A Hand Up for Humanity
Honolulu Habitat for Humanity is great, but what do they do? Here’s what Executive Director Jim Murphy told us. “In over 70 countries, Habitat For Humanity’s mission is to ensure that everyone has a decent place to live — by building new homes or fixing existing...Beware the Joint Account
A joint bank account with a child can be an efficient, effective, and simple estate planning tool. Either of the joint owners can write checks, and the survivor can continue to use the account after one owner dies. However, a joint account can be fraught with problems...Do You Know A Medicare Hero?
Hero: “a person of distinguished courage or ability, who has performed a heroic act, and is regarded as a model or ideal.” I think every longtime Medicare beneficiary fits this definition. Some deal with their own chronic illness, pain and health threats while they...Prepare to Care for a Loved One
Do you use your lunch hour or leave work early to run errands for your parents? Spend more time tending to mom’s prescriptions than your own? As our parents age, it’s more a matter of when, not if, they will need our help. In a recent AARP survey of Hawai‘i registered...May is Older Americans Month
We can’t overlook what our elder community (289,000 over 60 years) have contributed to the quality of life we share in Hawai‘i. In May, celebrations throughout the state recognize years of continued hard work and positive contributions that senior citizens make to...I Never Knew That About Hospice
Kokua Mau is Hawai‘i’s resource for accurate information on hospice and palliative care services. Visit them online. Then call your health insurance company or local hospice to have all your questions answered. What people say about hospice is sometimes inaccurate: I...Make Your Dream Home Come True
You have the resources to turn your house into the dream home you’ve always wanted. Now, what? Here are some tips to help you plan your remodel. Compile your wish list. Prioritize your list by identifying what projects and features are important to you and your...Controlling Cancer
I grew up with cancer in my family. When I was six months old, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer and had the left side of his colon removed. In 1951, he had a permanent colostomy placed so that he could have bowel movements through the side of his abdomen. In...Ask Your Pharmacist
According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, people 60 – 69 years old take nearly 14 prescriptions per year, and those 80 – 84 take an average of 18. While medications do help improve the quality of life for seniors, so do pharmacists. A pharmacist can...Aquatic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Many confuse rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with osteoarthritis (OA), which stems from different causes and demands a separate therapeutic program. Unlike OA, RA is an autoimmune disorder that affects any age. Onset and loss of mobility may appear almost overnight. Sanchia...Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is so gradual that many are not aware their hearing has deteriorated, due to medical conditions, ear infections, ear infections, illness, traumatic injury or prolonged exposure to noise. Hearing loss is not like listening with the volume turned down....A Fair Ride in Honolulu
Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride (CFADAR) is a volunteer organization that advocates and lobbies for seniors and disabled customers of paratransit transportation on the City of Honolulu’s TheBus or TheHandi-Van. At CFADAR quarterly public meetings, representatives from...Preying in Church
Pope Francis recently said, “Be careful! Beware of someone who is sly or sneaky who tells you that you need to pay. Salvation cannot be bought.” He was warning us that scam artists use faith as a source of income. We must always be on guard against people that use...The Honor Was Mine
When I was invited to the Emeritus Senior Club’s Annual Luncheon in January as their special guest, I was the one who was honored to be there. How great is it to have a senior club that supports Emeritus College at the Honolulu Community College (HCC) where senior...Family Peacekeeping
In the heat of the moment, worn-out family caregivers’ words can offend, bully or sting: “How come I am the only one at Mom’s when she trips and falls between one and five a.m.? “Why do you get to live rent-free at Mom’s home? “Dad just spits out your tough stew...Four Myths About Home Care
Giving your kūpuna the opportunity to age at home is wonderful, but at some point, you will need to ask for help. Don’t let these four myths about home care hold you back. Home care starts at four hours per day. Home care services generally offer flexible care plans...Transitions in Aging
Family members see taking care of elderly parents as both an honor and an obligation. It’s a never-ending journey, looking back in awe of the amazing lives our mothers and fathers lived. More so, reflecting on the legacies they have blazed through the ages. As the...Time to Grow at Lanakila Senior Center
Weekday mornings, as the sun rises in Kalihi, seniors congregate at Lanakila Multi Purpose Senior Center to play, learn and serve their community. Dispel the idea of loneliness or aimless activities to pass the time away. Members of Lanakila Center engage in...Noni and Nitrates
Every health food store has products containing Noni, also called Indian mulberry. It grows throughout Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Hawaiians used noni to heal a variety of health problems, like wrapping noni leaves around sore joints to relieve...How to Celebrate the “Sage” in You
Sage is not just a spice — it also means a wise person. How do the Sages of the community keep that positive attitude and stay healthy? One way is to keep healthy with preventive services available through original Medicare Part B and all the Medicare Health plans in...The Beauty of Hawaiian Quilting
Henrietta Mahuna learned Hawaiian quilting from another Hawaiian quilter. The handicraft has been passed down for two centuries — since the Hawaiians learned the echo style of quilting from New England missionaries. First, appliques are stitched to a plain field....Catholic Charities Transportation Program
Need assistance with your groceries? Want to meet new people? Or go to a doctor’s appointment? Catholic Charities Hawai‘i Transportation Services may be a perfect transportation solution for you. The program offers trips on Oahu for seniors age 60 and...Tune in to KITV4 Saturday Morning!
KITV4 Morning News has a Saturday morning segment called “Aging Well,” hosted by News Anchor Moanike‘ala Nabarro, who opens conversations with experts on issues of importance to seniors. Generations Magazine® is partnering with KITV4, bringing to TV all the experts...Increase Your Retirement Funds
If you are like many people, you are looking for a way to create funds and security for your future. If you own low-interest CDs or underperforming stocks, one idea is to transfer these assets to a qualified nonprofit organization in exchange for a charitable gift...Who Should Think About Medicaid?
An unpleasant fact of life is the prospect of needing long-term care someday. Statistics tell us that 70 percent of Americans will need long-term care for some period of time before death. So it is not just possible, but very likely that you or someone close to you...Making Our Souls Blossom
Assets School makes a difference in the lives of gifted and dyslexic students through a strengths-based learning environment. We place a strong emphasis on the importance of family support to help to build confidence and resilience in each child. “Let us be grateful...Baby Boomer: New to Social Security?
If retirement is on your horizon, we can answer your questions about Social Security benefits. Here are some common questions: Q: What can Social Security do to help me plan for my retirement? A: We have two online financial planning tools you can use to make informed...Consider Memory Care Options
Independence is a matter of choice and circumstances. And as we age, we naturally become more dependent on others. Living “independently” may mean that you own a home with a yard or a condo, you rent an apartment, or you rent a room in a senior living community. Most...Why Drink More Water?
It is amazing that normal activities of the human body result in a loss of two to three quarts of water daily. This water needs to be replenished to maintain an optimum health profile. Just a two percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble...The Good Daughter
Arlene’s mother’s last breath was soft and peaceful. Arlene welled up and sobbed — not entirely from sadness, but also from release. She had done all she could do. She had honored mom’s wishes and here they were, alone at Arlene’s home on O‘ahu; Mom’s pain and...
April – May 2016
A time to grow at Lanakila Senior Center