At Clare Senior Care, we understand that navigating the complexities of senior health can be overwhelming for both our residents and their dedicated caregivers. As a premier provider of Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC) in Boston, Massachusetts, our mission is to empower our community with the tools and information necessary to lead long, vibrant lives. One of the most critical aspects of senior wellness is cardiovascular health.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Often, those who experience sudden cardiovascular events have had no prior symptoms. This “silent” nature of heart disease makes proactive assessment essential. Today, we are highlighting a valuable resource: the Heart Health Assessment—a tool designed to help you understand your risks and take control of your future.
Understanding the Heart Health Assessment
The Heart Health Assessment is a comprehensive tool used by healthcare providers, such as Baptist Health Corbin, to estimate an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). It provides a snapshot of your heart’s current status and estimates your risk for major events like heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, or peripheral artery disease.
How it Works: The Framingham Heart Study
This assessment is grounded in the Framingham Heart Study, one of the most significant and long-running public health studies in American medical history. By analyzing decades of data, researchers identified key factors that contribute to heart disease. The assessment uses these findings to estimate your CVD risk over the next 10 years, and for those under age 60, over the next 30 years.
Key Components of the Report
When you complete an assessment, you receive a detailed report that breaks down your health into several categories:
- Risk Estimates: Your risk is typically presented as a percentage. For example, a 10-year risk of 20% or greater is considered “High Risk”.
- Heart Age: This is a way to visualize your risk by comparing it to a healthy person of the same age. If your “Heart Age” is older than your actual age, it indicates higher-than-average risk. However, for those with existing heart conditions, Heart Age cannot be calculated because the risk is already established as high.
- Risk Factors: The report categorizes your health data into “High,” “Moderate,” or “Low” risk factors. This helps you see exactly where you are doing well and where there is room for improvement.
A Roadmap to Better Health: Modifiable vs. Fixed Risks
The beauty of the Heart Health Assessment is that it distinguishes between factors you can change and those you cannot. This allows seniors and caregivers to focus their energy on areas where they can truly make a difference.
Factors You CAN Change
- Physical Activity: Regular exercise improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. The recommended goal is at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Even small increases in activity can reduce the risk of stroke.
- Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and significantly increases CVD risk. Being smoke-free for at least one year is a vital goal for heart health.
- Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer”. Maintaining levels below 120/80 mm Hg is generally the target for low risk.
- Cholesterol: High cholesterol can block arteries. Lifestyle changes and medication can help keep LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides within healthy ranges.
- Weight: For many, maintaining a healthy weight—determined by height—lowers the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Factors You CAN’T Change
While we cannot change these factors, being aware of them helps doctors tailor your care:
- Age and Sex: Risk naturally increases as we grow older (starting at age 45 for men and 55 for women).
- Family History: Having a close relative (father/brother before 55 or mother/sister before 65) diagnosed with early CVD increases your personal risk.
- Existing Conditions: If you already have a history of heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, your baseline risk is naturally higher.
Take the Assessment Today
At Clare Senior Care, we encourage every senior in our AFC and GAFC programs, along with their family caregivers, to take this heart health journey seriously. Knowledge is the first step toward prevention.
We urge you to take these three steps:
- Take the Assessment: Use a heart health tool (like the one provided by Baptist Health) to input your current numbers.
- Print the Report: Having a physical copy of your results is essential. It serves as a concrete record of your health status at a specific point in time.
- Talk to Your Doctor: Bring the printed report to your next appointment. Use it to ask your primary care physician or heart specialist specific questions about your “High” or “Moderate” risk factors.
By working together, seniors and caregivers can create a strategy to reduce risk factors through diet, exercise, or medication. Remember, in most cases, you can decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease with the right plan.
Disclaimer
Notice: Health assessments are based on averages from studies of large groups of people. Your individual situation may be different. This assessment is not intended to replace medical advice from your healthcare provider, but rather to help you set health goals and make healthy lifestyle decisions. It will not diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional, such as your family physician or a specialist, before starting any new diet or exercise program.
Source
This information is based on the Heart Health Assessment Report (dated 1-6-2026) provided by Baptist Health Corbin, located at 1 Trillium Way, Corbin, KY 40701.
