Take a look at our March newsletter!
March 2022
5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-0616 229 Reindollar Ave., Suite E Marina, CA 93933 831-392-0876 www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast
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The One Thing I Wish I Understood for My Grandmother The Secret to Senior Nutrition
In all the years I knew my grandmother, she ate like a bird. She was a small woman, and often, her breakfasts consisted of coffee and a cookie.
alone or only eat with their spouse, whereas years ago, they had a family to feed or took lunch breaks with coworkers.
What’s more, the act of cooking can become complex. Mobility and joint pain may limit what a senior can do in the kitchen, and they may find cooking their favorite recipes unnecessary if the meal is just for them. Easy-to-make and non-nutritious foods, like TV dinners, chips, and candy, became staples in a senior’s diet simply out of convenience. On top of all of that, our taste buds change or disappear. It’s common that our ability to taste diminishes as we age, and that’s why many seniors opt for sugary or salty snacks. These flavors are easier for the small amount of taste buds they do have to comprehend.
When we went to IHOP, though, that changed.
This tiny, bitty woman would order the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity plate, complete with buttermilk pancakes topped with fruit sauce and whipped cream, two sausage links, two pieces of bacon, hash browns, and two eggs. Then, she would eat the entire dish in one sitting. My mom even used to say, “I don’t know where she puts it!” Apparently, her low appetite only applied outside of the IHOP doors. I thought about my grandmother and her silly eating habits recently because I learned March is National Nutrition Month. I used to think my grandma didn’t have the best nutrition, but it wasn’t
As I pieced all of these components together in my career, I started to empathize with my grandmother. Starting her day with a cookie wasn’t healthy, but it was sweet. She could taste it and enjoy breakfast like everyone else. And she probably wasn’t very
until I began working with seniors that I came to understand why she enjoyed a cookie every morning, why she opted for overly sugary pancakes, and why the simple act of going out to eat expanded her stomach. Senior nutrition is an intricate issue. It’s common to lose your appetite as you age because you tend to move less, and your body no longer needs all that extra energy. Seniors also tend to eat less because they are in fewer social situations. They may live
hungry throughout her everyday life as she aged, but her appetite grew around us. She became a professional eater at IHop because she enjoyed socializing.
Grandma wasn’t being quirky or strange; she was just getting older.
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5 Ways to Deal With Annoying Robocalls Protect Your Identity and Kick Scammers to the Curb
According to the latest data, scammers and telemarketers make 1,528 robocalls to Americans every single second. No wonder they’re driving us all crazy! Some of these calls are legitimate reminders about doctor’s appointments and payment plans, but around 55% of them are just nuisances — and we can’t rely on the government to stop them.
from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Visit your carrier’s website or call them to learn about the tools they offer. 2. Download an ad blocker. For extra protection, you can download a separate ad blocker from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Hiya is a free app that will give you caller ID and block spam calls, and Nomorobo is an award-winning option that’s free for landlines and costs $1.99 per month for cellphones. 3. When in doubt, let it ring out. If you don’t recognize the number calling, don’t answer. You can always call back if they leave a legitimate voicemail. 4. Suspect spam? Hang up. So, you accidentally answered a spam call. Whether it’s a
If you’re sick of hearing about “your car’s extended warranty” or the “student loans” you paid off 40 years ago, try these five tips to cut down on robocalls and outwit scammers. 1. Explore your carrier’s free tools. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer services to cut down on scam calls. Some of them are free and/ or come with your phone, but others you have to
5. Handle voicemails with care. If you get a suspicious voicemail, never call the number or visit the website given by the caller. Instead, Google the company or agency they claimed to be with and call that number. If the real agency has no idea about the call, you’ve just escaped a trap. By taking all five of these steps, you can protect yourself and your wallet from Ponzi schemes, identity thieves, and annoying telemarketers. For even more specific advice, visit AARP.com and search “The Definitive Guide to Reducing Robocalls.”
pay for or activate. If you have Verizon,
person or a robot on the line, hang up immediately! Even saying your name or the word “yes” could set you up for identity theft.
for example, you can download the “Verizon Call Filter” app
Wait ... the Mullet Is Back? Find Out if This Hot Look Is Right for You
Native American tribes. The mullet first went mainstream in the 1970s and ’80s, when musicians chose it for its iconic androgyny. But in the ’90s and early 2000s, mullets fell out of fashion — fast. Insider writes that “people began to see mullets as representations of being dirty and having a low income.” They disappeared overnight. By 2021, the mullet was the “it” hairstyle again, and 20- and 30-somethings aren’t the only ones opting for business in the front and a party in the back. Dolly Parton, a 75-year-old style icon,
has rocked a blonde mullet wig on stage for years, and 51-year-old actress Taraji Henson has also owned the look! Before asking your stylist for a mullet or wolf cut (the longer, shoulder-length version of a mullet), think long and hard about your hair type and texture. If you have straight hair, don’t be discouraged by awesome photos of wavy mullets — you’ll just have to style your hair daily to get that look. Instead, Google your current hair type (thin, straight, thick, wavy, curly) along with the word “mullet” to get a realistic picture.
If you rocked a mullet or wolf cut back in the ’70s alongside Rod Stewart and Meryl Streep, we have good news: The mullet is back in style. Mullets have also been spotted in art from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt and are a traditional hairstyle for some
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MASTER YOUR KITCHEN COOKING INSPIRATION FOR ALL SENIORS
Your arteries may be grateful your nutrition changed when you became an adult, but your diet doesn’t necessarily improve as you age. According to the BBC, our nutrition declines with age due to a number of factors. This, combined with the fact that many seniors live alone or only with their spouse, makes cooking much more difficult.
schedule. This can provide structure and as much variety as you need.
Inspiration: Bake your favorite vegetables on a sheet pan to use throughout the week. From tacos to omelets, these veggies offer a nutritional boost to any meal! For the Social Cook Part of the reason why we lose our appetite as we age is because eating is a social activity, and when you live alone or mobility makes socializing more difficult, it’s easy to ignore your nutritional needs. However, you have options! Start a weekly lunch group, guaranteeing you’ll receive that social interaction. Our caregivers at Visiting Angels can help organize this, and we can also eat lunches with seniors who are interested.
If you have found trouble in the kitchen, check out these go-to tips to make meal preparation easier as you age.
For the Unsure Cook Select one day each week to create one or two meals that you will enjoy for the remainder of the week or freeze for later. Focus on make-ahead meals that include lean proteins, lots of vegetables, and limited amounts of starchy carbs. (These include pastas and white bread, but whole wheat pasta, quinoa, and barley are healthier alternatives.) A slow cooker is an easy tool for this, too!
Inspiration: A turkey and bean chili is lean, packed with protein, and ripe for adding your favorite veggies, like onions and carrots.
Inspiration: Teach your recipes to your family members. It’s a tasty social event they will love.
For the Bored Cook If you like variety in your meals, you can still meal prep. Instead of preparing entire meals, focus on ingredients. For instance, a batch of baked chicken breasts can top salads, pair well with vegetables, or serve as the meat for a great sandwich. If that’s still too mundane for your palate, opt for a meal
For more information about how our Visiting Angels team can help seniors live independently, please contact us today.
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Vegan Reuben Inspired by MyDarlingVegan.com
At Visiting Angels, we encourage our caregivers and families to examine the ways in which they can help seniors incorporate healthy and complete nutrition into their lives. Our caregivers will often meet with families and seniors to discuss a senior’s likes, dislikes, allergies, and concerns when it comes to nutrition. Together, we can come up with a plan that meets their needs, whether that’s organizing a regular lunch with friends or planning a meal schedule. Plus, our caregivers have even learned valuable, priceless recipes thanks to our seniors! It’s not uncommon that we learn from them, too. The truth is that my grandma’s diet could have been better. We could have found a meal plan that better supplied her with the nutrients she needed or had more meals with her. Regardless, I take comfort in knowing that her nutrition wasn’t abnormal. Just as with many other components of aging, we just had to learn how to adapt.
Indulge in this St. Patrick’s Day classic — vegan style!
Ingredients • 8 oz tempeh
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Cook tempeh in the oil for 5 minutes per side. 4. Between toasted bread, layer tempeh, sauerkraut, cheese (optional), and dressing. Enjoy immediately. • 1 tsp paprika • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 2 tbsp olive oil • Bread of choice, toasted • 1/2 cup sauerkraut • Vegan swiss cheese (optional) • 1/4 cup Thousand Island dressing
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp liquid smoke • 1 tsp onion powder
Directions 1. Cut tempeh into 4 thin slices. 2. In a shallow bowl, combine broth, vinegar, Worcestershire
sauce, liquid smoke, onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Marinate tempeh in mixture for 30 minutes.
Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Scotts Valley Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday
www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast Home Care Organization #444700002
Inside
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Unlocking the Secret About Senior Nutrition
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Handle Robocalls Like a Pro
Should You Rock a Mullet?
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Cooking Tips for All Aging Seniors
Vegan Reuben
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3 Museums to Keep the Mind Sharp
Who says museums have to be stuffy? At these three great spots, you can learn something new, see great art, and have fun, too. Check them out this spring! AT THESE 3 LOCAL MUSEUMS Learn Something New
Santa Cruz Museum of Art History Where: 705 Front St., Santa Cruz Website: SantaCruzMAH.org No matter what type of art you enjoy, be it visual performance, paintings, or interactive pieces, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art History has an exhibit to keep you entertained. The museum was founded in the 1980s and housed in the former county jail. The goal was to transform the space from “a place of incarceration to a place of inspiration.” Today, the museum boasts exciting exhibits inside its building and around the square where it resides. Its festivals and community-centered approach invite everyone to engage in artistic spaces.
Steinbeck’s Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum Where: 700 Cannery Row, Monterey Phone: 831-655-7743 Explore the founding and expansion of California, as told by wax figures and American novelist John Steinbeck. At this museum, conveniently located
Seymour Marine Discovery Center Where: 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz Website: SeymourCenter.USCS.edu The ocean may be just outside your door, but it still holds a lot of mysteries. Learn more about its deep and riveting history at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Operated by University of California, Santa Cruz, the center provides information on marine science discoveries and habitats. Visitors can also touch a shark and immerse themselves in real ocean sciences — many of which come from the research center! The center also offers volunteer opportunities for those who want to get involved!
on Cannery Row, you’ll explore California’s history as the Wild
West, learn more about Monterey’s influence on the fishing and canning industries, and experience our state’s history with the same dramatic and romanticized flair that Steinbeck portrayed. And part of the charm of this delightful museum is the antique feel of the space!
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