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APRIL 2025 YOUR MEDICARE PLAN PRO
THE HEART OF OUR FAMILY Celebrating the Superwomen in My Life This Mother’s Day
With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible women who shape our lives in ways often hard to put into words. For me, it’s about recognizing two amazing mother figures who both bring their unique light to our family. My mom, a tireless worker and a constant source of love and service, makes sure no task goes unfinished, from organizing family vacations to hosting grand Christmas parties. My caring and thoughtful wife ensures our girls always feel supported and prepared for every adventure they take. While each plays a different role in my life, I deeply admire and cherish their shared devotion to family. My Mama Bear My mother is the definition of a hardworking mom. With seven kids to care for, growing up, she was constantly working on multiple things at once. Service matters to her, and she always looks out for others. Whether it’s at our church or in her family, she gives her time and care to others without hesitation. It didn’t matter if you were her kids or not — if anyone needed a helping hand, she was there. She’s like a mama bear who always protected us kids, and even when we were wrong, we were always right in her eyes. Mom is a happy, caring, but strong person. She knows how to get things done and always has her to-do list. Every day, she writes out her tasks on a piece of paper, checking each item off as part of her well-tuned system. Her get-it- done attitude was a significant influence on my work ethic. Family is her world, and she shares the same love of sports as my dad and me. I’ll never forget all those Diamondback baseball games we’d watch, cheering from the stands.
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Even today, my mom does her best never to miss a big moment. With 32 grandkids, she’s always got plenty to keep her busy. She loves watching my daughters’ cheer competitions and is a big part of our family vacations. No one throws a party quite like her. Christmas is one of her favorite holidays; she put so much effort into her “Frozen” theme last year. All of the characters, like Olaf and Else, were on display with themed decorations and treats. Whatever she does, she gives it 100%, and maybe even more. My Amazing Wife My wife is one of the most caring, thoughtful people I’ve ever known. She’s empathetic, sometimes to a fault, because she puts everyone before herself. When she shows her love for people, she will go above and beyond to make them feel welcome and included. She’s a bit like the human embodiment of a hug, warm and full of encouragement. She’s also a superhero mom, making sure our girls have everything they need to thrive and pursue their
dreams. Even after all these years, I’m still amazed at how she does it all. Cheerleading is everything for our daughters, and my wife is right there with them at 6 a.m. for practice. She starts even earlier, preparing their waters and a healthy breakfast before they go. We have very little to worry about, knowing she will take care of us. I’m so thankful she’s the heart of our home, and a mother our daughters can always look up to. I couldn’t be more grateful to these amazing women who fill our lives with love, strength, and unwavering support. My mom’s boundless energy and generosity have shaped me in ways I’ll always appreciate, and my wife’s constant support and kindness inspire me daily. They symbolize what matters most in life — family, love, and showing up for the people we care about. This Mother’s Day, I celebrate them not just for what they do for us but for the people they are.
WORD SEARCH
Arbor Aries
Diamond Fools Garden Kite Rainbow Showers
Baseball Cherries Chocolate Daisy
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The Cutting-Edge Science of Slowing Aging Breaking the Grip of Time
Over the last century, vast improvements in public health have led to nearly doubling the average human lifespan. Now, researchers are targeting even greater gains to slow the aging process and prevent dementia. At Columbia University, one research team is using animal models to explore techniques to change brain activity in areas that coordinate circadian rhythms. By improving sleep, scientists believe they may be able to reduce the risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Other researchers are analyzing lab data from patients’ medical records to calculate biological age and assess its value in predicting health risks and improving care planning. At Yale University, scientists are studying rodents that live long lives to determine the metabolites that may slow the aging process. Researchers are also looking at
how to slow the organ damage caused by inflammation or changes in blood supply, which are common problems in old age. New technologies such as genome sequencing and machine learning have helped spur advances in aging research. At the Buck Institute for Research on Aging near Novato, California, scientists are analyzing large data sets from fruit flies and humans to identify the central metabolites that shape the lifespan in both species. They have identified one metabolite, threonine, as a potential therapeutic for interventions in aging. Artificial intelligence and systems biology enabled these researchers to skip testing mice, which is usually essential in determining whether discoveries apply to humans. Aging research has evolved in both scope and purpose. The latest efforts bring together scientists
from many fields who have seldom collaborated. The initiatives reflect a growing awareness that disease is not necessarily part of the aging process. Rather than simply increasing people’s lifespan, scientists focus on improving the “health span,” or years lived free of disability and disease. The goal is to keep older people around longer and maximize seniors’ natural generativity — the natural human desire at later stages of life to improve the world and support younger generations. Researchers also hope to reduce the burden of disease, as people over 65 are on track to outnumber those 18 and younger within the next decade.
LEMON GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN
Ingredients • 4 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on • Salt and pepper, to taste • 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth • 2 tbsp heavy cream • 1 lemon, zest and juice • 2 tbsp chopped parsley, for garnish
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter • 2 cloves garlic, minced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F and season chicken with salt and pepper. 2. Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken skin-side down until crispy, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook 2 more minutes; remove from skillet and set aside. 3. Melt butter in skillet, then sauté garlic until fragrant. Add broth, cream, lemon juice, and zest. Simmer for 3 minutes. 4. Return chicken to skillet, spoon sauce over, and bake in oven for 15–20 minutes or until cooked through (165 F internal temperature). Garnish with parsley before serving.
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YOUR MEDICARE PLAN PRO 3521 E. Brown Rd., Suite 101 • Mesa, AZ 85213 MedicareInsuranceAZ.com • 480-442-9498
Jesse Goodman
Stephanie Marino
INSIDE
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Happy Mother’s Day!
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Scientists Team Up to Redefine Healthy Aging
Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken
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How Creative Activities Promote Healthy Aging
NO GYM REQUIRED! Age Gracefully With Movement You Enjoy By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about healthy aging. Every article says you should eat specific things and exercise regularly, but what if you’ve never enjoyed going to the gym or jogging? You’re probably not going to start running marathons, lifting weights, or joining a sports club at this point. It can make you wonder if other options exist to add more physical activity to your daily routine. The answer is yes. Instead of going to the gym or running through your neighborhood, you can find creative activities to provide extra movement to your day. Even better? You’ll improve your physical and mental agility. Here are two creative aging activities you can explore. Take the Stage Acting is an excellent activity for anyone to start, but it becomes even more beneficial to aging Americans. Through acting, you’ll notice improvements in your concentration and memorization. Depending on the play,
you may be required to stay moving, which will benefit your physical health. Plus, you’ll get many opportunities to socialize with your castmates. Many local theaters actively look for aspiring actors to audition. Bust a Move You may have fond memories of dancing in clubs, at weddings, or during special events, but the opportunities to boogie become rarer as we age. Thankfully, dance classes and studios love sharing the enjoyment of dance with people of all ages. Whether you like salsa, tap, waltz, swing, or some other type of dance, you can find a class or group ready to welcome you.
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