Category: Articles
-
Do You Like Helping Kūpuna?
Are you 55 years or older and looking for a fulfilling way to spend your time? Do you enjoy connecting with other seniors and making a difference in their lives? Whether you’re a recent retiree or an empty nester, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i has an opportunity for you. Transportation Friends for Kūpuna (TFK) is a new…
-
The Legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion
Since it was built in 1952, the unassuming one-story building long known as Club 100 on Kamoku Street in Honolulu served as a gathering place for veterans of the legendary 100th Infantry Battalion. The battalion originated as a primarily all-Japanese-American combat unit during World II. These Hawai‘i-born soldiers were the first Japanese American combat unit…
-
AARP: Support Family Caregivers
Cheryl, a caregiver from Makawao, had to retire early to take care of her mother, who has dementia. “But now, how am I going to pay the bills?” Every day, Hawai‘i’s 154,000 family caregivers help their parents, spouses and other loved ones remain at home — where they want to be — instead of in…
-
What to Say & Not to Say to Grievers
Grief hurts. It hurts to witness our loved ones hurt. So a typical response to someone who is grieving is to try to comfort them and make them feel better. There is nothing wrong with trying to comfort the bereaved, but making them feel better is not possible. A grieving person simply wants their grief…
-
Start a Healthy New Year at the Y
For new exercisers, the gym can be a daunting place. They may not be sure what to do or how to get started. That holds true even more so for kūpuna, who perhaps have not been to a gym in a long time — maybe not ever. • The YMCA is an excellent place for…
-
Can You Keep Your Teeth as You Age?
Nearly one in five adults aged 65 or older has lost all of their teeth, impacting their quality of life. While some assume that tooth loss is an inevitable consequence of aging, proactive dental care can preserve both your teeth and overall health throughout your entire life. Maintaining good oral health is crucial for kūpuna,…
-
Overcautiousness Can Lead to Health Risks
Striving to ensure safety and fear of falls consistently top the list of concerns for kūpuna. Unfortunately, fear itself can become a risk factor, leading to anxiety, hesitancy and overcautiousness. Being cautious is natural during activities that involve risk. However, being overly careful out of fear can result in moving less, avoiding activities that require…
-
Preventing Transfer Trauma
Ensuring our elderly loved ones’ well-being during their transition into care homes is crucial. This emotional and often stressful journey demands a meticulous approach to prevent transfer trauma, which can result from frequent relocations and adjustments to new environments and care teams. Utilizing a seasoned nurse consultant, particularly one knowledgeable in disease processes, becomes vital.…
-
The Realities of Caregiving
Caregiving has been part of mankind’s existence from the beginning. We’ve all had caregivers — usually known as Mom and Dad. Many of us have been caregivers of our own children. And as needs changed, parents adjusted their caregiving duties. That is the very first reality of caregiving… ■ Caregiving changes with time. For caregivers…
-
Buyer Beware
During Sam C. Dobbs’ time, the early 20th-century, advertising promised consumers various outcomes; however, the claims weren’t based on any facts. This inspired him as the head of Coca-Cola to create a group of businesses to monitor each other’s advertising. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) began. Fast forward to 2023. If you have used gaming…
-
Lions & Dragons Usher in the New Year
The 2024 Chinese New Year — the Year of the Dragon — begins on Feb. 10 and ends on Jan. 28, 2025, when the Year of the Snake begins. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season, observances traditionally take place starting on Chinese New Year’s Eve (Feb. 9). Chinese New…