While shrimp may be small in size, these protein-rich and low-carb crustaceans are huge in terms of nutritional value and health benefits.
Shrimp Coleslaw:
1 head Cabbage, shredded
1 head Chinese/Napa cabbage, shredded
2 whole Carrots, grated
1 whole Red onion, halved and sliced thin
1 cup Fresh mint, roughly chopped
1 cup Fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1 cup Roasted peanuts, chopped
1 lb. Salad shrimp
Dressing:
1 ½ cups Unsweetened coconut milk
½ cup Lite or fat-free sour cream
2 Tbs. Lite mayo
1 whole Lime juiced, or 3 Tbs.
2 Tbs. Asian fish sauce
3 Tbs. Rice vinegar
1 cup Green onion, sliced thin
Salt & fresh ground black pepper
Dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; whisk. Refrigerate for about an hour to thicken and let the flavors develop.
Shrimp Coleslaw: In a large bowl, toss together cabbage through mint and top with shrimp. Add dressing, but a little at a time in order to not saturate your salad greens. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper, then sprinkle cilantro and chopped peanuts on top.
Serves: 10 to 12
While shrimp may be small in size, these protein-rich and low-carb crustaceans are huge in terms of nutritional value and health benefits. Shrimp Coleslaw: 1 head Cabbage, shredded 1 head Chinese/Napa cabbage, shredded 2 whole Carrots, grated 1 whole Red onion, halved and sliced thin 1 cup Fresh mint, roughly chopped 1 cup Fresh cilantro,…
Urinary incontinence is loss of bladder control that is often seen in the elderly. It affects more than 25 million Americans. Urinary incontinence is not a part of the normal aging process. This can be a very embarrassing problem for seniors often leading to social isolation. The good news is that it can be treated. Please talk with your physician today.
What are the causes of urinary incontinence?
It can be caused by many different medical problems such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, enlarged prostate gland, weakened pelvic muscles after childbirth and certain medications. Neurological disorders such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke may cause urinary incontinence, too.
What are the different types of urinary incontinence?
Stress incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles are weakened, for example by childbirth or surgery. It is common in women, causing urine to leak when a person coughs or laughs.
Urge incontinence occurs when the need to urinate comes on very suddenly. It is most common in elderly and may be a sign of overactive bladder.
Overflow incontinence is the uncontrollable leakage of small amounts of urine caused by an overfilled bladder. It is common in men and can be caused by something blocking the urinary flow such as an enlarged prostate gland.
Functional incontinence occurs in persons who have normal urine control but trouble getting to the toilet in time. This may be seen in persons with severe arthritis or dementia.
Mixed incontinence is a combination of the one or more types listed above.
How can urinary incontinence be treated?
Treatment depends of the type and cause of urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises, bladder training, medications and/or surgery are some of the options.
What are Kegel exercises?
Kegel exercises, named after Dr Arnold Kegel, consist of contracting and relaxing the pelvic muscles. These exercises strengthen the muscles that control the bladder and are useful to women experiencing stress incontinence. To locate the right muscles, try stopping the urine flow without using the stomach, leg or buttock muscles. When you are able to slow or stop the stream of urine then you have located the right muscles. Hold the squeeze for 10 seconds and relax for 10 seconds. Perform 10 repetitions, three times a day. Results are usually seen in 3 to 6 months. The advantage of Kegel exercises are that they can be performed anywhere and anytime.
What is timed voiding and bladder training?
Seniors with urge incontinence can learn to lengthen the time between urges to go to the bathroom. It is advised to complete a bladder record/chart of the times a person urinates and the times of accidental leakage. It is important to observe patterns and then empty the bladder before an accident would likely occur. A person starts by urinating at set intervals such as every 1 to 2 hours, whether they feel the need to go or not. Seniors can retrain their bladder by gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits.
What medications are available for urinary incontinence?
Men with prostate enlargement can benefit from prescription medications to shrink the prostate and improve the flow of urine. Overactive bladder is often due to bladder muscle contractions that are too frequent and uncontrollable. There are several medications to treat overactive bladder. These medications block specific receptors in the bladder, which help the muscles of the bladder to relax.
When is surgery recommended?
Surgery is reserved if other treatments haven’t worked or if the incontinence is severe. It is helpful in stress incontinence in women and in overflow incontinence in men due to an enlarged prostate.
What is urinary incontinence? Urinary incontinence is loss of bladder control that is often seen in the elderly. It affects more than 25 million Americans. Urinary incontinence is not a part of the normal aging process. This can be a very embarrassing problem for seniors often leading to social isolation. The good news is that…
As parents age, it often becomes more difficult for them to live independently and manage their own affairs without outside help. The thought of mom or dad leaving the comfort of the family home can be a painful and challenging proposition for everyone, but when it’s no longer safe or practical for them to live alone, adult children often intervene to find an alternative living arrangement. At that point, the question becomes whether you should invite Mom or Dad to live with you or help facilitate a move to a nursing home or other senior living facility.
Consider the following when deciding how to address an elderly parent’s living situation.
The emotional roller coaster
It helps to realize you’re entering a very emotional territory—for you and your parents—when you broach the subject of a move. Adult children often feel guilt and anxiety. You may also be frustrated by a parent’s lack of cooperation or combativeness. For the parent, there most likely will be sadness and, in some cases, anger. Understandably, parents will mourn their status as independent adults, which may be compounded by grief over a lost spouse, failing health or the prospect of dying. Be patient and respectful of one another. Avoid rushing the decision-making process as best you can.
Available accommodations
Before you ask Mom or Dad to move in with you, think about the realities of this scenario. Does your home have the necessary space and amenities? You may need to remodel to accommodate special needs, such as a ramp for wheelchair access, safety bars in the bathrooms and so on.
Level of care
Be honest with yourself about how much care you can give. Will you be able to provide supervision, assistance with daily cares, medication, rides to the doctors’ office and more? Are you ready to prepare three meals a day, manage the extra laundry and give up your privacy? You may have the time, energy and willingness to joyfully take on these responsibilities. Or you may not. Don’t take on more than you can handle. Seek the help of professionals if you are able to do so.
The costs and who will pay them
Whether you open your home to a parent or help find a suitable alternative, there will be costs involved. A financial advisor can help you sort out the ramifications of having another boarder under your roof or paying for nursing home care. If you are paying for more than half of a parent’s living expenses or paying for medical expenses, you may be eligible for a tax break. Talk to your tax preparer to see if you qualify for deductions.
Seek help with decision making
No one can tell you what to do when the time comes to care for an elderly parent. Rally your extended family members and wise family friends to explore your options. Enlist the insights of your financial advisor and tax preparer to determine how expenses can be managed and shared. Keep a positive attitude and take advantage of the opportunity to help make things easier for your parent at this stage of life. By thinking it through, you can find a solution that works for the entire family. For more information, please contact Michael W. Yee at (808) 952-1240.
As parents age, it often becomes more difficult for them to live independently and manage their own affairs without outside help. The thought of mom or dad leaving the comfort of the family home can be a painful and challenging proposition for everyone, but when it’s no longer safe or practical for them to live…
A lifetime dedicated to the safety and security of our community
“I… became aware of people who take advantage of the elderly,… “
With more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field, Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has dedicated his life to the safety and security of our community. Recognized globally as an innovative crime fighter, Keith has a proven record of reducing crime in our neighborhoods and attacking the source of the problem.
As the only Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai‘i to return for a second term, he has new items on his agenda, including senior security and elder abuse. Here, we catch up with Keith to see what changes have been made to secure protection and justice for seniors.
GM: As we all grow up, our parents make impressions on us that help determine who we are today. How did your parents influence you?
KK: My parents had a very strong influence in my life. My mother, Karole Kaneshiro, was very influential in instilling values such as hard work, integrity and the importance of family. In fact, when I was in 8th grade she told me that I should become a lawyer because of my interest in student government. That’s when I first knew that I wanted to become a lawyer. In student government I learned that laws play a big part in shaping our society and lives. In order to make an impact on making Hawai‘i a better place, I knew that I had to learn the law in order to make change.
Luckily my mother attended high school with the late Patsy Mink, who welcomed me to work in her campaigns. My mother was also very instrumental in getting me elected as Prosecuting Attorney for my first term (1988-1996). She got a lot of her friends to work in my campaign and to vote for me.
My dad, Wilfred Kaneshiro, was always there to support me. He attended all my sporting activities, including practices, and taught my brother and me the finer points of a sport.
GM: You are the first second term Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai‘i. What made you decide to come back for another term in 2010?
KK: I decided to return to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office because I saw that there were many unaddressed problems facing our community—drug and financial crimes, elder abuse, sexual and domestic violence and animal cruelty. I felt that the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office needed to take a leadership role in tackling crime and not just process cases.
One of the largest problems that has lingered on since my first term in the ’80s is drug abuse. Sadly, after my first term ended, many of the programs and laws that I established were curtailed or not developed. But with more than 30 years of fighting drug crimes, I continue to argue that we should focus on the source of drugs—domestically and internationally — not the drug users. We need to go after the source of the drugs, with the cooperation with Asia and other countries. We should prosecute the dealers, distributors and organizations. And we should offer addicts treatment.
Another crime that is often ignored is animal cruelty. Animals cannot fend for themselves. The Prosecutor’s Office needs to help the vulnerable. We know that people who are cruel to animals are also often cruel to people. Identifying people with abusive behavior is one step toward preventing future, more violent crimes.
GM: Are the crimes different 15 years later, and why?
KK: Today, many crimes are technology based or involve sophisticated identity theft and financial wrongdoings. Because of the poor economic condition of our community, these crimes are more prevalent yet we have less money to fight them.
GM: In this term, you increased the Elder Abuse Justice Unit. Why is this an important issue to you?
The Elder Abuse Justice Unit reviewing cases. (left to right) Keith Kaneshiro, Dawnie Ichimura, Kimberly Korte, and Lead Attorney Scott Spallina.
KK: Elder abuse is certainly one of my priorities. When I was in private practice, I cared for my mom and dad. In the process, I became aware of the plight of elder health care. I also became aware of people who take advantage of the elderly, along with cases that were reported but never investigated or prosecuted. Someone needs to protect the elderly.
Because of that, I’ve doubled the size Elder Abuse Justice Unit. We have a very good captain in Scott Spallina, and I’ve charged him with taking a proactive approach in our community to prevent elder abuse. The elder abuse unit will educate the community with presentations and community meetings on how to protect elders from neglect and exploitation.
There are many different forms of elder abuse. The most recognizable form is physical abuse by caretakers, strangers, and even family members. Another form is financial abuse, where elders have their monies taken by strangers through telephone solicitations or door-to-door salesmen or unlicensed contractors.Some elders are having their monies taken by family members or other people who they depend on.
GM: What is the Elder Abuse Justice Unit, and what are your goals for this specialized group?
KK: The Elder Abuse Justice Unit is a team of prosecutors and paralegals who work with the police and social services agencies to prosecute people who physically abuse the elderly or steal money from them. We are going to add two investigators to the unit, one of whom will be a financial investigator. The goal is to continue to increase the amount and types of cases that we prosecute.
So far, it’s been working. For the past two years, the Prosecutor’s Office has seen increasing numbers of elder abuse cases. In 2008 — when the elder abuse unit was created — it only had 37 cases; in 2010 it had 102. By the first half of February 2011, the unit had 22 cases, putting it on track to double last year’s caseload.
GM: Elder abuse often goes unreported … why is this and what can families do to change this?
KK: Every year, thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes, in relatives’ homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care.
Many victims are reluctant to report abuse. They might feel ashamed or embarrassed, particularly if a family member is the abuser. Or, they might be afraid the abuser will get in trouble, the abuse will get worse or they may be of being thrown out. And some are simply unable to speak out due to dementia or other impairments.
Families should get to know the other caretakers or staff. Each time you visit your loved one, pay special attention to his/her condition and how he/she interacts with others.
If you suspect that an elderly person is being harmed physically or emotionally or being preyed upon financially, report it immediately to the Honolulu Police at 911 or state Adult Protective Services at 832-5115. For questions, call the Senior Helpline at 768-7700.
GM: Who are your new partners with fighting against crime?
KK: In the past, the Prosecutor’s Office only relied on police to pursue investigations and did not work closely with other agencies. But now we are working more closely with the state Department of Human Services. It has a unit that investigates elder abuse and we make sure that the investigations are followed up on.
GM: If you could step back into time, what historical event would you want to witness?
KK: It might be unusual to say this, but I would want to be there when Sen. Robert Kennedy was assassinated. I truly believe the country would have benefited from his presidency and I would use my experience in security to do anything I could to help save his life. From a law enforcement perspective, I was inspired by his efforts to combat organized crime in the United States.
GM: On a personal note, do you have any aspirations for higher office?
KK: I have no aspirations of seeking any other elective office. I enjoy my job as Prosecuting Attorney.
A lifetime dedicated to the safety and security of our community “I… became aware of people who take advantage of the elderly,… “ With more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field, Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has dedicated his life to the safety and security of our community. Recognized globally as an…
We take too many things in our lives for granted. I’m not the first person to say or notice that. But it has become abundantly clear to me in recent months that it is something I want to correct.
I’ve had a “health challenge” that involves radiation therapy five days a week. It also involves having my face covered with a mask and being strapped down to a table so I don’t move. And then they slide me into a tube.
The technicians are brilliant and as accommodating as possible. The first couple of times, as you might imagine, I was somewhat nervous about the entire procedure.
That feeling of anxiety didn’t go away and I wondered what I could do to help myself. Then, it dawned on me.
The technicians play music inside the tube and I asked them if I could pick my own music. They said, “Of course.” I brought a CD filled with old-time blues songs done by some of the people I used to play with “back in the day.” It was comforting on several levels. It’s almost—almost—come to the point where I look forward to my sessions.
Music, my friends, can turn your day around. When you hear that certain tune from your courting days, or your school’s alma mater, or Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, or whatever that song might be, let it lift you up. I will never take music for granted again.
We take too many things in our lives for granted. I’m not the first person to say or notice that. But it has become abundantly clear to me in recent months that it is something I want to correct. I’ve had a “health challenge” that involves radiation therapy five days a week. It also involves…
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Fortunately, in the United States, vision loss from cataract is almost always reversible. That’s good news for more than 20 million Americans with cataracts.
Cataract is a gradual opacification of the crystalline lens of the eye. As the lens becomes cloudy, vision is blurred. Early symptoms from cataract include difficulty driving, glare, poor night vision, difficulty reading or doing craft work, and overall reduced vision. Cataracts are common in people over the age of 60 as a normal part of the aging process. They also occur in younger people and can be caused by trauma, disease, or long term exposure to ultra violet light from the sun.
When lifestyle is impaired by the blurred vision of a cataract, a short, painless surgical procedure is used to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear lens implant. This procedure is performed well over a million times a year in the United States, and nearly 10,000 times a year in Hawaii. Over 90% of patients, nationwide, end up with excellent vision following cataract surgery.
Technology has continued to improve what can be done at the time of surgery. New surgical techniques and new lens technology allow eye surgeons to offer many patients vision correction at the time of surgery. This is ideal for those who wish to reduce dependence on eyeglasses, restoring youthful vision following surgery.
Advice from an expert: If you experience cloudiness or loss of vision, consult with an eye specialist. For many people, a painless cataract surgery not only improves vision, but improves quality of life and provides many years of excellent vision.
Christopher Tortora, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Hawaiian Eye Center and host of “The Hawaiian Eye Show,” a weekly informational radio program about healthy vision. He and his colleagues at Hawaiian Eye Center are committed to educating the public about the importance of preventative eye care. Hawaiian Eye Center has been serving Hawaii for 36 years with locations in Hilo and Wahiawa. To learn more about a variety of eye health issues, please contact Hawaiian Eye Center at SEE-2020 (733-2020) or visit the website, http://HawaiianEye.com where “life has never looked better.” Located at 606 Kilani Avenue, Wahiawa, HI 96786.
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Fortunately, in the United States, vision loss from cataract is almost always reversible. That’s good news for more than 20 million Americans with cataracts. Cataract is a gradual opacification of the crystalline lens of the eye. As the lens becomes cloudy, vision is blurred. Early symptoms from…
While shrimp may be small in size, these protein-rich and low-carb crustaceans are huge in terms of nutritional value and health benefits.
With more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field, Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has dedicated his life to the safety and security of our community. Recognized globally as an innovative crime fighter, Keith has a proven record of reducing crime in our neighborhoods and attacking the source of the problem.
We take too many things in our lives for granted. I’m not the first person to say or notice that. But it has become abundantly clear to me in recent months that it is something I want to correct.