Category: Date

Introducing the Hawai’i Neurotrauma Registry

Nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke each year, according to the CDC.

We probably all know someone who has experienced a stroke, spinal cord injury, concussion or traumatic brain injury. You may be the one this has happened to. These are called neurotraumatic injuries. Whatever the cause — a fall, burst blood vessel, car accident, sports injury, being hit by an object — the results can be devastating. They may be life-changing for the survivor and those around her or him.

What happens to people who have had one of these neurotraumatic injuries once they leave the hospital or rehabilitation clinic? Do they return home to live? Are they able to keep a job? Can they drive anymore? Will they have to take medication for the rest of their lives? Do they need help to go to the grocery store or clean the house? Will they need assistance later down the line? Might they need a cane, walker or a wheelchair? What happens to their appetite and sleep? Why do they seem to get upset more often?

Medical professionals know about their patients’ needs while they’re still in the hospital, clinic or other facility. However, we don’t know much about what happens to people once they leave a medical center. The Hawai‘i Neurotrauma Registry (NT Registry) wants to find out. The NT Registry is administered by the Hawai‘I Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Division. It is managed by project staff at the Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (PBRRTC).

Help Others & Join The Registry

The NT Registry is a voluntary, statewide effort to gather information about people of all ages who have experienced one or more neurotraumatic injury. This information helps us better understand the needs of survivors and their families. The knowledge may help develop a system of support, educate service providers and justify the need to fund services.

The NT Registry looks to you, our kupuna, and your families and friends for assistance. If you have experienced a neurotraumatic injury, please consider becoming a part of the NT Registry. If you know of others who have had injuries, let them know about us. Every individual who becomes a part of the NT Registry has the power to help shape the future of care for people with neurotraumatic injuries.

You may fill out the confidential survey online at http://svy.mk//1a5Ya5m. We can schedule an appointment with you in person or over the phone to help you fill out the survey if you do not have Internet access, have difficulty seeing, etc. Only with your help can the NT Registry be a success.

__________________________________

University of Hawaii at Manoa
John A. Burns School of Medicine, Pacific Basin RRTC
677 Ala Moana, Suite 202, Honolulu, HI 96813-5417
808-692-1375/1372 | 1-866-447-9023
HawaiiNT@hawaii.edu

We probably all know someone who has experienced a stroke, spinal cord injury, concussion or traumatic brain injury. You may be the one this has happened to. These are called neurotraumatic injuries. Whatever the cause — a fall, burst blood vessel, car accident, sports injury, being hit by an object — the results can be…
Legal: The Family Meeting

Clients often ask me, “Do you do like they do in the movies, where the attorney sits with the family and reads the will after someone dies?” I tell them that I never do that after someone dies. Most clients then respond, looking puzzled, “You don’t?” I then explain that while I never do the “reading of the will,” I do suggest to every client that they consider, when appropriate, to engage in a meaningful discussion about the estate plan while everyone is alive and well.

I feel that clients are not only asking me to help them to prepare a Will or Trust and leave a legacy, they are asking me to help speak for them when they no longer can. I hold this as a serious responsibility, as conversations can be difficult enough when everyone is here.

Who should attend an estate planning meeting? You; the people you appointed to carry out your wishes; when appropriate, the beneficiaries; and your professional advisors, such as the financial advisor, estate planning attorney and accountant.

What should be talked about during this meeting? First, you will want to explain your intent and meaning in establishing this plan. In other words, the “why” of the plan. Second, you should talk about how you would like to be cared for during periods of incapacity. And third, you will want to express your wishes for care should you find yourself in an end of life situation.

Don’t believe everything you see in the movies. Even death takes planning.

Stephen B. Yim, Attorney at Law
2054 S. Beretania St., Hon.
(808) 524-0251
stephenyimestateplanning.com

Clients often ask me, “Do you do like they do in the movies, where the attorney sits with the family and reads the will after someone dies?” I tell them that I never do that after someone dies. Most clients then respond, looking puzzled, “You don’t?” I then explain that while I never do the…
New Memoir: The Society of Seven

For five decades — from their early years in Hong Kong as the Fabulous Echoes to standing-room-only performances in clubs and concert halls around the world — the saga of the Society of Seven has been one of the most enduring success stories in show business. Now the band’s colorful history has been captured with the release of The Society of Seven: Last of the Great Show Bands, authored by the group’s longtime manager, Frances Kirk. In her lively 362-page memoir, Kirk recounts the wild ride of a revolving cast of world-class entertainers, who overcame personal tragedy to build a legacy in the roughand-tumble world of showbiz.

“Simply put,” entertainment writer Wayne Harada notes in the book’s foreword, “the SOS wouldn’t have been able to succeed without Frances, and vice versa.” In the book, Kirk recounts their journey through many shining moments, including performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, headlining for more than 40 years at the Outrigger Waikiki hotel and a series of regional hit records. It is a legacy that lives on, as the Society of Seven continues to perform today.

Intertwined with the band’s history is Kirk’s own life story. A savvy businesswoman born and raised in Hong Kong, she joined the family business, Diamond Music Company, in 1960 when her father fell gravely ill. She established the company’s recording department and concert promotion arm, building the company into a major player in the Asian entertainment industry.

Legacy Isle Publishing. Softcover, $19.95, available at bookstores. Call 866-900-BOOK or visit www.legacyislepublishing.net.

For five decades — from their early years in Hong Kong as the Fabulous Echoes to standing-room-only performances in clubs and concert halls around the world — the saga of the Society of Seven has been one of the most enduring success stories in show business. Now the band’s colorful history has been captured with…
Playing Hard

Each year, more than a dozen teams play in the softball Hinohara Cup Tournament in Japan. The tournament is named after Dr. Hinohara who is 102 years old and still goes to work every day. He believes in an active lifestyle, as well as working in an occupation for which you are passionate. With that passion, work becomes play.

In 2010, Hawai‘i was invited to participate in the tournament for the first time. Thirteen of Hawai‘i’s top senior softball players swept the competition, winning the Tokyo All Japan Cup, the Hinohara Cup, the Meya Makule Cup and the Grand Trophy. Although the team was invited back to play in 2011 and 2012, the To¯hoku earthquake and tsunami made it unfavorable to accept the invitation.

2013 Hawaii Dream Team (top row, lt.–rt.): Robert
Oshiro, Gary Yamaguchi, Robert Kunimitsu, Gordon
Okuhara, James Koishigawa, Gerard Takiguchi, and
Bobby Chinen. Kneeling (lt.–rt.): Coach Wayne Shibata,
Clinton Tanimoto, Jeffery Kamiya and Melvin Aoki.

In 2013, 22 teams from Japan, Taiwan and Hawai‘i participated in the Hinohara Cup Tournament. Taiwan and Hawai‘i are the only outside teams that are invited to play annually. The first day of the tournament was rained out. On the second day, the Dream Team won its first game but lost the second and was thereby eliminated. However, the nine-day whirlwind trip through Japan was an experience of a lifetime, and the team thanks Bobby Chinen Tours for the excellent escort services.

The team looks forward to the 2015 tournament. It will visit Hokkaido and travel to Akita to play the local team, then travel to Tokyo to play in the Hinohara Cup again.

Each year, more than a dozen teams play in the softball Hinohara Cup Tournament in Japan. The tournament is named after Dr. Hinohara who is 102 years old and still goes to work every day. He believes in an active lifestyle, as well as working in an occupation for which you are passionate. With that…
Braised Chicken Thighs With Tomatoes & Olives
Featuring olive oil and herbs, this one-dish dinner cooks for less than a half an hour, yet has the satisfying, melded flavor of a long-simmered stew.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil

8 chicken thighs (about 3 lbs.), with skin on

Salt and fresh ground pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

4-5 garlic cloves, sliced paper thin

2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 tsp. dry)

1 14-oz. can of diced tomatoes

3/4 cup black olives, sliced in half

3/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

Fresh basil or green onion, thinly sliced

Directions:

In a large pan with a lid, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper, and brown well on both sides. Remove chicken from the pan. Drain off some of the oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon.

Add the onion, garlic and rosemary and stir for about 3 minutes, then add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil and scrap off any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the liquid reduce by half. Add the tomatoes, olives and tomato paste and stir to blend. Add the chicken, skin side up, cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes.

Before serving, top with fresh basil or green onion.
Serves: 4 | Time: About 35 minutes

For more of Chef Michi’s fresh recipes, visit www.cookingfreshforyou.com | 808-286-6484 | cookingfreshforyou@gmail.com Also, visit her Cooking FRESH locations: 909 Kapahulu Ave. Queens POB I – 1329 Lusitana St., Queens POB II – 550 S. Beretania St. Lunch Truck – UH Manoa on East West Road by Kennedy Theatre.
Featuring olive oil and herbs, this one-dish dinner cooks for less than a half an hour, yet has the satisfying, melded flavor of a long-simmered stew. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil 8 chicken thighs (about 3 lbs.), with skin on Salt and fresh ground pepper 1 medium onion, chopped 4-5 garlic cloves, sliced paper thin…
One-Mile Project; One Planet Community
My passion for kupuna has grown tremendously over the past months since I first enrolled in ‘Iolani School’s “One Mile Project” class. This semester elective course is a new offering in the state-of-the-art Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership. The course was geared toward giving students a greater appreciation for older adults in our community (within a one-mile radius of our Moili‘ili/Kapahulu campus).

‘Iolani students, Lindsay Teruya (lt.) and Taylor Hamai (rt.) with a senior participant, George Miyamoto.

Although I would love to say that I have always been this excited to help older adults, my feelings weren’t always this strong. During our first One Mile gathering, we were given an exercise to express our thoughts on kupuna. There were many negative words thrown out such as “old, slow and grumpy.” These downbeat impressions, however, slowly changed to thoughtful and respectful ideas as my class worked with nearby organizations, such as the University of Hawai‘i Center on Aging, Moili‘ili Community Center, Palolo Chinese Home, Nu‘uanu Hale, AARP and the Project Dana. With these partners, we completed walkability audits, proposed solutions to the problems in our streets, conducted interviews, learned vocabulary terms, took excursions to a Good Life Expo and nursing homes, interviewed a caretaker, conducted an empathy challenge, and reached out to a hospice patient. Thanks to these activities, we gained a better understanding of the elderly and made connections to our own lives. With a newfound love of older adults, my class has spent the past couple months putting together a project proposal that we recently presented to 60 school and community leaders in a special January 10 event.

Our proposed “One Mile, One Planet Community Center” hopes to:

provide services to the elderly & our community

educate for the future

provide a new experience for all generations

As our vision statement reads, “This Center will bring independent older adults and ‘Iolani students together through intergenerational programs that promote active aging, sharing of knowledge and service to the community.”

We hope to improve the daily life and satisfaction of the elderly in our community. We want to work together as a school to create a thriving, age-friendly city. As thousands of Baby Boomers approach retirement each day, we hope to instill the importance of caring for our kupuna. We want to stress healthy living, so that future elderly generations may live independently and freely. It is our mission to reach out and better prepare our parents and grandparents for the upcoming stages of their lives while offering students the unique opportunity to learn from, work with, and serve our kupuna.

Although the One Mile, One Planet Community Center is hypothetical at this point, we are confident that our project proposal can serve as a starting point for ‘Iolani and its students to be a part of helping older adults maintain active, independent, healthy lives.

The Sullivan Center for Innovation and
Leadership at ‘Iolani School.
David Franzen, photographer for Iolani. Courtesy of WSP.
My passion for kupuna has grown tremendously over the past months since I first enrolled in ‘Iolani School’s “One Mile Project” class. This semester elective course is a new offering in the state-of-the-art Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership. The course was geared toward giving students a greater appreciation for older adults in our community…
What Does Gender Have to Do With Retirement?
When it comes to planning for retirement, women feel less prepared than men. That’s according to the New Retirement Mindscape® 2013 City Pulse index survey, commissioned by Ameriprise Financial. Only 38 percent of women surveyed say that they feel on track for retirement (or the remainder of retirement) compared to 46 percent of men.

Women’s lack of confidence in the realm of retirement readiness may be tied in part to planning. Seventy-five percent of men surveyed reported that they’ve done at least some preparation for retirement, compared to 70 percent of women. And over half of men (55 percent) say they’ve contributed to a 401(k) plan, while only 47 percent of women claim they’ve done the same.

What accounts for the gender divide? It may have to with the fact that women often face three unique financial hurdles on the road to retirement, including:

Women often take time away from work to be caregivers. While caregiving is often the best option for a family’s situation, the reality is that spending time out of the workforce — whether to raise children or to provide care for a family member — can have a negative impact on one’s earning potential. Women (and men) who anticipate pausing their careers at some point in time to focus on other priorities should consider setting aside extra money at other times when they’re able to do so, in order to offset the loss of income.

On average women live longer than men. This results in the need for additional retirement funds and increased health and long-term care costs. Yet, only 15 percent of women surveyed in the New Retirement Mindscape survey say that they’ve estimated the amount of money they’ll need to pay for healthcare during retirement, compared to 21 percent of men. It’s critical to create a plan for how you’re going to handle healthcare expenses.

Women tend to be more conservative with investments. This may not be all bad, but defining and taking the appropriate amount of risk with your investment portfolio may be beneficial. Although, it’s important to have a balanced approach in your investments.

Gender aside, baby boomers are feeling unprepared for retirement. With fewer years left to build up a nest egg, it’s important to focus on what you can control. Here are five steps you can take to feel more prepared for retirement:

Think about what you want retirement to look like. Do you want to travel? Relocate? Spend more time with your grandkids? When you have a clear vision of retirement, it’s easier to determine what it will take to get there.

Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Make sure you’re maxing out your 401(k) contributions if you’re able. If you’re selfemployed, take the time to establish your own retirement plan.

Consider purchasing long-term care insurance.

Break down your expenses into two categories — essential and lifestyle. Determine if there’s anything you could forego on the lifestyle side.

Focus on saving more, especially while you’re still working.

Planning for retirement is complex and it’s not the same for everyone. Each person’s situation is unique. The key is to outline your goals for retirement, and then determining a path to get there. Consider meeting with a financial advisor who can help you with this.

Michael W. K. Yee at (808) 952-1222 ext. 1240

Michael W K Yee, CFP®, CFS®, CRPC®, is a Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner™ with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Honolulu, HI. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 25 years. To contact him, michael.w.yee@ampf.com, 808.952.1222 ext 1240, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1100 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814.
Advisor is licensed/registered to do business with U.S. residents only in the states of Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
1 The Money Across Generations IISM study was commissioned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and conducted by telephone by GfK in December 2011 among 1,006 affluent baby boomers (those with $100,000 or more in investable assets); 300 parents of baby boomers; and 300 children of baby boomers at least 18 years old. The margin of error is +/- three percentage points for the affluent boomers segment and +/- six percentage points for the parents and children of boomers segments.
2 United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Family and Medical Leave Act http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/
Ameriprise Financial and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific tax issues.
Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
©2012 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
When it comes to planning for retirement, women feel less prepared than men. That’s according to the New Retirement Mindscape® 2013 City Pulse index survey, commissioned by Ameriprise Financial. Only 38 percent of women surveyed say that they feel on track for retirement (or the remainder of retirement) compared to 46 percent of men. Women’s…
Don’t Be Limited By Your Fitness

On the KHON2 Elderhood Project, we meet many seniors and the ones who impress me most are those who stay active. Recently, our cameras went to a softball tournament where we watched seniors as they laughed and joked with each other. But when the gloves were put on and the ball was pitched, they were no longer seniors. Rather, they became competitive, energetic athletes having fun on the field. They were turned young again … a feeling that they take with themselves off the field and into their everyday lives.

If you go to the Ala Wai Clubhouse and watch the seniors ballroom dancing, you can see that gleam in the eye, the high heel lifting delicately, the smile on the face. Although dancing is great exercise, you can just tell that there’s more to it.

Experts will tell you that exercise is important as we age. I agree. But to me, it’s about more than just the exercise. It’s that chemical reaction in the brain that surges and tells you, “I can do this!”

The publisher of this magazine Percy Ihara and I play golf from time to time. We walk, we talk, we swing the club — not wisely, but with spirit. When we’re through, we laugh and talk about the round. That may be the most important part of our game. If you have the chance to join others in your activities — than do it. It is an important part in keeping us young.

Why is it important to stay active? To explain why, here’s a funny for you…

A woman comes home from shopping and says to her husband who’s watching television, “Let’s run upstairs and make love!”

He replies, “You have to choose.”

Stay active, and you won’t have to pick between activities.

The Elderhood Project airs on KHON2 Friday Morning news at 5:45a.m. and Thursday at 5p.m.

On the KHON2 Elderhood Project, we meet many seniors and the ones who impress me most are those who stay active. Recently, our cameras went to a softball tournament where we watched seniors as they laughed and joked with each other. But when the gloves were put on and the ball was pitched, they were…
Hearing Loss Types & Tips
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Approxi mately 47 percent of adults 75 years of age or older have a hearing impairment. Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women. It may be embarrassing and often leads to social isolation or depression, as many find it hard to have a conversation with friends and family. There are other unintended consequences to a person’s quality of life such as trouble understanding a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings and hearing phone calls or alarms.

Hearing loss is a common problem caused by noise, aging, disease and heredity. Hearing is a complex sense involving both the ear’s ability to detect sounds and the brain’s ability to interpret those sounds.

What are the different types of hearing loss?

There are two general categories of hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear. The cause may be earwax build up, fluid or a punctured eardrum.

What is Presbycusis?

A type of sensorineural hearing loss is called Presbycusis and comes on gradually as a person ages. Presbycusis can occur because of changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve or hearing pathways in the brain. Some of its causes are aging, loud noise, heredity, head injury, infection, illness, certain prescription drugs and circulation problems such as high blood pressure. Presbycusis may make it hard for a person to tolerate loud sounds or to hear what others are saying.

How is hearing loss treated?

Seek help right away, hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can get worse. The physician will refer to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat specialist. The audiologist uses an audiometer to test the ability to hear sounds of different pitch and loudness. These tests are painless. Audiologists will select a hearing aid best suited to the senior. Assistive and adaptive devices such as telephone amplifying devices, TV and radio listening systems can help seniors to live well with less than perfect hearing. Hearing aids, special training, certain medicines and cochlear implants are some of the choices for people with hearing problems.

Tips to use when talking with someone who has a hearing problem:

Face the person and talk slowly and clearly.

Stand in good lighting and reduce background noises to a minimum.

Use facial expressions or gestures to give useful clues.

Repeat if necessary, using different words.

Include the hearing-impaired person when talking, this helps keep the senior from feeling alone and excluded.

Be patient and stay positive.
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Approxi mately 47 percent of adults 75 years of age or older have a hearing impairment. Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women. It may be embarrassing and often leads to social isolation or depression, as many find it hard…
Are Your Medications Working?
It is sometimes difficult to be sure whether we, as seniors, are taking our multiple medications correctly. Help has arrived. If you have a Medicare drug plan and take medications for more than one chronic health condition — such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiac disease — you may be eligible for Medication Therapy Management (MTM) at no cost to you. Local pharmacists can review your medications and discuss any concerns. Contact your drug plan to see if your plan will cover MTM.

Get more benefit from the drugs you’re taking.

Know how to best take your medications.

Clear up any concerns about reactions, side effects, costs and insurance.

Whether you qualify for MTM or not, remember that each medication prescribed by your doctor is meant to serve a particular purpose, but when taken incorrectly, a drug can become ineffective or even dangerous. Problems often arise when no one has a clear record or understanding of all the medications you have been prescribed.

If you are prescribed drugs by more than one doctor, or visit more than one pharmacy, you will want to be sure that all of your doctors and pharmacists are aware of all your prescriptions. Be sure to include all herbal and nonprescription agents as well.

For more information, call Pharmacare Hawaii at 808-840-4123.
It is sometimes difficult to be sure whether we, as seniors, are taking our multiple medications correctly. Help has arrived. If you have a Medicare drug plan and take medications for more than one chronic health condition — such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiac disease — you may be eligible for Medication Therapy Management (MTM)…
Boo! Now Give Me Your Money

Fear has always been a tool criminals use to get money from others. Whether it is created by holding a weapon to a cashier to get their compliance, or simply using a verbal threat against someone on the street to make him/her surrender their wealth, a robber wants his victim to believe they have to act quickly to avoid being harmed.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Elder Abuse Unit has seen fear also being used to scam seniors out of their money and assets. Unlike direct threats to their safety, however, many fear-based scams involve the illusion that the victim will lose their wealth, their security, or someone close to them if they don’t act quickly.

One such scam that is occurring in Hawai‘i is the Distressed Relative Scam. This scam relies on the victim making a quick emotional decision, before they have time to verify the facts or to ask for advice from others. The victim will get a message, either a telephone call or an email, relating to them that a family member is in dire straights and money will solve the problem.

An example of the charade can include a “doctor” calling the victim to inform them that their family member was injured while traveling and money needs to be sent immediately so that the loved one can be saved. Another has involved the con-man (or woman) claiming to be their grandchild or some other relation to the victim and informing them they were unlawfully arrested and need bail money to escape the mistreatment they are receiving in jail.

The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893)

The perpetrator of this scam goes on to instruct the victim how they can either wire the money to them or tells them to get a Green Dot loadable charge card from Walgreens or Wal-Mart and put money into the card’s account and relay the account number on the back of the card to them.

When hearing about this scam in the light of day, one can easily realize that there is something suspicious about the above scenarios. But as any parent or grandparent will tell you, the call they dread the most is one informing them that someone precious to them needs help. It is a message like this that will force them to panic and act before they think clearly about what is being said.

Fear is also incorporated into other types of scams seniors encounter — such as when seniors receive a call from “the bank” saying that suspicious activity is occurring on their account, and then they are asked to give the caller their personal account information so that “the bank” can secure the account’s money. Additional scams include the lottery and sweepstakes scams featured in the December/January 2014 issue of Generations, and Sweetheart Swindles featured in the August/September 2013 issue.

If you are ever contacted by someone and feel pressured to make a decision out of fear, then it is time to stop and verify the facts. This can be as easy as calling a relative to compare notes or calling Crime Stoppers at 808-955-8300.

To Report Suspected Elder Abuse, call:
Adult Protective Services
808.832.5115
ElderAbuse@honolulu.gov
or visit www.ElderJusticeHonolulu.com.
All reports are confidential.

Fear has always been a tool criminals use to get money from others. Whether it is created by holding a weapon to a cashier to get their compliance, or simply using a verbal threat against someone on the street to make him/her surrender their wealth, a robber wants his victim to believe they have to…
Tony Lenzer Recognized With 2013 Andrus Award for Community Service

Dr. Anthony (Tony) Lenzer was recently selected as the Hawai‘i recipient of the 2013 Andrus Award for Community Service—AARP’s most prestigious volunteer recognition. He accepted the award from AARP national president Rob Romasco at a volunteer recognition luncheon in November. The Andrus Award is an annual award for exemplary volunteer leadership named after AARP’s founder Ethel Percy Andrus (1884-1967) who exemplified AARP’s motto: “To serve, not to be served.”

Lenzer’s distinguished career in gerontology began in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as executive secretary of a legislative council on aging. He held that job for four years, while doing doctoral work, then taught seven years at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health where he helped set up a Chronic Disease and Aging Program.

He came to Hawai‘i in 1969 with his wife and five children to help the University of Hawai‘i develop its gerontology program, teaching the first course on aging in 1970.

In ensuing years he helped to establish key aging-related organizations. Among them: Hospice Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Pacific Gerontological Socie- ty and the Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition, of which he is president. He also chairs the legislative committee for the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs in the Executive Office on Aging.

Lenzer has been volunteering with AARP and other organizations since retiring from the UH Center in 1994. He’s a volunteer board member for five organizations that advocate for aging, caregiving and disability policies at the Legislature. He helped create the annual “Aging and Disability Issues” report and is working with AARP now to help people understand the complex Affordable Care Act.

In the words of AARP Hawai‘i state director Barbara Kim Stanton: “No one has done more to advance our understanding of what it means to grow older in Hawai‘i and prepare a generation of state policymakers to begin addressing the challenges and opportunities of our aging population.”

Left to right: AARP state director Barbara Kim
Stanton, AARP volunteer national president Rob
Romasco, 2013 Andrus Volunteer Award Winner
Tony Lenzer and volunteer Hawai‘i state president
Gerry Silva.

Dr. Anthony (Tony) Lenzer was recently selected as the Hawai‘i recipient of the 2013 Andrus Award for Community Service—AARP’s most prestigious volunteer recognition. He accepted the award from AARP national president Rob Romasco at a volunteer recognition luncheon in November. The Andrus Award is an annual award for exemplary volunteer leadership named after AARP’s founder…