February is all about the heart here at Fulford. For starters, it’s National Heart Month in the UK, which highlights cardiovascular health, promotes prevention, and supports research into heart disease.
We’ve also just enjoyed a fun-filled Valentine’s weekend, celebrating love with our residents, surrounded by heart-themed decorations and enjoying food and drink to match. Scroll down to see some pictures!
This has got us thinking about the importance of heart health in a care home setting and the small, daily habits we encourage to keep our residents happy and healthy.
5 daily habits for seniors to try for a healthy heart
1. Eat Better
A heart-healthy diet doesn’t have to be restrictive. We can all enjoy treats from time to time. But it does need to include plenty of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, healthy proteins and fats. It should also minimise the use of salt and, where possible, use other herbs and spices for seasoning.
Eating a diet rich in fibre (lentils, beans, berries, nuts, seeds, and whole grains), unsaturated fats (nuts, seeds and olive oil), and omega-3s (fish, nuts and seeds) can also help lower your cholesterol. Having high cholesterol can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Read more about the importance of diet & nutrition in care and how we keep our residents happy, healthy, and well-fed.
2. Hit Your Sleep Sweet Spot
According to the British Heart Foundation, getting less than 7 hours of good quality sleep regularly can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, sleeping too much can also harm your heart.
To improve heart health, you need to find your sleep sweet spot, which is around 7-9 hours a night. Doing so can help lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and support cardiovascular health.
3. Quit Smoking
No matter your age, it’s never too late to make healthy choices — and quitting smoking is one of the healthiest you can make. According to the Heart Foundation, when you quit, your risk of heart attack and stroke decreases almost straight away.
Of course, stopping smoking isn’t easy. It requires willpower and persistence. If you or a loved one lives in a care home and wants to give up smoking, you should have access to supportive staff and smoking cessation experts. Alternatively, you can create your own personal quitting plan via the NHS.
4. Get Active
It goes without saying that exercise is crucial for cardiovascular health, but it can be difficult to do as much as we get older. The good news is that you don’t need to be running ultra marathons into your golden years to see the benefits of exercise. A brisk walk once a day or a gentle swim a few times a week can make a huge difference to your heart health and your mental wellbeing.
To stay active as you get older, set small, achievable goals and choose activities that you enjoy. Looking for inspiration? Here are 15 gentle exercises to put a spring in your step.
5. Find Your Purpose
Having a strong sense of purpose helps keep us well by reducing stress and staying active and social. Engaging in meaningful activities as you get older can stimulate your brain and enrich your life — and research shows that having a positive mindset can help your heart. One UK study of over 8,000 people found that those who scored high on optimism enjoyed a 30% lower risk of developing heart disease.
If you have a loved one in care, your presence can fuel their purpose. We all thrive when loved, and visits from friends and family bring with them joy and energy.
Valentine’s Weekend 2026 @ Fulford
In summary
Small habits can add up to healthy hearts and minds. You just need to do them every day.
If you’d like to learn more about Fulford and our daily approach to heart health, please contact us at 01904 654 269.