Feb 4, 2025 | Chronic Diseases, Fitness, Healthy Aging, Nutrition, Public Health
February is a month of love, but it’s also a time to raise awareness about critical health issues affecting women, especially African American women and older adults. With Valentine’s Day symbolizing love and connection and World Pulses Day (February 10) promoting heart-healthy nutrition, it’s the perfect time to discuss how we can show love to our hearts and bodies.
The Link Between Heart Health and Cancer
Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death among women in the United States, particularly for older adults. While they may seem like separate health concerns, they are closely connected. Cancer treatments—such as chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy—can increase the risk of heart disease, especially in aging adults whose cardiovascular systems may already be weakened. Additionally, both heart disease and cancer share common risk factors, including poor diet, lack of physical activity, and chronic stress.
African American women, in particular, face a higher risk for both conditions. They are more likely to develop heart disease earlier in life and experience more aggressive forms of breast cancer. Social determinants of health—such as limited access to nutritious foods, healthcare disparities, and high levels of stress—play a significant role in these health inequities.
Why Heart Health Matters for Women, Especially Older Adults
Women often experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, making it harder to recognize the warning signs. Instead of the classic chest pain, women may feel shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, or jaw pain. Unfortunately, heart disease is sometimes overlooked in women, leading to delayed treatment and worse outcomes.
For older women, the risk increases with age due to factors such as:
- Arterial Stiffening – Blood vessels lose elasticity, making it harder for the heart to pump efficiently.
- Menopause-Related Changes – Declining estrogen levels can lead to higher cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk.
- Weakened Heart Muscle – Aging can lead to heart failure, where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively.
- Multiple Chronic Conditions – Many older adults manage conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis, which can compound heart health risks.
For older African American women, the risks are even more pronounced. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 50% of Black women over the age of 20 have some form of heart disease, with numbers increasing significantly among seniors. High blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes remain leading causes, yet many of these conditions can be managed through lifestyle changes.
To learn more about the risk and signs of heart disease and to increase awareness, visit www.goredforwomen.org
World Pulses Day: A Celebration of Heart-Healthy Foods
One simple yet powerful way to support heart health is through nutrition. That’s where World Pulses Day, February 10 comes in. Pulses—such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas—are packed with fiber, plant-based protein, and essential nutrients that support heart health.
For older adults, pulses are particularly beneficial because they:
- Help lower cholesterol naturally, reducing the risk of heart disease.
- Are high in soluble fiber, aiding in digestion and preventing constipation, a common issue in aging.
- Are gentle on blood sugar levels, making them great for those managing diabetes.
- Provide plant-based protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle strength and bone health.
For African American women, incorporating more pulses into traditional dishes can be a delicious and health-conscious choice. Try adding black-eyed peas to salads, making lentil-based soups, or substituting beans for meat in stews.
Show Your Heart Some Love This Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, go beyond chocolates and flowers—show love to your heart and encourage others to do the same. Here are a few heart-healthy ways for older adults to celebrate:
- Cook a Heart-Healthy Meal – Prepare a meal rich in pulses, vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Move Together – Engage in low-impact activities like walking, swimming, or chair yoga.
- Get Screened – Regular check-ups for blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart function are crucial as we age.
- Stay Socially Connected – Loneliness can contribute to heart disease; spend time with loved ones or join community groups.
- Spread Awareness – Share information about heart disease and cancer prevention with the women in your life.
A Lifetime of Love for Your Heart
Aging doesn’t mean giving up on good health. In fact, it’s never too late to make lifestyle changes that benefit your heart. By embracing heart-healthy habits, staying active, and making mindful food choices, older adults—especially African American women—can take control of their heart health and overall well-being.
This February, let’s celebrate love—not just for others, but for our hearts and our health.
Nov 22, 2024 | Economic Security & Outreach Blog, Public Health
I have a friend who is an audiologist, so when I recently saw an advertisement for using the Apple AirPod Pro 2 as a hearing aid, I decided to ask her if she knew anything about its performance, since it seems to be a cost-effective option ($259 at the time of this writing). She tested the product, wrote the following summary of her experience, and gave me permission to share it.
I’ve fooled around with my AirPods to test this out. I programmed a mild high-frequency hearing loss in, and then evaluated the sound that the AirPods were outputting, and they actually did a pretty good job! I was surprised. There are some downsides:
- You’ll get the best results by having an actual hearing evaluation so you know that the numbers you are giving the AirPods are correct (they ask for input from a hearing test). If someone hasn’t had their hearing tested, there are free apps that Apple recommends, but I think the jury is out on how accurate those “over the phone” tests actually are.
- Comfort. You have to have a good fit with the earbuds, or it just won’t work.
- You have to be technically savvy enough to figure it out. I am technically savvy, and I had to do a lot of messing around to figure out how to make it work.
- Your ears are completely plugged up by the AirPods. There’s no air-flow in or out of the canal. They do a pretty good job about not making your voice sound like it’s bottled up in your head, but other body sounds are magnified. When I’m walking with my AirPods in, I hear the loud thump, thump, thump of my feet hitting the ground. It’s a little weird, but I’m sure you’d get used to it.
- The battery life is not great. You get maybe 4 hours out of them. So they are really only good for situational use. Like… I’m going out to dinner and I won’t be able to hear. Definitely not putting them on in the morning and having corrected hearing all day long.
- You will look to the rest of the world like you don’t want to interface with them because you have your AirPods in.
All that being said, they seemed to do a good job, and for someone who is looking for situational help with mild hearing loss, I think they are by far the best option on the market, and the price is right!
Review by Dr. Sarah Moore, AUD
Oct 17, 2024 | Age & Dementia Friendly, News, Public Health
We all know what it’s like to be mired in the day-to-day demands that make it increasingly hard to see the forest for the trees and to maintain the vitality of our connection to the meaning of our work.
But there are unique ideas and programs aiming to improve how we build a society that is livable for older adults that are brilliantly worthy of our attention. They encourage us to slow down and take the time to grow our compassion through the extraordinary experiences of others.
A couple programs of this nature came to my attention in the past week: Gold Coats and the living experiment that inspired the Human Forever documentary film (2024).
Gold Coats
The Gold Coat program, based at the California Men’s Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo, trains inmates to provide a high standard of care for their fellow inmates who are living with dementia and other cognitive disorders. Testimony from the Gold Coats provides extremely moving insight about the power of caring for others in the most trying circumstances.
Human Forever
Teun Toebes, a 25-year-old Dutch nursing student and now an international spokesperson on dementia and healthcare innovation, lived in a closed ward memory care unit in a Dutch nursing home for three years. He wrote a book about that experience and then toured the world with independent filmmaker Jonathan de Jong to learn about international models of care and to create the film Human Forever (2024).
Teun Toebes’ book about his experiences: The Housemates: Everything One Young Student Learnt about Love, Care and Dementia from Living in a Nursing Home
Go ahead—give yourself permission to learn a little bit about creative and innovative ways to provide care and special experiences for people living with dementia.
Aug 26, 2024 | Education & Training, Falls Prevention, Fitness, Healthy Aging, Malnutrition, Member Services, Nutrition, Public Health
ActiveAgers data is due in only a few weeks (September 15)! Remember to submit your data covering Jan 1 – Aug 30 to be eligible for individual and COA prizes. See p. 4 for details. Email them (and any questions) to tara@mcoaonline.org Kudos to those who already submitted reports!
Feeding America Research Finds nearly 12 million adults 50+ experienced food insecurity in 2022. New research from Feeding America “estimates 1 in 11 [60y+] faced hunger in the United States in 2022.” These numbers are up from the previous year, and food insecurity can greatly impact the way we age. Nationwide, this percentage is 8.7% and in Massachusetts it’s 7.1%.
Malnutrition Awareness Week is September 16-20 – Use the special code MAW-MCOA to access complimentary webinars. Additional resources on ASPEN’s Spread the Word page to help you plan and promote Malnutrition Awareness Week include:
-
- A tip sheet and ambassador success stories for organizing MAW activities
- A media toolkit with tips for contacting local newspapers and TV and radio stations, a press release template, and prepared public service announcements (PSAs)
- Malnutrition Awareness Week stickers (PDF) in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And if you’re in the U.S. or Canada, you can order pre-printed stickers by filling out this form.
How HIP Works: We are deep in produce harvest and farmers’ market season. Remember, if one has SNAP benefits, they automatically receive HIP benefits which boost purchases on fruits, vegetable, etc. Check out the video for a refresher on the program.
Falls Prevention Week is September 23-27 – In addition to NCOA’s toolkit, remember to access the free Stepping Up Your Nutrition workshop leader training.
An eLearning Library from the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders – includes modules such as:
Aug 2, 2024 | Economic Security & Outreach Blog, Healthy Aging, News, Public Health
Many Senior Centers and other public buildings in Massachusetts are designated Cooling Centers. The Mass.gov website has a page devoted to the creation and implementation of Cooling Centers, which offers many good ideas. These ideas seem obvious when encountered in a list of best practices, but it’s easy to overlook some of the simple but important touches like easily read, large-font signage with hours and the posting of rules of use for visitors. This is a great opportunity to think about whether or not your current signage indicating where restrooms are (among other things) is effective for people living with dementia.
Here are some ways to help your guests seeking relief from the heat feel comfortable:
- Be ready to host visitors of all ages and be alert to the needs that can arise when children are in the building.
- Serve chilled water or make sure that guests know where your water fountain or bottle filling station is located.
- Bowls of water for pets are an especially welcoming touch.
- Offer a matinee: a darkened, air-conditioned room can be an extra treat if you’re screening a well-loved classic or other choice.
- Have extra chairs out.
- Encourage the playing of board games and create some game-friendly spaces.
- Print and distribute safety tips and ideas for reducing the risks of extreme heat.
- Advertise your Cooling Center in multiple languages and utilize your local media platforms so that the community is aware of your hours.
- Collaborate with other municipal departments and boards to adequately staff your Cooling Center.
- Be sure that your public safety colleagues are aware of the Cooling Center and know its hours of operation. Maybe one of them could do a presentation on staying safe in extreme heat!
- Deploy volunteers as Cooling Center hosts.
Does your Senior Center offer a Cooling Center? Do you have any tried and true tips to share with the COA community? We’d love to hear them: please post your best practices (or unforeseen challenges) to the InfoHub!
