Category: October – November 2020

  • Purpose Pals: A Kūpuna-Youth Connection

    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.

  • Your Medicare Options for 2021

    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…

  • What Did We Learn About Alzheimer’s Disease in 2020?

    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.

  • Dental Caregiving

    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!

  • For Med Safety, Work With Your Pharmacist

    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.

  • Caregivers’ Tips for a Healthy Smile

    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…

  • SEED for the Holidays

    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…

  • Battlefield Acupuncture for Pain

    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.

  • Hearing Tips During the Pandemic

    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.

  • Dementia Patients, Caregivers & COVID-19

    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.

  • The Medicalization of Family Caregiving

    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.

  • Caregiving During COVID-19

    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…