Despite February being the shortest month of the year, it can sometimes feel like a very long stretch for seniors when spring is still far away. Here are five ways to enjoy this month even if the weather is colder and drearier than we’d like!

Social isolation increases the risks of heart disease, infectious illness, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Retirement living can contribute to a solution by offering seniors more daily opportunities to socialize with peers through recreational activities, themed social events, discussion groups and meals with friends. Socializing in a retirement community can improve health by strengthening the heart, reducing depression and anxiety, boosting brain health and immunity, and encouraging more physical activity.

Enjoying certain Valentine’s Day treats in moderation confers surprising health benefits for seniors. Studies suggest that eating flavanol-rich, dark chocolate may boost heart and brain health, and lift your mood. Drinking a glass of red wine with dinner may lower diabetes and heart disease risk, while savouring chocolate-dipped strawberries can reduce inflammation.

Headaches affect about half of adults globally and preventive non-drug strategies can be effective in helping to relieve headache pain and improve quality of life. Low-impact exercise, meditation, and other relaxation techniques can prevent or ease headaches by reducing stress and unwinding tight muscles. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, staying hydrated, and avoiding headache triggers can also help to prevent or reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.

A healthy human gut environment, which contains many different types of good bacteria, contributes to better overall health and longer life. Regular exercise, an active social life, and a nutritious diet rich in fibre, probiotics and prebiotics can improve and restore gut health. Better gut health can help to lift mood, sharpen your mind, and boost immunity.

Taking care of plants and gardening can do wonders for your well-being. Scientific research has shown that simply being in contact with plants can improve your mental and physical health. On top of that, gardening is a great excuse to get some much-needed exercise and therefore can help you maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure.

Did you know that 45% of Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one risk factor for heart disease? These factors include stress, a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use and a poor diet. Therefore, what kind of food should we eat to help prevent heart conditions?

Monitoring and controlling your blood pressure is especially important to safeguard your health during the pandemic because changes in activity, diet or stress could raise blood pressure levels without you knowing.

Congestive heart failure is one of the most common and serious forms of heart disease affecting older Canadians, and a leading cause of hospitalization.

Research studies show that emotional vitality nourishes and helps restore physical health throughout life.

Hypertension is the most common reason for Canadians to visit a doctor and it increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is associated with better protection against heart disease, as well as better management of type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.