Category: Articles

Preserving Dignity and Happiness
Dignity is vital to self worth throughout our lifetime; in the later stages of life, preserving a sense of respect and honoring the individual is especially important. Rarely will anyone argue this point. However, unless careful planning and clear communication is established early on, issues with regard to health, living situation and end of life decisions can often result in family arguments — that could have been avoided.

It is crucial that we take the time to think about what is truly important to us concerning our health, where we want to live and how we want to die — some simple, straight-forward tips:

Family: it’s our greatest asset but their love for us can be the biggest roadblock when it comes to discussing our wishes with them. When facing chronic illness or cancer, it is important that your family thoroughly understand your illness and how it is affecting your well-being. Always allow your family to express their fears, but be firm with your decisions and take the time to explain your decisions and why they’re important to you.

Advance Directive: having it is strongly recommended and should be discussed with your doctor. The Advance Directive is a simple form that must be signed by you and your physician. Once established, it provides clear instruction for your doctor should you be unable to speak for yourself during a health crisis. It also removes the pressure for your family on making critical decisions.

So remember, don’t worry about the things you cannot change, make changes that are needed, then live life to its fullest!

HiHomeCare, 745 Fort Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-356-HELP (4357) | info@hihealthcarehawaii.com
hihealthcarehawaii.com
Dignity is vital to self worth throughout our lifetime; in the later stages of life, preserving a sense of respect and honoring the individual is especially important. Rarely will anyone argue this point. However, unless careful planning and clear communication is established early on, issues with regard to health, living situation and end of life…
Sleep Well Tonight, Live Better Tomorrow
Nearly 50 percent of Americans today suffer from the effects of disruptive snoring or sleep apnea.

This very common condition causes you to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, many times during the night. During these periods, your body compensates for lack of oxygen with a quickening pulse, by raising blood pressure and even waking you up. Untreated, it can lead to brain fog, irritability and serious health problems, including:

Stroke

Heart Attack

Diabetes

Obesity

Hypertension

Fibromyalgia

Acid Reflux

Loss of Libido

Impotence

Short-term Memory Loss

Standard treatment is Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which keep the airway open with mild air pressure delivered through a face mask. Patients unable to tolerate (CPAP) now have the option of dental devices using Continuously Open Airway Therapy (COAT), that reposition the tongue and jaw to open the airway during sleep. Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) stabilize the jaw and give many patients relief.

If you suffer from sleep apnea and are intolerant of CPAP, contact a qualified sleep apnea specialist. A dentist specializing in MAD can recommend and fit a dental device to help you sleep soundly, so you’ll wake up feeling refreshed every day.
Nearly 50 percent of Americans today suffer from the effects of disruptive snoring or sleep apnea. This very common condition causes you to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, many times during the night. During these periods, your body compensates for lack of oxygen with a quickening pulse, by raising blood pressure and even…
Southeast Asian Chicken & Corn Soup
Even in the Islands it can get chilly during the winter months and on those days there’s nothing more satisfying or easy to prepare as a home-made soup. This soup provides a good dose of protein from the chicken breast, lots of fresh ingredients that pack on the flavor and a creamy broth of limey coconut.

Ingredients:

1 15-oz. can of unsweetened coconut milk

2 15-oz. cans of low-sodium chicken broth

1 can of sweet corn, reserve liquid
1 cup water

1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced thinly into strips

4 scallions, sliced thin

1/2 cup thinly sliced white onion

1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger root

2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
(eg. Mae Ploy spring roll dipping sauce)

2 Tbsp. fish sauce

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

4 kafir lime leaves, sliced thing
(substitute the zest from the lime)

1 handful rice noodles
(find these in your Asian section)

1 cup rough chopped cilantro
(stems and leaves)

Directions:

Soak your rice noodles in a bowl of water as you prep the soup base. In a medium saucepan, combine the first four ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Add the scallion, onion, ginger and chicken and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through. Add the noodles, sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, sliced kafir and lime juice. Ladle soup into bowls and top with fresh cilantro.

Serves: 4 | Time: 20 minutes

Wine pairing: Sauvignon blanc

Chef Michi’s Cooking FRESH
www.cookingfreshforyou.com
808-286-6484 | cookingfreshforyou@gmail.com
Kona Bean Cafe’ at Hilo Hattie – 700 Nimitz Hwy.
Queens POB I – 1380 Lusitana St.
Queens POB II – 550 S. Beretania St.
Cooking FRESH Food Truck:
Follow us on Twitter, michi@cookingfresh4U
Even in the Islands it can get chilly during the winter months and on those days there’s nothing more satisfying or easy to prepare as a home-made soup. This soup provides a good dose of protein from the chicken breast, lots of fresh ingredients that pack on the flavor and a creamy broth of limey…
Aging In Place Workshop Bigger Than Ever

The 8th Annual Aging in Place Workshop at the Ala Moana Hotel on August 23rd had attendees waiting to go into the exhibit area by 7:30 am. They could see 60 agencies and companies busily setting up their displays and were anxious to visit them. Workshop sessions were “standing room only” and organizers were very pleased with the response throughout the entire day.

“So many seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, and every day more services and great strategies become available to help them do just that,” said Michael Yee, an O’ahu financial planner and contributing author for Generations Magazine. Yee and 20 other experts presented ‘aging in place’ strategies, and made themselves available for questions at the workshop sessions.

More seniors need to hear this information. Even though an estimated 1200 seniors attended the Aging in Place workshops, more seniors need to come next year. Attorney Stephen Yim said in his workshop that only 30% of seniors have done adequate financial and health planning. Fall prevention expert David Nakamaejo of Comforting Hands Senior Care said that even though falling is a major cause for seniors to lose their independence — most falls are still preventable. Tell your friends and neighbors to attend next year.

The 8th Annual Aging in Place Workshop at the Ala Moana Hotel on August 23rd had attendees waiting to go into the exhibit area by 7:30 am. They could see 60 agencies and companies busily setting up their displays and were anxious to visit them. Workshop sessions were “standing room only” and organizers were very…
Identifying Needs of Older Residents

A survey of 45-64 year-old adults on O‘ahu ranks affordable home health care and housing the greatest needs facing Honolulu seniors. The 2014 AARP Livable Communities Survey in Honolulu, Hawaii of Adults Age 45+ identifies needs of older residents as well as gaps in community services.

Of all environmental, economic and social factors in eight key areas or domains, survey respondents rated community and health services most important. They gave reliable emergency ambulance service, well-maintained hospitals and health care facilities, and affordable health services the highest priority. Affordable home health was the greatest gap in community services.

This survey offers the latest evidence that residents are troubled by the high cost of nursing care. As adult children assume responsibility for the care of their older loved ones, many prefer to care for them at home. This places a greater burden on family caregivers, who look for help from paid home health aides, a workforce in seriously short supply. That’s why 9 in 10 respondents say that affordable home health care is either not available or they don’t know where to find help.

Most survey respondents are home owners who say they would prefer to age-in-place, so top housing issues relate to home repairs that would allow them stay in the home. Nearly all said affordable home repair and having many home contractors to choose from are extremely or very important. Over four in five residents say affordable assisted living is important — another indication that caregiving and long-term care are key concerns.

The survey also identifies housing as the greatest need facing Honolulu’s older residents — with affordable home prices rated highest. Other in-home needs include various aging-in-place options, like a no-step entrance, wider doorways, grab bars in bathrooms, and first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Well-maintained, low-income housing also came up as a community need.

These survey findings will be used as a baseline to help city policymakers and planners develop an action plan for the Age-Friendly City initiative, a partnership between the City and County of Honolulu, AARP Hawai‘i, and the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. Announced by city officials in March 2014, this initiative is intended to promote health, encourage civic engagement, and sustain economic growth in Honolulu, as our population grows older.

AARP Hawai‘i state office:
808-545-6024 | Toll-Free: 866-295-7282
www.aarp.org/hi | facebook.com/AARPHawaii
twitter.com/AARPHawaii

A survey of 45-64 year-old adults on O‘ahu ranks affordable home health care and housing the greatest needs facing Honolulu seniors. The 2014 AARP Livable Communities Survey in Honolulu, Hawaii of Adults Age 45+ identifies needs of older residents as well as gaps in community services. Of all environmental, economic and social factors in eight…
When Hiring Private Caregivers…
The first thing that many families face in hiring a private caregiver is whether to use someone referred to them by a friend or to hire from an agency.

The questions are: How well do you know the person? Who is responsible if there is an untoward incident? How has the caregiver been screened? Were professional references verified? Clinical skills competency testing is generally conducted by the agencies. Some agencies use nationally accredited and validated skill tests.

Factors to consider on hiring a private caregiver:

Carefully examine licenses and certifications. Agencies should be conducting prime source verification with the proper authorities: U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) and State Boards documentation should be readily available to you, the client.

Ask for a criminal history background check (CHBC) or documented drug clearance. Federal law requires nationally certified agencies to conduct CHBC tests. Drug screening is done according to employer or agency policy.

Ask for proof of insurance. Professional and Commercial General Liability Insurance is important protection for the patient, family and their personal valuables.
The management of an agency should be readily available 24/7 when problems arise.

An agency with a professional Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner in charge will have well established quality control of services rendered. And an agency can replace a caregiver who becomes ill or unable to work.

Kahu Malama Nurses, 1357 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 850
808-951-0111 | www.kahumalama.com
The first thing that many families face in hiring a private caregiver is whether to use someone referred to them by a friend or to hire from an agency. The questions are: How well do you know the person? Who is responsible if there is an untoward incident? How has the caregiver been screened? Were…
The Accidental Caregiver
You love your family and you are good at your job. This does not mean, however, you will make a good caregiver for a loved one. Being an accomplished professional, expert or an akamai homemaker does not prepare you for the sudden responsibility of a full time caregiver.

For instance, I love my father-in-law and I am a very good lawyer, but when he had a stroke, I and my family were overwhelmed and ill-prepared for the task suddenly upon us: being a caregiver for a disabled person. When my wife was pregnant, on the other hand, we had nine months to prepare for handling another human being who was going to be dependent on us for everything. My father-in-law’s stroke happened in a moment.

My father-in-law was lucky, however, in that his care could be shared among our entire ohana. This was not the case for Dwayne Smith (not his real name). After suffering a massive heart attack, Dwayne’s adult son Peter assumed the role of caregiver. For three years, Peter took good care of his father. One day, however, Dwayne soiled his bedding; Peter began yelling at his dad and punching him. When the assault stopped, Dwayne was covered with bruises and blinded in his right eye. He was taken to the hospital and died a month later.

An estimated 65 million people nationwide serve as “informal caregivers”— usually relatives who become caregivers because of financial necessity. Unfortunately, because of caregiver stress, some of these well-meaning volunteers will make decisions or take actions they not only will regret, but also will result in harming a loved one.

If you suddenly find yourself in the position of a caregiver, you can take steps to reduce the stress of caring for a dependant loved one:

Don’t try and do it alone: a team approach will prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done. Will you pick up the pills from Longs? How about dropping off a lunch or dinner on Tuesday? Can we please add our Costco list to yours? A simple question shares responsibilities, no matter how small, and makes the job much more manageable.

Organize Information: knowing where the identification card, insurance card and list of medication are located will greatly help at the next doctor’s visit.

Take Care of Yourself:

Eat regular and nutritious meals

Take a Break and do something for yourself

Sleep

Express yourself: call your buddy or join a caregiver’s support group — talk about the conflicting emotions of being a caregiver for a family member. You are not alone.Work with the person you are caring for: doing everything for your “patient” may be quicker, but in the long run, the dependency you are creating will wear you down.

To report suspected elder abuse, contact the Elder Abuse Unit at: 808-768-7536 | ElderAbuse@honolulu.gov www.ElderJusticeHonolulu.com
You love your family and you are good at your job. This does not mean, however, you will make a good caregiver for a loved one. Being an accomplished professional, expert or an akamai homemaker does not prepare you for the sudden responsibility of a full time caregiver. For instance, I love my father-in-law and…
Editor’s Note

As we enter the fall season we are so happy to bring you the wonderful story of a true gentleman and caring Director of the Hawai‘I County Office on Aging, Alan Parker. Alan “talksstory” about the people who mentored him and the plantation values that allowed him to be successful. We are grateful to Alan Parker and his whole office for their support and the many dedicated volunteers who assist all our seniors on Hawai‘I Island. A special mahalo to Jolean Yamada, Nic Los Banos and Pauline Fukunaga who were efficient point persons for our magazine staff.

Several other stories focus on Hawai‘i Island seniors giving back to their community: the very popular “Seniors Living in Paradise” TV show hosts, George Yoshida and Derek Kurisu (pg. 24), The Kona Rotary (pg. 28), and Senior Outreach volunteers in Paho (pg. 20). We also report on our visit to Hilo’s prestigious Lyman Museum (pg. 27). Generations Magazine just grew to 58 pages, with resource guides, and more spot-on educational topics by our contributing writers.

With this issue, I am also honored to introduce you to our new Associate Editor Katherine Kama’ema’e Smith from Maui. She brings so much energy, heartfelt feelings for our culture, stories of the islands and love for life and for our seniors. Katherine is a baby boomer on Medicare, who managed her mom’s last years and knows both the challenges and joys of caregiving.

Thank you for stopping by the Senior Fair to chat and fill out our questionnaire, which helps us pick topics for upcoming issues. I hope you enjoyed meeting our advertisers and learning more about their services. Big congratulations to Amy Itagaki of Aiea, who won our sweepstakes prize — an all-expense-paid Vacations Hawaii Las Vegas package for two at the California Hotel. It’s good to be lucky!

Many of you are veterans who put their lives in harms way to protect our freedoms. We thank you for serving our country — and the families of veterans who suffered loss. We ask all our readers to reach out to veterans and families of active military this Veterans Day.

And October also starts the time to review our Medicare plans. Many people just received notice that they must choose a new plan for 2015. We invited Martha Khlopin to give us details and timeframes for changing Medicare plans (pg. 34), as well our regular Medicare column from Hawaii SHIP (pg. 32), as a service to you.

Live well,

Percy Ihara, Editor/Publisher

As we enter the fall season we are so happy to bring you the wonderful story of a true gentleman and caring Director of the Hawai‘I County Office on Aging, Alan Parker. Alan “talksstory” about the people who mentored him and the plantation values that allowed him to be successful. We are grateful to Alan…
Premium Senior Services

Caring for our aging loved ones doesn’t have to be a strain on our daily lives. Not when Catholic Charities Hawai‘i Premium Senior Services Program (PSS) offers seniors and their families a way to maintain independence and get relief for busy caregivers.

Premium Senior Services is a private pay program of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and offers seniors, and their families, a faster way to get help with simple daily tasks, without qualifications or waiting. Seniors can still maintain independence and busy caregivers can have peace of mind about loved ones.

PSS screened and trained staff help with housekeeping, light meal preparation, expert advice, coordination of services and transportation to medical appointments. Soon, personal care services including: bathing, grooming, dressing, oral care and nail trimming, will also be available.

For more information, call 808-527-4777 or visit www.PremiumSeniorServices.com.

Caring for our aging loved ones doesn’t have to be a strain on our daily lives. Not when Catholic Charities Hawai‘i Premium Senior Services Program (PSS) offers seniors and their families a way to maintain independence and get relief for busy caregivers. Premium Senior Services is a private pay program of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and…
Elder Advice Day: What Can We Learn?
Let’s make Thanksgiving the day we celebrate Elder Wisdom by asking older people to tell us their advice for living.

Our society portrays older persons as sick, frail, unproductive, and even the culprits for busting the federal budget.

We have become segregated by age such that young people’s contact with elders is almost exclusively within the family. It’s time to make a change. Our elders’ multitude of life experience is a unique source of advice for younger generations. What’s truly valuable are the many lessons our elders have learned in life and their desire to impart their knowledge to younger generations.

Here are some questions that might be great to ask elders you know:

What are some of the most important lessons you feel you have learned over the course of your life?

As you look back on your life, do you see any turning points, key events or experiences that changed the course of your life?

What are the secrets to a happy marriage?

What important choices or decisions have you learned from?

What do you know now about living a happy and successful life that you didn’t know when you were thirty?

What are the major values or principles that you live by?

Let’s declare Thanksgiving ‘Elder Advice-Giving Day.’ Our elders won’t be here forever, so start this year!

HiHomeCare, 745 Fort Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-356-HELP (4357) | info@hihealthcarehawaii.com
hihealthcarehawaii.com
Let’s make Thanksgiving the day we celebrate Elder Wisdom by asking older people to tell us their advice for living. Our society portrays older persons as sick, frail, unproductive, and even the culprits for busting the federal budget. We have become segregated by age such that young people’s contact with elders is almost exclusively within…
We Have To Stop Falling…!
Senior fall injuries are serious and deadly. One senior will be taken to the ER every hour — for injuries from a fall. Many of these patients will die or never return home to resume a normal life. The pity is that most falls are preventable.

As we age we lose muscle strength, reaction time is much slower, and balance is compromised. Seniors must take personal responsibility for our own safety.

Broken hips may set off heart attacks and strokes. Preventing a fall prevents a host of subsequent injuries, so there are big reasons to get serious and prevent falls.

What can you do to be proactive?

Review your medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter drugs and supplements too — medications can cause dizziness.

Maintain good vision. This helps with balance and safety. Have your eyes checked at least yearly.

Balance and strength are essential. Plan exercise activities and do simple movements every day: walk, garden, yoga, swim, dance, Tai Chi.

Make your home safer. Things underfoot cause us to trip and fall. Remove fall hazards by keeping pathways open and free of objects.

For further information call the Department of Health Injury Prevention Program in Honolulu at 808-733-9202. Or go to www.nogethurt.Hawai‘i.gov for educational videos, home safety checklist and a listing of tai chi classes and fall prevention services near you.
Senior fall injuries are serious and deadly. One senior will be taken to the ER every hour — for injuries from a fall. Many of these patients will die or never return home to resume a normal life. The pity is that most falls are preventable. As we age we lose muscle strength, reaction time…
Selling Your Collectibles Is A Business Decision

My hobby started in 1958 with heart and a willingness to gather and share as much information as possible. As a professional coin dealer, I still have deep excitement for numismatics, (Greek for ‘a love of the study of coins’.)

Coins and other collectibles, such as paper money and vintage jewelry are a form of investment, and often people expect to make money trading or liquidating their assets at a future time.

Liquidating is business, not philanthropy, so “sellers beware;” local companies rely on repeat customers and tend to be fairer than those with no base in Hawaii. A good idea is to do your homework and consult an expert to appraise the value of your collectibles, outline your options and explain any problems to avoid.

We all spend a lot of time examining our collectibles and researching their value, which is based on the condition of the coin, how many were minted, and market demand. A coin dealer’s selling price is higher than the buying price. Well-worn coins usually fetch a lot less than “mint condition” coins. Because precious metal prices are so high, some silver or gold coins are valuable just for their metal content.

The price of precious metals fluctuates daily, and traders who come to town offering “cash for gold and silver” pass on six figure travel and advertising costs to you. What sounds like a lot of money may actually be less than established dealers would offer.

Have your old jewelry appraised. Some antiques are very valuable. Metal buyers are not interested in vintage value, workmanship or precious stones. In fact, stones are severely damaged or destroyed in the refining process. If melting your jewelry is your best option, remove precious stones professionally and sell them to a jeweler, to improve your return.

I advise seniors to list all your questions first and get more than one opinion or appraisal of your collectibles. Keep asking until you get satisfactory answers. Take your time to gather as much information as you need in order to make a good business decision.

Captain Cook Coins – Craig & Sandy Watanabe
Consultation services are available.
808-531-2702 | captaincookcoin@aol.com

My hobby started in 1958 with heart and a willingness to gather and share as much information as possible. As a professional coin dealer, I still have deep excitement for numismatics, (Greek for ‘a love of the study of coins’.) Coins and other collectibles, such as paper money and vintage jewelry are a form of…