Generations Magazine Staff | Dec 4, 2020 | Date, Issue, October - November 2020
he December 2020-January 2021 issue of Generations Magazine explores Chinese-American soldiers who served the United States with dignity during World War II but have never received their medals. Kathlyn Clore brings the issue and several soldiers’ stories to light. You’ll also read about age-related muscle loss, Covid testing, safe family activities for the holidays as well as caregiving tips at Christmas. You’ll also get a couple of tasty recipes for our partners’ kitchens, including Aloha Fried Rice!
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 9, 2020 | Date, Issue, October - November 2020
The October-November issue of Generations Magazine features the heartwarming story of popular Hawaii performer Kalani Pe’a’s grandmother and her progression into dementia from Alzheimerʻs. You’ll also read about help that’s available to kūpuna during the pandemic; a story on how the power of music helps those with dementia; we have some hearing tips for the Covid-19 days; and you’ll learn about “Purpose Pals,” a kūpuna-youth connection.
Eileen Phillips, RN, Attention Plus Care | Oct 9, 2020 | Giving Care, October - November 2020
An increasing number of family caregivers are performing more complex medical care for their family members at home. According to Home Alone Revisited: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Care, a report prepared jointly by AARP and the United Hospital Fund, there is an increase in the number of family caregivers performing tasks that would, in the past, have been provided under the direct supervision of a medical professional.
Stephen B. Yim, Attorney at Law | Oct 9, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
I recently received a call from a concerned parent of an adult special needs child. Her son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, refuses to take his medication and has been living on the street. Unable to physically care for her child and experiencing a health scare of her own, she decided it was time to get “her ducks in order” and contacted our office. Her main wish is to continue to provide financially for her son’s present and future care without disrupting his governmental disability benefits.
Christopher Duque, Online Security Advisor | Oct 9, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
One of the most common problem I encounter investigating a cybercrime is that the reporting person and/or victim fail to provide any records and/or documentation to support their claim that they had been victimized — more so in cases involving online fraud. One of the simplest and quickest methods of documentation is printing out the webpage offer, sale or service.
Scott A. Makuakane, Counselor at Law, Est8Planning Counsel LLLC | Oct 9, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
You may be tempted to treat a caregiver as a “private contractor” in order to avoid the humbug of tax withholding and buying the right insurance policies. You would do so at your peril. The IRS and the state will take the position that the caregiver is an employee, that you are an employer and that all of the legal obligations that attach to those labels apply to your situation.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 9, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
In the last couple of months, I have had two people come to my office because they were not millionaires yet. You see, they each had won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes (PCH) and had not received their monies yet.
Michael W. K. Yee, Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
Investors are understandably wondering — and maybe even anxious — about how the US presidential election will affect the stock market. Election years often come with increased market uncertainty. And this year, COVID-19 and a fragile economy have added new dimensions to what may be a landmark US election cycle.
Jane Burigsay, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Hawai‘i | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
Change happens. We get it. The most convenient way to change your direct deposit information with us is by creating a my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you create your account, you can update your bank information without leaving the comfort of your home.
Wanda Anae-Onishi, Hawaii SHIP Program Director | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP) occurs every Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Beneficiaries may enroll in, switch to or disenroll from Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA) or Part D prescription (PDP) drug coverage. Changes made during OEP take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year.
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
The Assistance League of Hawaii (ALH) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with 100-plus members and volunteers who strive to make a difference to the people of Hawai‘i. The ALH Thrift Shop in Honolulu continues to be the primary source of funding for its philanthropic programs. The shop is staffed and managed entirely by member volunteers. All monetary donations and thrift shop profits stay in Hawai‘i.
Edward Motosue, Co-Principal and Vice President of Financial Benefits Insurance Inc. | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
Have you found the right Medicare plan yet? If so, stay with it. If not, you can enroll, disenroll, or change plans from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 during the Medicare Annual Election Period. Every year, plan features and prescription coverage change, so you should practice due diligence to discover what fits your current needs best.
Christy Nishita, PhD, Interim Director & Gerontologist, UH Center on Aging | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
Purpose Pals matches adults (50 and over) and youth (high school through college age) based on their interests, and fosters regular communication using Big & Mini, a web-based video conferencing platform. The program provides themed conversation starters and online activities to ensure pals have enriching conversations.
Amy Rhine, MD, Medical Director, MDX Hawai‘i | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
Each year, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 is the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP). During AEP, you will have the opportunity to explore and choose your Medicare coverage for 2021. You will have many choices, which includes selecting a Medicare Advantage plan or staying with your current option. Even if you are satisfied with your current option, it is important to review your Medicare plan during AEP.
Christine Spencer, Maui County Regional Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii | Oct 8, 2020 | October - November 2020, Programs & Services
While in 2020 the world may have felt like it’s been on hold, the threat and devastation of Alzheimer’s disease has not been. Here are four important things we learned about Alzheimer’s disease this year.
Paul K. Tanaka, DDS | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
Early in my dental career, I was the dental advisor for elder care facilities in Honolulu. The most challenging tasks were demonstrations on dental care. Some patients were extraordinarily combative!
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
When medications are not properly administered, the result can be harmful — even fatal. Research indicates there is a vital need for people to manage their medications to avoid adverse drug reactions. This is especially true for our kūpuna.
Kahala Howser, Wellness and Events Manager, Hawai‘i Dental Service | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
Most caregivers know good oral health is important at every age and is a clear indication of their patient’s overall health. Some things caregivers should look for are signs of change in the patient’s mouth. Has there been recent tooth loss, discoloration or dryness? Often, seniors may experience those conditions, which affects how they digest their food or indicates other health problems.
Jen Angeli, Brain Education Instructor, Kaimuki | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
The holiday season is a time of joy, but for many, it’s a challenging time as well. When the body holds too much tension and emotional energy, it can affect the immune system, making a person more prone to illness, as well as depression. And while we all want to enjoy this time, if we’re not proactive in taking care of ourselves, we may not feel like celebrating.
Kathy K. Sato, Licensed Acupuncturist | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
Chronic pain is a serious problem for many of us, including combat veterans and soldiers. Unfortunately, pain medications, including opioids, often have limited efficacy and may impose adverse effects.
Kona Smith, Director, Ohana Hearing Care | Oct 8, 2020 | Health, October - November 2020
This has been a tough year. Our lives have been disrupted at the least and dramatically changed at the worst by COVID-19. The effects are far-reaching and life-changing for us all — especially for our kūpuna. For those with hearing problems, it’s even more difficult to understand conversation when the speaker is wearing a mask.
Kathy Wyatt, RN, MSN, MBA, LNHA, President, Hale Hau‘oli Hawaii | Oct 7, 2020 | Giving Care, October - November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in some way. But our most vulnerable population, our senior citizens — especially those with dementia — are being particularly challenged. Our normal routines have been altered during the pandemic. This can be devastating for dementia patients, who thrive on the consistency of a regular routine.
Margaret A. Perkinson, PhD, University of Hawaii at Mānoa | Oct 7, 2020 | Giving Care, October - November 2020
Healthcare systems are changing, with radical implications for family caregiving. Cost-saving reductions in hospital stays ensure that patients are discharged “quicker and sicker.” Management of complex chronic care thus moves to the home, and responsibility for that care shifts from medical professionals to family caregivers.
Mapuana Taamu, Resident Care Manager, Kina‘ole Estate, Certified PAC Trainer & Dementia Educator | Oct 7, 2020 | Giving Care, October - November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has all of us dealing with additional stressors in life, and many of us may
find that our abilities to deal with conflict and issues are short-fused. People living with dementia (PLWD) rely on their care partners to provide assistance with activities of daily living with kindness and compassion. PLWD also require mental stimulation, socialization and a reason to live just as much as you and I do. COVID-19 has changed our world into a place where we no longer feel safe, and social distancing has left many people feeling lonely, depressed and isolated.
Carol Hickman, CTRS Recreation Therapist at Manoa Cottage Kaimuki | Oct 7, 2020 | Giving Care, October - November 2020
Music is often the background of many of our memories. We grow up hearing it on the radio, on TV and in concerts. We sang in school and at special events. We often associate certain songs with our relationships, happy memories, sad memories, growing up and different seasons of life. Because of its constant presence in our lives, music is deeply woven into our memories, and can offer hope and helpful tools to those whose memories are fading.
Debra Lordan, GM Senior Editor | Oct 6, 2020 | Cover Story, October - November 2020
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease requires patience, compassion, understanding and endless, unconditional love. In the following pages, Kalani Pe‘a and his mother, Pua, share the story of Lu Kahunani; Pua’s mother, Kalani’s grandmother. “I saw her slipping away. I knew I was going to lose her one day…”
Cheryl Kakazu Park, MoveMeHawai‘i Chair | Oct 6, 2020 | Living Life, October - November 2020
This October, MoveMeHawai‘i is presenting a free, online community education program, Move US to Racial Justice, which will include an award-winning film and a lively panel discussion about racial discrimination during World War II and how we can move together to combat systemic racism that continues today.
Lori Stevens, Store Mgr., Simply Organized by City Mill | Oct 6, 2020 | Living Life, October - November 2020
As we age, staying organized and living in an uncluttered space can help reduce the stress of transitioning into different phases of life. Many seniors find themselves needing or wanting to downsize from a family home to a smaller space, such as an apartment, retirement community or multigenerational family space. Taking the time to sort through possessions accumulated over the years will make downsizing or aging in place less stressful and improve your overall health.
Fred Collins, Advanced Planning Advisor, Preplanning Webinar Speaker | Oct 6, 2020 | Living Life, October - November 2020
We will all face the inevitable some day. No one likes to think about their eventual passing, but loved ones can be spared anxiety and uncertainty about your final wishes if you take time now to preplan your cemetery and funeral arrangements.
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 4, 2020 | Living Life, October - November 2020
If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, know that you are not alone. Know that you are not the only one who has experienced the wrath of these diseases or felt the roller coaster of emotions that accompanies watching a loved one disappear.
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 4, 2020 | Living Life, October - November 2020
Pomai has become worried as she sees Papa, her grandfather, become more forgetful. She wants Papa to play with her, but he is losing his memory and is no longer able to make poi with her or take her to the beach. In Pomai and Her Papa: Growing Up with Memory Loss and Holding On to What Matters Most, a short, illustrated storybook, Pomai sets off on her journey to learn how to help Papa and her family.
Sherry Goya, Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 4, 2020 | October - November 2020, Senior News
The Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society, organized in 1979, is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life of Hawai‘i’s kūpuna. One of the missions of HPGS is to raise funds and award scholarships to college students interested in careers involving aging and older people. The society just awarded three scholarships for the 2020 fall classes.
Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 4, 2020 | October - November 2020, Senior News
With the reopening of the state after shutdowns mandated by local government in recent months, kūpuna and other vulnerable people have become more fearful of venturing out into the community to shop and run errands as the coronavirus continues to spread with more people out in public. The demand for food, supplies and assistance has grown in response to unemployment. An increasing number of kūpuna say they do not have sufficient resources to feed themselves.
Sherry Goya, Generations Magazine Staff | Oct 4, 2020 | October - November 2020, Special Feature
Initially, I think the overall private transport business literally fell off a cliff in early March as tourism abruptly stopped and the State of Hawai‘i went into lockdown. The businesses in Hawai‘i quickly came together to provide solutions to safely transport our kūpuna.
