Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Australia, with one in four Australians succumbing to cardiovascular conditions each year.

If you’re over 60 and have underlying health conditions, you have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, meaning it’s essential to prioritise your heart health as you age, said leading Australian cardiologist Dr Jason Kaplan. 

“There are several factors that can heighten the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and weight, with those considered overweight or obese at increased risk of developing CVD,” he told The Senior.

“Being overweight can often have a double whammy effect, exacerbating other traditional risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes control, while also directly increasing CVD risk.”

The good news is that studies show 90 per cent of heart disease cases are preventable, simply by making healthier lifestyle choices. 

AnglicareSA’s health and wellness team offers a range of programs to help you build up your endurance and boost your heart health if you’re aged over 60. These are our top top five heart-healthy activities.   

Going for a walk 

Taking a brisk 30-minute walk every day can get your heart rate up, without leaving you needing to catch your breath.

Taking your dog for a stroll, walking to the local shops to pick up some essentials or just organising a walk with a friend can all improve your heart and muscles.

In fact, the Heart Foundation says taking a half-an-hour walk can reduce your chances of heart disease and strokes by 35 per cent.

Find what works for you

If you’d like to try something in a group setting with a health professional, AnglicareSA’s ‘Healthy Hearts’ program focuses on exercises that boost your strength, coordination, and balance – all in a friendly and supportive setting.

In conjunction with the Healthy Hearts program, you might also  be interested in enrolling in a Breathe Easy class. This class will help you gradually build up your exercise tolerance, so you’re not feeling breathless every time you climb a flight of stairs.

These classes not only help develop your heart health, but they’ll also improve your lung health, too.

Build up your strength 

Gentle weight and resistance training doesn’t just help you keep your muscles toned and bones strong, it can also contribute to improving your heart health.

In fact, recent research shows that weight training reduces your risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

While strength and resistance training usually involves lifting weights, simple day-to-day tasks like carrying the groceries or holding your grandkids can also help keep you fit and strong.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to strength training, AnglicareSA offers strength and fitness classes and individual sessions tailored to your specific needs. This allows you to get the right mix of cardio and weight-based workouts to improve your fitness and boost your heart health.  

Give Pilates a try 

The floor-based exercise has long been touted to make moving easier and improve aches and pains. However, Pilates can also get your heart pumping and improve overall health.

As a gentle workout, Pilates can reduce your risk of severe heart issues through breathing exercises, relieving stress and anxiety and improving your metabolism. 

According to the British Heart Foundation, as Pilates becomes more advanced and you are able to flow more quickly through the exercises, it is possible to introduce a cardiovascular element, too.

AnglicareSA’s Pilates classes focus on strengthening and toning your muscles, getting your breathing easier and boosting your blood flow. 

Work out in the water  

Regularly participating in aquatic exercise activities, such as hydrotherapy, have been proven to help improve blood flow and heart health in people aged over 60.

Recent studies have shown that immersing yourself in warm water can help regulate your blood pressure and heart rate. Taking a dip can also improve heart function and lower heart rate, a 2009 study found. 

Through our health and wellness program, you can take part in regular hydrotherapy sessions, which allow you to let the water soothe your body and improve your heart health.

Call 1800 317 009 to find out more about how we can support your ongoing health and wellness.

Knowing when to start talking to your parents about aged care can be tricky and delicate.

For many adult children, it’s easy to tiptoe around the subject and avoid the uncomfortable and challenging talk.

And while most older Australians want to live in their own home, the challenges as we age can mean for some that they can be prone to falls or other injuries. 

“The fact is we’re all living longer, so we have to plan for our futures and the futures of our parents,” Brian Herd, one of Australia’s leading experts in elder law, told Women’s Agenda.

“Having worked in elder law for over 20 years, I’ve seen the consequence of not having an aged-care plan and waiting until there’s a crisis to make decisions. 

“Let me tell you, it’s much better to make educated and informed decisions before it gets to crisis point.”

If you’re wrangling with deciding when to bring up aged care with your parents, these are our top tips for broaching the sensitive subject.

Start talking early

Being well prepared is the key when discussing aged care with your parents, which means having ‘the talk’ sooner rather than later. 

This allows you more time to weigh-up options – to look at your folks’ needs and choose the best aged care with them. 

Waiting until your parents have a fall at home or sustain an injury can lead to poor decision-making, clinical psychologist Jo Lamble told Channel 7.

“Then decisions are made in a rush, so it’s far better to have the conversation before any crisis comes — and then you can see what your parents are thinking.”

Focus on the practicalities 

For older people, living out their twilight years in their own homes is a way to stay independent. However, some day-to-day tasks like paying bills, general maintenance around the home and climbing stairs can become a struggle as they age.

A practical solution is arranging for some help around the home. 

Your parents could benefit from something as simple as  Home Care Services — tailored to suit their individual care needs — that allows them to remain independent and continue living in their own home. 

Do your homework

Going into a conversation about aged care with your parents can be easier when you’ve done your research.

The aged care system isn’t easy to navigate and if you need help understanding options, you can speak with AnglicareSA by calling 1800 317 009. They can explain how to get started so that you’re informed.

Just be careful not to bombard your parents with too much information initially. The idea is to provide them with options — not research and statistics! 

Empower your parents 

Listen to your parent’s needs and ensure they are an integral part of the decision-making regarding their future.

“Having the conversation is about listening to what your parents want and what they don’t want – it’s not about adult children telling their folks what they need to have,” Jo Lamble told Channel 7.

“A lot of elderly people are fearful. They’re worried about losing their independence and control over their lives. So, we need to reassure them and tell them we love them and just want to know what they’re thinking.”

Look for subtle changes 

Keep an eye out for minor changes which may indicate your parents are struggling at home. These may be sudden weight loss, a messy house or increased anxiety and forgetfulness. 

Picking up on these minor triggers can allow you to approach the subject of aged care gently. 

Include other family members 

Make sure the whole family is on the same page before you discuss aged care with your parents. This can avoid messy or unproductive situations.

Float the idea of starting with just one service 

Starting with one service such as personal care, physiotherapy, meal preparation or transport to a doctor’s appointment will show your parents how valuable support services can be and that they are still in control.    

Be patient  

Don’t be too surprised if you’re met with resistance from your parents when you first discuss the topic of aged care.

Be patient with your parents and ensure they understand the decision is made out of love. 

It’s likely that your conversation won’t just be a ‘once off’, instead, discussed over weeks or months.  

Underline that your parents have many options from home care and health and wellness services in their own home to downsizing to an independent living unit if the family home is getting to be too much to manage. 

Choose the right aged care provider 

Once you’ve broached the subject of aged care, choosing the right aged care provider is essential to keeping your parents on board. 

AnglicareSA, offers a wide range of home care services to suit all needs to make living at home easier and safer for older people.

They also offer various health and wellness services to help older people keep fit and active and support independence. These services include massages, exercise classes and physiotherapy to name a few. 

If you’re interested in learning more about AnglicareSA’s aged care options, contact our specialists at 1800 317 009 or email us at [email protected]

Kathryn Munro is the familiar and friendly voice at the other end of the phone line for a number of AnglicareSA’s Community Aged Care Customers.

A retired teacher who also spent some time working in aged care, Kathryn is part of the Volunteer Phone Support Program working with AnglicareSA customers to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation through regular weekly phone calls.

“The calls can be two minutes, five minutes, 25, I even had one that was 50 minutes,” Kathryn smiles.

“It’s just a general conversation where I start by asking how the week has been and then I take my cues from there as to what they want to talk about.

“One lady has her pet dog who’s very important to her and we talk about him, others want to talk about their family, but they know they can be up-front, and I can talk about anything they want to, anything at all.”

The calls, made from AnglicareSA’s Oaklands Park office each Thursday, are an important human connection for customers who are receiving other Community Aged Care supports in their own home.

For Kathryn it has been fulfilling to be “part of something wonderful” supporting others and helping improve quality of life by being there and by being someone they know they will regularly hear from.

“I found AnglicareSA online and looked into the organisation to see what they do and their values, and I thought ‘yes, I’d like to be a part of that organisation’.

“I like to talk; I’ve had a number of roles jobs working with people and that’s what I like best to do.

“It’s a very rewarding role. I often receive encouragement from the customers telling me how much these opportunities to talk are needed and I always get a warm ‘Thank you’ at the end of every phone call.”

It’s not just the critically important phone calls to support customers that Kathryn has committed her time to, she also spends one of her two days per week supporting AnglicareSA with admin and has recently become involved in making phone calls as part a customer satisfaction survey. 

Each year, more than 300 AnglicareSA volunteers support a wide range of services that include spending time with aged care residents, packing food and clothing parcels for those in need, mentoring kids who’ve lost a loved one, and delivering new clothing to jobseekers for their job interviews.

AnglicareSA is always looking for new volunteers, particularly allied health students and older, time-rich South Australians as we try to keep up with growing demand across our aged care and emergency assistance services.

Our volunteers meet some great people, learn new skills, and often find that giving back to the community returns them the favour of lifelong friendships, social connection and a well-developed CV.

We have lots of great volunteering opportunities across all our services. If you’re keen to help us help others, visit https://anglicaresa.com.au/join-our-team/ or email [email protected]