Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there’s a lot you can do to prevent it. Taking time to care for your heart can be challenging as you go about daily life. But it’s easier than you think to show your heart the love it deserves each day. Small acts of self-care, like taking walks, getting quality sleep, and cooking healthy meals, help your heart. Research shows that self-care can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. What does “self-care” mean? Researchers define self-care as what you do to stay healthy. It’s also what you do to care for any health problems you have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health disorders. It’s heart-healthy living. Throughout the month of February, we will be sharing Self-Care Tips for Heart Health from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, www.hearttruth.gov.
GET FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS: Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. Visit covidtests.gov to order your four free COVID-19 tests which will be mailed directly to your home.
The tests available for order:
• Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
• Can be taken anywhere
• Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
• Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms
• Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
• Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
GENERATIONS OFFERS ACTIVE DAILY LIVING ONLINE RESOURCE: Generations is excited to offer a FREE online health resource called Active Daily Living which can be accessed through the Generations website. Active Daily Living offers a variety of informational resources that support older adults and caregivers through interactive online tools and permaximize one’s ability to age in place. Users can browse the site for information on different aging and caregiving topics and can sign up to receive free monthly e-mails tailored to their own interests/needs. To access Active Daily Living, simply visit the Generations website at www.generationsnetwork.org and click on Active Daily Living on the home page.
GENERATIONS MAGAZINE: Our magazine is geared toward adults in pre-retirement and retirement years and promotes active aging and preventive health. It is published three times a year and is free to subscribers. All we need is your name and address. If you would like to receive future copies of the magazine, contact Brenda Hancock at 812-888-5146 or bhancock@vinu.edu.
Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging & Disability, is a program of Vincennes University’s Community Services Division. Our agency connects individuals and caregivers to community resources and options for long-term care and in-home services. For more information, call 1-800-742-9002 or 812-888-5880 or visit our website at www.generationsnetwork.org