America is getting older every day. While that may sound a bit obvious, it’s true in a way you probably don’t expect. As the Baby Boomer generation—one of the largest in American history—enters their golden years, they represent the largest segment of population boom in the country between now and 2030 (and possibly beyond). One of the unfortunate challenges that often arises as this segment of the population gets older is ageism.
As we explore this negative view of aging, lets first start with a clear definition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ageism is, “The stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the basis of their age.” While this definition is pretty broad, it does incorporate quite a bit of what America’s senior citizens have had to put up with over the years, and what they may have to look forward to in the future if attitudes do not change. Thankfully, there is good reason to believe that these attitudes towards the 65-and-older crowd will change as we get into 2021 and beyond.
For starters, as this age group represents a greater percentage of the overall population, their needs and concerns will become a greater priority in general. The need for accessibility, housing, dining, and entertainment options for this age group will continue to grow as they age and express their desires for healthy aging (hint: it’s not at all like their parents’ idea of retirement!) and inevitably that will have a huge ripple effect on many businesses and industries. This alone sets this group of individuals up as a highly influential component of our society, and that carries with it a certain level of respect. But is that enough?
Despite the large, influential number of our population who continue to age year after year, there is still a need to acknowledge that ageism does indeed exist and to take the responsibility to engage and advocate for those “norms” to be removed from our daily interactions with seniors. We can do that by rejecting negative stereotypes that associated with aging as well as making the effort to stand up for those who have been discriminated against by various kinds of behaviors and comments. It only takes a moment to remind others that those seniors many want to overlook are a veritable repository of wisdom and experience and heeding their advice can only be beneficial to all who listen.
As professionals in the senor living world, we must always seek opportunities to ensure our residents voices are heard, from showing respect at the community level to lobbying for continued legislation that directly benefits the senior population. Many of our employees have spent the whole of their professional career advocating to make the lives of those we serve better; a cause we remain committed to each day. But, even if you don’t work in the senior living world you can still make a difference with those who are within your sphere of influence. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
If you’d like to learn more about what we’re doing at Pacifica Senior Living to help America’s seniors live peacefully and respectfully every single day, we would welcome the opportunity to communicate with you. We’d love to have you join in making make a better life for senior citizens everywhere.
As with many adult children, it’s always tough to watch your parents age. It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that those people who have long been your rock and your support may need some additional reinforcements in key areas of daily life. Perhaps you’ve started noticing they are a little more frail, less active, and in some cases, facing some real obstacles in continuing to live independently. Despite the fact that they tell you everything is fine and ask you not to worry, in the back of your mind, you are worried and uncertain. After all, these are the people you have loved your entire life, the people that took care of you. But now it’s your turn to take care of them.
Where do you begin?
As we age, our dietary needs inevitably change. Most adults can attest to a significant change in metabolism from those teenage years when you could eat whatever you wanted and never suffer any undue consequences. But this is especially true as years continue to pass and we move from middle age to senior years. In order to maintain a vibrant and healthy lifestyle, it’s necessary to take some vital steps in ensuring healthy aging.
One great way to manage your health as you age—along with aiding in weight loss, boosting the immune system, controlling blood sugar, salt intake, fat intake, and more—is to switch to a plant-based diet. This type of diet centers around whole, minimally-processed foods, limits or avoids foods that come from animals, and focuses on food that grows from the ground or on trees. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains are all a part of a balanced diet, but can also be used creatively as the basis for a complete pattern of consumption that creates healthy eating habits without sacrificing any of the flavor of your favorite recipes.
To many, plant-based diet brings to mind chewing on a celery stalk or slowly devouring a giant bowl of lettuce and calling it a whole meal. But this doesn’t have to be the case. A plant-based diet doesn’t mean you have to only eat plants like a vegetarian or vegan would. Pescatarians eat fish in addition to a plant-based diet. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs, but not dairy. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products, but not eggs. All of these diets include meat and dairy options, but are still centered around healthy servings of fruits and vegetables. As a rule, to get the most out of a healthy plant-based diet, most of your plate should be made up of fruits, vegetables, starches, legumes and grains. The plant based choices should make up the bulk of each meal, with meat or other non-vegetarian options serving as simply a side or even a garnish to complement the bounty of other choices.
If you are thinking of embarking upon a plant-based diet, you don’t need to start off as a full-vegan to get the best heart and health benefits. First, focus on eating more vegetables, whole grains, and fruits in place of unhealthy foods. Choose less processed foods, such as replacing white rice with brown rice. Then focus on alternative sources of protein—to replace large servings of meat—like guava, asparagus, quinoa, kale, and oatmeal. And for calcium-rich foods, give sesame seeds, chickpeas, almonds, bok choy, and coconut milk a try.
Experiment. Try foods you’ve never tasted before. Challenge yourself to make veggie versions of foods you love. For instance, replace a ground beef with grilled Portobello mushroom for a hearty burger. You’ll be surprised at how many foods you love have plant-based equivalents. Vegan mayonnaise and pasta sauces, for example, can be made from cashews.
If this sounds good to you, be assured it’s never too late to make this change, no matter what age. With a plant-based diet, odds are you’ll soon be feeling better, looking better, and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
At Pacifica Senior Living, we train our chefs and kitchens to be able to provide our residents with a variety of different dietary options for the benefit of their health and well-being. We are able to accommodate different textural diet options ordered by a physician, but beyond that, many of our communities also offer vegetarian, gluten free, and organic options for those interested in these healthy alternatives. We know how important it is that our residents have their dietary needs met while still offering delicious meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day and strive to meet those preferences through a variety of delicious and creative choices. This is just one of the many ways we ensure that all of our residents get to live their best-possible lives while members of the Pacifica Family.
We invite you to visit one of our communities and sample of our delicious meals, in person or to-go, and we are certain you’ll see be pleased with our expertly crafted fare. We sincerely believe that our culinary offerings satisfy a wide array of tastes and preferences while delivering the daily nutritional essentials that help our residents continue to thrive. You won’t be disappointed!
From a young age, we have been rushed by the world to do, achieve, and get things done. We are rushed to walk when we just started to crawl, rushed to school when had barely mastered crayons, rushed to apply to enter college after high school, rushed to get a job, rushed to get married and have kids, and on and on it goes. At some point though, we must learn to step away from the constant rushing and take in the world around us and choose a different path that leads to purpose and fulfillment and a fresh perspective on our aspirations and their impact upon those around us.
For many, the retirement years offer this unique opportunity.
After years of working in the corporate world, raising children, and engaging in all sorts of other things that rushed us along, retirement brings with it a chance to engage in the activities and hobbies you love and perhaps didn’t have time for before, or even discover new hobbies that you never thought of trying years earlier. This leisurely lifestyle combined with the worldly knowledge you hold makes these years a perfect opportunity to cast a new vision on a life well lived, rekindle old loves, and perhaps even find a few new ones. It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a new season in life and flourish in the process.
In case you are wondering if it can be done, that is, reinvent yourself after decades of doing other things, consider the following examples:
Dorothy De Low, 99, an Australian woman who competed in the World Masters Games in table tennis in 2009;
Tao Porchon-Lynch, 93, who has been named as the world’s oldest yoga teacher by Guinness World Records;
Min Bahadhur Sherchan, 76, who climbed to the top of Mount Everest in 2008;
Robert Marchand, 102, a French cyclist who set a new record for competition age in 2014 for the International Cycling Union; and
Carmen Dell’Orefice, 81 years young, who is the world’s oldest working model.
These remarkable people are just a few of the many older adults around the world who have defied odds and continued to live healthy and meaningful lives despite the passing of years. Perhaps what stands out the most about these people, and so many others, are that they have not only continued to cultivate their passion for life, but they have held on to things that continue to give them purpose and drive them forward. They found passions and hobbies that brought meaning to each and every day, and it became their motivation to continue to go out there day after day and do it well. We hope you’ll find that same type of joy and meaning and seek out those purposeful engagements with the world around you. As C.S. Lewis penned, “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream another dream.”
At Pacifica Senior Living, this is the kind of attitude and lifestyle that we work to provide our senior residents across all of our communities, and we actively encourage everyone to find something they love in life and to go out and do it. Through our wide variety of carefully crafted activities and events, we endeavor to engage every resident with the world around them and help them see the beauty in each day. Each day is a gift, and we delight in seeing our residents live theirs’ to the fullest.
The COVID-19 vaccines are here. The first shipment of the Pfizer-produced vaccine arrived at the end of November and was approved by the FDA last Friday, so people can finally begin the process of fully protecting themselves from the virus. The Moderna vaccine should also be approved later this week, which means more doses can be distributed and many more people can be vaccinated. Both vaccines are notably effective in preventing illness due to the coronavirus, and both have been tested in adults age 65 and older, who had an overwhelmingly positive immune response to them. This is truly fantastic news for a world weary of a virus that has impacted our lives more than we could have ever imagined.
As the vaccines begins making their way out into the world, we are thrilled to announce that residents in Pacifica Senior Living communities will not have to wait long for them as we are a part of the federal governments Operation Warp Speed Phase I distribution. Basically, the entire populace has been divided in to groups who will get these vaccines at different times based on exposure, risk, and chronic illnesses. Healthcare workers and seniors in assisted living and skilled nursing communities fall into that first tier, which means we’ll have the opportunity to get the vaccines very soon.
So far, early results show that Pfizer's vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 95% and of 94% in people 65 and older, while Moderna's overall effectiveness is 94%, with 87% in preventing moderate disease in older adults. This tells us how well things will go once the vaccines are being given to people on a wide scale. Additionally, the noted side effects of the vaccines are minimal, which, when taken with the extremely high effectiveness of the vaccines tthemselves really does paint a rosy picture for how things are going to turn the corner and improve as we head into 2021, and then into the Spring and beyond.
These companies have said about 40 million doses of their vaccines should be available this year, enough to fully vaccinate about 20 million people, as each vaccine requires two doses. After that, 50 million doses will be available in January, followed by 60 million doses in both February and March. This is enough vaccine for another 80-85 million people and is more than enough to vaccinate America’s seniors and work our way to containing and eventually defeating COVID-19.
At Pacifica, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, and it appears we are now just weeks away—and maybe less—from being able to provide our residents and their families with the safety and security they are looking for as we all work toward getting our lives back to normal. We are proud of our placement as part of the Phase I vaccine distribution, as we are of the efforts we have already taken in helping to keep our communities safe and our residents happy during this past year. We want to thank everyone who is a part of the Pacifica Family—residents, team members, and family members alike—for all they’ve done in working toward our common goal.
Please keep an eye out for further updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, and know that as members of the Pacifica Family, we are all in this together.
People love puzzles. We love games and activities that challenge the mind and force oneself to think upside down, backwards, and around corners because of the challenge and the sense of victory solving a puzzle provides. There are few feelings sweeter than finally putting the last piece into place and seeing the solution you’ve spent minutes, hours, or even days working toward. But puzzles and brain teasers and games are more than just a fun daily activity, they are valuable way to help keep the brain active and healthy as seniors age, and help stave off some of the memory-loss conditions that can crop up as we enter and move through our golden years.
Friday, November 27 was more than a sleepy day spent relaxing and coping with the overeating many of us did the night before in celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday—it was an auspicious day in the timeline of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Touching down that morning at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was a United Airlines flight that had left Brussels a few hours before carrying with it the first mass shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. This first mass shipment is an important first step in setting up the mass network of storage and distribution that will need to be in place to ensure that everyone can get this vaccine safely and in a timely manner. And, in October, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created a special commission to ensure a safe and quick nationwide distribution of COVID vaccines as they become available.
In November, Pfizer released the first large-scale batch of results from their tests that show that their vaccine is more than 90% effective at stopping new infections altogether, and this was rightly hailed as great news. A two-stage vaccine—meaning you need a first shot, then a booster a few weeks later—Pfizer will have as many as 50 million doses available for the American public by the end of 2020, with more on the way in the first months of 2021. Though the vaccine still needs to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, Pfizer has already filed an emergency submission for it, and can be granted approval as soon as December 10, with distribution beginning shortly after that date.
To help aid in this process, other major airlines are also testing and preparing to ship the vaccine first from overseas to the United States, and then across the country with coordination help from the FAA itself. Two weeks ago, American Airlines began running trial flights to test the special packaging the vaccine requires, as it must be kept well below freezing during shipping and storage, and these tests have been running quite smoothly since they began.
With the transportation quickly working itself out, and the bureaucratic process moving quickly as well, all that is left is to determine who will be among the first to receive the vaccine. But, this too has been thought of and planned out as a part of the government’s Operation Warp Speed. The good news is that senior citizens and senior living communities like those in the Pacifica Senior Living family are prioritized as a part of Phase 1 distribution. At Pacifica, we are proudly a part of Phase 1, and our residents will be among the first in the nation to receive this life-saving vaccine, which, according to the federal government, could start finding its way out into the public in as little as six weeks from now.
As more information becomes available about both Pfizer’s vaccine and Moderna’s vaccine (which has recently filed for FDA approval as well), we will continue to keep residents in our communities, their families, and our team members updated with everything they need to know when it comes to the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine.
We also want to thank everyone who is a part of the Pacifica Senior Living family for making it through these trying times with the same passion and care we pride ourselves on as a community. We are looking forward to getting things back to normal in 2021, and we cannot wait to spend the future enjoying our years the way they are meant to be enjoyed.