Love Your Heart This February: Supporting Heart Health at Home
February isn’t just about Valentine’s cards and chocolates. It’s also Heart Month, a campaign led by the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of how everyday habits can support heart health. For older adults living in Dudley and Sandwell South, heart health is often shaped by routine, social connection, and the right kind of support at home.
Whether someone is managing a long-term heart condition, recovering from illness, or simply aiming to stay well, small, steady lifestyle choices can make a meaningful difference.
Heart Health and Ageing: Why It Matters
As we age, the heart and circulatory system naturally change, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Supporting heart health isn’t about extreme measures. It’s about consistency in everyday life: gentle movement, balanced nutrition, social interaction, and managing medications well.
For those living with ongoing health needs, a predictable routine and supportive companionship can help daily life feel calmer, safer, and more manageable.
Simple Ways to Support Heart Health at Home
Supporting heart health at home doesn’t need to feel complicated. Practical, achievable steps include:
– Gentle daily movement, such as short walks
– Regular, balanced meals and staying hydrated
– Medication reminders and support attending GP appointments
– A steady daily rhythm to reduce stress and fatigue
– Social connection and meaningful conversation
In many cases, Care Professionals can also support clients to attend local wellbeing events, walking groups, or health awareness sessions that encourage gentle activity and social engagement.
Local Heart Health Services & Support
Across Dudley and Sandwell South, there are several accessible heart health supports worth knowing about:
NHS Health Checks
Adults aged 40–74 without a diagnosed heart condition may be eligible for a free NHS Health Check, which looks at blood pressure, cholesterol, and lifestyle factors to help identify early risks.
Residents in Dudley can also find local details through Your Health Dudley, which explains eligibility and how to access checks in the area.
Sandwell residents may be able to access free health checks and screening initiatives delivered locally through council and partner programmes:
Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Checks
Many local pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks and basic heart health advice, providing a convenient way to monitor heart health without needing a GP referral.
Walking Groups and Gentle Activity
Gentle movement plays a key role in heart health. Local walking groups can be found through national directories such as:
Walking for Health, which lists free, led walks across England:
The Ramblers, which helps people find local walking groups in their area:
These groups offer a safe, sociable way to stay active while enjoying time with others.
Community and Social Groups
Lunch clubs, music groups, and community wellbeing sessions across Dudley and Sandwell South may not look like traditional healthcare, but they play an important role in reducing loneliness, stress, and inactivity, all of which affect heart health.
Care Professionals can help clients find suitable local groups, attend sessions, and build routines around them.
Signs That Extra Support Might Help
Noticing changes early can make a real difference. Extra support may be helpful if a friend or loved one experiences:
– Persistent tiredness or breathlessness
– Reduced appetite or activity levels
– Difficulty managing medication or daily routines
– Reduced confidence getting out and about
Encouraging a conversation with their GP is important, alongside exploring practical, day-to-day support that helps maintain comfort, safety, and well-being at home.
How Home Care Supports Heart Health & Well-Being
Home care can play a quiet but powerful role in supporting heart health. Care Professionals can:
- Help establish and maintain healthy daily routines
- Provide companionship that reduces loneliness and stress
- Support medication prompts and attending appointments
- Encourage gentle activity and balanced meals
- Assist with attending local heart health checks, walking groups, or wellbeing sessions
Care is always shaped around what matters most to the individual, supporting both physical health and emotional well-being.
To find out more, enquire today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Heart Month?
Heart Month is a February health awareness campaign led by the British Heart Foundation, focusing on everyday habits and support that help protect heart health, particularly in older adults.
Q2: Can home care support someone with a heart condition?
Yes. Home care can support medication routines, daily pacing, companionship, and attending GP appointments or community heart health activities.
Q3: Are there local heart health services in Dudley & Sandwell South?
Yes. Local support includes NHS Health Checks, pharmacy blood pressure checks, walking groups, and community wellbeing activities available across Dudley and Sandwell South.