The Plaza at Punchbowl: Professional Partner Renovation Unveiling & Open House
Wednesday, Aug. 21st, 11am to 2pm
918 Lunalilo St., Honolulu
Exclusive Unveiling Event for Professional Partners
Celebrate with other professionals as we unveil the stunning, state-of-the-art renovations at our esteemed Punchbowl location. Indulge in gourmet pupus, live music, complimentary massages, and meet our dedicated team.
Discover the Plaza Life Protocol, a holistic approach to aging focused on nutrition, stress reduction, exercise, and hydration. Backed by the latest research, this special plan is designed to maximize life span, while optimizing quality of life.
What to expect:
- Gourmet pupus & refreshments prepared by The Plaza’s culinary team, live sushi station, and charcuterie from Bubbly & Bleu
- Live music
- Complimentary massages in the outdoor zen garden
- Guided tours featuring the newly renovated semi-private, studio units and 2 bedroom units
Parking:
FREE parking will be available at the Neal Blaisdell Center via the King Street entrance. Shuttle service will be provided to and from The Plaza at Punchbowl. The pick-up and drop-off location will be in front of the parking lot side of the Concert Hall.
Want to join the professional partners’ event?
The Plaza at Punchbowl Renovation Unveiling & Open House
Sunday, Aug. 18th, 11am to 2pm
918 Lunalilo St., Honolulu
Celebrate Our Grand Unveiling
Indulge in gourmet pupus, live music, complimentary massages, and meet our dedicated team. Be among the first to witness the stunning, state-of-the-art renovations at our esteemed Punchbowl location.
Discover the Plaza Life Protocol, a holistic approach to aging focused on nutrition, stress reduction, exercise, and hydration.
What to expect:
- Gourmet pupus & refreshments prepared by The Plaza’s culinary team, live sushi station, and charcuterie from Bubbly & Bleu
- Live music
- Complimentary massages in the outdoor zen garden
- Guided tours featuring the newly renovated semi-private, studio units and 2 bedroom units
Parking:
FREE parking will be available at the Neal Blaisdell Center via the King Street entrance. Shuttle service will be provided to and from The Plaza at Punchbowl. The pick-up and drop-off location will be in front of the parking lot side of the Concert Hall.
Want to join the celebration?
For an open house exclusive to professionals, register here.
How to Approach Exercise for Seniors
There’s a reason we all start to slow down as we age. The older we get, the harder it is to maintain muscle mass. The medical term for this is something called “sarcopenia.” But with the right exercise programs for seniors, this decline in strength and muscle can be prevented—allowing people to live longer, healthier lives.
So what causes sarcopenia? A lack of exercise and a low protein diet can put seniors at risk. Other factors include conditions that typically come with aging like insulin resistance and inflammation. Frailty is common for seniors that develop muscle loss, putting them at higher risk of falls, fractures, and loss of independence.
With early detection and the right strength training for seniors, sarcopenia can be prevented and even reversed. In fact, it’s well known that progressive resistance training can effectively halt the loss of muscle tissue in people over 60 years old. Some other benefits of exercise for older adults include lowering insulin resistance and lessening the impact of age-related metabolic diseases.
The key to resistance training is a personalized, gradual, and progressive approach. Start small, do what you can, and go at your own pace. The important thing is to be consistent. It especially helps if exercise can be integrated into daily routines, and is accompanied with positive reinforcement and community support.
So what are our go-to tips for senior exercise?
Here’s what we recommend:
- Consistency is key
- Go slow and steady with a gradual, personalized approach
- Integrate exercise into daily routines
- Give positive reinforcement
- Seek out community support and encouragement
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
Getting Nutrition Right: What’s on the Menu for Senior Citizens
As you age, eating healthy foods matters more than ever. Maybe in your younger days you could indulge with impunity. Maybe what you ate didn’t have a noticeable impact on how you felt. But eventually, time catches up with us all. For seniors, nutritional needs change over time, and diet becomes everything.
Protein is the most important thing on the menu for senior citizens. A diet that is high in protein—even beyond the recommended amount—can improve muscle health, reduce age-related muscle loss, and support maintenance during low-energy times.
Fat and carbohydrates play a role in overall nutrition, especially after a fasting period, like breakfast. But their importance takes a backseat to protein consumption. The average elderly person who is active and consumes the required amount of protein can still lose 0.2kg of lean muscle mass per year—and as much as 0.2kg per day if hospitalized. Because of this, most elderly people should aim to consume 30 to 40 grams of protein at every meal.
So where should seniors get their protein? Animal products, such as milk, meat, and eggs are most effective for synthesizing protein. It’s also important to note that protein should be consumed several times throughout the day—especially in the morning and before bed. While we sleep, our bodies enter a fasted state, and eating before bed can help build muscle tissue.
A note about sweets: when elderly people stop eating fructose, they have a better chance of avoiding metabolic issues like obesity, liver damage, and insulin resistance. Even more so, less fructose improves protein synthesis, allowing you to build muscle mass quicker. So remember to go easy on dessert.
So what are our go-to tips for senior nutrition?
Here’s what we recommend:
- You need more protein than you think, 30-40 grams per meal
- Eat protein throughout the day, especially in the morning and at night
- Prioritize animal proteins over plant proteins to build muscle mass faster
- It’s not just meat—animal protein includes milk, seafood, eggs, and yogurt
- To build muscle mass, combine a high protein diet with resistance training
For senior citizens, strong bodies start with a strong diet. But eating nutritious can still be delicious. At the Plaza, we keep this in mind when it comes to our menu for senior citizens.
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
The Benefits of Hydration for Seniors
We all know that hydration is kind of a big deal. But as we age, hydration becomes a really, really big deal. Our sense of thirst decreases, our kidney function changes, and we might even take medications that can cause dehydration. The good news? Just remember to drink more water. Let’s dive deeper into the importance of hydration.
Dehydration in the elderly can jeopardize metabolic health, raise stress hormone levels, and speed up biological aging. It can also affect the gut microbiome, which can slow down metabolism and lead to inflammation. Staying hydrated is especially crucial for decreasing the risk of conditions like dementia, stroke, and heart disease.
The healing power of drinking water goes even further. Recent studies have shown that good hydration in the elderly can even help overcome preexisting health conditions. For example, increasing water intake can improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity—even for those at risk of metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
So what are some of our go-to tips for staying hydrated?
Here’s what we recommend:
- Seniors should drink at least two liters of water every day
- Set up visible reminders, like post-it notes, to drink water
- Keep a water bottle on-hand that can be refilled regularly
- Avoid sugary drinks like soda and juice
- Stay mindful of medications that cause dehydration
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
The Upside to Downsizing: Cutting Back on Clutter and Stress
Updated June 17, 2024
Retirement should be relaxing: beach days, rounds and rounds of golf, and catching up with old friends. But standing in the way of this carefree dream is often a family home that demands to be cared for. And if this once-buzzing property has become an empty nest, it might be time to downsize. Here are our tips for making the move.
Plan ahead
Consider your options, including independent living in Honolulu or other retirement communities in Hawaii. These are great because they offer a range of living arrangements, a built-in social scene, and a supportive environment with caring staff. Make sure to do some research before you’re ready to move, so that when it’s time you’ll know what’s right for you.
An important step in planning is to make a downsizing checklist. Include where you’d like to live, how to handle all your belongings, and what your current financial situation looks like. Make sure to understand the value of your home, so you can include that as well.
Hire a real estate agent
Less stress is what downsizing is all about. So, if you decide to sell your home, find a real estate agent that can handle the hard stuff. Think you’ll lose out by spending on the extra help? Think again. Homes sold by experienced agents go for, on average, $60,000 more than homes sold without one.
Cut out the clutter
If you’re moving to a smaller space, whether it’s to an apartment at one of the best retirement communities in Hawaii or any other senior living situation, you’ll need to scale back. This means parting ways with the belongings you no longer need, and only keeping what counts. You’ll be surprised at how refreshed you’ll feel with the lack of clutter. And when you move into your new space, you’ll still have your favorite family photographs, cards, and mementos—meaningful items you need to feel at home.
Downsizing can be the key to unlocking your dream retirement. At the Plaza, we’re proud to have one of the best senior living communities in Hawaii, with a range of senior care options. If you’re considering making the transition to a simple, relaxing, and fulfilling lifestyle, make sure to visit one of our five communities in Moanalua, Mililani, Pearl City, Punchbowl, or Waikiki.
SETTLE INTO SENIOR LIVING WITH CALM & CONFIDENCE
Going from life at home to life in senior living can be an emotional rollercoaster. Whether it’s a move to independent living in Honolulu, assisted living, or one of the many retirement communities in Hawaii, you can follow these steps to feel at ease.
Embrace your feelings
Relief, anxiety, optimism, stress. There’s a full spectrum of feelings that can arise as you transition your loved one into senior living. And guess what? It’s perfectly okay to feel whatever you feel. Embrace your emotions rather than resist them, so you can empathize with your loved ones as they process the change.
Talk openly, listen intently
With all senior care options, questions and concerns will likely come up. Make sure to talk honestly and caringly with your loved one and, more importantly, make them feel heard. A nurse or staff member can always assist you with any issue and can help you both feel comfortable.
Explore their new home together
Senior living communities in Hawaii have so much to offer. Get to know the home together: stop by the common room, introduce yourselves to neighbors, tour the facilities, check out all the amenities, review upcoming events and programs. An afternoon of exploration will help turn anxiety into excitement.
Meet the support network
Among the best aspects of Hawaii senior living is that residents are often there for each other. So encourage your loved one not to be shy. Meet their new neighbors before helping them move in. This is one of the most reliable ways to help the transition. Make sure to also introduce yourself and provide contact info to caregivers and nurses. This will not only be comforting to you, but will reassure staff knowing they can reach out if anything comes up.
It’s all alright
We all process change differently. But, as you get your loved one settled into senior living, you can relax knowing you’ve made the right decision. Health hazards and difficulties will now be diligently attended to, dining and cleaning are all taken care of, and a new social life is just beginning. Your loved one will now be completely at ease—and you should be too.
For more information on what to expect, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
LET’S TALK SENIOR LIVING: TIPS FOR EASING INTO THE DECISION
From Open Mind to Action Plan
“What happens when…” Start with a question. Ask Mom and Dad about their feelings towards senior care options and retirement communities in Hawaii. What happens when they’ll no longer be able to live independently? Define living independently. Would they consider independent living in Honolulu at a senior home? Once you’ve discussed these questions, put together a plan of action.Time & Space
If your parents aren’t ready to consider senior living, if they can cope with independence—physically and mentally—it could be best to give them time and space. You might be surprised by their ability to care for themselves. If the situation proves to be more than they can handle, it’ll allow them to see for themselves how they’d benefit from senior living communities in hawaii.Care from the Comfort of Home
The least strenuous transition is no transition at all. Some families will want to turn to a visiting nurse or someone to help with everyday tasks at home. However, it’s important to consult with a senior living professional to help determine if this should be one of your senior care options.Focus on the Good
Make it a matter of perspective. Your loved ones aren’t having to transition to senior living, they’re getting to move somewhere where everything will be taken care of. No more cooking and cleaning, doing the laundry or running errands. Some of the best retirement communities in Hawaii feature scenic settings with five-star dining, beautiful private rooms, fitness programs, and engaging activities. Keep it positive.Explore Together
There are many amazing senior care options all over Hawaii. Choose a few that you and your parents find promising, arrange guided tours, and see what they think. Reassure them you’re just looking, not committing. Make it fun and exciting, and always let mom or dad feel like they have a major say in choosing when and where to move.Factor in Illness Progression
A progressively debilitating condition can weigh heavily on your loved ones. So it should be given considerable weight when it comes to your decision. Make a plan based on the likely course of the illness, give yourself wiggle room, and ease the pressure of rushing into a potentially wrong decision.Overcoming the “Final Residence” Fear
The anxiety and uncertainty that comes with moving to a senior living home—from assisted living to independent living in honolulu—usually has nothing to do with the new residence and everything to do with facing mortality. Sometimes, one-one-one counseling or a visit with a pastor or priest can offer peace when it comes to making the transition.Leaving home and moving into senior living inevitably comes with a sense of loss and abandonment. But with love and compassion, you can comfort your loved ones, and help them navigate this major life transition.
Questions? We’re here for you and your family, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
2023 All Community Open House
Sunday May 21st, 10am – 2pm
Ask About Our Open House Specials
Be sure to inquire about our exclusive open house specials when visiting. Call us today at (808) 404-9108 and ask about saving up to $1,000.00 on your first month’s rent*.
Participate in Guided Tours – No Reservations Needed
Find out why so many are choosing to make The Plaza home. Explore our model apartments and amenities, learn more about care programs, starting rental rates, activity programming, dining options, and move-in specials. Meet Team Members and experience how they interact with our Residents.
All communities open for tours between 10:00am – 2:00pm. All are welcome.
Visit Our Six Communities
 The Plaza at Kaneohe 46-068 Alaloa Street, Kaneohe Get Directions |
 The Plaza at Mililani 95-1050 Ukuwai Street, Mililani Get Directions |
 The Plaza at Moanalua 1280 Moanalualani Place, Moanalua Get Directions |
 The Plaza at Pearl City 1048 Kuala Street, Pearl City Get Directions |
 The Plaza at Punchbowl 918 Lunalilo Street, Honolulu Get Directions |
 The Plaza at Waikiki 1812 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu Get Directions |
*Only applicable to permanent move ins, who pay the full community fee of $4,500. $1,000 credit will be applied to the first full month of residency. Not to be combined with other discounts or promotions. Not applicable to second occupants or respite Residents. Valid only for Residents who move in within 30 days of date listed.
The Gift of Memory Care
Hali'a Memory Care Webinar
Best Friends, Cherished Memories and so much more...
Many approach the possible placement of a family member into memory care with a sense of guilt and worry. This Hali’a Memory Care Webinar will addresses common family concerns, but also describes the often surprising benefits of memory care for the person living with cognitive loss. Research has shown that “the brain loves company,” and the socialization and engagement that can come from an assisted living setting can be therapeutic to the person with dementia and foster feelings of friendship and community. In addition, strategies about memory care placement are provided, including when to consider a move, and how best to do it.
This webinar presented by David Troxel, MPH.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
David Troxel, MPH is co-author of six influential books on dementia care including The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care. He is the dementia care consultant to The Plaza Assisted Living and its Hali’a Memory Care Program which practices the Best Friends Approach. David adds insight and humor to his presentations and will allow for a Q&A session at the end of the webinar for attendees to ask questions and gain further insights into dementia care today.