2024 RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast Live Auction Preview

Here is a preview of the exciting live auction items that will be up for bid at the 23rd Annual RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, 7:30am. Funds raised will support our home health services, hospice care, and community health and wellness programs across 35+ towns in the region.

 

BROADWAY YOUR WAY  

A car service will whisk you away to the bright lights of the big city! Enjoy your Broadway show of choice with your $500 Broadway.com gift certificate. Dine at your restaurant of choice with your $250 American Express gift card, before or after the show.
Gift of John & Lori Berisford and George Earl, Jr.

 

 

 

FOUR FOR FORE – GOLF FOURSOMES

Can you ever have too much golf?!  Hit the links with three friends and enjoy some of the nicest courses around. This golfer’s package includes a round for four at each of these great area clubs: Ridgewood Country Club, Salem Golf Club, Silver Spring Country Club, and The Club at River Oaks — all with lunch and carts. Time to play hooky!
Gift of Bob Rossman/The Club at River Oaks, Dan LeBlanc/Ridgewood Country Club, Bill Hecht/Salem Golf Club, Karl Habib/Silver Spring Country Club

 

 

 

FAMILY FUN IN FALMOUTH – ENJOY A SUMMER WEEK ON CAPE COD

Relax with a summer escape to the Cape, July 26 – August 2. Enjoy spacious, 2-bedroom accommodations at InnSeasons HarborWalk in Falmouth, MA.  Overlooking Falmouth Harbor, this resort is minutes from the beach, downtown and the island ferries making it ideal for exploring the Cape. The newly renovated suite sleeps eight, with a queen-sized bed in bedroom #1, two full-sized beds in bedroom #2, a full-sized pull-out sofa in the living room and a full kitchen.  Head off to Martha’s Vineyard with two roundtrip tickets on the Island Queen and enjoy a sail {for two} on the Black Dog Tall Ship, Alabama.
Gift of The Couri Family and Christopher & Mary Joyce  

 

 

 

BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST!

Gourmet dinner for 6, professionally prepared and served in the intimacy of your home, by À Table/S+B catering. Includes a generously donated charcuterie board and a $200 VISA gift card to purchase wine pairings of your choice to complement your meal.  A beautiful flower arrangement will complete the evening’s presentation.
Gift of Sarah and Bernard Bouissou of À Table, 109 Cheese & Wine, Rodier Flowers, Diane Minck, Debbie & Peter Hayes

 

 

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF AFRICA – ZULA NYALA PHOTO SAFARI

Here’s your chance for that bucket list trip to South Africa! Capture your own award-winning photographs of elephants, giraffes, hippos, leopards, zebra and many more plains wildlife in the heart of one of Africa’s richest conservation regions. This Photo Safari for two includes 6 days/6 nights luxury accommodations, including 3 delicious meals daily and 2 daily open Land Rover excursions with experienced guides. Before you depart, come to RVNAhealth for a complimentary travel health consultation to make sure you are prepared for your adventure. (NOTE: This trip does not include cost of vaccinations, airfare, airport transfers, personal beverages, side trips or phone calls. Trip must be used within two years of auction date.)
Gift of Zulu Nyala Group and RVNAhealth

 

 

BATTER UP YANKEES FANS

You, your friends, and the Yanks! Win four tickets to Yankee Stadium with seats in a prime location: 12th row, field level behind on-deck circle (you pick the date, based on selection and availability). Use a $200 gift card to dine at The Audi Club. In-seat wait service is available too!
Gift of Marci & Ted Tregurtha and Patti & Steve Ross

 

 

 

THE METS & YOU!                                                 

Sit back at Citi Field, enjoy the Mets, a little batting practice, and dine before the game using a $200 gift card. Four tickets to a game (you pick the date, based on selection and availability). Prime location—15th row, field level behind home plate. In-seat wait service available!
Gift of Marci & Ted Tregurtha and Patti & Steve Ross

 

 

Want to Reach the Milestone of 100 Years Old?

nutrition and longevity

Nutrition for Quality of Life and Longevity

One of the key strategies to optimize your chances of living to 100 lies in the realm of nutrition. Our health is influenced by a myriad of factors, some within our control and some beyond it. Lifestyle factors and choices we make day-to-day exert a significant influence on our overall health and longevity. Thus, it’s crucial to maximize control over these modifiable aspects of our lives.

Longevity, in this context, encompasses not only the length of life but also its qualitative aspects, emphasizing the importance of maximizing both longevity and health span.

Among lifestyle factors, nutrition stands out as perhaps the most influential. What we eat has a profound impact on various aspects of our health, including gene expression, inflammation, and mental well-being. The cumulative effect of our dietary choices over time significantly shapes our longevity, either positively or negatively.

Navigating what constitutes a truly nourishing diet can be daunting. However, certain principles are true for everyone. Highly regarded diets such as the MIND diet, DASH diet, and various other diets that target specific diseases all seem to follow patterns in the types of foods, plant-rich, unprocessed, whole foods. Perhaps the most well-known and effective longevity diet – the Mediterranean emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like fish and olive oil. It is associated with increased life expectancy and improvements in various diseases, including heart disease, a leading cause of mortality in the United States.

The Mediterranean diet checklist:

  • Daily intake:
    • Berries
    • Dark chocolate
    • Green tea
    • Leafy greens
    • Olive oil
  • Weekly intake:
    • Beans
    • Flaxseeds
    • Soy
    • Salmon

Energy and Cognitive Benefits

Moreover, energy levels are among the most noticeable aspects of our health affected by nutrition as we age. Balanced meals comprising fiber, healthy fats, and protein, as advocated by the Mediterranean diet, contribute to stable blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes and promoting sustained energy throughout the day. For instance, a meal like grilled salmon (protein + healthy fat) with vegetables (fiber)  cooked in quinoa (fiber + protein) provides protein, healthy fats, and fiber, offering a balanced nutritional profile.

Cognitive health is another area profoundly influenced by nutrition, particularly as we age. While some cognitive decline is inevitable with aging, certain nutrients have been associated with preserving cognitive function in older adults. These include omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna, flavonoids/anthocyanins abundant in berries, and choline present in eggs and fatty fish.

In summary, incorporating fiber, healthy fats, and protein into each meal, with an emphasis on Mediterranean diet principles, can mitigate the impact of age-related diseases, bolstering energy levels and cognitive function, and supporting overall bone and muscle health.

For More Information on Nutrition from RVNAhealth

Monica Marcello, RVNAhealth Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator. Available for Osteoporosis consultations.

If you’re interested in learning more or need help with osteoporosis and nutrition, our RVNAhealth Nutritionist, Monica Marcello, RD, regularly holds informational presentations and cooking classes out in the communities we serve. You can also connect with Monica by signing up for her monthly nutrition newsletter or by contacting her with questions at nutrition@rvnahealth.org.

About Monica: Monica Marcello, MS, RD is RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian and nutrition educator who promotes holistic health, longevity, and quality of life. Monica’s areas of expertise include disease prevention and treatment for many chronic and acute conditions.