Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
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Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
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Welcome
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to roll out and restrictions ease, our seniors have the most to celebrate after more than a year of being most vulnerable to the viral disease. In our biannual Aging Well guide, we’re providing the usual tips for readers to continue enjoying life and prospering in South Orange County, as well as paying mind to the changes brought about by the waning crisis. In this spring edition of Aging Well, we’ve curated a collection of stories on what the tri-city area of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano has to offer, in addition to important information needed on staying healthy and active. Read about how local senior living homes are transitioning out of lockdown while still maintaining health and safety protocols. After senior homes were prioritized for vaccinations, their residents are finally able to return to some sense of normalcy. But management and staff continue to balance precautions while providing residents with a high quality of life. This special section also reports on travel trends based on conversations with representatives from AAA and other local travel agencies. If you haven’t yet considered how to protect your estate, Aging Well provides some expertise from local financial planners about new laws that retirees need to be aware of as they contemplate estate management. For the elderly creative souls, this edition also profiles a local art and ceramics teacher and offers a recipe for a healthy heart from a local nutrition expert. We hope this edition of Aging Well can help readers learn something new and also help them make the most of living in beautiful, sunny South Orange County.
TO AGING WELL
Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
ESTATE PLANNING
HAVING TRUST IN YOUR TRUST W By Shawn Raymundo hether we realize it or not, we all have an estate plan when we die. Where we differ, explains Ryan Krause, a financial planner with Edward Jones, is whether our estate falls to a probate plan by default or we’ve been proactive by creating an official plan—or trust—with professionals. “When you go through a probate plan, the courts and the government decide who gets what and how it’s split up,” according to Krause “That probate plan takes longer … and is also more costly.” Those costs, he adds, include court fees and attorney fees that will come out of one’s own estate. And in California, it can be a very sizable amount. A trust, on the other hand—while costly in its own right and can also take time to develop—is still the least expensive and most time-efficient route. But more importantly, Krause says, it’ll maintain one’s control of their estate, helping to ensure that their belongings go exactly where they are intended. “No one is forever, so this is going to have to be addressed at some point,” Krause says. “It’s a matter of whether you want your estate passed on the way you want it to be or let the government decide.” So, if you don’t currently have a proactive plan in place, what’s the first step in preserving control of your estate when you’re laid to rest? Krause recommends consulting with an estate attorney to help create a comprehensive plan. Locally, he says, there are a lot of great professionals, many of whom will offer a complimentary consultation. “All it takes is just a phone call,” he notes. “That’s the first step, get a phone call, learn more about it and get something in place.” Now, equally important as having a comprehensive plan in place is also managing it. This means reviewing and updating the plan period-
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ically as laws get amended, situations change and relationships with beneficiaries evolve. “Review your plan and update it, as not only does the regulatory environment change, but also your situation changes,” Krause says. “Whether that’s acquiring new properties, those that you want to leave it to, that may change; births, (deaths). It’s really important to review and update that on a regular basis … that’s crucial.” When reviewing your estate, Krause says work with your attorney to make sure everything is done by the book so your estate goes right where you want it to. Since 2000, he explains, there have been 11 law changes impacting the estate tax and thresholds—the levy on one’s assets. The most recent update occurred in 2017, when the federal threshold for the estate tax was placed at $11.58 million for an individual. “If your estate is valued below that, your estate will transfer to whoever you want it to without an estate tax,” Krause says, further explaining that an estate valued higher than $11.58 million may be subject to a flat 40% federal tax. Though $11.58 million is the current threshold, it’s likely to continue to evolve, Krause says. “It could go higher, lower, so keeping up to date on these law changes are crucial, because that’ll dictate how you transfer your assets,” he adds. So, what could happen if you don’t have a comprehensive trust in place? As previously mentioned, your estate will go through the probate process, leaving it up to the government how to divvy up your belongings. “The government and the courts are going to use a by-the-book basis to decide who gets what,” Krause explains. As an example, “If you don’t have a trust in place, but you have three kids, each kid may be entitled to get a third of the share. But the reality is you may have one kid you don’t want to give anything to.” However, with a trust, you can help maintain control of who gets what and when— even after death. “You can be very creative with the estate process,” Krause says. “Say there’s minors, and they could be a spending risk, you can put a provision that says they get a certain amount at various times or certain ages. It does give a ton of control.” The probate process is also a very public endeavor, as the government identifies the person’s assets and liabilities, listing belongings in publications. “They make it very public,” Krause says. “Whereas with a proactive plan, you help avoid the public reconciliation of your estate.”
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Matt Duncan, a San Clemente resident, is now able to visit his wife, Arleeta, more regularly at Aegis Living Dana Point. Photo: Lillian Boyd
A NEW DAY
Senior Living Homes Celebrate a PostVaccine Chapter
By Lillian Boyd aring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s comes with its challenges. With the threat of COVID-19, seniors with memory care issues face high risk, and even under standard circumstances, a lack of communication interferes with human connection. “On a good day, a hug is what you know you can get. But with COVID restrictions, it’s this whole other layer of complexity,” Suzy Welbaum, a San Clemente resident, said in February. “I just want a hug. A real hug. It’s that personal touch that is missed.” Welbaum’s mother has been a resident at Aegis Living Dana Point for four years, after living with Suzy for 25 years. But caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s amid a global pandemic adds to the distress. Matt Duncan had been caring for his wife, Arleeta, throughout 2020 as her struggles with memory began to
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Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
worsen. “The thing with Alzheimer’s is that it seems to roll in like a fog. It begins with a loved one asking the same question they already asked just moments later,” Duncan said. “More and more issues start happening, and you go from a mild cognitive impairment to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.” Duncan says his wife did not seem to understand the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic. When she’d tend to her garden, neighborhood kids would walk by to greet her, and she’d want to give them hugs at a time when social distancing was being heavily stressed, Duncan said. It was when Arleeta took off alone, triggering a manhunt from the fire department, that Duncan realized the help and care she needed was beyond his capabilities. “I had it in my head that bringing
her here for the first time would be this traumatic moment for me. It felt like betrayal. I was going to be leaving my soul mate here,” Duncan said. “But Aegis staff was very accommodating and equipped. The goodbye seemed to be anticlimactic. I realized this was the best decision for her, and I took comfort in that. There was some relief.” Arleeta came into Aegis’s care in January, amid a rise in cases. As is customary with memory care residents, friends and family were discouraged from visiting for the first two weeks of her transition in order to ensure a smoother adjustment. Extra precautions were in place due to COVID—a factor in Duncan’s decision to choose Aegis. Additionally, Aegis had already begun preparations for vaccinating its staff and residents. In November, Aegis Living registered its communities with CVS Health, its primary pharmacy provider and one of the organizations that has been formally approved by the Department of Health & Human Services, to administer the vaccine. On Feb. 2, Aegis Living Dana Point celebrated the administration of the first round of vaccines for its residents. Now, nearly 100% of residents and staff are vaccinated. “It was hard at first, because you didn’t know what was going on or what to look forward to,” 98-year-old Aegis resident Marian Whitney said. Whitney says she’s constantly asking when she can get a haircut and when she
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gets to take off her mask. But she says she continues to go on her daily walks—a routine she’s maintained since arriving at Aegis about 13 months ago. “(The walks) are my therapy,” Whitney said. “The pandemic happened within several months of me coming to Aegis. There is really nice care here. Everyone is so polite, everyone knew my name right away. But it will be nice for things to feel normal again … for me to see my family again.” Management at Aegis made the first day of vaccinations a day of celebration. While the protocols and safety measures will continue, residents are getting a taste of the old life again. Whitney is enjoying in-person visits and outings with relatives again. Duncan is able to see his wife’s living accommodations for the first time, engage with staff and her new friends, take her out for local appointments and joyful events—such as walking the San Clemente Pier. “The community is full of life with group activities in full swing—from daily exercise groups to gardening and art classes, book club, courtyard games, happy hours, wine tasting and scenic drives,” said Nandi Butcher, a public relations specialist for Aegis. “We currently have 6-10 activities per day.” Butcher adds that everyone is thrilled to be dining together again. The biggest highlight has been in-person visits with residents and their loved ones—but staff is still on guard with safety practices and infection control. Atria San Juan Capistrano, a senior living home under Atria Senior Living, Inc., is one of six locations in Orange County. The six local locations all have more than 90% of residents and staff vaccinated. The first vaccine clinic at an Atria Orange County community took place on January 13 at Atria Newport Plaza. Since then, the vaccine rollout has included more than 54,000 doses administered so far. The high vaccination levels, along with continuing de-escalation of state restrictions, are enabling the expansion of resident groups from 15 to 20, and expanding visitor capacity (including families, external guests, or potential residents) from 3 to 5. This expansion comes as a result of Atria’s successful “Sleeve Up, Atria” vaccination campaign. Vaccination rates are expected to increase as the company’s May 1 deadline for mandatory staff vaccination approaches. “Atria was the first large senior living provider in America to mandate the vaccine for our staff in early January. The results make us glad we made up our minds early. So far, the breakdown is that more than 92% of our U.S. residents and 85% of our staff have taken the vaccine,” said John Moore, Chairman and CEO of Atria Senior Living. “We know the health benefits of a social living environment, full of expression and engagement. So many of our residents and staff have expressed their excitement to put many of the restrictions danapointtimes.com
of the pandemic behind us and take on a beautiful life ahead,” Moore said. “We’ve entered a ‘COVID Watch’ period where we are still observing our safety protocols but are also able to expand group dining, the use of community amenities and increased family visits as regulators allow. But this phase also equips us to escalate back to higher protocol levels, if necessary.”
cols, and the things we have learned in managing through the last year, give us confidence in our plans to turn the page and spring into life at its fullest.” Francis Cruz is the Engage Life Director at Crestavilla, Atria’s location in Laguna Niguel. “My main purpose is to keep our residents engaged and continue living happily. When the pandemic hit, that became really difficult, but technology made a big
“The community is full of life with group activities in full swing—from daily exercise groups to gardening and art classes, book club, courtyard games, happy hours, wine tasting and scenic drives. We currently have 6-10 activities per day.” —Nandi Butcher, Aegis Moore says the goal is a ‘Post COVID-19’ protocol in which there are no restrictions on community amenity usage, all visitors are allowed pending screening questions, and PPE requirements are relaxed or in some situations eliminated. “We are ready for a world where we’re poised to react, but where we also have greater freedoms as disease activity wanes and immunity takes hold through the vaccines,” Moore said. “The decline in disease activity in our communities gives us hope, and the protection afforded by the vaccine, continuing safety proto-
Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
difference,” Cruz said. “At first, it was hard to get Zoom and FaceTime going, but now we’re offering programs as either virtual or in-person, socially distanced.” Cruz says senior residents are now coming to him daily for more ways to use technology. “Now that our staff and residents are nearly all vaccinated, I am most excited for older adults to enjoy that sense of security in freedom again. It feels like Crestavilla here. We’re known for our events, and finally, we can enjoy a meal together again.”
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Local Knowledge
Special Advertising Section
With the Market Near All-Time Highs, Should You Be Excited or Concerned? When markets are near record highs, you wonder, “Is this a bubble?” When markets dive, you ask, “Is this THE Crash?” Your biggest question: How do you keep your head on straight when Wall Street is sending your retirement savings on a rollercoaster ride? After one of the most spectacular recoveries in recent years (from the bottom in March 2020 to March 2021), both the Dow and S&P 500 continue to notch record highs – enough whipsawing to make your neck and retirement accounts ache. There’s an effective medium, though, between doing nothing and panicky trading. Here is an often-overlooked tool that we have successfully used over the past 2-plus decades working with some of the most successful and savvy retirement savers and investors during the biggest bull and bear markets in history that can keep you level-headed. Do You Have an IPS? If you are not familiar with what an IPS is, it isn’t something you need to visit a doctor for. An IPS or Investment Policy Statement is something you create (either on your own or with the help of an experienced advisor) that describes your investment philosophy and style, and guidelines as well as constraints for you and your advisor to manage your investments. An IPS serves as your guardrail so you don’t veer all over, chasing investments or changing your strategy as markets ebb and flow. Your IPS should be centered on your key investing goals and life priorities. In addition, your IPS should also set targets for your asset allocation within your investment portfolios. These targets should be ranges and treated strategically for market cycles, as opposed to static figures for each class. This increases your options for making strategic investment decisions as markets rise and fall. This is very important, especially if you happen to be within 5 years before or after retirement or what we like to call the Retirement Red Zone—a key time in life to avoid negative market volatility. Creating a perpetual portfolio, one that stands the test of time, begins with a thoughtful IPS that you can revisit through the years, as your goals and priorities may change with age. Would you like your own personalized Investment Policy Statement? Visit quiverfinancial.com/protect-your-retirement-live-event to learn how to create your own IPS in 4 simple steps.
Aging Successfully with Holistic Health Care By Drs. Burton & Emma Wagner, DC It’s been said that “the trick is growing up without growing old.” If you’re over the age of 55, you’ve likely pondered this notion at least once in your life. Do you think aging has to be painful, is about dealing with diseases and taking a lot of medications? That the body will become more fragile, making it harder to recuperate from trauma and losing your independence? There are natural holistic solutions that everyone can use easily. Well, let’s look at 4 benefits of holistic health care that play an essential role in successful aging: • Pain relief: Fixing the underlying causes of pain without medications for better mobility, flexibility and vitality. The causes of inflammation need to be addressed. Holistic Chiropractic care, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy and microcurrent stimulation are examples of holistic modalities to reduce pain and increase vitality. • Reducing our toxic load: Holistic care focuses on detoxifying the body. As your health improves, you can reduce your medications with unpleasant side effects and that may have high levels of toxicity. A food cleanse, the use of nutritional supplements, lymphatic massage, saunas and ionic foot detox baths are good tools to remove toxins already present in the body. • Preventing trauma and repairing from trauma faster: As we age, we can feel more fragile, stiff, and less capable of doing things. It may seem like our body’s ability to heal is reduced and it takes longer to heal. Holistic modalities such as Red Light Therapy, PEMF and microcurrent stimulation are good supports for assisting your body to heal. • Increase life enjoyment: Life enjoyment comes from feeling more secure and stable in your body/mind. Holistic care focuses on creating balance both physically and psychologically to help you maintain your sense of independence and confidence, which allows you to fully enjoy life with your loved ones. Many people now seek holistic care, whether as a treatment solution, complementary treatment, or for prevention of problems. Holistic care like gentle chiropractic, lifestyle coaching, and the modalities listed above help maintain vitality through proper range of motion, a balanced nervous system, and improved organ function. One last tip: Staying active is the best way to feel good. Focus on the mobility of your feet and visualize the connection between your feet and your brain by challenging your balance and coordination. Since the brain controls every part of your body, improving your brain-body connection can dramatically improve your sense of vitality. San Clemente Vitality Center offers gentle innovative holistic care. Bring in this article to ask for a special gift when you come in for your Free Discover Session.
San Clemente Vitality 647 Camino De Los Mares Suite 218 San Clemente, CA 92673 949.441.7755 sanclementevitality.com
Quiver Financial Holdings, LLC 501 N. El Camino Real, Ste. 200, San Clemente, CA 92672 949.492.6900 | quiverfinancial.com Advisory Services Offered through Quiver Financial Services, LLC A registered advisory License OB75303 Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
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What to Look for in a Memory Care Community Dementia doesn’t just affect the person who has it. It affects the entire family. It’s often challenging to provide the care your loved one needs while juggling other responsibilities. It’s also hard to know when it’s time for memory care or where to start your research process. Serra Sol Memory Care helps family members who are walking this journey and can be counted on to provide helpful advice for caregivers. Ultimately, if you feel it’s time to consider a memory care community, our team can help you navigate that process, answering any questions you have. Not all memory care communities are created equal. When considering a community, you should prioritize a few key concepts, including: • Safety and security • 24/7 caregiver support • Comfortable accommodations and amenities • Transparent pricing structures • Life-enriching activities to encourage socialization and interaction • Support for family members What may be most important, though, is finding a place where your loved one will feel at home — something we take seriously at Serra Sol. We strive to create an environment that speaks to the warm embrace of home. Unlike other health problems, which can come on all at once, dementia is a progressive decline, and there may not be an immediate need to seek memory care. As the decline continues, however, you may come to believe that your loved one needs a stable memory care environment. You may wonder, is a move to a community really needed, or will in-home care work? There’s no easy answer, as it depends on your loved one’s specific needs and the availability of family members to be full-time caregivers. In-home care can be a reasonable solution for some, especially in the early stages of dementia. In many cases, though, memory care becomes the better option. Caregivers at a community like Serra Sol are expertly trained to care for those with dementia. Our professional caregivers can provide the assurance of around-the-clock safety as well as access to medical care. Programs specific to Serra Sol, like LifeCycles, can provide a peerless level of engagement for those with dementia while also giving family members both relief and full peace of mind. Serra Sol Memory Care is coming soon to San Juan Capistrano, and we know that in order to provide a truly inspired life for residents in our care, it’s about much more than making sure a resident’s health-related needs are met. It’s about the little things that mean a lot—warmhearted staff who know your loved one’s favorite activities; comfortable routines that spark positive memories; and opportunities for fun, laughter and joy each day. It’s a community that truly feels like home. To learn more about the Serra Sol way of life or to schedule a tour, visit our website at SerraSol.com or call 949.485.2022.
Serra Sol Memory Care 31451 Avenida Los Cerritos, San Juan Capistrano, CA 949.485.2022 | SerraSol.com | RCFE: 306005946 danapointtimes.com
San Clemente Village: A Wonderful Local Resource When you hear of San Clemente Village, you might think it’s a senior living facility. On the contrary, it is a vibrant organization of vetted volunteers who provide planned events, activities, programs and services for those aged 55 and over in our beautiful town. Their vision is to help people thrive and live well in their homes. San Clemente Village is part of the nation-wide Village to Village network, which, the website says, “...pioneered the way for a positive, forward-thinking model for aging.” Village Movement California is our state-run branch, and in 2016, San Clemente was lucky enough to get its own Village organization. Our local Village’s Executive Director is Jan Montague. She has a gerontology background and is also on the state Village Board. Volunteers and board members consist of local residents. Pre-Covid, the Village calendar listed nearly a dozen activities a month. Typical outings include Bridge and Lunch Bunch, Dine Around, Movie Matinee, and Exploring Technology, educational programs on a variety of topics and other social activities. San Clemente Village makes it easy to connect with those members who have similar interests. During Covid, a Zoom coffee hour, bingo and happy hour are the main events, along with birthday gift bag and fun bag deliveries. Services like these are offered to members during the Covid restrictions: • Computer/phone assistance • Paperwork organizing • Transportation (medical appointments within a 20-mile radius & errands 10-mile radius) • Minor indoor and outdoor home maintenance services (replacing a furnace filter) • Pet Assistance • Zoom educational programs • Village health companion for medical appointments • Puzzle exchange • Phone check-ins Physically-distanced front porch and patio visits Even during this time of physical distancing, San Clemente Village Volunteers are reachable by phone from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm daily to provide assistance for services. They are the matchmakers who make sure that the appropriate person is called to provide help for each request.
San Clemente Village To inquire about membership or volunteer opportunities, visit our website at scvillage.org or call 949.441.1348.
Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
Getting
HANDS-ON with Ceramics
Artist Kathryn Dennis Teaches Craftsmanship By Collin Breaux
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n the age of smartphones, social media, and premade items, we might not always be literally hands-on when it comes to crafting our own items. San Clemente-based ceramic artist Kathryn Stovall Dennis, who has been teaching in South Orange County for nearly 20 years, provides people an alternative to that with her classes. “It’s active,” Dennis said of ceramics. “It’s not a passive thing. … This is an opportunity to bring yourself into a project.” Dennis has taught at Saddleback College and The Hive Ceramics, the latter in the Talega Business Park. Like many other people, Dennis transitioned to digital Zoom sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s small classes,” Dennis said. “It’s tailored for COVID protocols.” Dennis also taught classes at a studio in her house, but those were canceled due to the outbreak. She generally taught those classes once a week and is considering bringing them back when California is expected to fully reopen in mid-June. Dennis didn’t start teaching until her late 40s, and she is now in her 60s. One advantage she has as a ceramics instructor, she said, is that she doesn’t have the burnout others may have. “I still have a lot of enthusiasm,” Dennis said. Page 15
Kathryn Dennis
Her classes generally fill up within 24 hours, and a lot of participants are past students from her college courses. The age range for students is predominantly 35-75, and the classes are generally publicized through word-of-mouth. People are drawn to ceramics, because it’s an opportunity to create their own object, she said. Class participants make functional items such as bowls or platters in the beginning courses, as ceramics often ties into food, Dennis notes. Dennis’ work can be purchased at Mission Fine Art Gallery in San Juan Capistrano, and her work is also publicly visible throughout San Clemente. Learn more about her artwork through her website, stovalldesign.me. “It’s never too late to explore your creative side,” Dennis said. “It’s good for people, as they get older, to push themselves and learn new things.” danapointtimes.com
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By Zach Cavanagh fter a year of folks being inside the four walls of their home and enduring various levels of quarantines, shutdowns and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the siren call of summer and vacation plans is calling louder than ever. With those shutdowns in the rearview mirror, the restrictions easing with each passing month and the distribution of vaccines making quarantines nearly a thing of the past, the idea to travel is becoming more and more appealing to potential vacationers across the country. “Being that they’ve been cooped up for so long, that’s the motivation that people are looking to get out and travel,” said Christine Fredlov, San Clemente’s branch manager at the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA). “Some people are vaccinated and feeling more comfortable, and others are just anxious to get out and travel with things starting to open up.” According to a global travel trends report released by American Express Travel in March, 78% of travelers surveyed said they’re looking for ways to get out and go somewhere in 2021 to relieve the stresses of 2020. “While individual sentiments differ, one thing is clear: there’s a pent-up demand for travel and a clear appreciation for the benefits that it can bring,” Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said in a statement. “In fact, people miss traveling so much that 76% of respondents surveyed are creating their destinations wish list for future travel even though they might not be able to travel yet.” Additionally, to further describe people’s desire to get out and see the world, 64% of the survey’s respondents said they
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Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
Return to Travel
As the world begins to reopen, the travel industry is ready for those comfortable and willing to get back out there and explore would be willing to give up social media for a month just to go on vacation, and another 56% of respondents said they’d be willing to book trips right now even if they had to cancel them. This thirst for travel will be much appreciated by an industry that saw travel spending in the United States suffer a 42% decline in 2020 from 2019 numbers, according to analysis from Tourism Economics. That decline represents about a $500 billion difference. However, with the vaccines beginning to be distributed in December 2020 and ramping up through the early parts of 2021 along with fewer and fewer cases of COVID-19 infections, the world has begun to reopen—and that includes the world of travel. Fredlov said February was when phone inquiries started picking up, and the walk-ins began showing up again at the San Clemente AAA office. Fredlov said the most popular destinations have been river cruises around the United States, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and Florida, particularly Orlando and Walt Disney World. San Diego has been the most popular Southern
California destination for South Orange County residents. “We’re definitely getting the older generation that are booking U.S. river cruises,” Fredlov said. “Mississippi and Ohio Rivers are popular. We’re also getting a lot of families booking trips, especially the Florida trips.” For the river cruises, Fredlov said many of those trips are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, as the ships can be small and compact. Ocean cruises from the United States will likely require those as well, but those could still be a ways off. “No idea,” Fredlov said of when U.S.based ocean cruises could return. “We’ve been hearing this fall, but there’s a lot of requirements they have to get done. We keep hearing that it keeps being pushed further out.” Bookings for ocean cruises have begun in some places internationally, such as from the Bahamas, but all trips on the big ocean liners are still battling against the tides of the coronavirus pandemic. However, there are those trips that are opening up, and when looking to travel in the post-COVID world of 2021, there are
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plenty of things of which to take note. First, if international travel is in the cards, including trips to Mexico, a big recommendation is to check on passport expiration dates. It’s recommended that if the passport is expiring within six months of the date trip that it should be renewed. In San Clemente, passports can be renewed at the post office at 520 E. Avenida Pico or at the Rancho San Clemente Station post office at 905 Calle Negocio. In Dana Point, the renewal site is at the post office at 24551 Del Prado. Fredlov also said passports can also be handled at the AAA San Clemente Branch at 638 Camino de los Mares. The next big recommendation for 2021 travel? “Travel insurance, travel insurance, travel insurance,” Fredlov said. “Not only for cancellations, but medically, if they’re travelling outside of the country, to have some sort of primary care. Always inquire with their travel agent.” After 2020, many will be familiar with the pain of canceling an anticipated travel plan. Fredlov said they were able to maintain a lot of business by professional agents, keeping lines of communication open and vendors providing incentives to travelers to rebook. Fredlov said that vendors and agencies usually have multiple promotions underway. AAA has a recovery plan in which travelers would get a rebate at the time of travel, depending on the size of the package. Many vendors and agencies are providing incentives to travel in 2021. After a year of staying indoors and limiting travel to the immediate area—or just to and from the couch—opportunities are available as the world slowly heads toward normalcy. Whenever ready, there are destinations waiting. danapointtimes.com
By Gina Cousineau
HEART-HEALTHY AT HOME
FOOD AS MEDICINE
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s I turn 58 this week, I remind my senior clients, me being one, that we are sitting in the midst of what are potentially the best years of our lives. As a culinary nutritionist, I strive to merge the two worlds of “nutritious and delicious” when helping my clients use a “food as medicine” philosophy. While we can all agree upon what a wholesome diet looks like, putting it onto your plate multiple times a day, week after week, in a sustainable way, is always a task. This recipe is the perfect collaboration of plants combined to give you appropriate calories, a huge boost of plant-based protein, a plethora of vegetables that are both low in calories and high in nutrition, topped with a little flavor boost of Parmesan Reggiano providing additional protein and a ton of joy. While I personally follow an omnivore diet, including animal foods most days, a meatless meal is always a welcome change. Using bean pastas allows those who prefer a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, or who might have gluten intolerance, get adequate protein along with wonderful texture and flavor, sans the “meat.” Nutritional Yeast or vegan “cheese” can replace the Parmesan if desired.
Macaroni Minestrone Soup • 2 tbsp Olive Oil • 2 cups Zucchini, small diced • 2 cups Carrots, small diced • 2 cups Onions, small diced • 2 cloves Garlic, minced • 1 tsp Fresh Thyme, chopped (or ½ tsp dried) • 4 cups Vegetable Broth (or chicken broth) • 15 oz Tomato Sauce, canned
• 1 15-oz can Cannellini Beans, drained/rinsed • 1 8-oz box Chickpea Pasta Shells (or any other small pasta) • 10 oz Baby Spinach (can be omitted) • Fresh Basil, cut into strips, optional • Fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
Heat olive oil in large pot w/ lid, and sauté zucchini, carrots, onions, garlic, and thyme, until veggies are soft, seasoning with salt and pepper (about 10 minutes). Stir in vegetable broth, tomato sauce, and cannellini beans, bringing to a boil. Cover, lower heat to simmer, and allow to cook for 30-plus minutes. When ready to serve, add pasta and cook until pasta tender. Remove from heat and stir in baby spinach. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, as desired. Top each serving with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Makes 6 servings 400 calories / 41.3 g carbs / 11.6 g fat / 29.1 g protein
Gina Cousineau is a trained chef, fitness professional, and integrative/functional nutritionist. She educates her clients how to advocate for their health using “food as medicine,” helping them make a complete lifestyle shift, beginning with nutrition education and culinary skills, partnered with her food template and recipes, and adding in a little calculated exercise, which allows them to lose weight and thrive. You can reach her at 949.842.9975, mamagslifestyle.com, or follow her on social media @mamagslifestyle.
Gina Cousineau
Dana Point Times April 23-29, 2021
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