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Thank You!
Thank you to Good Samaritan Society - Northwood Retirement Community for their generous donation of $1,500 to the Meals on Wheels program. We could not do what we do without community support!
Generations Beacon Article - July
Staying Heart Healthy After 65: What You Need to Know About Atrial Fibrillation
American Heart Association
Adults aged 65+ are at the highest risk for developing a dangerous heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib). When left untreated, AFib can increase your risk of having a stroke by 500% and double your chances of heart-related death.
Even scarier is that many older adults never experience, or fail to recognize, AFib warning signs. But there are steps you can take to prevent or manage AFib. Start by following our tips below.
What causes AFib?
AFib affects 9% of Americans aged 65+ and occurs when electrical signals in the upper chambers of your heart become chaotic—causing the upper chamber to quiver rather than pump, disrupting its ability to efficiently move blood through its chambers.
When blood collects in the upper chambers or moves slowly, a clot can form and potentially cause you to have a stroke if it is pumped out of your heart and travels to your brain.
So what can you do to prevent or manage AFib?
Know and avoid AFib risk factors
There are some risk factors that are unavoidable, like age and family history, but you have the power to control other risks. Start by taking a broader approach to chronic disease prevention and management. Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and sleep apnea are major AFib triggers that are often easy to prevent.
Also adjust your lifestyle habits:
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Don’t smoke
- Avoid prolonged athletic training
Stay on alert for AFib symptoms
Some of AFib’s most common symptoms aren’t typically seen as alarming. That’s why it’s especially important to know the warning signs and not dismiss them. Signs include:
- A fluttering heartbeat
- Heart palpitations
- Light-headedness
- Feeling winded even while at rest
- Chest pain
- Fainting
Today’s technology has made it easier for medical professionals to detect AFib early, so don’t be a stranger at the doctor’s office. Be proactive and make sure to get your annual wellness checkup and take advantage of all of Medicare’s preventive benefits and screenings.
Manage AFib with treatment
If you suspect that you have AFib—or if you’ve already been diagnosed—know that there are treatments that can significantly reduce your risk of a stroke. Explore your options with a health care professional. Treatment could include blood thinner medications and/or a surgical procedure called a cardiac ablation, which removes the bad heart tissue.
Keep in mind that if your doctor prescribes medications, don’t stop taking them even if you no longer notice symptoms—it doesn’t mean AFib is gone.
February is American Heart Month
February is a great month to pay close attention to your heart health, but following these tips will help you stay healthy all year long. Be proactive about avoiding the risk factors for AFib and visiting your doctor.
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Magazine Promotes Successful Aging
Generations Magazine is a free publication especially for active and informed adults that made its debut in the fall of 1998. Promoting successful aging for individuals in pre-retirement and retirement years, the magazine provides helpful information on a wide array of topics including health and fitness, caregiving and legal issues, investment and financial advice, and light reading to educational opportunities available through many outreach efforts and programs. Featured guest writers bring additional expertise and credability to the magazine’s professionalism and dedication to quality.
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The Alzheimer’s Association provides caregivers and families with comprehensive online resources and information Their professionally staffed 24/7 Helpline (1.800.272.3900) offers information and advice to more than 250,000 callers each year. Visit their website at: www.alz.org
The Support Group for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Central Church of Christ (Fellowship Hall), 1600 Forbes Road, Vincennes. The meetings provide the latest information on Alzheimer's research and medications, help and encouragement from other caregivers and open but confidential discussions and a chance to be heard. For more information, contact Roger Wright, Support Group Facilitator, at (812) 882-7963 or centralccc@gmail.com.
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Every Penny Counts.
For as little as $25 a month, you can provide a family in need with the peace of mind that comes from owning their own Personal Emergency Response System. For $50, you can give a caregiver what he or she needs most: an afternoon out of the house with the help of our respite care program. And for less than that, you can provide our clients with Meals on Wheels gift certificates, transportation tokens, and even one-of-a-kind Teddy Bears. The point is, your contribution can help our friends and neighbors continue to live independently.
To help us meet our mission and financial challenges, we’ve established the "Looking to the Future" endowment through the Vincennes University Foundation. In addition, donations may also be made to Generations endowment through the Dubois County Community Foundation, Huntingburg Community Foundation and Greene County Community Foundation.
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