You\u2019ve probably heard that a healthy diet and regular exercise are important for senior heart health, but that\u2019s easier advice to give than it is to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The truth is, older people often face serious barriers to making heart-healthy choices\u2014and those barriers aren\u2019t always obvious. For some seniors, mobility issues are visible: A wheelchair, a walker or a cane. Others, like back pain, arthritis or chronic fatigue, aren\u2019t outwardly visible, but they\u2019re no less real, and they can also make it hard to get exercise and prepare healthy meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, Nashville has no short of resources available to help. Here are some of the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your loved one needs help maintaining their heart health, they\u2019re in luck: Nashville has plenty to offer them. From good places to walk no matter the weather and fun exercise classes to meal-prep services that make it easy for them to eat right, here are some of the best options in town:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways for older people to keep their heart health up is also one of the simplest: Going for a walk. It\u2019s not just that it helps with their cardio, strength and balance. Taking just a short walk outside each day has actually been shown to improve mental health and reduce stress\u2014which in turn helps lower blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While a winter walk outside isn\u2019t always an option in Nashville, it\u2019s not completely off the table like it is in the northern parts of the country. Fortunately, the Brentwood Family YMCA<\/a> has great options for walking both indoors and outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walking outside has the greatest benefits for mental health, so on warmer days, try taking your loved one for an easy stroll on the walking trail outside the YMCA building. The Y also has an indoor track to walk on, so there\u2019s a good backup option for when it\u2019s cold, icy or wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some seniors get a lot of mileage out of walking outdoors, but others need the kind of structure that a regular workout class offers. However, ordinary workout programs just aren\u2019t built for older people. The difficulties they experience with mobility, coordination and balance can make vigorous exercise uncomfortable and even dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your loved one needs to maintain their heart health, one good way to help them is to find them a workout class that meets their unique needs\u2014and with the help of local senior activity organizations in the area like Fifty Forward<\/a>, they have plenty of options to choose from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best part is, many of these workouts don\u2019t even feel like exercise; they feel like play. Fifty Forward alone hosts classes like Cardio Drumming, Line Dancing and Belly dancing\u2014and they\u2019re hardly the only group around offering fun programs like this. Even better, by going to classes on a regular basis, familiar faces there will start to turn into friends, giving your loved one a weekly social event to look forward to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arthritis and coordination issues can be especially frustrating for seniors who love to cook. These issues don\u2019t just complicate meal preparation\u2014they can prevent your loved one from engaging in a passion that gives joy and meaning to their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the good news: You can help out. There are plenty of meal-preparation services around Nashville that make it easier for seniors to find and prepare healthy, delicious meals. Some of them deliver ready-to-bake frozen meals, which are a fantastic option for older people who just want a good meal at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other services such as The Fresh Market<\/a> cater to seniors for whom cooking is a delight, not just a necessity. They deliver prepared ingredients portioned out for a specific recipe, but don\u2019t do any of the actual cooking. That way your loved one can skip the repetitive prep work and get right to the part they care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not always easy for seniors to stay heart-healthy, but the resources available in Nashville make it simpler than it is in most places. From fun workout classes and all-season walks to services that help with meal prep, Nashville has plenty of options to help seniors maintain their heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your loved one needs a little more help staying heart-healthy, FirstLight Home Care of Nashville and Franklin<\/a> is here for them. Our caregivers don\u2019t just help them bathe and dress themselves; they can offer transportation to activities, help them cook and even act as a trusted walking buddy and companion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Find a Heart Health Partner in Nashville, TN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n