“Superfood for Super Seniors” Event on August 13 Headlines August Wellness Month Initiative in August at The Gardens at Brook Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care in Pharr, TX

Free Events Throughout the Month Are Open to the Public and Will Feature Presentation by Health and Nutrition Professionals, Healthy Cooking Demonstrations and Lunch, and Food Drive for Food Bank of The Salvation Army

PHARR, TX (August 6, 2015) – As Americans of all ages continue to discover the positive impact of healthy eating on daily living, seniors in the Rio Grande Valley are invited to several wellness-related events including a “Superfood for Super Seniors Event” on Thurs., August 13, to learn more about the ways that certain foods can improve their overall wellness. The Superfood event will be held at The Gardens at Brook Ridge, a new, state-of-the-art, all-inclusive assisted living and memory care community in Pharr, and is just one element of the community’s annual Wellness Month initiative. Held every August, Wellness Month empowers residents and local seniors to “Get Informed, Get Fit, Get Restored & Give Back” through numerous wellness-focused activities, inspirational events and advice from informative, expert speakers.

The Superfood for Super Seniors Event at The Gardens at Brook Ridge, which will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will feature:

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Food drive on behalf of The Salvation Army of McAllen. Most needed items include peanut butter, nuts, canned fish or chicken white meat, canned fruits in natural juices or dried fruit with no added sugar, canned chicken, tomato or vegetable soup, and wholegrain oatmeal or cereal.
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Farmers Market, featuring locally grown fruits and vegetables.
10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Dr. Donna Cooper, MD, Cooper Wellness and Disease Prevention Center, will speak about the importance of healthy eating at any age and keeping an active lifestyle for healthy aging.
11:00 a.m.: Healthy cooking demonstration by Dustin Stair, executive chef at The Gardens at Brook Ridge
11:30 a.m.: Superfood “Eat & Greet” lunch, featuring Jesus Saenz from Saenz Medical Pharmacy, who will discuss the positive impact of healthy eating. The menu, created by Chef Stair, will feature an array of healthier eating menu items. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (956) 588-2608 or emailing TheGardens@SunshineRet.com.
1:00 p.m.: Super Senior Crowning where The Gardens at Brook Ridge residents will choose by ballot their favorite super healthy senior, and food donation raffle winner announcement.

“Eating well is important for everyone at all ages, yet as we mature it becomes increasingly beneficial to incorporate nutrient-rich foods into our diet to promote a variety of health benefits,” said Denise Park, director of wellness for Sunshine Retirement Living, operators of The Gardens at Brook Ridge and 20 other retirement communities in the United States. “When you combine healthy eating with ample exercise, plenty of sleep, and a positive environment, research demonstrates that seniors can enjoy longer and more active lives. Each of our events, including our Wellness Month ‘Superfood for Seniors’ event, are geared toward educating and empowering seniors to seek out the best options to live the healthiest lives possible.”

Additional Wellness Month activities in August at The Gardens at Brook Ridge that are open to the public include:

Get Informed: Presentations on various aspects of wellness including exercise, hearing, wound prevention, diabetes, blood pressure, and more, throughout the month.
Get Fit: A variety of classes and seminars including Walk for Health, Zumba, Better Bones & Balance, Healthy Bingo, Laughter Yoga, among many others throughout the month.
Get Restored: Several events in August including Art Therapy, Massages, Aroma Therapy, Healthy Juicing and more.
Give Back: Clothing Drive, School Supply Drive, Recycling Program (plastic and bottles), and more.

Local seniors interested in attending these events can access a calendar online at TheGardensRet.com, request a copy via email or mail, or stop by for more information.

“At The Gardens at Brook Ridge, our primary focus is to offer a welcoming and safe environment for our residents and one that helps sustain health and wellness from multiple aspects,” said Santos Barrientos, executive director of The Gardens at Brook Ridge. “Here, we take healthy eating very seriously and ensure that the meals we serve are created to help our residents thrive and feel great. We hope that our Superfood for Super Seniors event, as well as the other wellness events we have planned in August, will help other seniors in and around Pharr learn more about the simple ways they can become healthier and happier too.”

The Gardens at Brook Ridge is located at 1201 West Ridge Road in Pharr. For more information, contact us at (956) 588-2608 or visit www.TheGardensRet.com or email TheGardens@SunshineRet.com.

About The Gardens at Brook Ridge

The Gardens at Brook Ridge is a warm, welcoming assisted living and memory care community for those who desire completely customizable and personalized continuing care. The Gardens provides resort-style living with resident-centered care in a secure and safe environment encouraging residents to feel independent, safe and engaged. The community features 65 assisted living suites on the first and second floors in studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom configurations. Memory Care at “The Terraces” offers residents private, semi-private and shared suites with private entrances and a dedicated staff focused on caring for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. All residents receive weekly housekeeping, complimentary utilities and cable TV. For added security, each apartment comes with safety pull-cords and location-based pendants for residents to wear. Residents enjoy three delicious, chef-prepared meals daily and all-day coffee bar with healthy snacks and fruits. A comprehensive wellness program to encourage socialization and healthy living includes an extensive activity calendar, fitness center and pool, movies in the on-site theater, a café, library, chapel and several spacious indoor common and sitting areas among beautiful grounds and landscaping. The Gardens at Brook Ridge also provides transportation with a dedicated wheelchair accessible bus to take residents to local doctor appointments, shopping, and neighborhood events. For more information, please visit www.TheGardensRet.com.

About Sunshine Retirement Living

Based in Bend, OR Sunshine Retirement Living manages 20 retirement communities in eight states, offering senior apartments, independent living, assisted living and memory care. A family-owned business with 20 years in the senior housing industry, Sunshine Retirement Living’s mission is to be the preferred senior living provider offering value, choice and independence while promoting health and social interaction that exceeds residents’ expectations and enriches the lives of both residents and staff. By providing meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation, utilities and in-house management staff, Sunshine Retirement Living continues to build an unparalleled community feeling in each property. For more information, visit www.SunshineRet.com or connect with us socially.

*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living