Introducing the Plaza Life Protocol
A Special Program for Optimized Senior Living
We’re excited to introduce the Plaza Life Protocol, a new program backed by the latest research to help older adults live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. This approach to healthy aging has two objectives: maximizing life span (how long we live) and optimizing health span (how well we live).
It’s a program that takes into account the risk factors of aging, which include the top chronic diseases. We then use a holistic, medically-backed plan focused on four fundamental pillars: exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, and hydration.
Exercise
Exercise is a major part of this program. Older adults often deal with loss of muscle mass and strength. But through progressive resistance exercise, we can actually reverse the loss of muscle mass, greatly enhancing overall health. Not only that, but this specific form of training has shown to reduce the impact of age-related metabolic diseases in older people. Find out more about exercise here.
Nutrition
We all know that it’s important to eat healthy at any age. But, for seniors, a diet that is rich in protein is especially beneficial. It helps improve muscle health, reduce age-related muscle loss, and support maintenance during low-energy times. Also, reducing fructose goes a long way toward promoting protein synthesis. We take all this into account when planning our dining menu. Find out more about nutrition here.
Stress Reduction
Stress is natural. On the other hand, too much stress can lead to a range of metabolic illnesses. Our goal is to shape everyday life at The Plaza around activities that promote overall well-being. This includes arts and crafts, playing games, singing, or even playing a musical instrument. This active form of socialization has been shown to reduce loneliness as well as stress. Find out more about stress reduction here.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining good health. This is especially true for older adults, who are at a higher risk of dehydration. It’s a risk that’s been known to contribute to several health problems including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That’s why our staff go the extra mile to ensure every resident drinks plenty of fluids—especially water—throughout the day. Find out more about hydration here.
A Final Note
Aging is complex. But it doesn’t have to come with disease and frailty. The Plaza Life Protocol isn’t designed to replace traditional medical care. On the other hand, it’s to act as a supplement. Our strategy is to help older adults improve their overall health by targeting the underlying problems and perhaps avoid or delay having to take additional medication. Our mission is to ensure all our residents live as long as possible with the best quality of life.
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
Easing the Pressure: Stress Relief for Seniors
Ever feel unbearably stressed out? It’s called being human. Stress is a totally natural response that urges us to deal with the threats and challenges in our lives. It’s just that too much stress isn’t healthy—especially for the elderly.
When stress in seniors becomes overwhelming it can have all kinds of negative consequences. This is especially true when it comes to metabolic syndrome, which is made up of a range of factors that include obesity, hypertension, and low HDL cholesterol. Stress can also contribute to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes.
The good news? There are a range of mental and physical stress reduction techniques for seniors. Mental therapies include engaging in an activity-rich social life and practicing mindfulness. Additionally, physically managing stress through aerobic exercise and resistance training can be similarly beneficial.
Encouraging the elderly to develop a healthier social life has been shown to reduce the progression of stress. Social activities such as arts and crafts, games, singing, or playing a musical instrument are all great ways to enhance the quality of life in older people.
Practicing mindfulness has also shown incredible results. A recent study demonstrated that an 8-week program of mindfulness-based stress reduction significantly reduced loneliness in older people. A separate study showed that this same technique improved symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress while also lowering blood pressure and body mass index in patients with coronary heart disease.
As a physical treatment for stress, exercise has also proven to be effective in preventing metabolic disease—without the need for pharmaceuticals. In fact, the CDC recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week. It’s also been shown that resistance training three to four times a week has been highly beneficial.
So what are our go-to tips for senior stress reduction?
Here’s what we recommend:
- Recognize that stress is natural, everyone feels it
- Develop a healthy social life by engaging in group activities
- Engage in consistent aerobic exercise
- Perform resistance training three to four times a week
- Practice mindfulness-based stress reduction
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
The Plaza Life Protocol: A Professional Guide
Maximizing Life Spans & Optimizing Health Spans for Seniors
We’re excited to announce the Plaza Life Protocol, a new medically-backed program designed to maximize the life span and optimize the health span for older adults. Using the latest research, we’ve put together strategies aimed at improving the aging process and reducing the risk of age-related illnesses, specifically the top five chronic diseases: heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infection, cancer, and dementia.
Overcoming Frailty
Frailty is the biggest threat to the life span and health span of older people—something we know first-hand. It’s a condition that includes debility, exhaustion, diminished walking speed, inadvertent weight loss, and less engagement in physical activity. It can make seniors more likely to fall, break bones, end up hospitalized, and lose independence. To help our residents overcome frailty, we use a holistic plan focused on four fundamental pillars: exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, and hydration.
Exercise
Exercise is fundamental to this program. Older adults often deal with loss of muscle mass and strength. But through progressive resistance exercise, we can actually reverse the loss of muscle mass, greatly enhancing overall health. Not only that, but this specific form of training has been shown to reduce the impact of age-related metabolic diseases in older people. Find out more about exercise here.
Nutrition
As we age, our nutritional needs evolve. For seniors, a diet that is rich in protein is most beneficial. It helps improve muscle health, reduce age-related muscle loss, and support maintenance during low-energy times. Moreover, reducing fructose goes a long way toward promoting protein synthesis. We take all this into account when planning our dining menu. Find out more about nutrition here.
Stress Reduction
Stress is natural. On the other hand, too much stress can lead to a range of metabolic illnesses. Our goal is to shape everyday life at The Plaza around activities that promote overall well-being. This includes arts and crafts, playing games, singing, or even playing a musical instrument. This active form of socialization has been shown to reduce loneliness as well as stress. Find out more about stress reduction here.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining good health. This is especially true for older adults, who are at a higher risk of dehydration. It’s a risk that’s been known to contribute to several health problems including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That’s why our staff go the extra mile to ensure every resident drinks plenty of fluids—especially water—throughout the day. Find out more about hydration here.
A Final Note
As you know, aging is complex. A number of factors contribute to disease and frailty. The Plaza Life Protocol isn’t designed to replace traditional medical care. On the other hand, it’s to act as a supplement. Our strategy is to help older adults improve their overall health by targeting the underlying problems and perhaps avoid or delay having to take additional medication. Our mission is to ensure all our residents live as long as possible with the best quality of life.
For more information, or to book a tour, contact our friendly staff at The Plaza Assisted Living.
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.