Category: Date

Creating Ageless Kitchens

As we grow older, the need to renovate our home to meet evolving needs grows … but so can the headache from all of the labor involved.

Your home should represent who you are and your lifestyle. It should be a space that has great energy and is a source of pride. And, sometimes simple, strategic changes can make your house a home for life. Enhancing your home, especially the most frequently used room — the kitchen — doesn’t have to involve major work to make a major difference.

As we age, everything around us seems to get taller, heavier and out of reach. Some seniors seem to “shrink” and probably have the most problems in the kitchen where they aren’t able to reach high shelves. Sore joints can prevent them from stooping down and pulling things out from low drawers. A quick and effective fix to these types of physical limitations could include installing cabinet systems that allow kupuna to pull down and push up cabinets. Even small changes such as installing single-level flooring and layered lighting can make a world of difference. And with convenience and safety in mind, the placement of appliances should always be reviewed. For example, simply lowering a microwave oven to a reachable surface can prevent spills and burns.

Besides being the place to prepare meals, the kitchen is often the place where friends and family congregate. As such, it can benefit the most from a design update from which people of all ages can benefit and appreciate.

Ventus Design
www.ventusdesignhonolulu.com
808-396-5477 | rlewis@ventusdesignhnl.com

As we grow older, the need to renovate our home to meet evolving needs grows … but so can the headache from all of the labor involved. Your home should represent who you are and your lifestyle. It should be a space that has great energy and is a source of pride. And, sometimes simple,…
December – January 2014

WANT THIS ISSUE?

Download your own personal copy of this issue in PDF format. Click the button below:

DOWNLOAD IT NOW

Why the Valley Isle Has Some of the Happiest Seniors
All You Need is Love . . .

What can brighten the day of a hospice patient with no one to visit them or a person going through chemotherapy? With a cold nose and furry smile, the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Joy Ambassadors help to spread cheer as part of the pet visitation program. Volunteers and their pets visit about 50 hospitals, care homes and rehabilitation centers to greet the residents.

One of those special pets is Athena, who found a new family with long-time volunteer Ron. Now they are an active part of the Society’s Joy Ambassador team. Programs such as pet visitation help draw pet owners and their animals closer, while helping others enjoy the human-animal bond.

For many people, the most endearing friends are their animal companions. Pets help with anxiety, lower blood pressure and improve a person’s mood. The touch of an animal can bring great comfort. In the last year, Joy Ambassadors teams touched the lives of more than 15,000 people.

For information in becoming a pet visitation volunteer, call Jamie Langlois at 356-2222 or visit HawaiianHumane.org.

What can brighten the day of a hospice patient with no one to visit them or a person going through chemotherapy? With a cold nose and furry smile, the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Joy Ambassadors help to spread cheer as part of the pet visitation program. Volunteers and their pets visit about 50 hospitals, care homes…
For Once in My Life!

If you are a Tony Bennett fan, there are few things better in middle age than listening to a medley of his hits, which has to include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco!”

He recently performed at the Neal Blaisdell concert hall and his performance was spectacular. At the young age of 87, he belted out the first song he recorded in 1932, and next Charlie Chaplin’s, “Smile.” He followed with a medley of his favorite hits that caused the crowd to clap and cheer and ended with a 10-minute standing ovation.

Bennett performed for about 90 minutes. A duet with his daughter was a real crowd pleaser. He danced and twirled, didn’t miss a note, word or beat. He talked a bit about an upcoming new album with Lady Gaga and told the crowd to please go out and buy it because he needs the money. He laughed and blew kisses to crowd and told his adoring fans how much he loved them.

As he sang a favorite, “For Once In My Life,” I changed the lyrics to match my Medicare-centric mindset.

This is the tune I was hearing;

For once in my life, I have Medicare Advantage,

Something I’ve needed so long,

For once unafraid, I can go where life leads me

And I know my Medicare plan will keep me strong.

For once I can say this is my Medicare, you can’t take it.

As long as I keep up my Part B payments, I can make it.

For once in my life,

I have everything in the world that I need.

___________________________

Martha Khlopin hosts the popular weekly radio program “Medicare Moment with Martha — The World of Medicare” sponsored by AlohaCare. It airs on KHNR-690AM on Saturdays from 11–11:30 a.m. and on KGU-99.5FM on Sundays from 10–10:30 a.m. For info, call (808) 973-0754, mkhlopin@alohacare.org.

If you are a Tony Bennett fan, there are few things better in middle age than listening to a medley of his hits, which has to include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco!” He recently performed at the Neal Blaisdell concert hall and his performance was spectacular. At the young age of 87, he…
You’re the Caregiver, but Who Will Take Care of You?

The pool of family and friends to care for Hawai‘i baby boomers as they age into their 80s will be less than half as deep as it is today, according to a new report from AARP. The report predicts the ratio of potential family caregivers to elders needing care will plummet from today’s six caregivers for each person over the age of 80 to fewer than three caregivers per elderly person in 2030.

The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap from the AARP Public Policy Institute also anticipates that the dearth of family caregivers projected for 2030 to 2050 will intensify the emotional, physical and financial costs borne by future caregiving family members and friends.

“About half of older Hawai‘i residents believe they will be able to rely on their families to meet their needs when they need long-term care,” says AARP Hawaii State President Gerry Silva. “But this confidence is likely to erode when it collides with the dramatically shrinking availability of family caregivers in the future.”

As the number of Hawai‘I residents over the age of 80 increases in the next 20 years, the number of people in the primary caregiving years will remain flat, the report states. Meanwhile, in 2050, there will be nearly three times as many people age 80 and older in Hawai‘i as there are today. As a result, by 2050, the caregiver support ratio which was 6.1 in 2010 when boomers were in their peak caregiving years, is projected to drop to 2.1 percent when the boomers will have reached their 80s. According to the report, in just 13 years, as the baby boomers age into their 80s, the decline in caregiver support will shift from a slow decline to a free fall.

The new caregiver report calculates the availability of caregivers by dividing the number of people in the most common caregiving age range (those ages 45-64) by the number of older people most at risk of needing long-term services and\ supports (those ages 80+). The former group reflects the demographics of today’s average caregivers, the latter is the population likely to have some kind of disability and need help with daily activities.

The complete report, The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap: A Look at Future Declines in the Availability of Family Caregivers, can be found at www.tinyurl.com/aarp-caregiving.

AARP is a membership organization for people age 50 and older with 148,000 members in Hawai‘i. We champion access to affordable, quality health care for all generations, provide the tools needed to save for retirement, and serve as a reliable information source on issues critical to older Americans.

Contact AARP Hawai’i for more information.
State Office: 808-545-6024
Toll-Free: 866-295-7282
aarp.org/hi
facebook.com/AARPHawaii
twitter.com/AARPHawaii

The pool of family and friends to care for Hawai‘i baby boomers as they age into their 80s will be less than half as deep as it is today, according to a new report from AARP. The report predicts the ratio of potential family caregivers to elders needing care will plummet from today’s six caregivers…
Reverse ParentingReverse Parenting

The role of being a “reverse parent” didn’t occur to me until I dropped off my father on his first day at adult day care. While walking back to my car, I said to myself, I hope the day care doesn’t call me and say they’re sending him home because he soiled his clothing or worse yet; he got into a scuffle with another senior.

I chuckled to myself, Wow, now I’m the parent taking care of my father. The roles have been reversed.

I tell my fellow baby-boomer friends; we’re reverse parents. I get laughter and sometimes I get head shaking. In Hawai‘i and across the nation, there are adult children (like me) who are caring for their parents. A role few of us are prepared to take on. Caregiving blindsides many of us.

My father passed away November 2007, and then the reverse parent role started again two years later with my mother. I tell friends, “I have an 86-year-old daughter.” And just like anyone else — regardless of age — she wants to be heard … and, gratefully, I have learned to listen. This is one thing I’d like to tell my fellow baby boomers to do — ask … and listen. My mother has told me many stories that are “pearls.” For example, her father, my maternal grandfather, was a fisherman on the aku boat. She explained how he had very strong arms and legs, as it wasn’t an option for a him to tell the boat captain that he needed to take a break while the fish were still biting.

Another pearl involved my paternal grandparents who worked for the first governor of Hawai‘i, Joseph B. Poindexter. My grandfather was the chef and my grandmother (“Baba”) was one of the servers. She wore traditional kimono while serving dinner guests at the Governor’s Mansion. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Poindexter for two full terms, 1934 through 1942. He was among the first to advocate Hawai‘i’s statehood, yet that endeavor was interrupted in December of 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

My mother told me that on the day of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, my grandfather was planning to go out fishing in his small boat that he had moored at Kewalo Basin. For some reason he decided against it, but his friend did go out to sea. In the mayhem that occurred, he was mistaken as being part of the Japanese Navy disguised as a civilian and was killed.

I’m fortunate to own a home care agency and have a brother who puts in just as much time and effort caring for our mother. My brother and I do the night shifts and one of our employees cares for my mother during the day. However, for families that don’t that level of support, there are respite programs, adult day care centers, transportation services and support groups in the community. Each family is unique, and needs different resources. If you want to discuss options available for caring for your parents, feel free to call 545-3700 or visit www.ComfortingHandsHawaii.com.

The role of being a “reverse parent” didn’t occur to me until I dropped off my father on his first day at adult day care. While walking back to my car, I said to myself, I hope the day care doesn’t call me and say they’re sending him home because he soiled his clothing or…
Caregiver Survival Tips
Caregivers often are so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical and spiritual health. Caregiver stress can be particularly damaging since it is a long-term challenge. Caregiving can be overwhelming at times and if this stress is left unchecked it can take a toll on a person’s health, relationships and state of mind. Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout often occurs when caregivers don’t get the help they need or if they try to do more than they are able.

What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?

Caregivers who are burned out may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression, with the following included:

Withdrawal from friends and family

Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed

Feeling irritable, hopeless and helpless

Changes in appetite and weight

Changes in sleep patterns

Getting sick more often

Feelings of wanting to hurt oneself

Emotional and physical exhaustion

Lack of energy

Difficulty concentrating

Unable to relax

What Causes Caregiver Burnout?

Some caregivers place unreasonable demands on themselves as they are unable to accept help from others, seeing caregiving as their exclusive responsibility. Caregivers are too busy providing care that they often neglect their own health. Many people are confused when thrust into the role of a caregiver, unable to separate it from previous roles such as spouse, child, etc. Caregivers who have unrealistic expectations get frustrated more easily. There may be a sense of lack of control over financial resources, planning and management of their loved one’s care. Many caregivers cannot recognize when they are suffering from burnout until it is too late.

Here are some caregiver survival tips:

Share your feelings with others

Set realistic goals

Plan ahead

Take one day at a time

Ask for and accept help

Learn about available resources

Develop contingency plans

Make your health a priority

Get enough rest and eat properly

Make time for leisure

Be good to yourself
Caregivers often are so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical and spiritual health. Caregiver stress can be particularly damaging since it is a long-term challenge. Caregiving can be overwhelming at times and if this stress is left unchecked it can take a toll on a person’s health, relationships…
My Take on Things: Find Your Local Senior Club

Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club, board members and advisor. Lt.– Rt.: Roy Takara, Jane Uehara, Betsy Miyahira, Alice Toyota, June Minakami, Jeannette Nishikawa, Jenna Mow (Advisor), Daniel Levay, Sherry Goya (Generations Magazine), and Herbert Chang.

Like many of the City & County’s Parks and Recreation senior programs, the Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club did not meet in June, July and August while the City’s Summer Fun programs took over their locations. When I delivered Generations Magazine’s August/September issue on Monday, September 9th, I heard one of the seniors say that it was just like the “first day back to school.”

The Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club was organized on February 2, 1981 with 16 members. Today, the club is 154 strong, has an active board, meets every Monday at the Moanalua Recreation Center, from 9 a.m. to Noon, and has two bowling leagues. Its board members and committee chairs are quite organized and impressive, with reports, speakers, entertainment or excursions scheduled each Monday. The club also has fundraisers throughout the year.

The City & County of Honolulu has more than 35 senior clubs, representing about 3,500 participants in East, West, Leeward and Windward 55 years and older. For more information, call (808) 763-3003 or visit www.honolulu.gov/parks/programs/senior.

Like many of the City & County’s Parks and Recreation senior programs, the Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club did not meet in June, July and August while the City’s Summer Fun programs took over their locations. When I delivered Generations Magazine’s August/September issue on Monday, September 9th, I heard one of the seniors say that it…
Abuse of Trust: When Caregivers Become Criminals
When May Lee (victim’s name changed) hired Susan Chin to be her caregiver, it seemed like the perfect solution to her long-term care needs. Over time, however, when Chin gained Lee’s trust, she slowly gained access to Lee’s finances and convinced her to sign a “power of attorney” (sometimes referred to in our office as a “license to steal”). It was not long after getting this legal document, that Chin violated the trust given to her and sold Lee’s house for more than $600,000, of which Chin kept the money for herself.

Although Susan Chin’s actions were found out and she was prosecuted for her crimes, May Lee still endured financial hardship, emotional stress and, ultimately, the loss of her dream of spending the rest of her life in the home that she had once owned.

When Yumi Smith (victim’s name changed) hired an agency to assist her in caring for her husband who was in poor health, she trusted that the company would provide her with caregivers who were not only responsible and professional, but who also wanted to sincerely help her in caring for her husband. Unfortunately, this business sent Kathlyn Lepena, a caregiver who ended up helping herself to Smith’s jewelry.

The Honolulu Police Department investigated this crime and was able to recover most of the jewelry Lepena stole. Eventually, Lepena pled guilty to the felony offense of Theft in the Second Degree and is presently under court supervision for her crime.

Unfortunately, the above two cases are only a couple of the many crimes the Elder Abuse Justice Unit at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has handled in the past several years. It is cases like these that highlight the risks involved when hiring a stranger to care for yourself or a loved one in your own home.

So, how should you hire a caregiver to come into your home? How can you prevent abuses?

When looking for an agency or service that will provide a skilled worker to come into the home and provide assistance, it is important to do your homework first.

Here are two agencies that can let you know if any complaints have been made against a business:

Better Business Bureau
(808) 536-6956

Consumer Resource Center
State Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (808) 587-3222

Additionally, if you type in the company’s name with the word “review” in an Internet search engine (such as Google and Bing), you might find reviews from people, either offering praises or warnings. Also, seek recommendations from friends who have already gone through the process of finding somebody.

Perhaps the best thing that can be done, however, is to protect your financial information. Upon hiring a caregiver, never give out private financial or personal information, account numbers or blank checks. Your caregiver is there to take care of your family — not your money.

Remember, a stranger is entering your home or the home of someone you care for. It is a lot better to know the background of these providers, than to assume they are the caregivers you envisioned them to be.

To Report Suspected Elder Abuse, call:
Adult Protective Services
808.832.5115
ElderAbuse@honolulu.gov
All reports are confidential.
When May Lee (victim’s name changed) hired Susan Chin to be her caregiver, it seemed like the perfect solution to her long-term care needs. Over time, however, when Chin gained Lee’s trust, she slowly gained access to Lee’s finances and convinced her to sign a “power of attorney” (sometimes referred to in our office as…
Following Your Passion is Worth the Risk

As an entertainer, I have always had a great love for the arts and my professional life reflects that as well. But painting was the farthest thought in my head. I did, however, secretly admire painters from afar. I would study their paintings and read their back stories. I would feel a strong sense of connection when I read about how they lived their lives and their philosophies and dreams.

So that familiar feeling, that tug at my gut came around again and hit me real hard on Tuesday Sept. 11, 2001 (9/11). I had felt it before but never really confronted it or allowed it to well up in my soul, as it did that day.

We often think to ourselves, Oh yeah, I’ll investigate that emotion and see what comes of it, but for now I’m just too busy to do anything about it. So, I put it off yet another time. Those burning embers deep in my na‘au, trying to surface once again, were pushed down and lay dormant.

We are funny us human beings. We are always looking for a sign it seems … something that will tell us what to do with our lives. Pursuing our own dreams means we have to alter our present course, walk the path less traveled and risk failure and embarrassment.

I believe that signs are being showed to us all the time! Some are laid out in front of us and yet we still don’t see them. These extraordinary higher vibrations that we all have felt in our lifetimes wait for us to acknowledge their splitsecond appearance in our lives.

I’m talking about passion!

And so, in your life, if that passion came knocking at your door today, what would you do? Well, I can tell you what I did. I finally answered the door.

I can tell you that all the fears that accompanied the passion were realized. It was hard making that abrupt turn. Oh, but the gifts it brings, the feeling of soaring high above the Ko‘olau. A freedom and separation from a physical reality that turns into spirituality! Now it is a higher reality, now it is the divine. Faith, hope, love and passion!

Finally, I said to myself, I’m going to paint today. I’m going to listen to that nudge, that rumbling in my gut and see how far I can take it.

From that moment forward, my life would change in a very profound way.

Since September 11, 2001, I have painted every day.

This is what I would like to impart to you … a little bit of my mana‘o: You, too, can seize the moment! Make the move to pursue that secret you’ve been pushing down and hiding for so long. The time is now … grip your shauts! I guess what I am saying here is, It’s never too late to find that passion!

Join in a conversation with Frank B. Shaner on Facebook and experience his art onlin at .

As an entertainer, I have always had a great love for the arts and my professional life reflects that as well. But painting was the farthest thought in my head. I did, however, secretly admire painters from afar. I would study their paintings and read their back stories. I would feel a strong sense of…
Caregiving & Medicare

As the air cools and the mango trees produce the last of their fruit, we approach the fall season and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. November is also National Caregivers Month. These are both very important times for individuals with Medicare and our unsung heroes — caregivers.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is from October 15 – December 7. This is an opportunity to change, drop or enroll in a Medicare health or drug plan.

The staff and volunteers at the Hawaii SHIP/Sage PLUS Program would like to encourage everyone to do a Medicare Plan Check Up before Thanksgiving. This check up involves some simple questions that you can ask yourself or about the person you are taking care of.

□ What is my current coverage?

□ Does it cover my medications?

□ Does my physician and other providers work with my plan?

□ Do I have Medicare?

□ Do I have a former employer’ retirement plan?

□ Could that insurance be impacted (possibly canceled) if I enroll in a Medicare Health or Drug plan?

□ Do I have coverage from the Veterans Administration or TriCare for Life?

□ Does my insurance include drug coverage?

□ Is my current plan/coverage meeting my needs?

□ Is my plan still affordable- including premiums and co-pays/co-insurances

□ Are there any new Medicare Advantage options available that include a benefit that I need (vision, dental, health club membership) and is not covered by Original/Traditional Medicare?

The Hawaii SHIP will be providing Medicare Screenings across the state during October and November. To see when we will be in your area, visit www.hawaiiship.org, email help@hawaiiship.org or call 1-888-875-9229.

We also provide assistance from a Certified Counselor who can help you look at your Medicare health options.

We would also like to highlight some information that is available for caregivers from Medicare. For A Caregiver’s Resource Kit with helpful videos, pamphlets and other information, visit www.medicare.gov/campaigns/caregiver-resource-kit.html.

Can’t afford your prescription drug costs or your Medicare Part B premium? Call the Hawaii SHIP/Sage PLUS Program for a free screening and assistance completing the applications. Would you like to help your community? Call for our volunteer experiences at 888-875-9229.

As the air cools and the mango trees produce the last of their fruit, we approach the fall season and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. November is also National Caregivers Month. These are both very important times for individuals with Medicare and our unsung heroes — caregivers. Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is from October 15…
The Benefits of Aquatherapy

Unlike “water aerobics,” aquatic therapy is a specialty of physical therapy performed in a warm-water pool to assist patients in healing. The effectiveness of an aquatic program rests largely on the physical properties of water, along with the skilled guidance of a qualified physical therapist.

The water’s buoyancy removes the stress and pressure on muscles and joints, which lowers pain levels and allows for greater range of motion during exercises. This safe, weight-free environment allows patients to exercise pain-free for longer periods. There is no other exercise that can provide this type of low-impact, calorie-burning environment.

The water’s viscosity assists weaker patients, while providing resistance for patients who are strong enough to increase their speed of body movements. Water makes muscles work harder than the same exercises on land.

The hydrostatic pressure (equilibrium) of the water decreases joint pain and soft tissue swelling at the injured sites.

The water’s warm temperature relaxes tight muscles and increases blood flow. Warm water allows patients to be comfortable and exercise as soon as they are immersed, foregoing the need for a lengthy warm-up period.

One of the biggest benefits of aquatherapy is the emotional boost patients get when they are able to do things in the water that they normally cannot do on land.

Aquatic therapy is a powerful, motivating choice for those who would like to break the cycle of chronic pain, increase strength or range of motion, improve balance and coordination, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance feelings of well-being and confidence.

Buoyancy & Viscosity

Hydrostatic Pressure

Emotional Boost

Unlike “water aerobics,” aquatic therapy is a specialty of physical therapy performed in a warm-water pool to assist patients in healing. The effectiveness of an aquatic program rests largely on the physical properties of water, along with the skilled guidance of a qualified physical therapist. The water’s buoyancy removes the stress and pressure on muscles…

Category: Date

What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?

What Causes Caregiver Burnout?

So, how should you hire a caregiver to come into your home? How can you prevent abuses?