Take a look at our latest newsletter!
PARK PARADISE Why Ala Moana Holds a Special Place in Our Hearts
Agents For Life
Marriage Destination My wife and I aren’t the only ones who see Ala Moana as a dream destination. Many wedding parties make their way to the park as well! It’s a popular venue for Japanese couples who buy a wedding package to travel to Honolulu, pick out a dress, and get married right in the park. Irma and I have been trying to see if we could photobomb some newlyweds, but that is a work in progress. Witnessing Change When you frequent a place enough, you see it gradually change. I remember walking past taped-off plots where the authorities had planted palm tree seedlings. It seemed like forever before they removed the tape. Then, before we knew it, colossal palms were
After long days at the office, my wife and I often head to our favorite getaway to clear our heads. For us, that destination is the one and only Ala Moana Park, which was voted one of the best parks in the country by USA Today. For our money, it’s the most beautiful park in the world, let alone the country. It is both filled and surrounded by beauty. There is ocean on three sides, great trails, gargantuan trees providing shade, and — when night draws near — spectacular sunsets to cap it all off. That’s why it’s also the preferred locale for surfers, sun tanners, wedding parties, walkers, joggers, skaters, and bikers. People practice yoga, martial arts, and dancing on its expansive grass lawns, and scuba divers and snorkelers patrol the waters in search of aquatic attractions.
David Bennett (808) 392-7515 david@seniorhealth.pro
Continued on Page 2 ...
Irma Bennett (808) 799-0399 irma@seniorhealth.pro
1
July/August 2024
(808) 392-7515
... continued from Cover
standing in their place. It reminds me of parenting, in a way: Things change right before your eyes. But it’s not just the park; the neighboring city has grown vertically, with massive skyscrapers taking shape rather than deciduous palms. Some 22 highrise buildings are under construction across 65 acres of land near the park. I also saw how, briefly, the pandemic changed Ala Moana dramatically. Paradise Amid a Pandemic I don’t need to tell you this, but the pandemic shut everything down. Ala Moana was no exception. The bustling park became a ghost town. Tourism dropped off a cliff. People did not know what to do and what not to do. This resulted in some odd policies at the park. For
instance, you could not sit on the beach, but you could go surfing. Apparently, COVID-19 loves the beach but hates to get its feet wet? Past and Present Years ago, my wife and I lived near the park. We spent four years in a cramped 600-square-foot apartment within eyesight of Ala Moana. It’s surreal that now people will shell out millions for the same square footage and location and call it luxury. Times change, and people change, but Ala Moana will always be the beautiful go-to spot for clearing my mind and enjoying the scenery Hawaii is famous for.
–David Bennett
THE NECESSITY OF GOOD DENTAL CARE SENIOR SMILES
No one wants a visit from the tooth fairy long after their baby teeth are gone. Taking care of your teeth is essential at all ages but is especially vital for older adults. Unfortunately, research shows that the older we get, the more we neglect our teeth. This results in a high percentage of older adults missing some or all of their teeth. This doesn’t just affect our dental health — it also worsens our quality of life. Keeping up with our dental hygiene benefits our bodily health, and neglecting it can lead to a plethora of problems. Here is why and how you should keep up with your dental hygiene when you are older! The Denture Domino Effect Edentulism is a fancy word that means missing some or all of your teeth. According to research published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, up to 78% of older adults have edentulism, which can have a significant impact on the rest of the body. When a lack of teeth or reliance on dentures limits what you can comfortably eat, you may resort to eating softer foods, often full of saturated fat and cholesterol. This further compounds things and makes it harder to take care of your oral
hygiene. But with care, you can maintain a healthy diet with edentulism and prevent further harm to your teeth.
Keeping the Tooth Fairy Away Here are some general tips from the medical community for maintaining your dental hygiene when you are older:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste • Floss at least once a day • Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash daily • Schedule regular cleanings and oral exams with your dentist If you struggle to maintain a healthy diet because of a lack of teeth, try steaming or mashing your vegetables to make them easier to consume. Alternatively, smoothies and soft beans can help! It may seem hard to keep up, but the effort is well worth it. Your mouth and your body will thank you for it.
2 hawaii.seniorhealth.pro
Expert hosts also recommend a self-serve bar for casual summer gatherings. Consider filling several 3-gallon drink dispensers with popular options. Depending on your guest list, you might offer family fare such as lemonade, iced tea, ice water, or premixed cocktails like strawberry vodka lemonade or passion fruit margaritas. Martha Stewart suggests allowing amateur mixologists to concoct their own beverages by setting out bottled juices, artisanal sodas, and kombucha. A stylish yet simple way to serve hors d’oeuvres and side dishes to complement your grilled entree is to assemble or have catered a charcuterie board. These feature finger foods such as meats, cheeses, olives, spreads, fruits, nuts, chips, and crackers. A fully stocked charcuterie board adds a decorative touch while keeping guests well-fed for hours, adding what Quinn calls “a real wow factor.” And to make sure your day ends well, look for disposable, compostable bamboo or wooden dishes. Searching for “eco-friendly tableware and cutlery” should turn up some good options. This one last detail can go a long way toward supporting sustainable living while ensuring you don’t spend any valuable party time cleaning up broken glass or washing dishes.
TIPS FOR A STRESS-FREE BACKYARD BARBECUE
Enjoying your own party can be more complicated than it sounds. Backyard barbecues are a high point of summer, but hosting one you enjoy with your guests requires planning. “If swimming is on the agenda, consider protecting new or light-colored indoor furniture with water-resistant covers so guests in wet swimsuits can sit wherever they want without stressing out their host,” says Calla Quinn, a TikTok influencer who recently posted tips on hosting up to 50 friends at your home. Another tip she shares is using portable misting fans in dry climates. These devices create a fine mist to refresh passersby in seconds, and they are especially popular on patios and decks. If attendees offer to bring something, don’t hesitate to accept, and be specific about what you want — from lawn chairs to beach towels. Martha Stewart recommends having a stain remover on hand to manage stains and cloth towels that guests can use to wipe up spills.
INSTANT POT BEEF STEW
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 carrots, diced • 2 stalks celery, diced
1. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat olive oil. 2. Add beef and cook until browned, then add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes. 3. Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. 4. Secure the lid and set the pressure cook feature to high for 30 minutes. 5. When the stew is done cooking,
• 2 potatoes, diced • 2 cups beef broth • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 bay leaf • Salt and pepper, to taste
allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure. Serve and enjoy!
3
(808) 392-7515
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1326-C Alewa Dr. Honolulu, HI 96817 (808) 392-7515 hawaii.seniorhealth.pro
Inside This Issue 1 Why We Treasure Ala Moana 2 Importance of Dental Hygiene in Your Golden Years 3 Host a Stress-Free Summer Barbecue 3 Instant Pot Beef Stew 4 Tips for a Fulfilling Retirement
Embracing the Golden Years How to Enjoy Life After 65
While you may have spent a large chunk of your life looking forward to retirement, now that you’re there, you may be asking yourself one simple question: What now? You are not alone; many people seek fulfillment after leaving their careers to enjoy their golden years. But you can find ways to enjoy life and feel fulfilled without jumping back into the workforce. Here are some great ways to enjoy your retirement in a meaningful way! Elder Explorers As a kid, you may have dreamed of being a swashbuckling adventurer or an explorer braving an unknown land. Why not bring back that sense
of adventure you craved by going on a journey of your own? Cruises are a great way to visit many sites without having to worry about preparing your meals, catching flights, or finding hotel accommodations. You just set sail and go. The cruise ship staff cooks and provides your food, and you can return to your room aboard the behemoth vessel after a day of excitement! Sporting Good Time Getting into sports is a great way to engage with a passionate fandom, develop a deeper connection with a team and its history, and enjoy sports seasons more than ever! But just because you are retired doesn’t
mean you have to enjoy sports from the sidelines. Yoga, Pilates, and spin classes are active forms of exercise that can double as a fun sport to enjoy in your older years! Hobby Time You may have a lot more time on your hands, so you should use some of that time to put your hands to good use! Life is richer and more enjoyable when you interact with hobbies you enjoy. Developing new skills in painting, woodworking, crocheting, sewing, writing, or even ham radio allows you to exercise your mind while creating something of value is a wonderful way to stay mentally young and imaginative.
4
hawaii.seniorhealth.pro
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator