Category: April – May 2016

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 Roberts awoke one morning in 1999 unable to move due to crippling pain. Since then,…
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. Instead, you may notice that certain spoken sounds, like “sh,” “th,” and “f” are…
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 the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) and Oahu Transit Services (OTS) answer questions, address transit user concerns…
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 emotion and desperation as tools…
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 students are learning new skills. Generations Magazine® featured…
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 meat!” Opinions and loose…
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 to meet your needs — even if you’re…
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 large Baby Boomer generation ages, more people than ever…
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 meaningful pursuits, through which they create strong friendships and develop new skills. It is…
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 pain. The ancestors took it by mouth for colic, and urinary problems, digestive problems…