Heart health is an area of grave concern among healthcare professionals, policy makers and the government. Heart disease has killed more Americans than any other diseases or chronic illnesses. It is the leading cause of death among patience of all race, gender and age. About 785,000 patients in the nation suffer their first heart attack every year and 470,000 of them have recurring heart attacks in a year. It has been estimated that heart attack affects one patient in every 34 seconds in America, costing a whopping healthcare bill of $316.4 billion a year. The risks of heart disease also dramatically increases with age affecting one in every five women above the age of 65 as compared to one in every 10 women between ages 45 and 65. For 37 years, the American Heart Association tirelessly organized and campaigned for the fight against heart disease. February is the ‘American Heart Month' where efforts are spent to increase awareness and raise funds for research and education on heart disease. Heart disease is a lifestyle-related condition. Risk factors that can lead to heart disease or stroke are physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and alcohol. As more elderly patients tend to have high cholesterol, high blood sugar or high blood pressure conditions coupled by weaker immunity systems, healthy living to promote elderly health is one of the primary concerns during American Heart Month. Good heart health can be attained by adopting change in lifestyle, diet and regular monitoring of one's blood sugar level, cholesterol level and blood pressure. The following are five healthy living tips to good senior health that not only help keep heart disease at arm's length but also increase one's quality of life. Regular Exercise or Physical ActivityModerate exercise on a regular basis is the best remedy for elderly health and wellbeing. Walking, jogging, yoga, swimming, golf, dancing and others help to build strong healthy hearts and help to improve blood circulation. In fact, statistics show that a sedentary lifestyle is a leading threat to heart health; those who are physically inactive and seldom participate in regular exercise program are 39.5 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke. Balanced DietHealthy living starts with balanced diets rich in fiber and low in trans fat, sugar and sodium. Elderly patients should also consume high nutrient foods that are good for the heart and body as a whole. Greasy food and food high in trans fat found in cooking oil and meat should be avoided to prevent gradual formation of blockage in the arteries especially among elderly patients' whose body metabolism decreases with age. Control blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levelSenior health checks should never exclude regular monitoring of seniors' blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar level as these are among the top risk factors to cardiovascular disease. Senior patients can perform regular monitoring of their conditions at home and take precautionary measures such as diet and prescribed medication if levels are higher than normal. Maintain Healthy Body WeightBeing overweight can also lead to heart disease or stroke; it is as unhealthy to one's heart as it is to one's bones and joints. Excessive fats in the body can strain the heart and cause additional stress on the bones and joints. Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial to good senior health as it helps to prevent adverse conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol that can potentially lead of heart disease. Stop Smoking and excessive Alcohol intakeSmoking and excessive intake of alcohol are harmful habits that are especially damaging to elderly patients. Smoking increases the chances of blood clot and accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries, hence increasing the risks of coronary heart disease. It can also increase the chances of a relapse or recurring heart attack. Smoking is also linked to many elderly health conditions such as cancer, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. ...read more

As people age, they may find they are unable to do everything for themselves as they normally would. Adult children or other family members may try to take on daily tasks in order to help. Caregivers may start giving small amounts of assistance, but this can grow almost daily until it becomes overwhelming, at which point, they begin to realize something more needs to be done. One solution is to seek professional help from an in-home health care agency. If this is something the caregiver has never encountered before, he or she may not know what to expect from a good home care agency.The decision to hire a home care agency may be met with some resistance, since no-one wants to give up their independence, or feel they are losing control of their daily lives. Many older people will allow a family member to help, but really do not want a stranger to come into their home and "take over." Professionals understand this, and are normally willing to meet with the caregiver and the older person first, to explain their services and reassure the individual that his or her wishes will be accommodated as much as possible.Home care agencies provide a variety of services for senior care, and most will work with the person in need of help and the family to create a care plan that will meet the needs of the individual, and be within the person's budget. The elder care plan should provide the proper support while preserving the dignity of the senior, as well as allow as much independence as possible. Even though it may be difficult at first, once the senior care plan is in place and the senior gets to know some of the workers who will come to the home daily or weekly, a transition will happen, and the person will start to look forward to seeing their new caregivers on a regular basis.Sometimes it is just necessary to have a little help with meal preparation or light housekeeping, long before any personal care is actually needed. That is really the best time to engage a home care agency, when the family members see that their loved one needs more help than they will be able to provide, and before a crisis arises. The home care agency will be willing to start slowly with certain services, and then their help can be increased as it becomes necessary.In order to be properly informed and to know what to expect from a good in-home care agency, the person or persons who will be in charge of hiring the agency needs to research online, if possible, and be ready to ask the right questions of the agency in consideration. Ask first of all if the agency screens all workers and does criminal and other background checks on their employees. Ask about the credentials of the employees and what type of training they have had. Ask if the agency will replace a worker if she is not a good fit for the senior.Interview a representative from more than one local home care agency in order to find the one that you believe will be the best one to work with. Remember that your local Area Agency on Aging is a great referral service and that agency is willing to help you in your search for the best elder care for your loved one.Home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordable care. We are anelder careagency providingHome Care in Santa Rosa.       ...read more

Aging is a natural process, but for many of us, the recognition that our parents are in need of assistance can take time. It can be difficult to accept that your mother or father is no longer able to handle everything for themselves, but it is important to make sure you don't miss the signs. Elder care can allow your aging parent to live a reasonably independent life for many more years, and not risk the injuries or troubles that living alone brings with it. Especially when in-home care is the right option, the life of your parent doesn't have to be drastically altered. Instead, you can implement some basic changes to make sure that your loved one is safe, secure, and well looked-after, without taking away the familiar surroundings and sense of autonomy they've grown to find so important. But when is it time to start looking into home care? Each case is individual, but it is essential that anyone with an aging parent be aware of potential dangers of seniors living by themselves. Here are some areas to keep in mind when thinking about elderly care: FoodAre they able to cook for themselves, or if not, is there a standard way for them to receive healthy meals? Some seniors may deny having difficulty, but you may notice weight loss, or vagueness when discussing food. This can be addressed in other ways, before moving on to full senior care, but it is a good indicator that capacities are becoming limited when your parent is no longer comfortable or able to handle basics in the kitchen. MobilityAre they able to drive, walk, carry small things, and otherwise manage to get around their neighborhood? If you notice that your parent rarely leaves the house or has difficulty walking without assistance, consider that home care provides companionship as well as professional care. Staying indoors alone every day is not beneficial to most elders, so limited mobility can be very hard on some people. HygieneIs your parent able to wash themselves, and handle basic bathroom necessities without a problem? Making sure the shower has a bar and a grip mat is a good start, but at some point looking into homecare may be the best bet. Remember that falling in the shower is a common cause of injuries among the elderly. Mental AcuityAs people age, they commonly complain about minor memory and mental issues, but it is vital to stay aware of how much this progresses. If your parent has episodes of confusion or gets easily lost, looking into aging care makes sense. Not only will they be safer, but regular interaction with another person is thought to be a good resistance against things getting worse. Sometimes theelder careoption is on the table for years, and in other cases, a sudden event changes everything, but the choice can be hard either way. Still, senior care, and especiallyin-home care, can be freeing rather than restricting. Alzheimer's home care counselors atAt Your Serviceare available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordableelder careagency providinghome care inSanta Rosa. ...read more