Although February is known as the month of romance and a time to fill the hearts of loved ones and profuse admiration for a beloved valentine, it is also recognized as National Heart Health Month. That’s why La Posada decided to spread the love throughout the month of February to advocate awareness for heart health and educate the community on the signs and effects of heart disease.
Heart disease has remained the leading cause of death in Americans since 1921. Each year, more than 660,000 people in the United States die from heart disease, which accounts for 1 in 4 total deaths for Americans. In addition, about 80% of those who contract heart disease are seniors. National Heart Health Month, or American Heart Month, was established to educate Americans on the importance of their cardiovascular health.
With the health and well-being of residents in mind, the La Posada wellness team hosted a lecture presented by a local cardiovascular doctor. During the presentation, residents learned the signs and symptoms of heart disease, such as heart attacks and arrhythmia, as well the importance of preventative care that can help lower their risk of heart disease or stroke. In addition, residents were provided with free blood screenings, used to check for signs of high blood pressure or blood glucose that are known key risk factors for heart disease.
“The health and well-being of our residents always has, and always will be, our top priority,” says Rick Minichino, wellness director of La Posada. “We want our residents to be involved in every aspect of their care, and by providing resources like routine blood screenings, we can help ensure they have the tools they need to ensure they are at the forefront of their health.”
The blood screenings are just one of the many ways La Posada enables their residents to be proactive in their health and well-being. The community offers an abundance of amenities that are targeted to achieve whole-person wellness in all levels of care. Residents are equipped with facilities and resources that aid and encourage them to take charge of their health. This includes access to multiple amenities, such as an aquatic center, onsite rehabilitation services, a newly renovated state-of-the-art fitness center, and much more.
“Our wellness programs are at the core of the lifestyle we provide at La Posada,” says Minichino. “We pride ourselves on the amount and variety of programming we offer to achieve that. The wellness team works together each day to continue to curate new ways that encourage our residents to hone in on their health and well-being.”
Apart from its unfortunate standing as the number one cause of death in Americans, heart disease also claims the lives of nearly 500,000 women each year, responsible for more than 40% of all deaths in American women. This alarming statistic sparked Go Red for Women, an initiative created by the American Heart Association as an extension of National Heart Health Month to dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women.
In recognition of this, La Posada participated in National Wear Red Day.
On National Wear Red Day, held on the first Friday of each February, the community came together to raise awareness for women who struggle with heart disease and unite for its eradication. Residents and staff all wore red in support of the cause and held a bake sale where residents sold treats to collect donations in support of Go Red for Women. On top of the bake sale, residents at La Posada also purchased candy grams that were hand-delivered by Cupid himself on Valentine’s Day. All donations collected from the bake sale and candy grams contributed to La Posada’s local chapter of the American Heart Association.
“Supporting Go Red for Women was a fantastic way for us to come together as a community,” says Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Not only did it educate and bring awareness to our staff and residents on heart disease, but it also gave us a way to unify and give back to an important cause.”
As a Kisco senior living community, La Posada prioritizes whole-person wellness and puts it at the forefront of care. To achieve this, the La Posada team focuses on the ongoing development of their residents, which is encouraged and expanded upon through various programs and amenities that are implemented throughout the community. These are all designed to promote all dimensions of wellness and motivate residents to engage in the art of living well.
