I attended a Gerontology conference years ago where dementia specialist/author David Troxel was one of the keynote speakers. I was thrilled to hear him. I had lapped up the books he co-wrote with Virginia Bell on the Best Friends™ Approach to dementia care. His keynote started off describing an activity he had done earlier in his career in an Adult Day setting with a group of persons with dementia. A large poster of the Mona Lisa was put up in front of the group. Conversation ensued about Leonardo da Vinci, Italy, Italian food, and…what was Mona Lisa smiling about, anyway? At the time I heard this story, I was actively coordinating activities for a memory care community and doing my best to offer things a bit out of the ordinary. I couldn’t wait to replicate the Mona Lisa activity. One of my dementia community members just happened to have a good-sized throw blanket with the Mona Lisa printed on it, and she was more than happy to lend it to me for the cause. I brought some fabric and scarves along to drape on participants who were willing to be festooned in a way that suggested the famous lady’s costume and pose, and we had fun seeing who could best channel her mood. We had a fabulous time, laughed a good deal, and I got some grand photos for the community scrapbook of various ladies imitating the legendary Mona Lisa smile.  Of course, we started off the activity listening to the dulcet tones of Nat King Cole singing “Mona Lisa”! 

All this is to say that opportunities for engagement are everywhere if you just look around, and sometimes the “props” required for an engaging activity are not too hard to find.  Now you might not have a blanket with the Mona Lisa lying around YOUR house, but if you have a computer or know someone with one, a photo of the Mona Lisa could easily be printed out! And I bet you could find a scarf or two, and maybe a map of Italy!  

In this time of COVID, I imagine some of you out there may feel starved for ideas to keep your loved ones who are living with dementia involved, alert, and active, whether you live and care for them full-time, or go to visit them in a senior community. Here are some simple ideas (many taken from the work of David Troxel and Virginia Bell) for ways to engage folks with dementia, even if it is only for 30 seconds. 

1. Remember to make eye contact and smile.  Should you need to wear a mask, smile anyway! Your body language and your eyes communicate volumes. When I visit various Ebenezer sites during this time of COVID, I like to keep a large picture of myself WITHOUT a mask hanging around my neck, to remind people of my full face!  That might well be reassuring for the person with dementia whom you care for, or need to visit elsewhere, with a mask on. 
2. Tell someone he or she is loved. This can be such a comfort. Can your family member or friend ever hear this too much?  
3. Give a sincere compliment.  Tell the person what you have learned from them. Remind them of the best advice they have given you and what they have brought to your life.  They may appreciate being reminded of the influence they have had on your life.  
4. Ask the person’s opinion.  This conversation starter could be something as simple as, “Do you like oranges or apples better”? Or, something a little more abstract, like…“Does life remind you of a river, or is it more like a mountain?”
5. Stimulate creativity.  Maybe you’ve got an old greeting card around with an interesting or humorous photo on it, a photo that might inspire a story. You could invite your loved one to help you make up a story about that image.  What shall we name that guy?...Where shall we say this happens?... What is he going to do next?...Ask more questions, write it all down, and read the story back.  Anne Basting’s wonderful new book Creative Care will give you instruction on how to do this, and many other ways to engage persons with dementia. This book is very easy to read and thoroughly inspiring!

https://www.anne-basting.com/creative-care

1. Reminisce.  Remind the person of past accomplishments, proud moments, funny or meaningful events. Ask the person to “tell you more” about each one!
2. Keep moving.  Get outdoors if you can.  Sunlight combats depression. People seem to feel more relaxed in fresh air. Indoors, even if you are both sitting in chairs, you could ask the person to mimic your dance moves to some favorite music.  Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain! 
3. Ask the person to help you with something. Maybe you want to make an apple pie just the way your Grandma did. Maybe Mom can help you reconstruct that recipe, and you can write it down just the way she says it, asking her questions (and reminiscing) along the way. We all need to feel needed.  Be sure to thank Mom for this help!  
4. Recite a favorite poem, the words to a song, the pledge of allegiance, or a couple lines  of  Shakespeare. Everybody has memorized something from long ago.  See how many things you both have memorized, and may still remember!  
5. Use the computer to visit some museums virtually. There are lots of places to see!

https://www.top10.com/virtual-museum-tours#:~:text=Top%2010%20Virtual%20Museum%20Tours%201%20British%20MuseumAn,History%20Museum%20and%20others%2C%20...%20More%20items...%20

You might even be able to see the Mona Lisa! Last I checked, she was still at the Louvre in Paris! That’s #4 on the list provided by that link!
Take care, be well, stay safe.
- Marysue Moses, Ebenezer Dimensions Program Coordinator, mmoses1@fairview.org
 
Thanks to David Troxel and Virginia Bell, https://blog.healthpropress.com/2020/05/30-dementia-care-activities-during-covid-19/, Teepa Snow, and Anne Basting for supplying some of the ideas described here.   

With history making unemployment rates and COVID-19 bearing down on the United States economy, many are feeling shaken up about their financial security.

Here are some steps you can take to protect your money in uncertain times:

Rework your budget. Now’s the time to look for ways to cut back on discretionary spending. If you’ve been ordered to shelter in place, it may mean you spend less on entertainment, but you may need to budget more for higher grocery bills and other essentials.

Trim your bills. If you have travel plans that have been affected by COVID-19, reach out to airlines, cruise lines and hotels to find out their cancellation policy, and if you can recoup any costs. Contact your lenders and service providers to find out if they offer skip a payment programs for those affected by COVID-19.

Check your emergency savings. Having an emergency fund can be a lifesaver. Think about how you might stretch your emergency savings to last for a longer period of time, if needed.

Use credit wisely. When money’s tight, it’s tempting to use credit cards to get by for a few months. If you rely on credit cards or other loans in a financial pinch, have a plan ready to repay the debt and keep up with minimum payments (or more) each month, if possible.

Seek financial relief. Evaluate all of the benefits available to you through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including direct stimulus check payments to eligible Americans, expanded unemployment benefits, forbearance of mortgages for those affected by COVID-19 and a delay of payments on all federal student loans until Sept. 30, 2020.

Review your investments. Resist the urge to make investment decisions when you’re in panic mode and reacting to wild fluctuations in the stock market. If you’re planning to cash out investments to pay for living expenses now or in the near future, you should review your options with a financial advisor. Look for ways to reconfigure your portfolio to meet your changing needs and tap into your retirement income. With careful planning, you can achieve your goals and move forward with confidence. 

For more resources or support, visit our EbenezerCares.org

Everyone responds differently to stress brought on by a disease outbreak, financial crisis or other high-intensity events. Health care workers and first responders, older and at-risk adults, people with mental or behavioral health conditions and anyone experiencing high levels of anxiety and fear may respond strongly to the stress of a crisis.

Intensely stressful situations take a toll on the body, particularly when difficult circumstances extend over a long period. When the body goes into “fight or flight” mode, it quickly floods the bloodstream with cortisol and adrenaline. For short durations, the stress response can help you deal with difficult events, and once they are over, your hormone levels return to normal. However, the long-term activation of the stress response can disrupt your body’s systems.
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Symptoms of stress often include mental states such as anxiety or depression, or physical symptoms such as back or neck pain, digestive issues, headaches and high blood pressure. Fatigue and insomnia are also potential side-effects of long-term stress response.

Managing stress
The first step in coping with stress is recognizing when you’re experiencing it. Next, you need to choose healthy ways to deal with your stress. You may want to try several techniques to find the ones that work best for you. If you can’t avoid the event or thing causing your stress, change how you react to it:

• Concentrate on the present. A lot of stress builds up when we worry about what happened in the past or will happen in the future, especially things we can't influence. Concentrate on present conditions you can control.
  
• Tackle problems one at a time. It’s easier to work out a solution to one problem than to many. Isolating problems also tends to make each one less intimidating.
  
• Ask for help from family, friends or professionals. People who care about you are usually willing to lend a hand when you need it. They may also give you a different perspective on your troubles.
  
• Set realistic goals. Take small concrete steps to deal with tasks instead of overwhelming yourself with goals that are too far-reaching for busy times.

 
Taking care of your body
Stress often suppresses your immune system, so make sure to give your body every chance to stay healthy. Take care of your body and mind to alleviate some of the negative effects of stress.

• Make time for things you enjoy. Get away from your daily stresses with hobbies or other activities that help you unwind.
  
• Plan relaxing activities. Focus your mind and body on a calming activity. Relaxing may be as simple as deep breathing, petting your dog or listening to a favorite recording. Other relaxation strategies include yoga, tai chi and meditation.
  
• Exercise and eat a balanced diet. Exercise releases your nervous energy, helps boost the immune system and improves sleep. It also distracts you from the stressful situation and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. A balanced diet ensures that your body gets the nutrients it needs to fight off disease.
  
• Rely on social support. The support that family and friends provide may be crucial to reducing anxiety. Social involvement with others will also help you avoid isolation and depression, conditions that can increase stress, especially at this time. Call a friend or set up a video chat to stay connected with others.
  
• Reaching out for help. If stress is negatively affecting your mental or physical health, don’t hesitate to ask for help

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Ebenezer has been serving seniors and their loved ones for over 100 years. With trusted experts and partners such as Fairview Health Services, we have access to a robust catalog of resources, support and options to best serve you. Please call us at 612-672-7262 if you need help. 

As many children of aging seniors in their homes may be experiencing during this pandemic and time of isolation, caregiving for seniors is a tremendous job. We’re here to support you with the resources and help you may need.
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These tips come to you from Cindy Swanson, a personal advisor for clients of Fairview’s Caregiver Assurance program.

1.The situation could be more demanding than you thought. Your aging relative or friend’s need for help has probably been coming on gradually, as they’ve become less capable of managing the demands of daily life–like keeping up the house.
It may be hard for them to admit to you they can’t mow the yard anymore or lift the ladder to clean out the gutters. So be prepared, once you’ve committed to start helping a senior, to discover that they may have let things go more than you knew.
2.You may need to set some realistic boundaries. “A common thing that happens is that someone’s in the hospital–maybe it’s mom’s first fall–and she’ll tell the social worker: ‘My daughter can stop by every night after work and bring me meals.’ It’s not uncommon for someone in the hospital to say they have family that can do all this without talking to the family,” Cindy says. “The daughter will say: ‘I live 30 miles away on the other side of the cities. It’ll take me an hour to get there after work. I can’t do that.’ What a parent sees as realistic may not be the same as reality." Especially if you’re juggling a career, your own family, on top of helping a parent stay in their own home, you may find yourself spread a little thin.
3.Your senior’s new situation may reignite old family tensions. What’s happening with your parents in their later years is emotional enough, but coming to a consensus about what to do can be rough on even the tightest of siblings.
Even if you agree to be the main caregiver at the start, you may end up feeling like your siblings aren’t pitching in enough. They may feel like they aren’t getting enough of a say. It’s easy in these situations to revert to old childhood patterns and bring up old hurts. Cindy or one of our other Caregiver Assurance advisors can help you manage a family conference to work through some of those issues.
4.Caregiving can take a toll on your work life. Cindy knows a thing or two about that. Not only has she helped coach people through this, but she has firsthand experience. She helped take care of her parents and her husband’s parents. “What happens is, you spend your whole lunch hour calling people, then you go back to work and you’re waiting for those callbacks. If you’re trying to do a report and making calls for your parent, your 8 to 5 schedule might become 8 to 7. Or you say, ‘I’ll do it at home,’ and you’re sitting there doing that report at 11 at night. How much sleep do you get?”
5.You’ll need to learn things you never needed to know before. At your age, you may not know how often an older person should get a colonoscopy. Adult day care may be a complete mystery to you. And you certainly haven’t spent a lot of time investigating how to buy a Medicare plan. “You’re going to run into a whole lot of things you’ve never dealt with before,” Cindy says. “Things that even a college-educated person is going to have difficulty with: Looking into financial planning, elder law attorneys, health directives and more are just a few of the things that we can help with.
6.You’re a giver, so beware of neglecting yourself. People who take on the role of caring for an elderly relative may naturally be the type of person who thinks of everyone else’s needs before their own. But that can last only so long.
Keeping your own glass full is something the personal advisors at Caregiver Assurance can help with. “There was a time when it wasn’t accepted that you would put yourself first,” Cindy says. “It’s not about putting yourself first, but doing your caregiving AND knowing how to take care of yourself.”
7.Caring for a senior may be the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. That reward could be as simple as spending more time with your loved one and finally hearing the story behind that one photo in the dining room. It can be the peace of mind knowing that they’re safer when you check on them every day. It can be giving back to somebody who has given so much to you.
 
No matter how frustrating or rewarding it is to help an aging loved one, you don’t have to do it alone. “There isn’t a classroom you can go to and learn all of this,” Cindy says. “Whatever the journey is, there’s help. If you have to make a right turn, there are people who are able to help you along. That’s what we’re trying to do here at Caregiver Assurance.”
If you or a loved one are a caregiver and needing more Caregiver Support or Resources, please visit Fairview.org/Services/Caregiver-Assurance or call 612-672-CARE (2273) to speak with one of our Caregiver Advisors.

If you are a needing resources or information on which Ebenezer communities are accepting immediate need move ins for Assisted Living, Memory Care or Enhanced Care, please contact 612-672-7262 or visit EbenezerCares.org

Right now health is on everyone’s mind, which makes it a great time to build useful preventive health habits. Under normal circumstances, it can be easy to push preventive health from your mind. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of many practices that can help you stay healthy long after the immediate risk of COVID-19 has lessened.

Keep up the good behavior! 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined some very simple and effective behaviors to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. These good hygiene habits can help protect you from many contagious diseases, like influenza and common colds — while also aiding in keeping others healthy.
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• Wash your hands often, especially after touching frequently used surfaces like doorknobs, handles and counter tops.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow or a tissue if you have one available. Throw away used tissues right away.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects often.
• Stay home if you are sick and ask that others keep a safe distance — 6 feet or more — when visiting you – and refrain from visiting at all if they aren’t feeling well.

Prioritizing prevention every day
As we eventually return to daily routines, there are even more ways to do your part to stay healthy. Daily lifestyle choices are the most potent preventive medicine. Over time, healthy everyday routines help to prevent illness and promote wellness. It’s never too late to make important changes that can positively impact your quality of life.

Exercise – Research shows that walking for 30 minutes a day can significantly improve your health and does not need to be strenuous to be effective. Start slowly and build up endurance. Add resistance training twice a week to strengthen muscles – you can even use household objects, like soup cans, to get started.

Eat a nutritious diet – To keep your heart healthy, eat a diet low in saturated and trans fats, refined sugar, processed foods and sodium. To maintain a healthy weight, include fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean protein and water in your daily diet. Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, several times a week.

Avoid smoking and alcohol use – Not only does smoking contribute to heart disease, but it can age your skin, hair and nails faster, too. Drinking too much alcohol increases the chance of falls, gastrointestinal illness and liver disease. If you enjoy alcohol, talk to your doctor about what amount is right for you. 

Maintain a positive attitude – Relationships are important for nurturing emotional health and easing stress or loneliness. Spend time with your friends, children and grandchildren — or even a pet — as often as you can. If you’re unable to spend time in person, a phone call or video chat can help you stay connected.
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Get regular physicals and keep up with immunizations and health screenings – An ongoing relationship with a primary care provider can help you develop healthier habits, discuss mental health and identify illness and injury earlier.

No one is perfect, so don’t be discouraged if you find it hard to make lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor about strategies to help you achieve long-term health so you can enjoy life to the fullest. As always, your trusted resources at Ebenezer are here to help you navigate senior living support options every step of the way. Stay healthy!

Before you ever heard of COVID-19, you may have been considering a move to a senior living community. Perhaps you’ve even found the right community and had started putting plans in motion.

At Ebenezer, we want to reassure those who are feeling like they may need to move sooner, rather than later, that we are accepting move-ins for Assisted Living, Memory Care and Enhanced Care if your current living situation is not safe, or you need to move. To give you peace of mind, learn more about how we’re keeping our current residents safe and precautions we’re taking in our communities to keep staff and residents healthy.

For those who do not have an immediate need to move and have put plans on hold, you may have questions about what’s next. What will happen to the plans I have made? How long will I have to wait to move into senior living? It’s normal to be uneasy in a situation unlike any you’ve ever known before.

One thing has not changed: All the reasons you had for moving to a senior living community still hold true — especially now.

Community living puts everything you need within reach

Perhaps, during your weeks of sheltering in place at home, you’ve worried about running out of food and essentials — or feared going out in search of them. Maybe you’ve had to be dependent on family, friends or neighbors for errands or favors. Or you’ve worried about how to obtain medical care — of any kind, from tooth to toe — should a need arise. Or emergency home repairs. Maybe you’ve even had bouts of loneliness.
Each of these real-life, anxiety-producing situations are often remedied by living within a well-established age in place senior living community — with its full complement of attentive staff, dining services, interior and exterior maintenance, 24-hour security and on-site health care. Communities also adhere to stringent sanitary and medical protocols and standards — with or without COVID-19.

Plan and organize
Here are some steps you can take now to be ready when the wait is over.

• Use a comparison checklist. If you haven’t yet decided on a community, here’s your chance to comparison shop — visit websites, take virtual tours, explore social media postings, attend virtual live events, request brochures and speak with staff. Ask questions and take notes. Compile your list of pros and cons. Discuss this move with your children. Here’s our Cost Comparison worksheet to use as a tool.
• If you have decided on a community, start developing relationships. Chat with future neighbors and staff via phone or video conference. Choose a realtor and learn next-steps for selling your current house. Collaborate virtually with move coordinators and space planners. Stay current with your new community — including the clubs and committees that interest you — through email and online groups. Attend virtual live events. Inquire about exclusive benefits you can enjoy now, before you move in.
• Divide and conquer your clutter. Decide what you want to keep, give to family and friends, donate, sell, recycle or simply throw away. Imagine your new floor plan and get into the fun stuff — picking out new paint colors, planning room layouts and shopping for new décor online.
• Speak to your financial planner. Call your financial advisor to discuss your move, and find out if they recommend any adjustments to your portfolio. 
• Get the paperwork in order. When you move to a senior living community and it comes time to sign a lease, you will likely need to identify a Power of Attorney and Health Care representative, and you may need to provide copies of the forms. Make sure you have quick access to your notarized Power of Attorney form and your Health Care Directive.

As we begin to phase back into a “new normal,” you’ll have so many new connections and conveniences to look forward to in a senior living community. Any isolation you may feel now as a homeowner will be replaced by overlapping emotional, physical and even financial support systems. Expect more security, camaraderie, opportunity, adventure and peace of mind.

In fact, prepare yourself for the possibility of liking your “new normal” better than your old one.

We know it’s not easy, and that’s why we’re here to help. Consider us a resource full of options to help you navigate different options available to you, even if it’s not with our community.
 
If you are in need of resources, support or have a question that we can help with, please contact us: 612-672-7262 or email

You never know what the future may hold, and the COVID-19 crisis adds another layer of uncertainty. In times like this, it becomes clear how important it is to have your affairs in order. Contemplating end-of-life concerns can be overwhelming at first, but knowing you are prepared can provide peace of mind. Planning for the unknown helps protect your assets and ease an already difficult time for your loved ones.
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Here’s a checklist of important documents and decisions to make while you’re healthy.

• Designate those who will manage your estate. Select a person or people to be the executor of your estate, power of attorney and health care power of attorney. Decide who will become the guardian of your pets, if necessary.

• Create or update your will. If your estate is uncomplicated, you may want to use online software to create a simple will. If you have questions about protecting your assets and handling unique concerns related to taxes or family dynamics, you may benefit from hiring an estate attorney to draw up your will. Once your will is complete, keep one copy at home and one with the executor of your estate. Review your will regularly to make sure everything still applies to your current situation.

• Draw up a living will and designate a health care proxy. Don’t leave your loved ones guessing about the end-of-life care you would like to receive. Having instructions in place will spare them the burden of trying to guess what you would have wanted. You may be able to obtain these forms from your health care provider or your state department on aging.

• Review and update beneficiaries. Check your beneficiaries on insurance policies, pensions, 401(k) or 403(b) plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and annuities. Updating beneficiaries is especially important since these designations supersede your will instructions.

• Assemble a list of credit cards and debts. An easy way to check this task off is to run a free credit report, which lists your entire credit card and debt history in one place. This can help identify mortgages, vehicle loans, home equity loans, credit cards and other debt you owe.

• Organize your personal and financial records. Store your important papers and legal documents in a safe place. This includes financial account information, insurance policies, Social Security card and Medicare information, original deed for your home, property tax statements, vehicle titles, tax returns, military discharge papers and safe deposit box information. Tell a trusted family member or friend where you keep your important documents.

• Protect your digital identity. Even after passing away, your digital information lives on. Keep it secure by organizing your passwords and online records for someone you trust. There are secure, digital services that can compile your passwords so that an executor can access them if needed.

• Make a list of contacts. Include financial advisors, insurance agents, tax and estate-planning lawyers and other important contacts.

• Do an asset inventory. Start a catalog of all your physical and nonphysical assets to account for all your items of value. This list should include items worth more than $100 (e.g., jewelry, vehicles, etc.), 401(k) plans/IRA assets, pensions, insurance policies, banking and brokerage accounts.

• Include instructions for things of sentimental value. Don’t forget to provide direction for your meaningful soft assets. Having a clear plan for passing along family heirlooms and other possessions can be a helpful guide for your loved ones. These items can be a welcome reprieve and reminder of your love.

• Spell out final wishes. Let your family know whether you prefer cremation or burial and what kind — if any — of funeral service you would like. If you’ve done preplanning, make sure your family has access to the contract.

No matter what you’re going through during COVID-19, your trusted friends at Ebenezer are here for you. Being a part of Fairview Health Services along with our 100+ years of serving older adults and their families affords us many valuable resources and tools that we can share to help you get through this time. Stay strong, #EbenezerStrong!

We made it to May! All of a sudden, the flowers are in bloom and Minnesota is finally showing us some lovely sunny and warm weather! 

Typically in May, parties are thrown for various graduations, sporting events and holidays. This year, things look a little different.

While it may be hard to feel personally connected to others right now, take time to reflect on the important people in your lives. Call, text, and email them just to say hello. We can be physically distant without having to be completely isolated. Also, you don’t need a crowd to have your own party or celebration! Turn on your favorite tunes, make good food and simply enjoy being.

There’s no doubt that the food we eat directly affects our physical health and our mental health. Try these easy fish tacos for a refreshing dinner! Walleye is a great fish to use that is high in vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids. Any good, firm white fish will do. We imagine this recipe would also be great with grilled shrimp. By halving the mayonnaise and using some plain yogurt to make the sauce, you save on fat & calories while increasing protein intake!

Fish Tacos 
Adapted from Old Dutch

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Medium Salsa
• 1 lb. of Firm White Fish
• 1/4 Cup of Mayonnaise
• 1/4 Cup of Plain Yogurt
• 1/4 Cup of Grated Cotija or Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Cups of Green or Red Cabbage- finely shredded
• 1 Ripe Papaya or Mango
• 6 Whole Tortillas (flour or corn)
• 2 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
• Lime juice (to taste)

​Instructions:

1. Preheat Grill to low.
2. Place fish in a shallow dish.
3. Whisk together 1/2 Cup of salsa, and oil. Pour over fish and refrigerate 15 minutes, turning once.
4. Grill fish until opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
5. Remove fish from grill and break up into large chunks. Set aside fish.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, and cheese.
7. Warm Tortillas until warm and pliable (either on the grill or in the microwave according to the instructions on the package.
8. To assemble a taco: take one tortilla, place cabbage, fish, papaya or mango and remaining salsa into the tortilla. Roll up the tortilla and drizzle with mayonnaise mixture.
9. Add squeeze of lime juice if desired.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. of olive oil
• 1 ½ cups of basmati long grain white rice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 ¼ cups of water
• 1 tsp. of salt
• Zest of one lime
• 3 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 cup lightly packed chopped cilantro, leaves and tender stems

 
Instructions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
2. Add water, salt, and lime zest to the rice. Bring to a rolling boil, then cover and lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer. Cook for 15 minutes (or per rice package). Fluff rice w/ fork.
3. Transfer the rice to a serving bowl. Pour lime juice over the rice and toss with chopped cilantro.