FREE THE SENIORS OF ORANGE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: Righteous Brother
Meet Orange County’s Most Active Professional Golf Seniors
It’s Never too late to be Healthwise
Fluffy In my Life
How Much Salt is in your Diet? Adult Day Health Centers Struggle to Keep Funding
Growing Old (And Apart) In America
Enter to win ‘The Most Inspirational Life Story’ Contest!
AUG 2011- OCT 2011
1ST FALL EDITION
BILL MEDLEY
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1st Edition FALL 2011
THE SENIORS OF ORANGE COUNTY
EDITOR SPEAKS
TABLE OF CONTENT COVER Golf Professionals Robin and Bernard Puckett THE SENIORS OF ORANGE COUNTY 3: Content/Editor Speaks/Most Inspirational Story Contest Entry Form SENIOR ISSUES 4: Senior Nutrition: Outstanding ROI for the Wise Member of Congress/Growing Old (And Apart) In America WHATS NEWS! 5:Adult Day Health Centers Struggle to Keep Funding/AARP to the President and Congressional Leaders: Don’t Cut Social Security and Medicare to Reduce the Deficit SPOTLIGHT FEATURE 6:The Spotlight is on: most active Seniors in OC,Golf Pros Robin and Bernard Puckett SENIOR LIVING 7. Resort Senior Living HEALTH & FITNESS 8: How Much Salt is in your Diet?/If you Don’t Use It, You’ll Lose It 9:It’s Never too late to be Healthwise SENIOR WITH PETS 10:Fluffy In my Life CLASSIFIED ADS & EVENTS CALENDER 11.Classifieds/Events and Subscribtion
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As the Editor and Publisher of this publication I would like my readers to know why I have created a Senior publication. I worked as a program co-ordinator for many years for different senior facilities, some were adult daycare's and others were weekly programs at various locations. As a child I was very close to my grandparents and when I moved at the age of 18 to Europe and then Canada, i realized I would never see them again. And so when I became very involved in the senior community I found a warmth that brought back the most amazing love I had for my grandparents and that is something that only comes with age, Because seniors have seen it all, been throughout it all and understand the most important thing that youth has not yet discovered, and that is living for the moment which too comes with age. Here is a great quote "Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. "Garson Kanin And so I would like to say "Welcome to Senior Times OC Magazine" this is an exciting new magazine and is FREE to the community which is distributed through the whole of Orange County and parts of Southern California in print as well as online. Our goal is to inform and inspire seniors and to keep them in touch with the community at large as well as being entertaining an fun. Senior Times OC, is designed for seniors from 55 and up throughout Orange County. The magazine and website seniortimesoc.com is quarterly and will feature lifestyle, events, articles and tips for seniors; such as diet and exercise tips, meeting friends. etc. We want seniors to be a part of this publication by sending their stories to news@seniortimesoc.com and also having the opportunity to have their story published by entering our most inspirational life story contest. Please see our entry form below. We would like to thank our advertisers for sponsoring this publication and our writers for contributing their articles.
www.seniortimesoc.com Enter to win ‘The most Inspirational life story’ Contest!
COVER Feature: Golf Professionals of Orange County Robin and Bernard Puckett Contributing Writers and Articles:
Win in a chance to have your story published in Senior Times OC. The winner will receive a FREE package of Liverite Liveraid valued at $120.00 courtesy of Healthylife Marketing Closing Date for Entries is OCT 5th 2011. The Winner will be Announced in Will appear on the Winter cover of 2011 with their inside story
P.S Any pictures sent to Senior Times OC will not be sent back.
Please Fill Out the Form Below :
The Editors Paul Downey, National Association of Sheri Grant Nutrition and Aging Services James Grant Stanley William Rothstein AARP California Freedom Village Retirement Community Graphics & Ruby Sand Layout Sher Able Digipro Graphic The Orange County Office on Aging and Web Design Ronnie Lebinsky Sheri Grant Allied Medical
All Articles must be emailed to news@seniortimesoc.com Photos must be sent to: Senior Times OC P.O BOX 52618 Irvine, CA 92619-2618
Send your Story and Picture with an entry fee of $10.00 by check or money order payable to: Digipro Multimedia P.O. BOX 52618, Irvine CA, 92619-2618
Publisher Sheri Grant
Distibutor Daniel Miller
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SENIOR ISSUES
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Senior Nutrition: Outstanding ROI for the Wise Member of Congress
GROWING OLD (AND APART) IN AMERICA
By: Paul Downey, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services
By Stanley William Rothstein
A few months ago, I met a delightful couple named Bill and Sonia who recently celebrated more than 50 years of marriage. Sonia at 84 is a beautiful woman with a “dancer’s body” that she honed as a fabled Radio City Music Hall Rockette in her youth. 91-year-old Bill still has a robust physique earned from decades as a general contractor. But outward appearances can be deceiving. Bill and Sonia had been homeless for three months the day I met them.
Many years ago my mother called her brothers and sister together to tell them their mother could no longer live alone. One of them would have to take her into their home and care for her. The only alternative was to place her in a home for the aged. As often happens on these occasions, no one really wanted to take her, and yet no one wanted to say so openly. What my mother’s family had been taught about their responsibilities to elders was grounded in the folklore of countless generations. It was simply understood that as our parents grew older- that when they could no longer care for themselves, the burden would fall upon their children.
They hadn’t had a real meal in two weeks, surviving on crackers and candy bars while sleeping in their car, which Bill moved frequently to avoid being rousted by the police. A Senior Community Centers’ social worker discovered them earlier that morning while participating in a count of homeless in downtown San Diego. A fire had destroyed their apartment, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their back and a car. The lack of proper food had worsened Sonia’s dementia, leaving her confused and very weak. Our kitchen immediately prepared two hot meals with extra portions that were devoured with an intensity magnified by starvation. Bill, tears streaming down his face, hugged me and said, “I’m supposed to take care of Sonia, and I couldn’t even feed her. Thank you.”
When my mother was called upon to deal with this problem, she still had echoes and understandings of an older civilization. Honoring thy father and mother was a solemn vow. So was the pride and joy families felt when their children grew up amidst two and three generations of kinfolk. After people became too old, their children learned to blend them into their households- not only because of their love and sense of duty, but because they understood the value of a cohesive family unit. It was reassuring to know that one’s loved ones would not be forced to live out their older years in impersonal, institutional settings.
A booming business for social services I truly wish that Bill and Sonia’s story was rare, but it is not. Senior Community Centers’ homeless program, which includes 35 units of transitional housing, is doing—unfortunately—a booming business.
Most of these ideas and values no longer hold in our society. Older people who are fortunate enough to have money are often segregated into retirement communities. Others, too many others, live out their last years impoverished and alone. As the isolation of the aged becomes more widespread, feelings of shame and guilt are more difficult to uncover. Some people even argue that old people like being by themselves; that it is only natural for them to live apart from the rest of us. The only thing most Americans have to look forward to in old age is, increasingly, a lonely, penurious existence.
More than half the residents at our 200-unit Potiker Family Senior Residence, which has extensive supportive housing services, were homeless prior to moving in. The vast majority are good people who have experienced the worst life can offer. They did things right—worked hard, raised families, saved for retirement—and then life intervened, leaving them in poverty.
In some ways, this isolation of the elderly is functional in our society. New positions open up for the young. Children are taught no to be too dependent on anyone else. The retirement communities keep older citizens out of sight and out of mind. In other ways, our declining family life and divorces can be traced, in some measure, to the callous ways we treat our older citizens. One advantage of living in households of more than one generation is the pressure it creates on young adults to honor their marriage vows. Another is the sense of community and continuity it creates in our lives- we can learn from the experiences of others and see and come to know some of the people who helped make us who we are. Living with the elderly, it impossible for us not to see how the popular culture has changed; how some changes have enriched us while others have caused us to live in more diminished circumstances.
The lack of adequate income for our senior population is a real and growing issue. In California, 1.76 million seniors (almost half) fall below the Elder Index, which measures what it takes to have basic needs—housing, food, health care, and transportation—met. Nationally, according to Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) which helped develop the Elder Index, the level of income adequacy ($20,326 for an individual) is twice that of the Federal Poverty Level ($10,830). These numbers explain why folks like Bill and Sonia are failing. Working hard all your life and then not being able to afford a place to live or to properly feed yourself takes a human and economic toll. Frankly, that cost is too high and, as a nation, we must do better. First and foremost, we owe this generation a debt of gratitude that can never adequately be repaid— they fought wars and built this country.
Maybe the most significant thing we have lost is our sense of personal security and continuity. In the past, people were born and lived out their lives amongst familiar faces and landmarks. Now, unless one is very fortunate, one ought not become too comfortable anywhere. We move too much in our society, and as we grow older, everything becomes strange and unfamiliar. In my mother’s time, people could still look forward to living out their lives surrounded by friends and family. Nowadays, the aged are sorted according to their bank accounts. The well-to-do are encouraged to live apart; the rest are forced to make do with meager Social Security payments. We seldom think about these things, because it is easier to put the elderly out of our minds than to accommodate them into our lives.
Secondly, seniors falling through the cracks invariably end up in emergency rooms, hospitals, and long-term care institutions—at a premium cost often paid by taxpayers. Nutrition leads to health and independence. The reality is that much of this can be prevented through inexpensive support services like senior meals. There is little debate about the link between proper nutrition and overall health. Better health allows seniors to remain independent longer. For seniors without personal resources, independence means that the tremendous financial burden of institutionalization is not transferred to their families or taxpayers.
I, for one, am unhappy over this world we have lost. No matter how some rationalize their acts by saying that “grandma will be more comfortable with people her own age,” no matter how much money is sent to maintain parents in institutions, the lesson for adults and children is clear. Do not depend upon anyone else for your own sustenance and survival. The joys you know today will be taken from you when you grow old; you will be deprived of your right to work; and you will be deprived of your right to live your life as an autonomous person. And the faces that mean so much to you now will no longer be near; the places where you live will be unknown and restrictive.
This is why the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Providers (NANASP) is aggressively working to increase funding for senior nutrition programs through the congressional appropriations process for the Older Americans Act (OAA). This network of senior centers and home-delivered meal providers serve more than 236 million meals annually. The impact of these meals is healthier seniors who are able to remain independent in their own homes at considerable cost savings to themselves and the community. Cuts are penny wise and pound foolish. While I appreciate the passion of our elected leaders to reduce the nation’s deficit, cutting senior nutrition—or eliminating it altogether as suggested by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)—is penny wise and pound foolish.
What I hope for is that we will not keep on segregating the old in the name of convenience and economic necessity; that we will not continue to teach our children to be detached and independent from everyone around them; that we will not forsake our natural impulses in the pursuit of surface harmony and greed. There is great value in living amongst our kinfolk and watching children grow in their presence. Stanley William Rothstein is a professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton
The return-on-investment (ROI) of spending a little now on meals compared to tens of thousands dollars later for hospitalization and skilled nursing facilities through Medicare/Medicaid should be a “no-brainer.” It seems that some members of Congress have morphed into a “nothinking” zone on the topic.Draconian cuts to senior meals will mean significantly more unhealthy seniors who are no longer able to live independently. I say again, invest a little now to save a lot later. By the way, Bill and Sonia are doing well. They moved into one of Senior Community Centers’ permanent supportive housing units. They eat an OAA-supported breakfast and lunch every day in the dining room. Both have renewed energy and gained needed weight. Sonia is on medication for her dementia, and both participate in activities.With a small investment of resources and compassion from caring people, life can have a “big finish” for good people—just like a Rockette show at Radio City Music Hall. Paul Downey is president of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) and president/CEO of the Senior Community Centers of San Diego.
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WHAT’S NEW’S Adult Day Health Centers Struggle to Keep Funding from: AARP California | April 21, 2011
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AARP to the President and Congressional Leaders: Don’t Cut Social Security and Medicare to Reduce the Deficit
Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) centers across California are Now is Not the Time to Cut Social Security by $112 Billion and Shift Health Care Costs onto Beneficiaries fighting to keep their funding to aid the 37,000 seniors who are depending on their care. WASHINGTON—AARP CEO A. Barry Rand this morning offered the following statement as key congressional leaders meet with the President today to discuss a framework for a deal to raise the debt ceiling and to address deficit reduction. Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed state budget on Jan. AARP is focused on protecting Social Security and Medicare for the millions of beneficiaries who have paid into the systems 10 that called to eliminate all funding for ADHC. The committee over their working lives, and reiterates its position that Social Security and Medicare benefits should not be on the table for conference chose not to completely eliminate ADHC from Cali- deficit reduction. fornia, but they drastically cut the state’s funding from $177 million to $85 million. ADHC will also be eliminated as a Medi-Cal ben- “AARP will not accept any cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits as part of a deal to pay the nation’s bills,” said Rand. efit. “Social Security didn't cause the deficit, so it shouldn't be cut to reduce it. As the President and Congress work to negotiate a deal to raise the debt ceiling, AARP urges all lawmakers to reject any proposals that would cut the benefits seniors have earned ADHC centers are concerned that the fifty-percent cut in funding through a lifetime of hard work. will affect their ability to give proper care to the thousands of members across California. “AARP also wants to make sure that Social Security is not cut through the back door, such as by reducing the cost of living Those who depend on ADHC funding and care are also extremely adjustment which would translate into a loss of thousands of dollars for today’s seniors and reduce benefits for younger worried for their future. workers significantly. “A lot of people who come here are shut out from the social world,” said Dawn Marie Hatten, a patient at the Robertson Adult Day “AARP opposes the chained CPI proposal because it would cut Social Security by $112 billion over the next ten years, and Health Center in Sacramento. “They wouldn’t have a social net- reduce benefits seniors have earned through hard work. Over the last two years, Social Security beneficiaries have not seen work or have access to the care that we get here. We have a any increase in their monthly checks, even as they have faced rising costs in health care and other basic necessities. loving and caring staff that is dedicated to the participants here in the center. I would be a disaster if I did not have this place.” “The deficit debate is not the time or the place to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits. Hatten attends the Robertson Adult Day Center four times per week, giving respite to her daughter and son-in-law with whom “In two days, AARP representatives from across the country will be coming to Capitol Hill to deliver a strong message that she lives. The center provides her with physical therapy, medical Social Security and Medicare should not be cut for deficit and debt reduction. Our members and their families worry about the care, and group activities with fellow participants in the facility. impact that any debt negotiations may have on their benefits and on the benefits of their children and grandchildren,” Rand concluded. Adults like Hatten will be greatly affected by the reduced funding for ADHC centers in California. For more information, please visit www.aarp.org/protectseniors. “I come here because I enjoy meeting new people and I need the physical therapy that the center provides,” said Mary Martin, another member at the Robertson Adult Day Health Center. “If the center was not available to me, I would end up staying shut in my home without the proper care that I need.” According to the California Association for Adult Day Services (CAADS), a redesigned federal waiver program will no longer qualify certain people for ADHC. Those who qualify will be placed on a waiting list and many will have no access to ADHC at all. Some centers will lose patients as a result of the federal waiver program and will be forced to close. California Senator Mark Leno spoke on his views of the reduced funding for ADHC programs. “If we don't get to the ballot and if voters don't approve the revenue measures, this program in particular will probably have to be eliminated,” said Leno. “Unfortunately, any number of those seniors will find their way into long-term care, which not only will be a heartbreak for them and for their families, but in fact, will erase any savings the state thought that it had. Dawn Marie Hatten is beginning to question our society’s priorities. “I believe that judging how civilized a society is, is how they take care of those who are least able to take care of themselves,” stated Hatten. “The idea of balancing the budget on the backs of the disabled, sick, and poor is insane. Please do not close our center. We need it.”
"If a human is modest and satisfied, old age will not be heavy on him. Ifhe is not, even youth will be a burden. " Plato 5
Spotlight Feature The Spotlight is On You Bill Medley
“When I heard Little Richard,” he reflects, “I knew I wanted to do that. When I heard Ray Charles, I knew I needed to do that.” Medley formed a local group called The Paramours, and was introduced to Hatfield, who led The Variations. But one night they put their voices together, and the result was magic. “We just started singin’ these rhythm & blues duets and it was just absolutely instant,” Medley recalls. “Never had to rehearse it. He knew ‘em, I knew ‘em—‘I’ll sing this note, you sing on top,’ and that was it. The instant we sang together, it was like one voice.”
Bill Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers. Their raw emotional rhythm and blues sound essentially created the genre “blue-eyed soul.” In the mid-1960s, the Righteous Brothers became a fixture on Top Forty radio with hits like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,” “Just Once in My Life,” “Unchained Melody,” and “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” creating an ultradramatic take on Sixties pop romance. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Orange County’s Santa Ana, Medley always had a passion for music. His father led a big band and played saxophone and his mother played piano and sang. Naturally, Medley gravitated to glee club and amateur singing contests during his youth, but it wasn’t until he heard the music of Ray Charles and Little Richard that the idea of making music for a living seemed feasible.
Combining Medley’s unmistakable baritone with Bobby Hatfield’s forceful tenor and the density of Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production, the duo defied traditional music labels with air play on both pop and R&B radio stations. Their dramatic exchanges from different registers scaled unparallel heights for a pop single. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” ran for close to four minutes, which was unheard of for a pop single at the time. After a string of hits, The Righteous Brothers parted ways from Phil Spector and went to try their hand at producing themselves at Verve Records. The first single for their new label was “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” which Medley masterly produced. The song topped the charts for three weeks- one week longer than “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”.
Their partnership lasted four decades, though Medley explored his solo options apart from the duo on occasion. He went on his own in the late-‘60s for six years. In 1974 the duo reunited and resumed their hit-making ways with the prophetic “Rock and Roll Heaven.” In the seventies, their live shows continued to attract fans and gained the respect of a new generation of listeners. In 1987, Medley scored a monumental hit with another duettist, Jennifer Warnes, on “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” for the film
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Dirty Dancing. The song earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe, Video of The Year, and a Grammy, and the soundtrack became one of the most successful since Saturday Night Fever, selling 14 million copies and once again put Medley at the top of the Billboard charts. In 1990, the Righteous Brothers’ classic version of “Unchained Melody,” appeared in the hit film Ghost and ran all the way up the Billboard charts, which introduced yet another new generation to the works of The Righteous Brothers. On March 10, 2003, The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The induction came just months before Bobby Hatfield’s unexpected death. Medley not only lost his singing partner…he had lost a close friend whom he’d known since his late-teens. After a period of mourning, Medley made the decision to continue touring as a solo artist. Now this year, for the first time since Hatfield’s passing, Bill Medley has gone back into the studio to record an album that not only honors the legacy of their historic partnership, but also reveals the artistry of Medley in his own right. Damn Near Righteous pays tribute to a number of legendary mentors and peers- including Hatfield. The album is comprised of both new material and covers of some unforgettable classics, paying homage to Ray Charles with his own rendition of “Lonely Avenue,” and collaborating with Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) and Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers) on a soulful version of Wilson’s classic, “In My Room.” This song brings together three of the most important vocal harmonists in rock and roll. David Wild of Rolling Stone Magazine, said of Medley’s new album, “This gritty singer has delivered his finest solo album and the best thing he’s done since the Sixties, period.” Medley shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, keeping to a rigorous tour schedule so he may share his love of music night after night with all of his loyal fans.
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SENIOR LIVING Resort Living for Seniors Imagine a lifestyle where seniors can have all the comforts of home and all the services they need. At Freedom Village Retirement Community, in Lake Forest, residents enjoy spacious luxurious apartments featuring granite countertops, crown molding, and plush carpeting.Now, instead of worrying about household chores, these active seniors simply callMaintenance for repairs, Transportation for a ride, and relax while their Housekeeper Cleans their apartment once a week. The residents at Freedom Village keep busy by choosing from the variety of daily activities offered. There is something for everyone ranging from Swimnastics, Wii bowling, concerts, art and French class, billiards, card games, and weekly day trips.
The convenience of having a Coffee Shop, Beauty Shop, Pool, Library, Fitness Center and three dining options give the residents a true carefree lifestyle. Linda Methe, Director of Marketing, said “Freedom Village is a debt-free community with the same owners since they opened in 1987. Especially in today’s economy, this is real peace of mind for our residents and their families.” As a Continuing Care Retirement Community, Freedom Village offers residents three levels of senior living so as their needs change over the years everything is available to them. Independent Living offers 258 apartment homes in the main building, and Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing is located in their on-site Health Care Center. Ideally located near hospitals, shopping and restaurants, Freedom Village Retirement Community is located at 23442 El Toro Road, in Lake Forest. For more information, visit their website at www.freedomvillage.org or call (949) 472-4700 for a free DVD and brochure with prices and floorplans.
MEET ORANGE COUNTY’S MOST ACTIVE SENIORS Bernard is an excellent fly fisherman and spends ten days fishing in Montana each year with a group of friends. They go to Livingstone, and fish the Yellowstone River, spring creeks and private lakes. .Our son who lives in Florida has a lake out his back door, so Bernard loves to just go throw in a rod. Even though Bernard has retired he keeps very busy serving on a couple of boards and working with young entrepeneurs.(I don't seem to have spell check on my new computer). Bernard is also a wonderful cook and very knowledgeable on wine. We have three boys between us and six grandchildren. They live in Costa Rica, San Francisco and Florida, so it's always fun to go visit them. We got into singing because we like karaoke and were just awful!!!! We have been taking singing lessons for the past 3?years and have really enjoyed learning together. We love movies, dining out and just spending time together.
Bernard and Robin met back in 2001 through mutual friends. Roin worked as a golf professional at Birnam Wood, a club in Montecito.He had friends that are members whom he knew through his days at IBM. They thought we would like each other so arranged a lunch/ golf/dinner outing with them. It worked! Bernard at the time was living in Laguna Beach, so we had a long distance relationship for a few months before I moved down to Laguna Beach. We married in October 2002. We lead a very active life. Golf is our chief activity. For the most part we travel to Florida, Tennessee, Scotland an Australia,apart from being a member of Shady Canyon here in Irvine. We play golf at least four days a week, I probably play more. We belong to a club in Tennessee that we visit a couple of times a year. Bernard has a group of friends he goes to Scotland with each year for a week, and I go every other year for a week also. I play in tournaments in Florida and where ever a USGA senior event or California state event might be held. They are in different locations every year.
I am currently the Australian Senior Amateur Champion and will defend that title this coming October. In the past five years I have been a finalist and semi-finalist in the US Senior Amateur. Also represented California on the state team. I also won the Australian Junior Championship and represented Australia in the 1970 World Cup. I did play on the LPGA tour for a few years in the 1970's. I won four LPGA Teaching Senior Championship. I am currently the club champion at Shady Canyon and have a plus 2 handicap. I have won some other things, but those are the most note worthy.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
Place an AD 949-551-6992 If you Don’t Use It, You’ll Lose It
How Much Salt is in your Diet? by Sher Able My husband and I had lived in Canada for many years and were both very slim, fit and healthy. I myself worked as a wellness director for large health and fitness facilities around the globe for over 20 years and aided in nutrition and diet. So when we both gained 35 pounds after we had been in the USA for a couple of years without being able to lose it no matter what,I began to research ingredients in food items. At the time I was teaching my own style of yoga which I created myself called ‘pilet’, based on my background in ballet which I did for 18 years from the age of 3, plus I studied 4 different styles of martial arts for 8 years and danced with various companies performing modern jazz and contemporary dance professionally for over 15 years. ‘Pilet’ is now a DVD which combines yoga and pilates with ballet and martial arts, which became available to the public in 2005. I have also always had a very healthy way of eating but could not lose a single pound... even going to the gym and burning 500 calories a day did not do the trick. I realised that if I did not take action both my husband and I would become unhealthy and fat. It took six months of thorough research to learn what I did and now I am happy to share it with others. One would think that the worst thing you could put in your body is sugar. Most women look at the back of the products they purchase in search for the least fat and the least sugar. Perhaps if you have a cholesterol issue you search for 0 cholesterol items to place in your grocery cart. However, I was on a mission to change both our diets based on my new found research and not only did we both lose 35 pounds I discovered three of the most important things that most people do not realize. Most people think sugar is the biggest culprit to being overweight and yes it is part of it however, salt is more to blame. Too much sodium causes obesity, not to mention high blood pressure, water retention, and heart disease. Most restaurants have such an overabundance of sodium in their food it forces you to drink more soda which makes you even more thisty ,and more alchohol especially in bar type restaurants. Restaurants make more money on alchoholic beverages, so the more salt you intake the more they will make on their drinks. Now you also have a problem when you are seeking to cook for your self at home as to avoid salt. How much salt do you need per day? The answer is, 500 milligrams of sodium each day is all that is necessary for the body to function properly,(dietary guidelines suggest that a person ingest no more than 1500 mg per day). In the USA people are eating far more that that. (A new study by the Center For Disease Control estimates that Americans get on average 3600 milligrams a day.) Have you ever looked at the sodium amount on a loaf of bread you think is organic and healthy? Most breads contain 380-600 mg of sodium in one slice. How about your favorite low fat low sugar healthy salad dressing. Take a look at the sodium, chances are you just bought 580 mg of salt in a tablespoon of dressing. What you thoguht was a frozen healthy meal has a whopping 800-1000 mg per package. Or the organic healthy pizza from a health store at 600-800mg per 1/4(slice)? Ordering a pizza from your favorite take out is 1200 mg per slice. There are 8 slices in a 14’ sized pizza, which mean if you eat the whole pizza you are consuming 9600mg in just one meal. Once we cut our salt intake we lost the weight, of course drinking 8 cups of water per day instead of pop helps too. There are many other things which add to obesity and health problems and can be turned around. One of the most important ingredients to stay away from is high fructose corn syrup. It is as simple as this. Your body needs Omega-3 fatty acids to stay healthy and slim. Omega 3’s are essential to a healthy diet and have other great benefits like being a great anti-inflammatory. Products that block Omega-3 fatty acids from working correctly are hydrogenated oils, or partially hydrogenated oils, canola oil, cotton seed oil, soybean oil and vegetable oils and prosessed food. These items contain Omega 6 which create a unhealthy dangerous imbalance. So the bottom line is, if you want to lose weight and be healthy cut down on salt, up your intake of omega 3’s in your diet which you get from fish like wild salmon, sardines herring, & mackeral. Remember farmed salmon is fed corn and soy which contains omega 6, wild salmon eat algae which is where your omega 3 comes from, so stick to wild salmon. Flaxseed oil, fish oil, cold water and fish are high in omega 3. Look for a fishoil supplemnet that contains both EPA and DHA. Ask your doctor about taking any suppements. The importance of the liver The liver is the body’s largest internal organ.It is a complex organ that is essential to life. Where is the liver located ? The liver is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen under the diaphragm. What does the liver do? The liver is a complex organ that works 24 hours a day and performs hundreds of specific functions in the body. Nearly all the blood returning from the intestinal tract to the heart passes through the liver. This means that nearly everything that you swallow in your diet and inhale in your environment passes through the liver. Some of the functions of the liver are: Cleansing the blood. Regulating the supply of body fuel; producing supplying glucose to keep the mind alert and the body active. Manufacturing many essential body proteins. Producing bile which eliminates impurities from the body and aids digestion. Regulating the balance of many hormones in the body. Regulating the supply of essential vitamins and minerals. Liver health is essential to the body’s health . Most people are exposed to impurities in their diet and environment. Liverite® Liver Aid helps to support liver function and helps to cleanse the liver from impurities in the diet and in the enviroment.*
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We’re talking about muscle tone and strength. This is especially true for people as they get older. Maintaining muscle strength doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. It can be as simple as using soup cans or small water bottles as weights. The Orange County Office on Aging at 1-800-510-2020 or 1-714-567-7500 has resistance bands with accompanying “Fit-After-Fifty” guides available. The bands can be used in the comfort of your own home or at one of the many senior centers that offer resistance band classes. The guide has large pictures and descriptions that illustrate how to use the resistance band. It is recommended that older adults do strength training at least 2 days a week for 30 minutes each day. Always speak with your healthcare provider before starting any physical activity routine. Regular physical activity, which includes strength training, improves overall health and fitness and maintains independence levels. It also can lower the amount of money spent on medical care, such as office co-pays and medication. Specifically, exercise helps: • Reduce high blood pressure
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Reduce high cholesterol Increase muscle strength and flexibility Improve balance Increase energy and endurance levels Reduce depression (newsinhealth.nih.gov)
The OrangeCounty Office on Aging at 1-800-510-2020 or 1-714-567-7500 has many healthy living and physical activity resources (for no charge) including the resistance bands. Office on Aging Information and Assistance Specialists also have information on programs and services for older adults in Orange County, including in-home assistance, transportation, health education, caregiver support, counseling, residential facilities, meal programs, health insurance, services for the disabled, ethnic services and much more!
HEALTH & FITNESS
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At the age of 25 he opened a health clinic in a five star hotel where he worked with and trained many well know celebrities. He was my biggest inspiration and made sure I understood the importance of exercising through my entire life so that I could be here for my kids and grandchildren in the most healthy way possible.
It’s Never too late to be Healthwise
His philosophy was start young and you will reap the benefit when you are a senior. And so as a fitness adviser for many years working along side my husband and helping people on the right track I'd like to tell you a few things which might make a difference to your life.
by Ruby Sand
It is easy to maintain a good body when you are younger and not think about exercise. When I a young women as in the picture above at 18. I never really thought about fitness and health, I was naturally thin and didn’t think about it until I met my husband.
I am now 75 years old and my motto is health is wealth. My main goal in my life was ans is alway to keep fit and healthy through diet and exercise. I am so glad that I took that path because not only have I been able to keep fit and supple, I have managed to overcome many problems that happen to all of us no matter what we do. Having a positive outlook helps.
Then I had problems with my siatica nerve and once again began a remedial exercise program and with lots of work I got back to normal and am now free of pain. With the knowlegde that I have over the years I know without a doubt that weight training, is very important Cardio and stretching are important too but weight training strengthens your muscles so that when your bones get weaker in old age at least your muscles are there to give you support. I myself exercise 4 times a week at the gym and do cardio training for 30 minutes and weights and stretching for another 30 minutes. I feel great after my workouts and if I am stressed this really helps to get rid of the stress.
If you decide to take this path it is advisable to ask a trainer to map out an exercise program for you so you can start slowly and build up your strength. Nothing happens overnight, it should be a way of life to stay fit and healthy. Remember that what you eat is just as important as exercise.
Please do not go excersice without an instructor and doctor on board, I have had this understanding my whole life, and have made excercise and diet a part of it. This article is really for the youngest population to take heed and advice of the future,My advice to all of you is that it is never too late to start exercising and doing light weights.
He was studying to be a pharmacist at the time and was very involved in health and fitness, He had a fantastic physic and was into professional body building. He entered many contests and won them too. Once he became a qualified as pharmacist he developed his own line of vitimins and had his own pharmacy.
When I began to suffer from a rotator cuff tendentious and was not able to raise my arm or lift any weight at all. Doctors told me I would need to have disc replacement surgery on my neck to correct this if I ever wanted to do any of the normal movements I could do before. However, because of my background I decided to begin my own remedial exercises, I also got advice from a physiotherapist and with much perseverance and I emphazize perseverence which took months of hard work, I managed to get back to normal.
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It pays off really well. Of course It is much easier to sit around , watch TV and relax and be sedentary but just remember that whatever effort you put in to working your body and being aware that movement is so important you will reap the benefits and will be well rewarded healthwise.
If you are over 70 and healthy send your story and pictures to news@seniortimesoc.com
SENIORS WITH PETS
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FLUFFY IN MY LIFE by Ronnie Lebinsky
I have already described how Fluffy walked into my life — almost accidentally. There is a lot more to the story. Recently my wife Bertie asked me whether I find that Fluffy has influenced my “energy levels”. There was a reason for that question. One year ago a daughter asked me to go for a medical checkup because “my energy levels” seemed to be deteriorating. The medical diagnosis was a surprise — myelo-dysplastic syndrome or MSD — a pre-leukemic condition associated with bone marrow deterioration. I was warned to do regular blood tests and doctors’ assessments to check for critical deteriorations necessitating medical measures. Our children suggested that we get a dog again as a supplemental interest in our “empty nest” environment to provide additional activity and entertainment. The immediate consequence was the arrival of Fluffy in our household. The ultimate consequence — the answer to my wife’s question — was the reduction of blood tests from monthly to quarterly intervals as my blood levels have “stabilized”. Fluffy has necessitated at least a doubling of my pre-Fluffy weekly walking activities. In fact she has to be taken on daily morning walks where previously I was already abandoning all pre-breakfast physical activities. Some morning walks are shorter, some longer, and are supplemented by her longer evening walks. Fluffy came to us by accident. She was a shaggy little white dog called Rags when she tried to get back into the van of the rescue driver who brought her to Petco for adoption on a Saturday morning. My wife took fancy to her but even more important, Rags took a fancy to us and came begging us to take her. She was adopted by us before she could even be displayed, was washed and groomed immediately, and came home to us where a family conflict erupted over her name. Eventually we settled on the name Fluffy.
She has to be entertained during the day. Frequently she will grab one of her toys if she wants attention and play, and we have to dance attendance on her wishes. She has to be fed twice daily — usually with food prepared by my wife. We have to “clean her up” if she gets wet during her walks. Has Fluffy affected my physical energy levels? The answer is a strong “yes”.
We adopted her - a Poodle/Bischon mix from a puppy farm after 12 years without a dog. We read numerous books about dogs ranging from texts on how to discipline them to texts about dogs which were given their full personality range. Little did we know what we were in for.
Has she affected my emotional energy levels? The answer is an even stronger “yes. My one daughter — currently under stressful treatment for cancer — gets her “doggy fix” during her visits to us. Our other daughters get pleasure from her as well. One who is living near us at present even gets pleasure from taking her for additional “non-routine” walks. My wife has so much fun from Fluffy’s indoor and outdoor antics that I can watch them, laughing and happy in myself and for them, without limit or boredom.
She is about 1 foot tall with very long legs and struts when she goes for her walks. Some people call her “The Princess”. She also has developed a sense of humor of her own. Where most dogs will obediently fetch and return toys thrown to them, she deliberately teases us and plays with them just within range, but grabs them and runs when we try to get them from her. There are so many stories we can tell about Fluffy that it is difficult to select from them. However, one stands out in my memory forever. When Fluffy came to us she seemed voiceless. Many people have told us that shelter dogs are quiet for at least two years and then become vocal. After about three months she began to make soft, but not whimpering sounds. She only gives an occasional single bark when she is very excited that she is coming with us in the car and we are not quick enough in getting her into the car, while we are getting ready.
Her effect on our whole family is such that my own attitudes to life, especially illness, do not have a chance to become negative. In addition my children are now recalling episodes with pets through the years that even I had forgotten. The chain of connections within the family, and connections with past events, is strengthened by a dog weighing nineteen pounds who is worth every dime and every moment we spend with her. Has she “increased” my energy levels? YES! Has she changed them from potentially negative to definitely positive levels? YES! I hope that others will learn from my experience and have the same joy with the pets they acquire.
I was not ready for what happened to me about three weeks ago. I was cleaning up her dog’s mess which she had deposited on a steeply sloping area of grass. I slipped and fell sharply sideways on to the concrete pathway. I was in such shock and pain for the moment that I could not move at all. What happened next amazed and saddened me at the same time. When Fluffy saw my predicament she came straight into my face crying and howling (loud and almost like a wolf) and cuddled up against me to keep me warm. I had read of dogs recognizing and understanding their owners’ predicaments, but never of such a strong interpersonal reaction from a dog who hardly ever makes a sound. Fortunately two men who were nearby were able to pick me up and set me back on my feet. A few minutes later I was walking again, albeit unsteadily. I completed my walk with Fluffy back to our car and later my wife cleaned and dressed my abrasions which were severe all along my left side. Being strong boned I have no permanent physical after effects, but the memories of this little dog’s behavior in response to my distress will remain with me forever.
If you are a senior of 55 + and have an inspiring story about the difference your pet has made in your life, please email us at news@seniortimesoc.com and share your tale for a chance to appear on our next Seniors with Pets page in Senior Times OC Magazine
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Senior Times OC is published quarterly, Copyright 2011. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission. Senior Times OC does not endorse any services or products advertised in this publication. Unsolicited articles are invited, but the editor reserves the right to edit any and all materials. All materials submitted to Senior Times OC are considered to be Senior Times OC property and unconditionally assigned to Senior Times OC for publication and copyright purposes. Senior Times OC does not assume liability with respect to accuracy or completeness of information provided or from any loss, damage or injury incurred from the use of this publication.
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