Wear Red, Eat Well, Stay Active: Celebrating Women's Heart Health Week
It’s Women’s Heart Health Week!
Every year, during the first week of February, we take time to highlight and focus on women’s heart health. And for a good reason—heart disease is the number one cause of death for women. It often goes undiagnosed, and the symptoms can be different from those in men, making awareness and education even more critical. The good news? Small, intentional changes can lead to big improvements, and knowledge is power!
As a multifamily property manager, you have a unique opportunity to foster community wellness by providing residents with valuable heart-health information throughout February. While this first week gives you extra reason to spotlight the importance of heart health, consider incorporating heart-friendly initiatives all month long. Here are some simple yet impactful ways to engage your residents and encourage a heart-healthy lifestyle:
1. Host an Educational Event with a Health Expert
Bring in a local health professional to discuss heart health, including key numbers and biomarkers residents should monitor. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar are crucial indicators of heart health, and understanding these numbers can be life-changing. A Q&A session can also provide residents with personalized advice and actionable steps to improve their heart health.
2. Organize a Heart-Healthy Cooking Class
Food plays a major role in heart health, and a nutritionist-led cooking class can be a fun and interactive way to educate residents about heart-smart eating habits. Highlight the benefits of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and Mediterranean diets, both of which are rich in whole foods, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Provide easy-to-follow recipes and encourage residents to share their own heart-healthy meal ideas.
3. Share Heart-Healthy Recipes and Nutrition Tips
Even if a cooking class isn’t feasible, you can still distribute heart-healthy recipes and nutrition guides. Consider setting up a bulletin board, newsletter section, or digital portal featuring weekly tips and meal ideas that focus on reducing sodium, increasing fiber, and incorporating heart-loving foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts, and fish.
4. Host a Health Fair or Screening Day
Partner with local healthcare providers to offer on-site health screenings for residents. Blood pressure checks, glucose monitoring, and cholesterol screenings can provide valuable insights and encourage proactive health management. Consider inviting representatives from heart health organizations who can provide educational materials and resources.
5. Bring in a Trainer for Heart-Healthy Exercise Demonstrations
Physical activity is essential for heart health, and movement should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability level. Host a session with a fitness trainer who can demonstrate low-impact exercises that residents can do in their own homes. Chair exercises, walking routines, and gentle yoga flows can all help keep hearts strong without requiring expensive equipment or gym memberships.
6. Celebrate National Wear Red Day
On the first Friday of February—this year, it falls on the 7th—encourage residents and staff to wear red in support of women’s heart health. Consider organizing a group photo, hosting a short gathering, or offering small incentives for participation. It’s a simple yet powerful way to raise awareness and show solidarity.
7. Encourage a Heart-Healthy Community Challenge
Make heart health a fun, community-wide effort by organizing a friendly challenge. This could be a step-counting contest, a hydration challenge, or a goal to collectively log a certain number of minutes of movement throughout the month. Engage residents with progress updates and celebrate milestones along the way.
8. Provide Mental Wellness Resources
Stress is a major contributor to heart disease, so it’s important to incorporate mental wellness into heart health initiatives. Share resources on stress management techniques, mindfulness practices, and relaxation strategies that support overall well-being.
By implementing even a few of these ideas, you can make a lasting impact on your residents' heart health. Small, daily choices add up, and together, we can create communities that support and encourage lifelong wellness.
Which of these ideas will you bring to your property this February? Let’s make heart health a priority—because a healthier heart means a longer, fuller life for all of us.
