6 Pillars of Health & Longevity
How Torrance Memorial helps you on your path to well-being
Written by Laura Roe Stevens
With a 360-degree perspective on health care, Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been helping seniors live longer, healthier, happier lives for decades. Experts say to thrive at any age, it is essential to optimize all aspects of a multifaceted life. This includes mental well-being, nutrition, physical fitness, social/emotional connections and financial stability. Torrance Memorial offers lectures, support groups, classes, events and volunteer opportunities focused on healthy living. In addition, our world-class team of experts and highly trained physicians are ready to assist you with all your health and wellness needs.
Health
Be sure to schedule an annual wellness check with your primary care physician. “A wellness exam is a preventive type of care as we focus on keeping health problems from progressing,” says Alya Torna, MD, primary care physician with Torrance Memorial Physician Network. At the checkup expect to be screened for cholesterol and blood pressure levels, thyroid functionality, diabetes and cancer risk.
At your appointment, chat openly with your doctor about any wellness concerns. “We discuss lifestyle choices such as drinking and smoking, and we talk about family history and check the patient for those issues. We talk about immunizations for COVID-19, flu, pneumonia and shingles,” explains Sara Kanamori, MD, primary care physician with Torrance Memorial Physician Network. “If you get your checkups regularly, your doctor will notice any differences or health changes you may not be aware of,” Dr. Kanamori adds. It is important to have a dedicated primary care doctor. If you need help finding one, please call 310-891-6717.
Mental
When you feel good, you are inspired to do good. So when you are feeling stressed, anxious, lonely or are going through a transition, it is normal to not eat well and to sleep poorly or forgo exercise. This can exasperate feelings of inertia and lessen motivation to engage with others or participate in activities, increasing anxiety levels and/or depression, explains Audrey Chen, MD, a psychiatrist and behavioral health specialist with Torrance Memorial Physician Network. Dr. Chen says it is important to get a senior wellness checkup to discuss changes in your life and health with your physician.
“As people age, they face significant changes in their lives including retirement/decreasing work, new and often chronic health problems or loved ones passing away. All of these are emotionally taxing and stressful and can cause grief,” says Dr. Chen.
She urges everyone to talk openly with physicians about mental well-being. It’s important to note symptoms of depression and anxiety—including impaired concentration, fatigue and memory issues—can be misdiagnosed as dementia. Getting the proper support and treatment can help you live a more robust and fulfilling life.
Nutrition
You’ve likely heard the adage: You are what you eat. Daneivys (Dani) Rodriguez-Brindicci, MS, RDN, director of clinical nutrition and medical nutrition therapy at Torrance Memorial, highly agrees. Dani and her team of nutritionists—all Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)—help patients relieve symptoms of disease and treat medical conditions via individualized diets. Some conditions they assist with include cancer, diabetes, celiac disease, kidney disease, morbid obesity/bariatric surgery, irritable bowel disease, hyperlipidemia/hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Their services are tailored to target each client’s needs, which can also include emotional support, assistance with planning, and motivation strategies, says Dani.
“For guidance and motivation, an RDN will use creative, out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal prep, planning, grocery shopping, food journaling and mindful eating,” Dani explains. “Whether the goal is to lose weight, improve health or expand one’s knowledge of nutrition, an RDN is the ideal source for scientific, research-based strategies.”
Services and programs include diabetes self-management education and support, cancer and nutrition lectures, treatment programs and more. To inquire about the wide range of nutritional services and programs, please call 310-891-6707 or visit TorranceMemorial.org/nutrition.
Financial
Peace of mind is priceless. Torrance Memorial has been helping seniors bolster their financial health for decades. They offer free seminars and educational programs led by professional advisors on a variety of important financial issues, from retirement planning to navigating tax liability to estate planning.
Financial health seminars are held every other month, January to September, on Saturday mornings in person at Hoffman Health Conference Center with a Zoom option, explains Sandy VandenBerge, director of planned giving for the Torrance Memorial Foundation. For more information on the next seminar see page 15.
Social
In need of a social outlet that is also meaningful? You may want to consider volunteering at Torrance Memorial. Hospital volunteer gigs are extremely social, says Mary Matson, MHA, CPXP, CAVS, director of service excellence and patient experience and volunteer services.
“Volunteers have a lot of fun with each other and often socialize outside the hospital. In fact, a group of Wednesday afternoon volunteers lunch together monthly at various South Bay restaurants,” Mary says. “Some volunteers are best friends today because they met while volunteering!”
During the pandemic, when age 65+ volunteers were required to stay “safe at home” per a Department of Public Health order, it was clear how much volunteering meant to the many volunteers who became isolated. Mary explains, by not volunteering they missed their friends, the meaningful work and the physical exercise from walking all over the hospital.
“I concur with Mary,” says Claire Coignard, director of health education for HealthLinks. “We sent cards to our volunteers weekly and would hear back regularly of their struggles.”
“One even drove to the loading zone outside a couple of times just so we could see one another in person across the sidewalk, wave madly, and blow kisses and send air hugs her way. It was wonderful but broke our hearts too. I know she was only one of many who felt so impacted by the isolation,” says Claire.
If you are interested in volunteering at Torrance Memorial, opportunities can be found at TorranceMemorial.org/volunteer.
Fitness
Staying fit through enjoyable, social activity is key to healthy longevity. At Torrance Memorial, a variety of fitness and wellness classes are taught daily. Want to try a beginner yoga or a tai chi class? We’ve got you covered. How about line dancing or mat Pilates? You’ll find that too.
Every day multiple classes are offered—from balance and strength training to a variety of chair yoga classes and even sound bath and meditation. Classes are scheduled in four-week and eight-week sessions and are held in two locations: the hospital campus and at Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes Estates. For more about the classes, see page 12, visit TorranceMemorial.org/classes or call 310-517-4711.
