2 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Five time-tested tips for aging well
What’s inside • These tips will help make your dating life magical — even after 50! Page 4 • Don’t miss the best films of the summer for grown-ups. Page 6 • A couple celebrated their retirement by sailing
around the globe. Page 8
• Caviar and lobster bisque? Some retirement homes are serving upscale meals. Page 10 • Preschoolers and older adults are working together at a retirement home to help those in need. Page 12
A health renaissance is taking place in America as more people are embracing aging well and being proactive rather than reactive about their well-being. Prevention has become the focus, and many aging Americans are turning to time-tested methods for keeping their bodies and minds healthy so they can live longer, higher-quality lives. Kristen Johnson, certified personal trainer, registered dietician and nutrition expert at www.ontargetliving. com points out five time-tested strategies for aging well:
DAILY EXERCISE “Daily movement is the real fountain of youth. It keeps us healthy from the inside out,” says Johnson. She notes that quality over quantity is what really matters. “When it comes to improving overall fitness, high-intensity exercise for a short amount of time may be much more beneficial than low intensity for a long amount of time,” Johnson says. “Research suggests that fatburning hormones like human growth hormones and testosterone are stimulated by high-intensity exercise, while fat-storing hormones like cortisol may be lowered. Try increasing the intensity and frequency of your exercise, while decreasing the time spent.”
SUPERFOODS • One woman is living out her passion by doing
what she loves. Page 13
• Make the most of that empty nest and boost home value with a few savvy home improvements. Page 14 • Today’s strong dollar and the free time retirement gives you makes it the perfect time to travel abroad. Page 15
The foods you eat influence how you look and feel, from glowing and confident to lethargic and sick. Selecting foods that people have eaten historically as nutritional powerhouses can help boost overall wellness. “Superfoods are nutrientrich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, ancient grains, healthy fats and lean proteins,” says Johnson. “These foods naturally contain high amounts of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which all contribute to healthy aging.” A few to focus on: • Carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are extremely beneficial for eye and skin health, thanks to high levels of betacarotene, a type of vitamin A. • Any brightly colored fruits and vegetables will have an
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HUMAN INTERACTION may help you feel younger. abundant amount of antioxidants, and these help prevent oxidation and cell damage. Examples: raspberries, kale and cabbage. • Carbohydrates like healthy grains, beans and potatoes help you produce serotonin, a calming and satiety hormone that helps fight stress and anxiety’s negative effects.
NUTRIENTS Supplements help fill nutritional gaps, especially as the aging body requires greater amounts of certain vitamins and minerals. Johnson points out the importance of omega3s for aging well. “Omega-3 fats are essential for getting you healthy from the inside out, all while helping improve hormonal balance, brain health, weight loss and metabolism,” she says. “Omega-3 fats are also extremely helpful for healthy skin, hair and nails.” Her favorite? Nordic Naturals cod liver oil. “This contains EPA and DHA, both of which contribute to a healthy heart and brain,” she says.
“Cod liver oil also helps improve cellular function, energy and mood. Did you know cod liver oil can actually taste good? Try their delicious orange flavor.”
SLEEP “Chronic lack of sleep is one of the fastest ways to age the human body,” Johnson says. “Lack of sleep can have a huge impact on the appearance of skin, causing fine lines, wrinkles and dark under-eye circles. Not getting enough sleep can also cause your body to release a stress hormone called cortisol.” She notes that adequate sleep can positively influence cognitive ability, mood, weight loss and skin rejuvenation, so it should be a top priority for an aging-well routine. While the right amount of sleep will vary among individuals, the goal for most adults is seven to eight hours a night.
SOCIAL ACTIVITY Human interaction can decrease as people age, but it’s more important than ever to
form and maintain bonds with others. Participating in social activity is a fun way to enjoy life and reap real health benefits. “The American Medical Association has noted that stress is the basic cause for more than 60 percent of all human illnesses and diseases,” says Johnson. ‘“When you are socially active and surround yourself with people you enjoy, you may be less likely to feel lonely, unhappy or unfulfilled, all of which can cause unwanted stress.” Finally, there’s no need to become overwhelmed; start an aging-well routine by taking one small step and building healthy habits over time. This is what will lead to longterm success. “Remember that it’s never too late to start living a healthy and happy life,” Johnson says. “Give yourself more reasons to smile and laugh. Did you know research suggests that happy people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives?” — Brandpoint content
Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015— 3
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4 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Your lin link nk to aging agi gingg and disability l y resources d bility disabi resoources Tips for creating a magical in Pennsylvania. Peennsylva l ania.
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BUILDING CONFIDENCE may help toward finding a successful dating life.
dating life after 50
Link to Aging and Disability Resources is a collaborative effort among community agencies and the Office of Long-term Living (OLTL) to provide INFORMATION about support to individuals over the age of 60 and persons 18-59 with disabilities. providers and consumers.
The intent of the PA Link is to improve access to services for aging consumers and adults with disabilities and their families through a collaborative network of providers and consumers.
By LISA COPELAND Findaqualityman.com
I want to talk to you about three ways to get yourself out of a dating rut and into the magical dating life you desire. Often women begin working with me when they have hit a wall in their dating lives. Things aren’t going well, they aren’t meeting the guys they want to meet and, even worse, no one is noticing them online or in the real world. I want you to know that this happens to every woman at every level of dating. Believe me, I see it over and over again. I experienced it! And when it happens, it doesn’t feel good, and what ends up happening is you start blaming yourself because nothing you’re doing seems to be working, I’ve got three ways to help you get out of your dating rut and get you back out there having fun dating while finding a great guy at this time in your life. Ready?
STEP 1: Realize that you’re not alone. When things don’t go the way you think they should, you tend to think, “Well, everybody else is out there dating good guys. They’re doing great.” And you feel like no one else is frustrated and struggling with dating. It feels like you’re the only one! Well, that’s simply not true. Why? Most women put their best self out there for the world to see. Think about how many times you didn’t let anyone know when things weren’t going well. I see it all the time — women around the country, around the world — it happens to everyone. Understand that even though it looks like
everybody else is out there dating amazing men and you feel like the only one out who isn’t ... it’s not the case. Understand that and have some compassion for yourself.
STEP 2: It’s time to build your confidence back up. When it feels like nothing is happening in your dating life, it sometimes makes you feel depressed or has you doubt your attractiveness to men. The No. 1 thing that needs to happen is to build your dating confidence back up. In fact, this one thing touches every single aspect of your life. Confidence touches how you will get out there and talk to the men you want to date. Confidence affects how you appear to men. Confidence affects the men you want to attract. It affects everything about your dating life so it’s important that you keep your confidence really high. I don’t mean acting superior, conceited or egotistical — it’s an inner knowing that you’re an amazing woman just as you are! You’ve got to project your confidence. The way to do this sounds kind of funny, but it works. I suggest creating a list of the amazing qualities you possess ... 10-15 about your physical self, 10-15 about your personality and 10-15 about what you’re good at and interested in. Then every morning or every time you pass a mirror remind yourself of two or three of the qualities you love about you. You’ll find that you start liking the woman you see in the mirror every day. And when you’re having a bad day, you can give yourself a little boost of confidence using these lists. Continued on Page 5
Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015— 5
How to be sure not to retire from life By WINA STURGEON
Adventure Sports Weekly
Whether you work or not, you could still be in the process of retiring. That is, retiring from your life. A kind of “inaction” often starts to set in for many middle-agers. Some folks don’t go out as much, or they stop reaching out to friends and even to family. The entire range of their life begins to shrink. Is this common isolation behavior happening in your own life? Ask yourself these questions: When was the last time you went someplace other than a movie? When was the last time you went to a party or other social occasion? How many friends or family members have you seen or talked with in the past week? Has the number of friends you keep in touch with regularly declined over the past few years? Answering those questions may be shocking, because you may not have realized the truth. Too many people around middle age allow themselves to slip into being socially isolated without even realizing it.
Social isolation is not the same thing as loneliness. Being lonely is a personal feeling that can be felt anywhere, even in the middle of a crowded room. Social isolation is never getting to that crowded room, or to almost any other place outside the home. It’s losing contact with friends and acquaintances, either by attrition or neglect, shrinking life down to the home television set, reading, eating and mostly just sitting around. However, the situation of being alone with little outside interaction may contribute to a feeling of loneliness, which often results in clinical depression. According to the medical news site Medscape, “Emerging evidence suggests that depression and social isolation are associated with late-onset dementia.” Social isolation is defined as a lack of social engagement, poor social resources, being alone, or not or no longer being married. Many other studies say that isolation in middle age or older often results in earlier deaths. One big life change that causes
social isolation is job retirement. The former five-day-a-week interaction with others, no matter how trivial, completely stops. Sometimes, a kind of shock sets in. Many folks start off frequently calling their former colleagues at work to stay in touch, without realizing that casual conversation at the office is far less of a work interruption than a phone call from outside. Instead of calling others during their work hours, communicate via social media, which allows them to respond when it’s more convenient. If you’re already well along the path to social isolation, stop allowing yourself to slip into acceptance. However, reversing the situation will require actual effort on your part — hard, continuous effort. Becoming involved with others again will be like breaking a bad habit. Going to a movie by yourself doesn’t count. The first step is finding a way to meet and interact with others. A good start is to think of an activity you would be interested in sharing with others. Next, search online for clubs or groups in your area formed around that activity.
Tips for creating a magical dating life after 50 Continued from Page 4 I did this a lot, especially after a date went south. It was key in keeping my confidence up so I could get back out there and date when I didn’t feel like it.
STEP 3: We have to get you off the dime by taking action! If you stay at home thinking woe is me, or you sit around with friends complaining there are no good men out there to date ... well, there comes a point where it has to end. You realize now that you’re not the only one, that it’s temporary. You’ve built up your confidence, so now it’s time to get going and take massive action that’s going to get you out there dating the guys you want. Think about this: What did you used to do that got you dates with good guys, that you have somehow stopped doing? Did you used to try different online dating sites and you stopped? Did you talk to men in the real world, but then you stopped? Did you take classes about dating or even get group or one on one coaching then stopped using what you learned? Listen, we’re putting it all out here on the table. Did you get lazy? Did you start resting on your laurels? Notice what you used to do that you’re no longer doing and then do that
again. Now I’d like you to think about what you are resisting. You know that there is something that you should be doing, I am certainly giving you plenty of ideas and tools to try. What have you been resisting? Have you resisted trying out that new dating site? Are you resisting talking. Write the things down that you are resisting and then take action on those.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT You can have all these great ideas but you do not get results from things you do not implement. The difference between a successful person and a person who struggles is that the successful person will do what others aren’t willing to do. This is part of the mindset to get you out of your rut, past your obstacles and into the magical dating life you desire. Take the three steps we just went through and put them to work. I used this process whenever I hit a stumbling block in my dating life. It works. Once you understand that you’re not the only one who gets in a dating rut, then build your confidence back up and start taking action to change your dating life, you’ll see everything start to happen for you.
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GET OUT and socialize to avoid feeling lonely after the day-to-day interaction with colleagues has passed. Whether it’s sewing or woodworking, dancing or discussion, you can usually find a group online. Use a library computer (usually free) if yours isn’t connected to the Internet. Go to a group meeting and see if you like the people and the atmosphere. If so, keep attending meetings; but don’t stop there. Think of other interests, and reach out to those groups as well. Volunteering is a
terrific way to meet and work with others. And although most of the 55plus age group shudders at the thought of senior centers, they are totally different from the clichéd image of old folks in wheelchairs. Begin the work of getting back into a life that includes interacting with others so that you’re never again socially isolated. It will do your heart good.
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6 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
“MR. HOLMES�
The best films of the summer for ‘grown-ups’ By BILL NEWCOTT AARP Media
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Summer will always be the season for kidcentric films — but there’s still room at the multiplex for grown-up movies. Some of this year’s biggest blockbusters offer surprising treats for adults. Here are the movies we’re most looking forward to through Labor Day.
ALREADY RELEASED “LOVE & MERCY�: A feel-good playlist of Beach Boys classics contrasts with the dark story of the band’s troubled songwriter Brian Wilson. Paul Dano is uncanny as the young Brian; as older Brian, under the control of a parasitical therapist (Paul Giamatti), John Cusack is heartbreakingly childlike. “JURASSIC WORLD�: Anyone who was at the movies in 1993 will remember “Jurassic Park’s� rocky start, what with the carnivores chomping down on the staff and all. But now, 22 years later, the park is up and running just great. What could go wrong? Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Judy Greer are about to find out. “INSIDE OUT�: With films like “Up� and “Wall-E,� Disney/Pixar has proven time and again just how grown up animated films can be. A young girl is at the center of “Inside Out,� but the main characters are her emotions: A squabbling team inside her brain who help get her through daily life: Joy (Amy Poehler), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Anger (Lewis Black, natch). “INFINITELY POLAR BEAR�: Mark Ruffalo draws tears and laughter as a manic-depressive dad who’s convinced he can win back his wife (Zoe Saldana) if only he can prove he’s capable of caring for their two daughters. “BIG GAME�: Would-be assassins have
brought down Air Force One, forcing the president to fend off murderous villains in an Arctic wilderness. Of course, Samuel L. Jackson plays the prez, so we’re pretty much feeling sorry for the bad guys. “TERMINATOR GENISYS�: When Arnold Schwarzenegger said “I’ll be back!� in “The Terminator� more than 30 years ago, we really didn’t think he meant now. But here he is doing battle not only with a new batch of bad guys — but also with his own 1984 “clone, sweet clone.�
JULY 10 “WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY�: A loving dad (the always wonderful Billy Connolly) copes with the crumbling marriage of his son (David Tennant) and his wife (Rosamund Pike, who still has us creeped out by the psycho she played in “Gone Girl�). “SELF/LESS�: Dying New York real estate mogul Ben Kingsley has his consciousness transferred into the body of a young man (Ryan Reynolds). But is there enough room in there for the two of them? From visionary director Tarsem Singh (“The Fall� and “Mirror Mirror�).
JULY 17 “MR. HOLMES�: A favorite at the Movies for Grownups Film Festival in Miami, this imaginative mystery stars Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes, long retired to a rural British village. He remains haunted by one unsolved mystery, and with the help of the young son of his housekeeper (Laura Linney), Holmes summons every remaining fragment of his once peerless mind to crack it.
JULY 24 “IRRATIONAL MAN�: Woody Allen is notoriContinued on Page 7
Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 7
The best films of the summer for ‘grown ups’ Continued from Page 6 ously tight-lipped about his upcoming films. Here’s all we know from the studio: “A tormented philosophy professor (Joaquin Phoenix) finds a will to live when he commits an existential act.” We’re also told it’s a mystery. And with Emma Stone and Parker Posey along, we’re totally sold. “PIXELS: Our kids may have mastered their ultra-realistic video games, but when Earth is attacked by highly pixilated 1970s arcade characters including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, only a crack team of old-school gamers (Peter Dinklage, Adam Sandler and Josh Gad) can save us. Directed by Chris Columbus (“Home Alone,” “The Goonies”).
JULY 29 “VACATION”: Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) decides to succeed where his father, Clark, failed more than 30 years ago (in 1983’s “National Lampoon’s Vacation”) and take a fun family trip to Walley World. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo return as Clark and Ellen, and Leslie Mann (“This Is 40”) plays Rusty’s sister, Audrey. We really, really want this to be funny.
JULY 31 “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — ROGUE NATION”: We could always rest easy that Tom Cruise’s Impossible Mission Force (IMF) was on our side — but what if there was another IMF that was just as effective but made up of bad guys? Tom Terrific and his team (Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson) go head-to-head with their worst nightmare.
AUG. 7 “RICKI AND THE FLASH”: Meryl Streep stars as a veteran rocker who realizes — too late — that she should have paid less attention to sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, and more to
her all-but-abandoned children (one of whom is played by her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer). Rick Springfield co-stars as Streep’s main squeeze.
AUG. 14 “THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.”: Guy Ritchie’s reboot of the 1960s TV show is set smack in the middle of the series’ original setting: Cold War America. As new versions of Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) venture out to defeat a shadowy international nuclear conspiracy, is it too much to ask for cameos from Robert Vaughn and David McCallum? “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON”: The emergence of N.W.A. as pioneers of 1980s West Coast hip-hop gets big-screen treatment, with Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Ice Cube and Aldis Hodge as MC Ren. Paul Giamatti plays Jerry Heller, the record producer who made the guys mainstream.
AUG. 21 “LEARNING TO DRIVE”: In this grown-up romance, Patricia Clarkson stars as a Manhattan woman who, with her marriage on the rocks, decides to take driving lessons. She finds herself behind the wheel and next to a Sikh driving instructor (Ben Kingsley) who’s about to enter an arranged marriage with a woman he has never met.
“RICKI AND THE FLASH”
SEPT. 2 “A WALK IN THE WOODS”: The screen version of Bill Bryson’s best-selling memoir follows the author (Robert Redford) as he sets out to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends (Nick Nolte). Unfortunately, Bryson’s hard-drinking, overweight buddy is anything but fit for the journey.
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8 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Senior sailors complete 26,000-mile odyssey By ERICA CURLESS
The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review
Tribune News Service
CHARLIE AND Cathy Simon celebrated their retirement by sailing around the globe.
SPOKANE, Wash. — Charlie and Cathy Simon completed their global circumnavigation April 11 when they arrived in Rodney Bay Marina in St. Lucia, West Indies. Charlie Simon couldn’t imagine a better way to turn 60 than to sail around the world with his wife. So that’s what the retired Spokane couple did. They named their semi-custom ocean-going Taswell 58 sailboat “Celebrate” and headed out in January 2014 on a 15-month, 26,000-mile journey that took them to five continents, 16 countries and across three major oceans and many seas. Before the big bon voyage, the Simons threw a birthday party in St. Lucia, attended by a few Spokane friends and the other sailors who were also participating in the World Cruising Club World ARC 2014-15 Rally.
“These are mega memories we’ve had,” said Cathy Simon in a recent cellphone call from aboard Celebrate near the British Virgin Islands. “It was just a grand adventure. You’ve got to put those adventures in life.” The Simons were the oldest sailors in the group of 40 boats that started out together. Only 18 boats completed the full circumnavigation in April, which isn’t rare as sailors decide to stay longer in one destination or opt for a shorter route. Many people take years to do the world circumnavigation. The Simons did it quickly — all on their own with no hired crew or captain, only an occasional deckhand when friends would come aboard for a leg or two and help. The couple joked that at their age, they don’t have the luxury of endless time. The World Cruising Club’s first ocean crossing rally was in 1986. Today, according to its website,
more than 450 boats and 1,200 people attend one of its nine rallies each year, ranging from the roundthe-world adventures to social cruises and island hopping. Charlie Simon’s love for sailing is genetic. His father taught him to sail at age 5. His great-grandfather was a shipper. Cathy Simon began sailing when she met Charlie. They married 36 years ago when they were both working in the San Francisco Bay area. Charlie Simon co-founded three technology companies and Cathy Simon worked in banking. Their main sailing club remains in San Francisco. Although Charlie Simon is known as the passionate sailor, it was Cathy’s idea to do the circumnavigation. Why not? The couple bought a new boat for their 25th anniversary and sailed to Alaska. Then they sailed the Pacific Coast to Mexico and then through the Continued on Page 9
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Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 9
Sailors complete 26,000-mile odyssey Continued from Page 8 Panama Canal and to the East Coast. Following summer around the globe on the warm trade winds didn’t seem impossible or even all that difficult especially if they had support from the World Cruising Club, which sets up the routes, plans port parties, tracks all the ships and keeps in communication in case of an emergency or breakdown. During the previous rally, a boat was lost in the Indian Ocean but the crew survived. “It’s like any sport,� Cathy Simon said. “You want to reach the epitome of it.� Running a sailboat is a 24hour a day job. The Simons take 6-hour watches and utilize an electronic “Watch Commander� — a small device that alerts the on-duty captain every 15 minutes to do checks inside and outside the boat, including checking the gauges and navigation system to scanning the horizon for other boats. A majority of smaller fishing boats don’t have automatic identification systems that would show up on the electronic screens. Another big duty is listening for noises. “Almost everything that goes wrong has a sound that goes with it,� Charlie Simon said, adding that even a slight wind change will cause the sail to flutter in a
different way. If the watch commander isn’t reset, an alarm sounds throughout the whole boat to alert others that the captain may be asleep or having trouble. “On a sailboat, things break all the time,� Simon said. “It’s just routine, nothing extraordinary.� Every boat carries spare parts and also has a water maker to convert salty sea water into drinking water. Besides the 6-hour shifts, the Simons also split duties. He does the cooking and the mechanical work and she cleans. Yet Cathy Simon is an educated sailor, completing a captain’s course before the trip to learn all the mechanics, from changing the oil to working the sail and monitoring the systems. While sailing, the Simons have a strict no-alcohol policy because they have to be fully functioning at all times. The parties at the ports along the way always include cocktails, good food and dancing.
HIGH SEAS ADVENTURE “We had a rolly night, with winds behind pushing us down seas of 2-4 meters,� the Simons posted to the rally’s log blog on Jan. 16, 2014, the sixth day of their trip. After the trip’s first leg, a nine-day, 1,110-mile pas-
A MAP shows the journey the couple took. sage from St. Lucia to Lemon Cays in Panama, the Simons reflected in the log on the highlights: the sendoff with their friends, the snapping of their “whisker pole� at the mast fitting that launched the 12-foot pole across the deck, and the day a flying fish landed on the deck with a flapping thump. “Beautiful full moon during the passage, so bright and clear you could almost read,� read one log entry, followed by, “After the moon set, the sky was so dark that the stars were unbelievable. Cathy was first to identify Orion.� Although the Simons love sailing, they also enjoyed reaching land and taking a break — anything from a few days to nearly a month depending on the weather and hurricane predictions. Charlie Simon’s favorite stop was Vanuatu, where he walked to the Mount Yasur Volcano, one of the most ac-
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tive volcanoes in the world. “You can walk up as close as you can,� he said. “It’s really interesting to see the power of the Earth.� In March, about eight months after the Simons’ visit, Cyclone Pam devastated the South Pacific Island nation. Cathy Simon was surprised by Cape Town, South Africa, which was cosmopolitan and rich with shopping opportunities and wineries. After completing their voyage April 11 when docking at Rodney Bay Marina in St Lucia, the Simons attended a large finale party with the other rally sailors who completed the trip. One of the couple’s final logs on March 26 read, “A huge pod of Dolphins with babies jumping all around the boat stayed with us for quite a while. It was so entertaining.�
to the United States, to port in the Chesapeake Bay. They will spend the summer on the East Coast and then spend December in Spokane before wintering in Mexico. For now, the Simons haven’t figured out their next adventure. Charlie Simon is excited to do several speaking engagements about their journey. Always interested in philanthropy — they were recipients of the City of Spokane’s Individual Benefactor Award in 2010 — the Simons said their world trip provided them with a global connection and perspective. “We have to help our next-
door neighbors,� Charlie Simon said, adding that they, along with the World Cruising Club, donated to the people of Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam. “Our neighbors are the world. We’re just one big neighborhood. It’s easier to see that now from our vantage.�
MORE INFORMATION To read the Simons’ daily logs from their voyage aboard Celebrate go to www.worldcruising.com/da ilylogs.aspx#. To learn more about the World Cruising Club, go to www.worldcruising.com.
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10 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Retirement homes serving upscale meals By ANA VECIANA-SUAREZ Miami Herald
The crystal chandeliers gleam, the women’s jewels sparkle, and the red roses in the center of each white-linen-topped table give off a perfume not unlike what indulgence might smell like. “Hello, darling,” Chef Christophe Pellier greets diners as he works the room in his chef’s coat. “Hello ... hello ... hello.” Soup of the day is lobster bisque, the salad mixed greens with artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and roasted red peppers. Entrees include osso buco, chicken Milanese and pan-seared scallops, with roasted rosemary potatoes and ratatouille. “Wine?” black-clad servers ask as they navigate from group to group. Welcome to dinner at The Palace at Coral Gables, a luxury retirement community whose administration believes that aging should never mean an end to enjoying the finer things in life — exceptional food among them. “Residents come here expecting to have a unique dining experience,” said Josh Cabrera, executive
director of The Palace. “Food has always been a big part of socialization.” So much so, in fact, that about 65 percent of the community’s 130 employees work in the food service department and many residents spend their afternoons at the daily happy hour, listening to live music before moving on to dinner in a room full of opulent touches. “The residents are accustomed to a certain level of service and dining,” added Pellier, who has worked at several five-star restaurants around the globe. “They’re well-traveled, well-educated, and they certainly know what they like.”
want choices and quality.” What’s more, dining options are of particular importance because “there’s a social aspect to food. It’s how people socialize and come together.”
FLAVORFUL AND HEALTHY
Tribune News Service
TRENDING UP
EXECUTIVE CHEF Christophe Pellier checked to see how diners enjoyed their meal at an assisted living facility in Miami.
The Palace is not alone in its efforts to deliver upscale food that also meets the dietary restrictions of older adults. Around South Florida and the rest of the country, institutional food — mushy meatloaf and canned peas — is passé at senior communities. Micro greens, locally sourced produce and made-from-scratch entrees are hot, hot, hot. It’s a trend that mir-
rors the general population’s fascination with food. Regardless of age, eating has become as much a cultural experience as a source of nutrition. “These are savvy people,” said Stephanie Braudrick, a regional manager for A Place for Mom, a for-profit senior care referral service based in Seattle. “They want not only high-quality food but also
high-quality service. They’re used to the concierge touch.” Nancy Stein, who founded Seniority Matters, a Miami-based service that helps find caregiving solutions in a three-county area, agrees. Many of her clients — and their baby-boomer children — are interested in communities with an assortment of amenities. “Food is a great hook,” she added. “People
Dozens of miles north of The Palace, executive chef Gonzalo Vazquez is busy in the kitchen of Vi at Aventura, another luxury community for older adults. He jokes that he works “for the health care service industry in a resort setting.” The description is hardly an exaggeration. Like his colleagues in other retirement centers, Vazquez develops recipes with a focus on “fresh and seasonal and locally produced.” But once these recipes are tested, they’re submitted to a certified dietitian to ensure meals are meeting the dietary and medical restrictions of residents. This is perhaps the chefs’ greatest challenge: delivering tasty, quality meals in a restrictive ingredient environment. This means low levels of sugar or sugarless pastries and substituting Continued on Page 11
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Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 11
Homes serving upscale meals Continued from Page 10 herbs and spices for salt. Meat is always the soft cuts — New York steak, rib-eye, filet mignon. “We focus a lot on the cooking process, too,â€? said Vazquez, who has worked as a corporate chef and at Le Cordon Bleu. “A lot of baking, roasting, grilling and broiling.â€? A typical dinner — the most attended meal at Vi’s restaurant — always includes three types of entrĂŠes (meat, chicken and fish) along with a vegetarian substitute. His diners like such traditional dishes as chicken cacciatore, brisket with red wine sauce and eggplant parmigiana. Dessert, however, remains the fan fave. And not just any dessert either, but pies, pies and more pies. Vazquez’s kitchen bakes 14 different kinds. He recently sent his pastry chef to a five-day training program in Chicago corporate headquarters to perfect his pie and cobbler skills. “He’s French-trained, so this was a surprise for him,â€? Vazquez said.
APPROVAL RATINGS Marilyn Robinson, 85, moved from Fort Lauderdale to Vi six months ago. She admits that at the beginning her eating was out of control, “like when you’re on a cruise,� but now she has settled into her new environment and usually orders fish or chicken. Her favorite dish is Vazquez’s miso salmon salad. “You get quite a variety,� she says. One of her table companions, Joyce Kraner, 85 and a 12-year resident, added: “If you don’t find something you like here, then you have a problem.� In the southern end of the county, chef Roberto de las Salas, who has been at East Ridge Retirement Village at Cutler Bay for a year, discovered that ice cream was the most ordered dessert on a menu that included five different end-of-meal sweets. He goes through at least 60 gallons a week. “They like chicken francaise and sole almondine,� he said, “food that is simple, familiar and well-executed, but they love, love their ice cream.� Unlike most other retirement communities, which offer different menus on a rotating cycle, de las Salas sticks to a regular restaurant-style menu for his usual 120 to 140 daily diners. The choices are varied, from baked chicken to lamb shank, with a salad bar and a fruit bar. The administration brought him in, he said, to liven up the offerings. “They used to buy a lot of frozen vegetables, but we’re going more organic, more local,� he said, citing one of the changes he has made.
HAPPENING EVERYWHERE Changes in food-prep are happening in the kitchens of more modest retirement communities, too. At The Floridean Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, which has been in operation for 70 years in Little Havana, changing demographics have translated into more typical Latin fare, but with a twist. Chef Carlos Otiniano likes to introduce residents to Italian, Greek and other international dishes. For example, lunch one day included chicken with peach sauce (flavored with thyme and white wine), a broiled tomato (sprinkled with extra virgin oil, oregano, garlic and topped with mozzarella and parsley) and couscous. Otiniano acknowledges that planning and preparing meals for people in their 80s was “a learning process� after running restaurants, including a familyowned four-star in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where heavy sauces were the norm. “I’ve learned that you don’t have to sacrifice the palate for it to be healthy,� he added. Back at The Palace, chef Pellier is watching over the kitchen staff as they slice and serve tiramisu. In the dining room, Bernice Dubrow is enjoying her pan-seared scallops. She moved here from Venice, Fla., at her daughter’s urging and her initial reluctance has given way to unabashed enthusiasm. “It’s like going to a fine-dining restaurant every night,� she said. “The servers know your name and know what you like.� Pellier said that feeling of welcome is part of the experience. “As a chef you want the food to be great, of course,� he said. “But I want more. I want them to enjoy the ambiance, the people, the place. I want them to leave, saying, ‘Boy, that was a great night!’�
OSSO BUCO 1 sprig fresh rosemary 1 sprig fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 2 cloves 3 whole veal shanks (about 1 pound per shank), trimmed Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper All-purpose flour, for dredging ½ cup vegetable oil 1 small onion, diced 1 small carrot, diced 1 stalk celery, diced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup red wine 3 cups chicken stock 3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon zest Place the rosemary, thyme, bay leaf
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Are Your Dentures Old or Ill-fitting? g Givve us a call and we’ll get you ďŹ xxed e up. CAVIAR ON CUCUMBERS and cloves into cheesecloth and tie with twine to create a bouquet garni. For the veal shanks, pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Veal shanks will brown better when they are dry. Secure the meat to the bone with twine. Season each shank with salt and freshly ground pepper. Dredge the shanks in flour, shaking off excess. In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil until smoking. Add tied veal shanks to the hot pan and brown all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove browned shanks and reserve. In the same pot, add the onion, carrot and celery. Season with salt at this point to help draw out the moisture from the vegetables. SautĂŠ until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Return browned shanks to the pan and add the red wine and cook to reduce liquid by half, about 5 minutes. Add the bouquet garni and 2 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pan and simmer for about 1½ hours or until the meat is falling off the bone. Check every 15 minutes, turning shanks and adding more chicken stock as necessary. The level of cooking liquid should always be about ž the way up the shank. Carefully remove the cooked shanks from the pot and place on decorative serving platter. Cut off the kitchen twine and discard. Remove and discard bouquet garni from the pot. Pour all the juices and sauce from the pot over the shanks. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon zest. Serves 4-6. Source: Chef Christophe Pellier of The Palace at Coral Gables
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12 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
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ALEX STAFIE, 5, and Wallace Scherer, 92, recently put together sack lunches for the homeless during an activity at Providence Mount St. Vincent home for older adults in West Seattle.
Preschoolers and seniors working, learning together By SAMI EDGE
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SEATTLE — The little boy in a bright green shirt tightly clenches a sandwich bag and asks, “Can you open this for me?” He thrusts the bag at the elderly man seated to his right. “Sure I can, buddy,” says David Carriere, 92, as his weathered hands reach for the bag and slowly tear at the opening. Satisfied, the little boy starts stuffing sandwiches into the bag. “I haven’t worked with him in a while,” Carriere says. “He’s smart.” On a recent Friday at Providence Mount St. Vincent retirement home in West Seattle, a group of senior citizens and youngsters are packing sack lunches that will be delivered to the homeless. It’s one of many projects that bring the elderly and the young together through the Intergenerational Learning Center, a day care inside the retirement home. Five days a week, children ages 6 weeks to 5 years interact with Mount St. Vincent’s residents, whose average age is 92. Activities range from musical hour to story time to art classes. Charlene Boyd, the administrator of Providence Mount St. Vincent, or “the Mount,” says the Intergenerational Learning Center (ILC) was developed 23 years ago as a way to further the center’s mission of developing community and making the last years of life “meaningful, life-affirming and engaging.” “We wanted this to be a place where people come to live, not come to die,” Boyd said. “It’s not rocket science,” she added. “It’s
about normalcy.” In 1991, Boyd was part of the team that decided to open a day care at the Mount, an idea that she and others thought would add to the “community” that the Mount strives to cultivate. “To make from the beginning of life to the end of life the best years of life,” Boyd says. “Linking that full circle.” Not only does interacting with children revitalize many of the residents and allow them access to a more “normal” and varied sphere, it also helps acquaint young families and children with the realities — positive and negative — of aging. “It’s normal for someone to use a wheelchair or a walker, and that’s just part of life,” Boyd said. “It’s not out of sight, out of mind. It’s right here. These kids see that every day, and they’re not afraid.” Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, a national group that advocates for intergenerational involvement, says the idea of intergenerational learning facilities has been around for about 25 years and shows many benefits. Older adults involved in the programs tend to be more optimistic, have larger social networks and better memories, and take better care of themselves, Butts says. For young people, extra attention from an older adult helps improve social skills and reduces fear of aging. She says there are somewhere between 100 and 500 intergenerational learning facilities in the U.S., and the trend is on the rise as baby boomers look for stimulating and Continued on Page 13
Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 13
Preschoolers, seniors working together Continued from Page 12 engaging care facilities for their aging parents. “People are starting to wake up and smell the demographics,â€? Butts said. “We have this older demographic, and we can look at it as a problem or as an asset ... people of all ages have something to give.â€? Indeed, the ILC has proved to be a popular program. Currently, the day care is capped at 125 students and has a waiting list of 2½ years. ILC Director Marie Hoover, a former hospice provider, sees the intergenerational visits as an extension of the variety of experience that the school has to offer. Anecdotally, she says she hears often from parents who are amazed at their children’s ability to interact with the elderly and disabled outside of the classroom. “These children are pretty
young, so there’s not necessarily a lot of cognitive awareness,� Hoover said. “But clearly, it’s there.� Eileen Hirami, a 13-year instructor at the day care center, describes that impact in terms of the children’s “emotional awareness.� “From the time you’re a baby to the time you die, you’re an individual who wants to be recognized and respected,� Hirami said. She says the children start to understand this through their daily interactions with multiple age groups — from the residents in the facility, adult volunteers in the Mount’s gift shop and thrift store, teachers and teenagers who volunteer to run the convenience store. “We have the whole spectrum of life here, and it’s the joy and the challenge to always be together,� she says. “Sometimes it’s joyful, sometimes it’s stressful — how do we grow together?�
Boyd’s son, Ryan Smith, was one of the first children enrolled in the day care. Now 23, he credits the program with instilling his “need to help people.� Smith recently graduated from Washington State University and is studying to become a firefighter. “Looking back now, I think it’s had a big impact on my life,� Smith said. “It made me more aware of my surroundings and of elderly people.� Eileen McCloskey, an activities director for some of the residents, says it’s unlike any other long-term-care environment she’s ever worked in. “You heard all this life,� McCloskey remembers of her first ILC event. “There was a joyous, raucous noise coming down the hallway that you just don’t associate with long-term care.� She says the residents’ “eyes light up� when they interact with the children.
“You just step back and let this magic happen,� McClosky said. “It’s textbook — that’s exactly why we have this program, and it’s happening right here.� Victor Warkentin has two children, ages 5 and 2, enrolled in the program. He thinks the ILC philosophy, which stresses problemsolving, has had a substantial impact on the way they see the world — from being able to problem-solve to being more comfortable explaining their feelings and taking new chances. Warkentin sees the intergenerational aspect as an “added bonus� that just “makes the program that much better.� Recently, Warkentin and his family moved from West Seattle to Issaquah, Wash. But he continues to make the trek to West Seattle. “It’s worth it to me,� he said. “I haven’t found anything that comes close.�
Seamstress, 77, lives out her passion By REBECA PICCARDO Miami Herald
HIALEAH, Fla. — Yolanda Martinez Fuentes, 77, propped up a mannequin wearing a dress made from a couple of chiffon scarves that were sewn together. With pins, she laid out a halter strap as a finishing touch. “This is my therapy,� said Martinez Fuentes, who prides herself on her ability to make anything with a needle and thread. “I think I’ll be at the sewing machine until the last day of my life.� Since Martinez Fuentes learned to sew when she was 14, she has worked as a seamstress, creating clothing patterns from scratch. She used her skills in many places, including El Encanto department store in Cuba and a factory in Miami. As a retiree, Martinez Fuentes has continued sewing in the same house where she has lived for al-
YOLANDA MARTINEZ FUENTES is making the most of her golden years by doing what she loves. Tribune News Service
most 50 years. In her home, Martinez Fuentes has a sewing room with drawers full of different colored threads, a sewing machine and a steam press. By word of mouth, she has maintained a loyal clientele and has made clothes for weddings, quinceaĂąeras, drama productions, and school and cheerleading uniforms. Amy Cao, owner of Vicky Bakery, met Martinez Fuentes through a mutual friend about 20 years ago. She was looking for a seamstress to make a dress for her
oldest daughter, Victoria, for her fifth birthday party. Martinez Fuentes continued mending clothes for Cao’s children, watching them grow up. She even made a taffeta dress for Victoria’s high school homecoming dance. “She’s become part of the family,� Cao said. “I talk to her at least twice a week, and we’ve been a part of all her celebrations. We made her a cake in the shape of a sewing machine for her 70th birthday.� Now, she spends more time doing alterations.
“Clothes today are poorly made,� she said. When doing alterations, she often takes the piece of clothing apart and sews them back together. Her daughter, Bridget Brea, admires her mother’s passion for a skill that has become rare. “She could have been anything she wanted to. She could have been Oscar de la Renta,� Brea said. “This is a dying trade. There’s nobody that does this.� Martinez Fuentes spends most of her time in her sewing room, making small, quick fixes to clothes while her friends, children and grandchildren visit her throughout the week. “I never aspired to be a designer or anything,� she said. “I wouldn’t have wanted riches or fame, because I would have never appreciated what I have. I’ve had a wonderful life and made my children proud.�
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14 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Empty nesters can boost value with savvy home improvements Whether they’re heading off to college or they’ve finally finished their education and are starting their careers in a distant city, the departure of kids from your nest makes for a bittersweet time. If you’ve committed much of your energy — and most of your home — to raising kids for a couple of decades, you may be at loose ends when they move out. Home improvement is just the ticket to make yourself feel better! Updating your home after the kids move out is good for you on multiple levels. In addition to the emotional boost, improvements can enhance your home’s resale value if you’re planning to down-size down the road. Or, you can focus on home improvements that will facilitate aging in place, like improving the lighting and usability of key rooms, such
as bathrooms and the kitchen. Here are a handful of renovation ideas for baby boomers looking to reclaim their home spaces after the kids have left the nest:
EMPHASIZE NATURAL LIGHTING Vision changes as you age, so the artificial lighting that worked for you when you were in your 30s or 40s may not be adequate when you enter your 50s and 60s. Lighting is an important upgrade if you plan to remain in your home into your golden years. Look for improvements that will help aging eyes see better, like increased natural lighting and task lighting in work areas. Modern, energy efficient fresh air skylights are a costeffective and beautiful way to improve a home’s natural lighting and passive ventila-
tion. Especially effective for ventilation in kitchens and for ventilation and privacy in bathrooms, skylights can work in virtually any room — even those with no direct roof access. Have a groundfloor laundry room, closet, hallway or other area that could use more light? Tubular skylights can deliver natural light from the roof into all areas of the home and electric light kits are available for 24/7 functionality. Energy Star-qualified, solar-powered fresh-air skylights can also improve a home’s energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality through passive ventilation. Solar-powered blinds, available in designer colors and patterns, further boost the efficiency and beauty of skylights. Plus, the skylight, blinds and installation costs are eligible for a 30 percent
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federal tax credit for energyefficient home improvements. Visit www.why skylights.com to learn more.
CREATE A “ME SPACE” You already have a guest bedroom, so there’s no need to leave Junior’s old room set up as a bedroom. Turn it into a space that works for you, like a home office, exercise room, music studio, craft room, workshop or home theater. As you’re planning the improvement, keep in mind your long-term plans. If you’ll be selling the home at some point, consider a room that will have broader appeal, like a home office. If you plan to age in place, remember to incorporate features that will facilitate your use of the room even if you experience mobility issues down the road. For example, you may want to take the opportunity to widen doorways, replace doorknobs with door handles, replace loose carpet or slippery tiles with slip-resistant flooring, and improve natural lighting and ventilation throughout the room.
Brandpoint Content
NATURAL LIGHTING is important when vision changes as you age. and if you’ve had to share your bathroom with the kids or live with an outdated master bathroom — or none at all — now’s the time to renovate your bathroom. In addition to all the luxurious features you’ve been dreaming of, like a rainfall shower head and heated floor, keep in mind the practical improvements that will make the room safe and usable as you grow older. Look for slip-resistant flooring, improve natural and task lighting, and replace faucet knobs with easy-to-maneuver levers. Install grab bars around
RENOVATE (OR CREATE) A MASTER BATHROOM
Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6:
What to expect- Caught in the middle, caring for Mom & Dad. Living in the “Sandwich” generation Paying the bill - financial care for aging parents Care options for aging parents - Mom & Dad need help…now what? Living longer & healthier Panel discussion - Attorney Mike Clark; Dr. Russell Drozdiak; Rebecca Gamble, PA; Robert Bagnon, NHA
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tubs and toilets, as well as in the shower. Bath product designers are now making grab bars that offer the look of design elements coupled with the security of sturdy support. The departure of your children creates an opportunity to accomplish some home improvements you’ve been dreaming of for a while. As you’re reclaiming spaces once devoted to kids, look for improvements that can increase your home’s value and help you stay in your house as long as you wish. — Courtesy of Brandpoint content
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Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 — 15
Spend retirement traveling while the dollar is strong Exotic locations like Bali, Rome and Sydney might be at the top of your bucket list, but this year experts say they should also be at the top of your summer vacation list. Today’s unusually strong dollar is allowing you to get a lot more for your money when you travel abroad. Travel experts say this year is one of the best times in modern history for Americans to explore the world and visit distant dream destinations. “The U.S. has emerged from the financial crisis of 2008 with the dollar at near record highs relative to a number of international currencies,� says Travis Katz, CEO and co-founder of Gogobot, a travel site that helps you find places to stay, eat and play that are perfect for you. “For American travelers, this means international travel is cheaper this year than it has been in decades. On Gogobot, we are seeing hotel prices in the world’s most expensive destinations, like Sydney and Paris, running well below their domestic counterparts here in the States.� Here are five amazing vacation destinations that are attractively priced right now given the strong dollar:
BALI This Indonesian island is home to beautiful beaches and unique spots like the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Seeing these amazing locations has never been more affordable. Island lovers can now save 50 to 60 percent over last year’s hotel prices in Bali. As an example, last year the Bali Wood Property at Aston Kuta Residence was going for $206 per night; now it’s practically a steal at just $82 per night.
PARIS One of the most expensive cities in the world isn’t as steep as it used to be. For example, the four-star Hotel Astra Opera — Astotel, which went for $249 last year, is currently listed at $149. You can even book lux-
ican, Rome’s appeal to tourists is universal. Staying in the city is now more affordable than ever. Rome’s current hotel room rates are up to 66 percent lower than last year’s prices. These savings mean you can extend your vacation and get even more scoops of gelato in Rome’s stunning Centro Storico neighborhood.
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BALI’S CLEAR water makes it the perfect location to snorkel. ury hotels in Paris for up to 65 percent less per night than last year. The famous L’Hotel Paris, which travelers last summer booked for $832 per night, can now be booked for just $298. With places like the Louvre Museum and the Jardin des Tuileries in its back pocket, it should come as no surprise that Paris ranks highly
among art and design lovers. The current low hotel room rates in Paris mean you can afford to wine and dine yourself at luxury restaurant hot spots like L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon during your stay.
ROME A popular destination for foodies and home to the Vat-
The dollar’s strength translates into great deals across Spain, the perfect destination for people who love to experience local culture. Take in all the sites, like La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, while saving on hotels in Barcelona. You can also travel south to the municipality of Marbella, home to some of the most serene beaches in the world. You can find amazing deals with some properties in Marbella going for as much as 41 percent less than they cost just one year ago.
SYDNEY Australia is a dream destination for adventurers. You can take three different climbs up to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for breathtaking views of the city, and the Blue Mountains make for an amazing day trip. Normally Sydney’s skyhigh costs make it a tough sell for most Americans, but
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today’s exchange rates mean this summer is a great time to head down under. Dozens of four-star hotels, including The Menzies Sydney, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel and Mercure Sydney are now going for less than $120 per night. Even fivestar hotels, like the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney, that were going for $300 per night last summer are now going for $185 per night, which represents a 38 percent savings. While travel deals are red hot, it still pays to shop
around for the best deals. Gogobot has price comparison tools that show you the best deals across a number of different sites including Expedia, Priceline and Booking.com. Now is the perfect time to visit international destinations you’ve always dreamed of. Get inspired and find more perfect places to stay, eat and play around the world, and in your own backyard, on Gogobot’s app. — Courtesy of Brandpoint content
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16 — Indiana Gazette Livin’ the LIfe, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
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