Could a Walk Every Day Lower the Heart Disease Risk for Your Mom?
When heart disease is diagnosed, your mom’s doctor will likely prescribe heart medications. She’s also going to be told to get plenty of exercise and stick to a low-fat, low-sodium diet. Caregivers can help your mom manage these changes.
Elderly Care in Zionsville IN: Senior Heart Disease Risk
The Women’s Health Initiative gathered 89,270 women between the ages of 50 and 79 in a study on heart failure rates and walking. The study went on for 10 years. Women who walked at least 40 minutes per walk at least twice a week and kept a steady pace had lower incidents of heart failure.
How Do You Make Sure Your Mom is Walking Fast Enough?
For the optimal health benefits, your mom needs to walk at a steady pace. The recommendation is five METs per hour. MET stands for Metabolic Equivalent of Task. It’s a measurement to calculate energy used when exercising.
To reach five METs, your mom needs to reach a point where she is exerting five times the energy she does when resting. Walking at a rate of three miles per hour is about 3.3 METs. Your mom should aim for a pace of five miles per hour or better.
The Best Ways to Get Your Mom Walking
-If your mom is fearful of walking in her neighborhood due to loose dogs or traffic, find a local nature trail or hiking paths. She may not want to go alone. You could see if there are walking groups in her area. A caregiver could help out by joining her on walks.
-Your mom might not live in an area suitable for walking. A busy city may have sidewalks that are too crowded to keep up a steady pace. If there’s a spacious park, that’s the best place for her to walk. If she really can’t leave the house, invest in a treadmill or elliptical machine.
-When she does go for a walk outside, she should bring some water and a phone. She’ll stay hydrated along the way and have a phone if anything happens. She should start out slow and increase the amount of time she walks. Talk to her doctor to discuss the best plan for increasing her activity level.
If your mom is diagnosed with a heart condition, she’ll need to pay close attention to diet, exercise, and prescribed medications. She may need help sticking to a new daily routine. Caregivers provide a range of home care services. From transportation to medication reminders, your mom’s needs are covered. Call now to learn more about rates.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Zionsville, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
Sources:
Onlinejacc.org
Health.harvard.edu
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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