly with Dementia and Alzheimer's
Puzzles and puzzle-like games make a great gift for those living with Dementia and early, middle and late-stage Alzheimer's and provide patients with mental stimulation. Puzzles for the elderly with dementia provide comfort and potentially ease some of the symptoms of the disease. Since Alzheimer’s disease deteriorates the brain, patients and loved-ones need cognitive stimulation to help keep the brain engaged and active. For those who are in the middle stages of dementia or any form of memory loss may benefit from a 36-piece puzzle or a 60-piece puzzle, while those in more advanced stages or those with limited hand coordination may benefit from a simple wooden puzzle or a sound puzzle that make sounds for additional cognitive stimulation.
.jpg?upscale=true&width=1040&upscale=true&name=Winter%20Wellness%20Header%20(1).jpg)
%20Graphics/Now%20Hiring%20Button.png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=Now%20Hiring%20Button.png)
%20Graphics/Learn%20More%20Button.png?upscale=true&width=500&upscale=true&name=Learn%20More%20Button.png)
