Emeritus at Fillmore Pond Visits to Alert, Assist in Combating Cardiac Disease
Many women don’t realize as they age they become more likely to develop heart disease. To combat this problem, a team from Emeritus at Fillmore Pond is fanning out to personally alert area women age 65 and older to their increased risk disease and provide resources to fight it. Emeritus at Fillmore Pond’s effort is part of “10,000 Heart to Hearts,” a nationwide initiative being conducted by its parent organization Brookdale with the goal of reaching 10,000 older women across the country. The 10,000 Heart to Hearts program began February 1 at the start of American Heart Month.
[private]“Cardiac disease kills more women than all cancers combined, but a lot of older women don’t realize how dangerous it is,” said Kevin O’Neil, M.D., F.A.C.P, chief medical officer for Brookdale. “On average, women develop heart disease 10 years later than men do, with their first heart attack occurring at the age of 70.”
This cardiac disease risk begins rising during menopause, when the body reduces production of estrogen, a hormone believed to benefit arteries. By their 70s, most women have high blood pressure.
“Aging makes it harder to cope with cardiac disease’s impact,” said Dr. O’Neil. “Three-quarters of senior women who survive heart attacks are not able to resume their normal lives. However, women can dramatically reduce their cardiac risk regardless of their age by embracing healthy habits.”
He noted that a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows lifestyle changes can reduce a woman’s likelihood of heart disease by 90 percent.
“They include stopping smoking, eating a diet low in saturated fats, exercising moderately for half an hour a day, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a body mass index under 25,” Dr. O’Neil said. Watching television for no more than seven hours a week is also associated with better cardiac health.
Through the “10,000 Heart to Hearts” initiative, professionals with Emeritus at Fillmore Pond will visit senior women in their homes to explain the risk, check their blood pressure, discuss measures for healthier lifestyles, provide Brookdale’s heart-healthy cookbook and connect them with resources. There is no charge for the visits.
“Our goal is to have a candid, heart-to-heart discussion with each woman about the importance of the issue and help them take the steps needed to address it,” said Lynne Stratton, Executive Director, Emeritus at Fillmore Pond.
To schedule an in-home “10,000 Heart to Hearts” visit, contact Emeritus at Fillmore Pond at 802-447-7000.
In addition, senior women and others concerned about heart disease are invited to ask questions of Brookdale Chief Medical Officer Dr. O’Neil in a free webinar at 3:30 pm February 18. To register, go to brookdale.com.[/private]