Saturday, July 22, 2017

Underrated Attractions on the Island of Oahu


Thomas Jurbala, a real estate developer with more than two decades of experience, has completed over a dozen projects in Las Vegas, Nevada. Serving as the director of senior housing for the Calida Group, Mr. Jurbala leverages his experience to identify and develop or acquire senior living facilities. Outside of work, Thomas Jurbala enjoys getting away from Las Vegas to destinations such as Argentina, Spain, and Oahu.

Tourists flock to the island of Oahu in Hawaii every year to take advantage of the tropical environment. Most visitors focus their trips on the island’s top attractions, but here are a few underrated sites that can be found on Oahu:

- Kualoa Ranch. Covering more than 4,000 acres, the working ranch has everything from forests to beaches. Visitors to the ranch are given the opportunity to enjoy several types of tours, including ATV rides and horseback rides through areas that were used as locations for films including Jurassic Park and Godzilla.

- Ehukai Pillboxes. This North Shore destination is frequently overshadowed by the nearby Lanikai Pillboxes ("pillboxes" are small, dug-in guard posts built during World War II), but the Ehukai Pillboxes feature several breathtaking views of the island and have an extensive tree-lined trail system.

- Halona Blowhole. Formed by molten lava tubes, the blowhole can shoot water 30 feet into the air. The area also serves as one of the best spots to see humpback whales in the winter, and nearby Halona Cove protects a secluded beach where visitors can swim when the water is calm.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

American Lung Association - Providing Proven Support to Quit Smoking


A resident of Las Vegas, Thomas Jurbala serves as director of senior housing with The Calida Group. Thomas Jurbala is heavily involved with philanthropy, both personally and through his Las Vegas-based company. One of the organizations that Calida supports is the American Lung Association, which is dedicated to improving lung health across the country.

Ending smoking is one of the most important avenues to improving lung health. Research has shown that more men than women continue to smoke, so the organization launched a special initiative to help men quit during National Men’s Health Week in June.

Smokers are more likely to quit successfully when they receive support and create a strategic plan for dealing with cravings. Through its Freedom From Smoking program, the American Lung Association helps individuals identify and execute the lifestyle changes necessary for achieving a smoke-free life. Through the program, smokers learn how to manage stress, create a supportive environment, and deal with common situations that can derail quitting efforts.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Caring for Individuals with Alzheimer’s Heavily Impacts Families


Thomas Jurbala, the director of senior housing at the Calida Group, identifies and manages the development and acquisition of senior living facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada. A graduate of Purdue University, he possesses more than two decades of experience in the field. Outside of work, Thomas Jurbala helps the Las Vegas community by supporting such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Association.

A recent survey completed by the Alzheimer’s Association (an organization that improves care and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s) revealed that Alzheimer’s disease has a huge impact on families. The report was released in conjunction with Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.

According to the survey, more than 90 percent of individuals agree that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s requires the involvement of numerous individuals. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of caregivers operate on their own. Roughly 64 percent felt isolated in their situation and 84 percent wanted family members and other individuals to provide more support when it came to home-based caregiving tasks.

The survey also looked at the reasons why family members did not provide caregiving support to a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Just over 70 percent said that they did not help because they felt another family member was already responsible for providing care. Meanwhile, 62 percent of respondents said they were unavailable because they lived in a different area.

Based on these findings, the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the importance of planning caregiving costs and decisions early on and of maintaining family strength. Currently, most individuals remain fearful of having to care for a loved one as they age, yet they do not financially plan for caregiving needs in the future. Further, the stress of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s may strengthen family ties among certain families while tearing others apart.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

The Benefits of Retiring in Nevada


A developer based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Thomas Jurbala serves as the director of senior housing for the Calida Group. In this capacity, he manages the development and acquisition of Las Vegas senior living facilities. During his career of more than two decades, Thomas Jurbala has been involved with several senior living developments in Nevada.

Individuals who retire in Nevada have many activity choices: skiing, hiking, camping, or enjoying the entertainment in Las Vegas. Thanks to all these options, retirees have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of adventures without ever leaving the state. Further, retirees can gain access to these activities without taking on an expensive mortgage. Average home prices in Nevada hover around $200,000, and home values have been steadily increasing over the past several years.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of retiring in Nevada is low taxes. Residents within the state are not required to pay any state income tax. While sales tax can reach up to eight percent depending on the county, many other items are exempt, such as prescriptions and food. As a result, retirees can stretch their retirement money much farther than in other states.

In addition to this, Nevada does not tax social security income or income from retirement accounts, nor does it assess taxes on inheritances or estates. Plus, the property taxes within the state are significantly lower than in certain other areas. For an average home, property taxes range around $1,400 each year.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Blackhawks Sign Czech League Forward


In his role as director of senior housing at the Calida Group in Las Vegas, Nevada, Thomas Jurbala is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s current and proposed assisted living properties. Outside of his Las Vegas work life, Thomas Jurbala is an avid hockey enthusiast and a recreational player who follows the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bringing in more international talent, the Chicago Blackhawks recently inked David Kempf to a two-year, entry-level deal. Kempf is a forward whose hockey experience has mainly come through his play with the Czech Republic’s national team and in the regional professional league. Over 141 games with the PirĂ¡ti Chomutov squad, Kempf put up 47 points (22 assists, 25 goals) and had a career year in 2016. 

The deal will see Kempf earn $925,000 per season as he tries to play his way into the starting lineup. He’s not a lock to make the final roster, however, even as the Blackhawks team tries to get younger. Even so, he could be a great player for the team to keep in the wings on its minor league squad in Rockford until he’s ready for NHL play.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Chicago Bears Aim to Begin a New Era with Mike Glennon


With more than 20 years of experience in real estate, Thomas Jurbala serves as the director of senior housing at The Calida Group in Las Vegas, Nevada. In his leisure time, Thomas Jurbala is an avid sports fan and follower of the Chicago Bears.

During the 2016-17 off-season, the Chicago Bears front office shifted the team roster in several significant ways. Perhaps the most notable change is the quarterback position: the Bears released Jay Cutler in March and signed Mike Glennon from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Glennon agreed to a three-year contract for $16 million.

Ryan Pace, the general manager of the Bears, commented that the acquisition of Glennon will likely affect the length of time the team will look for another quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. Glennon played college football at North Carolina State and spent three seasons with Tampa Bay. He will have the opportunity to move out of a backup role and into the starting position with Chicago this fall.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Hypertension Onset Later in Life Could Reduce Risk of Dementia


A resident of the Las Vegas metropolitan area and seasoned real estate developer Thomas Jurbala oversees the development and acquisition of senior living communities for The Calida Group as its director of senior housing. Dedicated to contributing to his community, Thomas Jurbala of Las Vegas supports such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dedicated to advancing research to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association recently published the results of a study in its Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal. According to the study, individuals have a lower risk of developing dementia if they develop high blood pressure later in life. Before this study, poor heart health and high blood pressure were thought to increase the risk of developing dementia. However, these new results suggest that hypertension can actually have the opposite effect.

This study was completed over the course of nearly three years by researchers at the University of California, Irvine. Researchers followed 559 individuals and looked for connections between the participants’ age of hypertension onset, blood pressure measurement, and onset of dementia. None of the participants had dementia at the time they enrolled, but 40 percent had developed dementia during the study’s follow-up period.

Based on the study’s results, individuals who had hypertension onset between the age 80 and 89 had 42 percent less chance of developing dementia after the age of 90. Meanwhile, hypertension onset after the age of 90 further decreased the risk of dementia. Compared to those who developed hypertension earlier on, these participants had 63 percent less risk.