Supporting Veterans – One Veteran at a Time
Dianne Kujubu Belli, Executive Director, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro
“Going to the Genki Conference: Veteran’s Edition was the best thing for me. I learned a lot from the Conference and I was able to meet staff from the Veteran’s Administration who assisted me in qualifying for VA health benefits. I had applied for benefits previously and been turned down. This time, working with Charles Green (Associate Chief, Outreach; Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System), I was able to be approved for benefits almost immediately. The Conference and the entire experience were really good.”
So said Ken Sogabe who attended the Conference presented by The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, in partnership with the Japanese American Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee (JAVVMC), the Japanese American Korean War Veterans (JAKWV), the Go for Broke National Education Center, and the Kazuo Masuda Memorial VFW Post 3670. The Conference was held on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Keiro Senior HealthCare’s Los Angeles campus.
Ken was in Vietnam from May 1967 to December 1968, in the HHC 5th Trans Command, Qui
Ken Sogabe, a conference attendee and a Vietnam War Veteran
Phong, Vietnam, as a specialist 5. He served as a personnel management specialist.
“It was my pleasure and honor to speak to Veterans—our heroes,” said Dr. Yoshikawa Thomas Yoshikawa, MD, the Deputy Chief of Staff of Geriatrics and Extended Care and Special Projects for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System,the day after the conference. “It is our job, especially those of us working in VA health care, to improve the health and quality of life of Veterans. If a little of the knowledge and information helped one Veteran yesterday, we have accomplished our goal.” In fact, this goal was accomplished manyfold through the Conference and speakers.
As we approach Memorial Day, we should support not only the veterans who are living among us, but remember and honor those who did not make it home. On Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., the Annual Memorial Day Service for all Japanese Americans who gave their lives in our nation’s wars, will be held adjacent to the Japanese American National War Memorial Court (Memorial Court) at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), located in Little Tokyo. This year’s event will be jointly sponsored by the JAKWV and the JAVVMC.
The keynote speaker will be Robert Fumio Leong, former Chairman of the Cal Vet Board who served as a Captain with the 5th Special Forces Group and Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACVSOG) from 1968 to 1970. Robert is the father of Keiro’s community resources manager, Brandon Leong.
Our community and nation are forever indebted to the Japanese American veterans, who served in peace time and in times of war.
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
Kanako Kusano, IHA Health Promotion Specialist
I woke up at 3:00 am on Sunday morning to catch the 4:45 shuttle to the start line for my very first half marathon. It was still dark and very cold. I guess I was nervous because I went to bathroom twice before the race. In fact, when the race started, I was still waiting in the line to use the bathroom, but it worked out fine since it took almost 15 minutes for my corral to cross the start line.
It was cloudy and in low 60’s - a perfect weather for running! We started from Fashion Island in Newport Beach. My plan was to keep my pace at around 10 minutes per mile and finish in 2 hours and 10 to15 minutes. The first few miles were nice down hills stretches with a beautiful view of Balboa Island and went really fast. At Ocean Avenue in Corona Del Mar, a neighbor played the theme from the movie, Rocky, which fired us up!
When crossing the bridge over Newport Bay, I was feeling really good and even had a smile on my face … until that steep hill on Dover Drive appeared. It was a mile long, all up hill. I tried to focus by counting (it seems to work for me), but what helped me a lot was the music another runner was playing on his speaker. I ran with him so that I could listen to the music until I got to the top of the hill. Then, all the effort was paid off by the beautiful view of Newport Harbor from Castaways Park. I have been living in Orange County for almost 20 years, but I never knew that such a beautiful park existed!
We ran through nice neighborhood for the next few miles. Then, there was another steep hill on Irvine Avenue. This one was hard… but cheers from the spectators really kept me going. Some spectators held up humorous signs to cheer up the runners, and they made me smile. I particularly liked the sign, “Hurry up (name of a runner) so that we can go drinking!”
After the hill, there were only a couple of miles left to the finish line at the Orange County Fair Grounds. At this point, I knew that I was behind my schedule due to some up hills and taking a bathroom break. So I ran a little faster. Fortunately, I was not feeling significant pain or fatigue.
As I got closer to the finish line, there were more spectators, which helped me to keep going at a faster pace. Finally, I
Kanako finished her first half marathon!
was able to finish my first half marathon in 2 hours and 17 minutes!
I am glad that I was able to not only finish but also enjoy the half marathon. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, that as I was crossing the finish line, I was thinking that I would like to do this again sometime soon. Then, I began to reflect on how I had come to where I was. When I first started training, I could only run comfortably for about 2 miles. But now, I have run 13.1 miles, and this has given me a great confidence.
People ask me if I am going to run a full marathon next. My answer is “Maybe”. Since I have run 13.1 miles, now I have a more realistic expectation of what 26.2 miles entails, which tells me that I am probably not ready for a full marathon yet. . I will probably try a couple of more half marathons and try to shorten my time before I try a full marathon.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, I was getting pretty bored with running towards the last phase of training. At that time, I asked myself, “Why am I doing this?” The answer was not just because this was my new year’s resolution, but I really wanted to challenge myself. Also, getting regular exercises really keeps my spirits up. I think that is one of the important elements of self-management. I hope you can find something that you can enjoy doing that improves your fitness level, mood, and many other aspects of your life!
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
Women are the primary transmitters of cultural beliefs and practices in families, including the menus and customs of our everyday and special occasion meals. “Recipes My Mother Taught Me” is a personal and collective legacy for our community, honoring our mothers who inspired us with their wisdom and resilience, as well as comforted us with their warmth… and awesome food!
So far, we have collected over 50 recipes, and each recipe has a story. In conjunction with Mother’s Day, we are going to introduce two recipes per month. The first recipe to be shared is from Linda Aratani, honoring her mother Sakaye Aratani, who has recently been named one of the Women of the Year by Japanese American Citizen League and the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California.
Oyster Sauce Beef Broil
From Linda Aratani in honor of her mother, Sakaye Aratani
- 1 piece of flank steak (1 ½ to two lb. scored or tenderized by butcher)
Marinade
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ cup shoyu
- 2 Tbsp. oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp. sherry wine
- 1/8 cup sugar
Combine marinade ingredients. Marinate meat for three hours. Broil 3 inches from flame for 4 minutes. Turn over and broil four minutes on other side.
To serve, cut the meat in half, lengthwise, and slice the meat diagonally and thin.
Sakaye Aratani
My mother is an incredible cook. She doesn’t cook too much anymore but she has always had a thing for flank steak. She liked the fact that it was so lean. The problem has always been that it is a tough, fibrous cut. So, she would follow recipes using flank steak and always cut it in a certain way, against the grain, and thin, so that it was always tender. I can think of 3 or 4 ways that she would prepare flank and I loved them all. This recipe is her most recent one and she made it go along with my turkey last Thanksgiving. What a feast we had! Thanks Mom for teaching me how to cook a flank. All of her grandchildren also love “Nana’s” flank steak.
If you would like to share a recipe that your mother taught you, please download the form.
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
Kanako Kusano, IHA Health Promotion Specialist
At the beginning of this year, I made a New Year’s resolution (see the resolutions of other genki people) to run a half marathon. Now, it’s going to happen this weekend as I am registered for the Orange County Half Marathon on Sunday, May 5, 2013!
I have always been somewhat physically active, especially since I began working for The Institute for Healthy Aging. As the Health Promotion Specialist, I tell people to eat well and exercise. If I didn’t “do what I say,” that would make me a hypocrite and make me feel really, really guilty.
Last summer, IHA offered the Walk with Ease program in collaboration with Arthritis Foundation in Our Community. Over 500 people participated including Keiro residents, staff, volunteers, and others. This program really helped me set my own exercise goals and establish a routine. Then, when the program ended, I began thinking about running a marathon or maybe a 5K for starters, because I wanted to have a purpose in my exercise other than to improve my fitness level.
Then, I began running on a regular basis – 3 miles for 3-5 days a week. Since February, I followed a training program I found online, which had me run for 4-6 miles for 5 days a week for the first several weeks and gradually add more miles until the race date. So far, 12 miles is my longest run.
There are only 4 more days until the race! I should reward myself after the race, but I don’t have any ideas yet… Right now, I have run so much for my training, I just want to get it over with! Wish me luck.
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
Exercise Your Heart – Volunteer! (National Volunteer Week)
Brandon Leong, Community Resources Manager
This week (April 21-27) is National Volunteer Week. If you’ve ever thought about volunteering, but never got around to it, this is the time to do so. At Keiro, we have over 1,500 volunteers that serve as Lifelong Learning coaches, assist with resident activities, socialize with residents, perform for residents, or help at community events. Each of our volunteers shares their compassion and embodies the spirit of Keiro, respect for the elderly. Not only do our volunteers enhance the lives of our residents or seniors in the community, they also help themselves.
Studies have shown that people who volunteer live longer healthier lives. Volunteering is especially important for older adults or recent retirees. You can read about all the health benefits of volunteering on our volunteer fact sheet.
In addition to the many health benefits, volunteering leaves people with a good feeling after doing a good deed, or doing something nice for others. Keiro’s volunteers can experience that feeling on a weekly basis, because their efforts are so appreciated and important to our residents, our staff, our visitors, and our community.
Last year, Keiro’s volunteers contributed over 35,000 hours of volunteer service in our facilities and our community. 35,000 hours is about 1,458 days or about four years! If their volunteer service brought just one smile to a senior’s face every 15 minutes, that is over 210,000 smiles!
So if you ever thought about volunteering, today is the day to start. Help us bring just one more smile to a senior’s face.
For additional information about becoming a volunteer with Keiro, visit our website at www.keiro.org/volunteer or email bleong@keiro.org.
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
Dianne Kujubu Belli, Executive Director, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates survey for 2011, retail sales (4.27 million), cashier (3.31 million), and general office clerk (2.83 million) were the three most common occupations in the U.S. But they got it wrong. With 15 million people in the U.S. caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving dwarfs any other occupation in the country. And the funny thing is that 60% of caregivers are employed on a full-time or part-time basis outside of their caregiving duties.
Caregiving touches everyone. In fact, over 25% of Japanese Americans who are 50 years and older in Los Angeles and Orange Counties are caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other diseases.
50+ y/o Who are Caregiving
What do caregivers do? A lot! And caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia do more than a lot!
Things that Caregivers Do
According to the 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, in 2013, approximately 5.2 million people had Alzheimer’s disease; by 2050, that number is estimated to grow to 14 million. Currently, Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. 1 in 3 seniors will die Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
Caregiving exemplifies a traditional Japanese cultural value of caring for elders. Not only does caregiving fulfill a duty
Caregivers of Those Who Care for Someone with AD/Dementia
and obligation, many caregivers express the positive impacts of caregiving, including reports that caregiving makes them feel good about themselves and as if they are needed, gives meaning to their lives, enables them to learn new skills, and strengthens their relationships with others (Schulz R, et al. Health effects of caregiving: the Caregiver Health Effects Study: an ancillary study of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Ann Behav Med. 1997;19(2):110–6).
While there are many positive effects of caregiving, research has demonstrated and the 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, clearly show the emotional toll and physical stress of carings for someone with Alzheimer’s/dementia.
Keiro Senior HealthCare, through The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro (IHA), has been addressing the needs of caregivers since 2001 through our caregiver conferences. In the spring of 2013, IHA will be presenting two different versions of the Genki Conference: Caregiver’s Edition, on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Faith United Methodist Church, and on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at the Gardena Valley Baptist Church. Both conferences will touch on issues affecting multiple dimensions of wellness. These free conferences offer current and future caregivers with tools and practical resources with compassion. Each conference will present different speakers and topics, and both include resource fair, professional consultations, and more. RSVP required. Contact kkusano@keiro.org or (323) 980‐2353.
For a copy of 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, go to http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2013.pdf
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing
Dianne Kujubu Belli, Executive Director, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro
The National Institutes for Health asked the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine to find out why Americans’ health was worse than the health of people in other developed countries. Their report was published in January 2013, and carried the title “Shorter Lives, Poorer Health.”
The study found that one of the contributing factors is health behaviors. While Americans may smoke and drink less than people in other countries, we consume more calories per person than people in other developed countries.
Global Map of Per Capita Caloric Intake
Average Daily Caloric Consumption in U.S.
Between 1950 and 2000, the annual per capita food consumption in the U.S. increased, as follows:
- 20% for fruits and vegetables
- 29% for grains (an increase of 44.5 pounds)
- 41% for meats (an increase of 57 pounds)
- 287% for cheese (an increase of 22.1 pounds)
- 39% for caloric sweeteners (an increase of 42.8 pounds)
- High fructose corn syrup consumption increased from zero to 85.3 pounds
Some of these increases may come from dining out, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that in 1977-78, 18% of our total food energy consumption came from eating out. By 1994-96, it was 32%.
What to do?
Maybe the first step is to consider portion size. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a fact sheet on “How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight,” which includes tips on portion control when eating out, when eating in, in front of the TV, etc.
Americans may be competitive, but we don’t have to be the first in everything – especially in eating the most calories.
March is National Nutrition Month. Let’s take this opportunity to look at what and how much we are eating now and start making healthier changes. More information about food and nutrition including a fact sheet on nutrition for adults over 50, is available at www.keiro.org.
The material presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Keiro Senior HealthCare, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, or its contributors. Readers should consult appropriate health, legal, or financial professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Full disclaimer
