Navigating the health care system can be challenging, but for more than 9 million people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, it can be especially difficult.
Medicare and Medicaid have similar names but they are very different programs. People who are eligible for both — known as dual eligible — must understand the requirements and coverage details of each program in order to access the health care services that are available to them. This is especially important for the 60 percent of dual eligibles who suffer from multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Getting the health care coverage they need to manage their conditions is critical to their well-being.
Here are a few resources to help dual eligible beneficiaries and their caregivers learn about health care options:
For more Medicare information, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or visit Medicare.gov
For simple, easy-to-understand Medicare information, visit UnitedHealthcare’s site at MedicareMadeClear.com
For more information about Hawai‘i’s Medicaid program, call 1-800-316-8005
For free counseling and support on both Medicaid and Medicare, contact Hawai‘i’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-888-875-9229.
_______________________________
Gary Asato, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Sales Director; David Heywood, Vice President.
UnitedHealthcare (Hawai‘i) Medicare Advantage and QUEST (Medicaid) main office: 808-536-8531
Navigating the health care system can be challenging, but for more than 9 million people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, it can be especially difficult. Medicare and Medicaid have similar names but they are very different programs. People who are eligible for both — known as dual eligible — must understand the…
New data indicates that the asbestos exposure in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands could be significantly higher than previously thought. The finding is serious, as the latency (delayed time period) between exposure and asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, can be up to 50 years or more.
Seniors who worked or lived near shipbuilding and repair facilities are at heightened risk. Prior to the mid-1970s, asbestos was heavily used in the maintenance and repair of ships. Pearl Harbor, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands all had active military ports. Military and civilian workers at these sites were likely exposed to asbestos.
Hawai‘i has a history of widespread asbestos use, from public buildings to commercial establishments. Nearly every building in the state constructed before 1980 — including schools, state buildings and military bases — was built with asbestos products. As these buildings begin to deteriorate, need repair or are destroyed, they can continue to cause asbestos exposure.
Asbestos exposure is the cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by the inhalation asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma victims typically do not show symptoms of the disease until 10 to 40 years after the initial exposure. Most people diagnosed with mesothelioma are in their 50s, 60s or older and only start to show symptoms in the later stages of the disease. Sadly, there is no cure.
This latency period creates information gaps regarding asbestos exposure and disease, especially in areas like the U.S. Pacific islands. The missing data is why professionals conclude that the actual prevalence of asbestos diseases is underestimated. For more information, please visit www.asbestos.com/states.
New data indicates that the asbestos exposure in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands could be significantly higher than previously thought. The finding is serious, as the latency (delayed time period) between exposure and asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, can be up to 50 years or more. Seniors who worked or lived near shipbuilding…
Western Union, Moneygram and similar businesses allow you to send money quickly. Their services are useful for transmitting funds to friends, relatives and others you know well. But scammers frequently take advantage of victims by convincing them to wire money to a stranger, often someone in a foreign country.
The initial hook can take many forms. In every case, the scam ends the same way … you are asked to wire money; once you do, it’s gone for good.
Consumers lose millions of dollars each year through wire fraud. Hawai‘i’s BBB receives calls often from duped residents who believed they “won a prize” or they were going to “work” as a secret shopper. Locally, we have seen consumers lose as much as $50,000, or taking a mortgage out on their house in order to claim a winning.
The most important thing for consumers to remember is this: Never wire money to someone you haven’t known for a long time. If you have truly won a lottery (which are illegal in Hawai‘i) or a sweepstakes, you would not need to pay a penny to receive your winnings.
Hawai‘i’s BBB warns residents to look for the following red flags:
You are asked to wire transfer money.
You are sent a check in connection with a payment request. Scammers often win their victims’ confidence by sending a fake check for more than the so-called processing fees, shipping costs or other expenses. It may be a cashier’s check, personal check or money order. They instruct the victim to cash the check at their personal bank account and send them a portion of the money back.
The contact indicates a confirmation code or money transfer control number (MTCN) is needed before your money can be withdrawn. Once you wire money, it can be picked up immediately.
A caller or e-mail appears to originate from overseas.
The person communicates via TTY service. TTY is used by the hearing impaired. Cons prefer the service because it disguises thick accents and makes calls untraceable.
If you are a victim of fraud, report it to the police and FBI. If you have any questions about someone who wants you to wire or tranfer money, contact Hawai‘i’s BBB for information.
How money coming in is actually going out Western Union, Moneygram and similar businesses allow you to send money quickly. Their services are useful for transmitting funds to friends, relatives and others you know well. But scammers frequently take advantage of victims by convincing them to wire money to a stranger, often someone in a…
For the assisted living residents at Kahala Nui’s Hi‘olani Care Center, there is always fun to be had. Thanks to the creative staff, the center always has new, engaging activities and themes for its annual weeklong “theme week.” This year’s theme, the “wonderful world of Disney,” featured a Disney Princess dating game, Peter Pan Pizza Party and Mad Hatter Tea Party – complete with costumes and dé cor. Residents also created heir own Mickey or Minnie ears and used their culinary skills in Minnie’s kitchen to create cake pops. And of course, what’s a Disney week without movies? Each evening the center featured a different Disney movie from the original 1929 Steamboat Willie to Pirates of the Caribbean and everything in between.
Kahala Nui is a vibrant retirement community where residents enjoy the security of “Life Care,” a holistic approach to senior living that integrates a wellness-centered lifestyle with the peace of mind of onsite continuum of care choices at Hi‘olani Care Center. Kahala Nui’s Life Care plan offers a lifestyle and health care program designed to enhance and promote mental, physical and spiritual wellness throughout life. Hi‘olani Care Center at Kahala Nui offers assisted living, nursing care and memory support options for residents. Through activities such as the annual themed week, residents are given the opportunity to enjoy an active and vital lifestyle.
Disney fun at Hi’olani Care Center For the assisted living residents at Kahala Nui’s Hi‘olani Care Center, there is always fun to be had. Thanks to the creative staff, the center always has new, engaging activities and themes for its annual weeklong “theme week.” This year’s theme, the “wonderful world of Disney,” featured a Disney…
My dentist says I have “root caries.” What are they, what causes it, and what can be done to treat it?
ANSWER:
Root caries, or root decay, are cavities that develop in root exposed areas. It looks like brown or black spots on the area near the gum line. Early stages of root decay may have no pain associated with it. At later stages, you may start to have cold or sweet sensitivity. According to the American Dental Association, the majority of people over age 50 have tooth root decay.
Root decay can occur when the gums recede or draw away from the tooth and expose a softer root surface called cementum. The rest of the tooth surface is covered by a much harder enamel surface. The causes of gum recession include periodontal (gum) disease, stresses when teeth bite together, heredity and rough toothbrushing.
There are various ways to address this problem, depending on its severity. Treatment may include medicated mouth rinses, placing a filling at the gum line, treatment restorative veneers, root canal therapy or gum surgery. In the worse case scenario, a patient may even lose the tooth.
The best treatment, of course, is always prevention. Be sure to stay up-to-date with your examinations and cleanings. This way any problems can be caught early and addressed promptly.
QUESTION: My dentist says I have “root caries.” What are they, what causes it, and what can be done to treat it? ANSWER: Root caries, or root decay, are cavities that develop in root exposed areas. It looks like brown or black spots on the area near the gum line. Early stages of root decay…
It is that magical time of the year. The pumpkins are at the open markets, the air is a bit cooler and it’s time for your Medicare Check-Up. You don’t need to see your doctor for this checkup, just sit down and reflect back on the past year.
Questions to ask yourself:
Have my medical needs changed?
Am I taking more medicine than I did in 2012?
Have I experienced an ambulance ride, emergency room or hospital stay?
Am I in the best plan for my circumstances?
Do I have the coverage that I need and is it affordable?
Is there anything new in the market?
Do I need to change plans?
Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2012 and ends December 7, 2012.
This is an opportunity to change, drop or add a plan that will begin on January 1, 2013. Plans may begin marketing their 2013 products on October 1, 2012, and at that time we will know whether or not plans will leave Hawaii or if new plans will be available.
Some changes to expect with Medicare Part D – the drug plan, include:
Those who reach the coverage gap will continue to see discounts on certain drugs. While in the gap, patients will receive a 21% discount on all generics and a 52.5% discount on all brand-name drugs covered by the plan. These discounts are automatically applied at the pharmacy.
Starting in 2013, Part D plans are allowed to cover benzodiazepines and certain barbiturates, such as those used in the treatment of epilepsy, cancer or a chronic mental disorder. With barbiturates, plans may require “prior authorization” (meaning the plan will not provide coverage until the doctor submits a request to the plan and receives approval) to verify treatment. Previously, “benzos” and “barbs” were previously excluded drugs from Part D coverage lists.
Enrollment changes for Medicare Health and Drug plans are as follows:
New special enrollment period for People in Certain Low-Performing Plans: In an effort to promote better plan quality and better choice, Medicare will be sending notices to those who are in a Part D drug plan or Medicare Advantage health plan that fail to get at least a 3-star quality rating for three straight years. The notice lets them know about a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a 4- or 5-star plan. For more information, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-633-4227 after October 15, 2012.
Low-Performing Plans and the Medicare Plan Finder: In order to promote high-performing plans, Medicare is disabling the online enrollment feature in the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) tool for low-performing plans (3 or fewer stars for three consecutive years). These plans will have a low-performing icon, along with a message warning consumers of the plan’s poorly rated performance. Individuals still interested in enrolling will get another message letting them know they will need to call the plan directly to enroll.
Now, the great news … you are not alone and we will not let you fall behind. The Sage PLUS Program/Hawaii SHIP is the Medicare Counseling Program for the State of Hawaii. Our certified volunteers can walk you through the Medicare Check-Up and assist you in understanding your options. Contact SHIP at 1-888-875-9229 (toll free). Leave your name, phone number and your zip code so that we can connect you with a certified volunteer in your area. Or, e-mail help@hawaiiship.org or visit www.hawaiiship.org.
It is that magical time of the year. The pumpkins are at the open markets, the air is a bit cooler and it’s time for your Medicare Check-Up. You don’t need to see your doctor for this checkup, just sit down and reflect back on the past year. Questions to ask yourself: Have my medical…
Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before they or a loved one dies. Being prepared protects families and loved ones, and alleviates stress for everyone involved.
A few years ago, Karen O’Neil, a certified wellness counselor, flew to the Mainland to her children’s aid to help cope with the passing of their father — her ex-husband. Not only did the family grieve together, but they had to work together to get all of his affairs in order. His passing was just four weeks after the terminal diagnosis of several months, and they barely got everything tended to.
Now as an author, publisher and speaker, Karen has developed the workbook, A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order. The workbook helps families have peace of mind by guiding them to communicate and to avoid an unfortunate situation during grievance. Her intent is to take the scary and uncomfortable out of the conversations people need to have so they may begin to understand the importance of organizing documents and letting their last wishes be known. There is some solace knowing someone is doing everything exactly as it was wanted.
How to prepare for the worst case scenario. Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before…
The flu shot is a vaccine that helps to prevent the flu, an illness caused by infection with the influenza virus. Viruses are very small germs that cause illnesses. Flu is a contagious disease, with symptoms such as fever, cough, headaches, body aches, sore throat and fatigue. For older people, especially those who have chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, the flu can be very serious and even life threatening.
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, also known as the Spanish Flu, killed more people than World War I. During the 1918 pandemic approximately 20 percent to 40 percent of the worldwide population became ill. An estimated 50 million people died, including nearly 675,000 in the United States.
WHO SHOULD GET THE FLU SHOT?
All people 50 years and older
Persons with diabetes or chronic problems of the lungs, heart or kidneys
Persons whose immune system may be weakened, such as HIV, cancer or organ transplant patients
Residents of nursing homes, care homes, foster homes and other chronic care facilities
Staff working in nursing homes, hospitals and health centers
WHY DOES A PERSON NEED A SHOT EVERY YEAR?
Flu viruses change often and each year’s virus is just a little different than the year before. Since different forms of the viruses appear each winter, a new vaccine is manufactured each year according to the circulating strain that will fight the viruses most likely to occur that year. The protection received from a flu shot also lessens with time, especially in older people. This is another reason why seniors need a flu shot every year. It helps keep seniors protected from the flu and stay healthy. Flu season is usually between November and April. It takes at least two weeks for the shot to start working, so try to get the flu shot in October or early November.
ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS TO THE SHOT?
The flu shot is safe and most people have no problem. Seniors cannot catch flu from the vaccine because flu shots are made with a killed virus. A person may experience soreness or redness around the site of the shot for up to a few days. A few people do have a headache or a low-grade fever for about a day after they get the shot. Because eggs are used to make the flu vaccine, people who are allergic to eggs should not receive a flu shot.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE FLU
The flu can be dangerous for older people
The flu can be prevented
Older people need a flu shot every year
Medicare pays for the flu shot
The flu shot is a vaccine that helps to prevent the flu, an illness caused by infection with the influenza virus. Viruses are very small germs that cause illnesses. Flu is a contagious disease, with symptoms such as fever, cough, headaches, body aches, sore throat and fatigue. For older people, especially those who have chronic…
Former broadcaster, Linda Coble, says all voices are meant to be heard.
Linda Coble and students of Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Honolulu
As a budding broadcaster in the 1960s, Linda Coble struggled to have her voice heard in the news business.
In those days, women were not on the air. Yet, Hawai‘i offered her something that the Mainland couldn’t — a foot in the door atLinda Coble as a newsroom secretary. She quickly moved from making coffee to reporting the news. In fact, she later became the first female TV news anchor in Hawai‘i.
She worked at ABC’s Channel 4 for a couple of years before being lured to KGMB by Bob Sevey, where she reported the news for 15 years.
By the mid-1980s, Coble was a well-established broadcast journalist and a household name in the Islands. She was invited to join the Rotary Club of Honolulu, which was newly opened to women due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1987. In 2000-2001, Coble became the statewide governor of Hawai‘i’s Rotary clubs, the first woman to hold the post.
Soon thereafter, she left TV news for morning radio on KSSK to work with Michael Perry and Larry Price. Radio allowed her to comment on the news, rather than simply report on it. This gave her the freedom to promote community organizations such as Kids Voting Hawai‘i, which is supported by Rotary Clubs statewide.
Kids Voting Hawai‘i is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots organization. Its mission is two-fold: to prepare schoolchildren for a lifetime of voting, and to encourage adult voter participation.
Actually, Hawai‘i’s seniors set a great example for young voters. According to AARP Hawai‘i, 90 percent of local seniors said they voted in 2010, and seniors cast 1 out of every 3 ballots in state. They are a big force in voting. Since many seniors have been around since statehood, they take voting seriously. They know what there is to gain … and what is at risk.
Coble, 65, has been a glass-ceiling breaker and community volunteer since arriving in Hawai‘i in 1969. This month, we talk with Coble about how she found her voice on the air and in the community.
GM: We know that you moved out to the Islands in your 20s, but where did you grow up? What is your background?
LC: I was 2 years old when my parents moved from urban New York to earthy Portland, Oregon. I’ve been told that I was terrified of grass … I was truly a city girl. I guess my dad missed the concrete jungle, because he walked out when I was 5 and my sister was a baby. I still remember holding the door for him. Mom held us together, working as a mural artist/interior designer with a woman, who eventually became our step-grandmother. I’m convinced mom’s example of determination made an enormous difference in the success of her girls.
Later came my brother, and we moved to interracial Northeast Portland, where neighborhoods and schools were mixed. Our African-American neighbor (the principal of my grade school) built a fence when we moved in next door. I learned to get along with people of all races at an early age … an experience that was invaluable, especially once I was living in Hawai‘i and working in the media.
GM: So, what brought you to Hawai‘i and kept you here?
LC: When it was time to declare a major at the University of Oregon, I had to face the fact that I wasn’t a good speller, so I finally surrendered my journalistic fantasies and turned to broadcast journalism.
I received an Oregon Association of Broadcasters scholarship that enabled me to continue studies and graduate with a degree that I proudly flashed during interviews at TV stations throughout Oregon.
During one interview, a manager at the CBS affiliate in Portland told me, “Come back when you have had more experience, and a sex change operation.” I was devastated. My grandmother sympathetically sent me to Hawai‘i for a week to visit a girlfriend in Pearl City.
While on Oahu, I tracked down Jim Manke, the president of the Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters. Manke was also the news director at the ABC station. He gave me a job as the newsroom secretary in 1969 (on the same day we landed a man on the moon!)
Hawai‘i became my new home. I was so happy when my sister, Cameron Maheras, soon followed and became a force in the fashion world here.
Eventually, I was reporting stories and became the first female TV news anchor in Hawai‘i. Bob Sevey noticed and hired me away to KGMB a couple years later.
GM: Did you have a mentor in broadcasting?
LC: I would say that every reporter and anchor at KGMB considered Bob Sevey as a mentor. What an ethical, accurate, fair newsman! And he genuinely cared about his team. I was at KGMB for 10 years, until my stepfather died in 1981. During that time, the CBS affiliate in Portland, KOIN TV, was recruiting for its first female anchor. Sevey generously said he would ‘hold the chair’ for me here, while I went to Portland to be with mom and apply at KOIN TV news. (Yes, the manager who had suggested a sex change operation was still there! I should have walked in and said in my deepest voice, I’m baaaaak.)
When I arrived at KOIN, a man stopped me in the parking lot. He shared with me that the women reporters upstairs were upset because they wanted that job. He went on to share the culture of the newsroom, ballpark figures on how much my male co-anchor was earning, along with other insights. I asked, Why are you telling me all this? He joked that I was taking his job. (In fact, he was just filling the evening news chair until a female co-anchor was hired). For whatever reason, he was moved to give me the inside scoop before I went upstairs to sign-on. That was how I first met Kirk Matthews. The station had a January birthday party the next year, and Kirk and I discovered we were born on the same day—the same year. We fell in love.
Ratings were great, but I was so homesick and longed for Hawai‘i. Engaged, Kirk and I moved back to the Islands.
Sevey walked me down the aisle in 1984, during our double wedding ceremony with my sister Cammy and Bill Maheras. Sevey was not only a professional role model, he was like a dad to me.
GM: What was your most favorite interview or story?
LC: I was fortunate to cover entertainment icons and U.S. Presidential visits. When President Gerald Ford was here for a packed day of activities, ending with a Pearl Harbor ceremony, I was the only reporter who managed to talk my way into the motorcade. My cameraman and I scooped the others, every stop along the way. In fact, I was the only reporter who got an interview with the President.
The interview was on the tarmac, just before he departed. I was hunched over trying to untangle the microphone cord and when I stood up, I nearly knocked the President’s teeth out with the top of my head. Microphone in hand, I asked Mr. Ford about his experience at the Arizona Memorial.
When I returned to the station bursting with pride, Sevey admonished me for not following the ‘protocol’ and demanded that I share the film with the other stations. That was the first and last time my mentor and I didn’t see eye to eye.
GM: If you had one wish to interview someone in this world, or cover an event, who or what topic would this be?
LC: I would like to be with the world’s leaders when they announce that the crippling disease Polio has been eradicated. Rotarians around the globe have been fighting polio for three decades. We are nearing the finish line.
Students statewide, K-12, have the opportunity to log on, learn about the candidates and vote at www.kidsvotinghawaii.org.
GM: What drives you to community service?
LC: I love the advice John Wooden shared with his UCLA basketball team: Be more concerned about your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
I was in a profession where reputation — and ratings — ruled. At first, I joined boards and organizations because it was a good thing for the station to have my name on a letterhead. But over time, community service became more of a motivation than a motive.
As a person (not a media personality), I care about the prevention of child abuse, the need for a Big Sisters organization, foster kids and the civic education of our youth.
In 1987, when Rotary International raised the ‘testosterone curtain’ and allowed women to be inducted, I joined the Rotary Club of Honolulu. It was a year before leaving TV news to head to KSSK to work with Michael Perry and Larry Price every morning. With radio, I found an avenue for ‘service above self’— a way to make a difference with wonderful, dedicated businesses and community leaders.
GM: Kids Voting Hawai‘i is one of your volunteer passions. Why is this organization very important to you?
LC: Kids Voting Hawai‘i, an affiliate of Kids Voting USA, grooms our youth to be informed voters and civically engaged, responsible citizens. It prepares students to get into the habit of voting, and inspires the adults in their families to vote.
In 1995, when I was serving as the first woman President of the Rotary Club of Honolulu, Lyla Berg brought the Kids Voting idea to the club, and we ran with it. Rotarians statewide staffed the adult polling sites, where K-12 students went with their folks to cast their own paper ballots. By 2002, Kids Voting Hawai‘i shifted to cyberspace, and Hawai‘i students were the first in the nation to vote statewide by computer, thanks to the cutting-edge Internet technology of Commercial Data Systems.
Kids Voting Hawai‘i continues to provide K-12 students with curriculum and classroom activities that address civic responsibility and compliment the Hawai‘i State Social Studies Standards. Our youth are inspired to explore the candidates and student issues, and engage their peers and parents in discussion. This hands-on experience in democracy is made possible by volunteers, including retired educators with Alpha Delta Kappa.
In the last Presidential General Election, nearly 120,000 students cast their ballots online. From October 22 through November 6, students will have the opportunity to go online and cast ballots anywhere there is an Internet connection.
Everywhere I go, I invite folks my age, who are retired, talented and looking for meaningful ways to spend their time to find a need and fill it. Your experience is a gift. Your knowledge will rub off on younger generations. You will set an ideal example for your friends, who also may have some time on their hands that can be spent wisely.
During my career, I never got closer to the movers and shakers than the length of my microphone cord. With Rotary membership, I have the opportunity to share weekly fellowship at meetings and roll up my sleeves to work side by side on community projects with wonderful friends who are making a difference in the community.
Over time, community service became more of a motivation than a motive. ~Linda Coble
Kids Voting Hawaii
Students statewide, K–12, have the opportunity to log on, learn about the candidates and vote atwww.kidsvotinghawaii.org.
To vote from October 22 through November 6 (election night), students need:
Student password
Family’s precinct
District number
This will gain students access to virtually the same ballots you adult voters will see at the polls. Ask your children or grandchildren if they are voting online. If they haven’t received a student password from their teacher, please encourage the school to provide the opportunity to their voice be heard and vote.
You Snooze, You Lose
The state Office of Elections and county clerks can register voters. You must re-register if you have changed your name or your address.
To register you must be 18, a citizen of the United State and a legal resident of Hawai‘i.
• In Person: Visit the Office of the City or County Clerk where you reside to complete an Affidavit on Application for Voter Registration.
• By Mail: Mail the completed Affidavit on Application for Voter Registration to the Office of the City or County Clerk where you reside. Voter Registration Forms are available at your:
• Satellite City Hall
• Public libraries
• U.S. Post Offices
• Phone Directory
• State services agencies
• University of Hawai‘i System
• Office of Elections: www.hawaii.gov/elections
• The major political parties also sponsor voter registration online at www.gophawaii.com and www.oahudemocrats.org.
Questions?
Office of Elections: 808-453-8683
City & County of Honolulu: 808-768-3800
County of Hawai‘i: 808-961-8277
County of Maui: 808-270-7749
County of Kauai: 808-241-4800
Upcoming Important Events
Oct. 30: General election absentee applications must be received by the City/County Clerk where you reside no later than 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 6: General Election (Polling place hours: 7 a.m.– 6 p.m.)
Voter Turnouts
Hawai‘i general election turnout has been dramatically slipping. It has gone from a high in 1959 of 93.6 percent (or 78.1 percent a little more than 20 years ago in 1990) to a low 52.7 percent in 2006.
As a budding broadcaster in the 1960s, Linda Coble struggled to have her voice heard in the news business. In those days, women were not on the air. Yet, Hawai‘i offered her something that the Mainland couldn’t — a foot in the door…
Kahala Nui is a vibrant retirement community where residents enjoy the security of “Life Care,” a holistic approach to senior living that integrates a wellness-centered lifestyle with the peace of mind of onsite continuum of care choices at Hi‘olani Care Center. Kahala Nui’s Life Care plan offers a lifestyle and health care program designed to enhance and promote mental, physical and spiritual wellness throughout life. Hi‘olani Care Center at Kahala Nui offers assisted living, nursing care and memory support options for residents. Through activities such as the annual themed week, residents are given the opportunity to enjoy an active and vital lifestyle.
Root decay can occur when the gums recede or draw away from the tooth and expose a softer root surface called cementum. The rest of the tooth surface is covered by a much harder enamel surface. The causes of gum recession include periodontal (gum) disease, stresses when teeth bite together, heredity and rough toothbrushing.
Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before they or a loved one dies. Being prepared protects families and loved ones, and alleviates stress for everyone involved.
Flu viruses change often and each year’s virus is just a little different than the year before. Since different forms of the viruses appear each winter, a new vaccine is manufactured each year according to the circulating strain that will fight the viruses most likely to occur that year. The protection received from a flu shot also lessens with time, especially in older people. This is another reason why seniors need a flu shot every year. It helps keep seniors protected from the flu and stay healthy. Flu season is usually between November and April. It takes at least two weeks for the shot to start working, so try to get the flu shot in October or early November.
Kids Voting Hawai‘i is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots organization. Its mission is two-fold: to prepare schoolchildren for a lifetime of voting, and to encourage adult voter participation.
GM: Did you have a mentor in broadcasting?
In 1987, when Rotary International raised the ‘testosterone curtain’ and allowed women to be inducted, I joined the Rotary Club of Honolulu. It was a year before leaving TV news to head to KSSK to work with Michael Perry and Larry Price every morning. With radio, I found an avenue for ‘service above self’— a way to make a difference with wonderful, dedicated businesses and community leaders.
In 1995, when I was serving as the first woman President of the Rotary Club of Honolulu, Lyla Berg brought the Kids Voting idea to the club, and we ran with it. Rotarians statewide staffed the adult polling sites, where K-12 students went with their folks to cast their own paper ballots. By 2002, Kids Voting Hawai‘i shifted to cyberspace, and Hawai‘i students were the first in the nation to vote statewide by computer, thanks to the cutting-edge Internet technology of Commercial Data Systems.
Kids Voting Hawai‘i continues to provide K-12 students with curriculum and classroom activities that address civic responsibility and compliment the Hawai‘i State Social Studies Standards. Our youth are inspired to explore the candidates and student issues, and engage their peers and parents in discussion. This hands-on experience in democracy is made possible by volunteers, including retired educators with Alpha Delta Kappa.
Everywhere I go, I invite folks my age, who are retired, talented and looking for meaningful ways to spend their time to find a need and fill it. Your experience is a gift. Your knowledge will rub off on younger generations. You will set an ideal example for your friends, who also may have some time on their hands that can be spent wisely.