Spend a few minutes chatting with Melissa Hernandez, Culinary Director and Executive Chef, at St. Luke’s (pictured above) and her enthusiasm is infectious about St. Luke’s implementation of the Stronger, Longer health initiative. St. Luke’s is celebrating the strong role of better nutrition, daily movement and mental stimulation in healthier aging by offering a wider range of choices in each of these areas for Elders.
Since January, Melissa and Selina Miramontes, Lead Cook, have attended three conferences on nutrition including one sponsored by the Association of Food Service Professionals and a Nutrition Alliance Conference one-day intensive in Phoenix.
“I have loved the challenge of learning how to move the culinary program at St. Luke’s in a new direction,” she shared. “We will be meeting with the Elders at the Town Hall next week to share our new healthy menus that focus on seasonal choices and promote a healthy lifestyle.”
Among the changes she will share with the Elders: cutting back on pies, cakes and cookies every day and offering instead sliced fresh fruits presented with flair, expanded vegetable choices, recalculated portion sizes in compliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a fish option daily and, gradually, cutting back on salt and breads.
Melissa has been involved with food preparation at assisted-living facilities since she was 16 years old. She knows the population well. She pointed out that most other facilities meet specific dietary needs for conditions like diabetes and these changes will move St. Luke’s in that direction.
“It is our choice and our creativity to provide foods with good vitamins that promote overall health,” Melissa said. “I know our Elders are not always eager to try new foods but, with time, and plenty of herbs, spices and other natural flavorings, they should come around.”
On a personal note, Melissa shared that she has lost 70 pounds as she has made the same shifts in her diet and ramped up daily exercise. “I want to show the Elders how good it makes you feel. It doesn’t matter your age, eating healthy makes every day better!”
Add to the culinary changes expanded exercise offerings, both mental and physical, and St. Luke’s Elders will be able to choose to stay stronger and live longer!
Banjo Blasters at St. Luke’s
Banjos come in several different varieties including five-string, which provide a bluegrass sound, and four-string that deliver musical sounds from the early 1900s in America. The Arizona Banjo Blasters, who rehearse weekly in St. Luke’s Chapel, have 19 members including two washboard players, a bass player and 16 four-string banjo musicians.
Arlene Tomlinson, the bass player of the group, shared that the members range in age from about 50-96. “Doug O’Brien is the leader and he has been playing banjo for over 65 years. Emmett is 96 and he plays all kinds of instruments including the fiddle. He has played the banjo since he was 14 which makes it 82 years!”
Experience is not required however, just love of banjos. “We also have people who have never played at all and come to learn and have fun!” And they come from far and wide to play together. Members of the group live in Sierra Vista, Portal, Nogales, Green Valley, Marana and on top of Mount Lemmon.
The Banjo Blasters are a nonprofit organization. They charge for their shows, which take place at a range of venues including the Community Performing Arts Center in Green Valley, churches and retirement homes. The money they bring in covers expenses but they also donate to other nonprofits.
In fact, St. Luke’s is deeply grateful to the Banjo Blasters for a recent donation that will go toward refinishing the chapel floors. A deep thanks to all of the Banjo Blasters for the generosity and friendship! (L’Don Sawyer pictured above accepting donation from the Banjo Blasters).
If you want to hear for yourself the pure joy that flows from their playing, come on down to St. Luke’s on June 28th at 2 pm. And thank you, Banjo Blasters, for the joy you bring our Elders!
Med-Start Program Returns for Third Year at SLH
Year three of the University of Arizona’s Med-Start Summer Program kicks off June 10 and will take place every Sunday through July 1. The summer academic enrichment program is for 11th grade high school students who are interested in careers in health or medicine. The 2017 cohort, pictured above, numbered 45 students with the same number expected for 2018.
The immersive Med-Start program runs through the College of Medicine and is sponsored by the UA Office of Diversity. It is a residential program that houses all student participants in a campus residence hall.
This year’s cohort has big plans for the summer. They will participate in a range of activities with the Elders and get a first-hand feel of what it takes to run an assisted living facility. This will include projects to clean and inventory the kitchen, assist with other summer cleaning projects and help launch a new Summer Game-a-Thon with the Elders including dominoes, card games, Wii bowling and Scrabble.
Happenings at St. Luke’s Home
Mark Your Calendars!
Town Hall: June 12, SLH Dining Room, 2:00-3:00pm
Cooking Class: June 19, 9:30 – 10:30 am
Educational Presentation: June 23, SLH Dining Room, 6:15 pm: Legal issues around aging, medical and end-of-life planning by the Hospice Education and Legal Partnership. All welcome!
Banjo Blasters Performance: June 28, SLH Dining Room, 2 pm
Your donations to St. Luke’s Home are deeply appreciated and easy to do.
Click on the donate button pictured above to make an on-line donation that supports the mission of St. Luke’s Home.