You’ve probably heard from wellness experts that seniors need diet and exercise are crucial for senior heart health. They’re not wrong, but you’ll rarely hear about the practical barriers that can make these healthy habits challenging to follow.
Most seniors want to exercise and eat right, but they face obstacles that younger people aren’t always aware of. Issues with mobility, coordination and energy levels can all make it a lot harder for them to get moving, go out of the house or prepare healthy meals.
Fortunately, the Treasure Coast offers plenty of resources to help them. Here are some of our favorites:
Resources for Senior Heart Health Around Port St. Lucie
Does a senior in your life need help improving their heart health? They’re in luck: From accessible workout classes and social dances to meal kits that make cooking simple, there are plenty of resources available in the Treasure Coast to help.
- Support Their Yoga Practice
Exercise is important for heart health, but it’s also challenging for many seniors. From stiffness and joint pain to difficulties with coordination and balance, mobility issues can make working out a challenge for many older people. That’s why it’s a good idea to find them a type of exercise they can do comfortably.
If a senior in your life needs a way to get moving, one of their best options in Treasure Coast is Chair Yoga with Elise at the Environmental Learning Center. A regular yoga practice is known to have a variety of benefits, improving strength, balance and coordination, reducing stress and lifting mood, but older people aren’t always able to do traditional yoga poses.
Chair yoga modifies the practice so each pose can be done with the support of a chair, giving your loved one an accessible way to reap the benefits of a regular yoga practice.
- Help Them Make a Healthy Meal
Many seniors love to cook, but it’s often harder for them than it used to be. Reduced coordination, fatigue and other issues can make it hard for older people to prepare their favorite recipes—but with the right help, it doesn’t have to be.
If a senior you know likes to cook, one of the best ways you can help them is to make it a little easier with Easy Meals from The Fresh Market. These pre-prepared kits have everything necessary to make a delicious meal except the stove. They include fresh ingredients, already prepped and portioned out, so your loved one can make a satisfying, healthy meal they can be proud of.
If your loved one needs a little more help with cooking, or if they want to prepare a favorite recipe that The Fresh Market doesn’t offer, a professional caregiver can help.
- Take Them Dancing
As important as exercise is for seniors, it can also be uncomfortable and frustrating for them. Mobility issues are part of the problem, but the bigger issue is often the simple fact that many traditional workouts are boring. That’s why one of the best ways to get your loved one moving is to find them a physical activity they’ll actually enjoy.
If a senior in your life needs a workout that’s a little more inspiring than a set of free weights, try taking them dancing. The fun, social nature of dance can turn exercise from something your loved one dreads to an occasion they can look forward to, and it’s a great way to improve their balance, coordination and heart health.
Seniors in the Treasure Coast are in luck: The City of Port St. Lucie hosts regular senior dances at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, including lively music, refreshments and plenty of good company. Your loved one will have so much fun, they’ll hardly notice they’re exercising.
Get Help From a Professional
It can be hard for older people to stay heart healthy, but with the resources available in the Treasure Coast, it doesn’t have to be. From fun and calming ways for them to get moving to help preparing delicious, healthy meals, there are plenty of ways here to help your loved one care for their heart.
If a senior you know needs a little more help caring for their heart, FirstLight Home Care of the Treasure Coast is here for them. Our dedicated caregivers don’t just help with everyday tasks like dressing and bathing; they can also help your loved one cook meals and offer transportation to their activities.
Want to learn more about how our caregivers can help care for your loved one’s heart? Contact us today.
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