Category: Nov – Dec 2024

  • Social Security Changes Access to In-Person Services

    Appointment-based services at local Social Security offices are expanding, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Nov. 14, 2024. In the SSA’s ongoing commitment to serve the public more efficiently, it aims to reduce wait times, streamline service delivery, and improve the overall customer experience by scheduling appointments. Nearly 400 field offices have already moved…

  • Making Memories

    Making Memories

    Road Scholar, originally founded as Elderhostel in the 1970s, offers educational travel programs for adults aged 50 and older, with a growing focus on multigenerational trips for grandparents and grandchildren. These programs foster bonding through shared learning experiences. Jane Austgen and her granddaughter Maya participated in the “Spy Kids” program, exploring Washington, D.C., and deepening…

  • Prepare Today, Protect Tomorrow

    In our island community, where the bonds of family and tradition run deep, facing a long-term care event is one of the most challenging experiences we may encounter. Such events can place emotional, physical and financial strains on even the strongest ‘ohana. Without a clear and thoughtful plan, families often find themselves making difficult decisions…

  • Naughty or Nice?

    Your estate plan is the set of documents that you use to say who gets your stuff when you go. It is also where you can say who doesn’t get any of your stuff — with some important exceptions. In most states, you can disinherit everybody but your spouse. You can even disinherit the IRS.…

  • Is Travel on Your Retirement Agenda?

    One of the great benefits of retirement is having the freedom to pursue new interests and hobbies at your leisure. For many, travel is at the top of their retirement bucket list. The key question is how to make sure your retirement savings can keep up with your travel ambitions. The following considerations can help…

  • Medicare Drug Costs Capped for Kūpuna

    Maui resident Susan Baylosis and her mother both use Medicare Part D insurance to pay for their medicines. So far, their co-payments have been manageable. They haven’t had to take expensive brand-name prescription drugs. But Susan, an advocate for caregivers, knows that a catastrophic illness like cancer could be financially devastating even with insurance. “The…

  • Helping Kūpuna Age Safely at Home

    Aging is a natural part of life, but it often comes with challenges, especially for our kūpuna who wish to remain in their own homes. Maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment can become increasingly difficult with age, but programs like “A Brush with Kindness” are stepping in to provide invaluable support. This Habitat for…

  • Kūpuna Services Re-Emerge in Kāne‘ohe

    The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in countless ways. Businesses closed, including services for kūpuna and their family caregivers. Unfortunately, many of these businesses did not reopen as the rest of the state began recovery from the pandemic and began to rebuild. Adult day care services are important to kūpuna who need supervision and socialization during…

  • The Legacy of The Salvation Army

    Since 1894, The Salvation Army, Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, has focused its efforts on providing support, a sense of community and, most importantly, hope to those in need. For the past 130 years, their hallmark programs, such as the Red Kettle campaign and Angel Tree Giving, have played a pivotal role in ensuring that…

  • Case Management in Caregiving

    Case management plays a critical role by providing comprehensive support and assistance to caregivers and care recipients alike. Case management in caregiving involves coordinating services and resources to meet care recipients’ unique needs. It encompasses the assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of options and services to meet their health and human service needs. From…