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Maximize Your Income with a Charitable Gift Annuity
Each year thousands of caring individuals use the Charitable Gift Annuity to secure a lifetime income and provide critical financial support for Salvation Army programs and services in their communities. This time-tested technique has resulted in many gifts that otherwise might not have been made.

What is a Charitable Gift Annuity?

The name says it all. It’s both a charitable gift and an annuity — a secure promise of lifetime income. When you establish a Charitable Gift Annuity you do not sacrifice income from your gift asset. In fact, you may very well be able to increase your income. Your payments will be fixed for life and will not be affected by changes in the stock market.

A Lifetime Income and a Life-Changing Gift

Popular and flexible, the Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple contract between you and The Salvation Army promising fixed payments for life at an attractive rate based on the ages of up to two annuitants. For example, our annuity rates range from 5.7% if you are 65 to 10.50% if you are 90 or older. Your income can begin immediately or be deferred to a later time, such as retirement. You can also fund the annuity with cash or other property, such as appreciated stock or real estate.

But the benefits of a Charitable Gift Annuity do not end with attractive rates.

Your gift can qualify for major tax benefits.

You will receive an immediate income tax deduction in the year of your gift.

A portion of your annuity payments will be tax-free.

And if you fund your Charitable Gift Annuity with appreciated assets, any reportable capital gain will be significantly reduced and spread out over your lifetime.

Finally, your gift will serve as a personal statement of your commitment to the men, women and children in your community. We will use the gift portion of your Charitable Gift Annuity to support life-changing programs and services.

Ana secured a Charitable Gift Annuity because of what she witnessed. She saw her neighbor Renee high on drugs almost on a daily basis. Ana was worried and concerned, but never said a word. Later, she saw Renee again — clean, employed and with a bright future. Ana asked Renee’s mother what happened. “We have our daughter back!” cried Renee’s mom. “The Salvation Army turned her life around and now she has a purpose for living.”

Ana was so touched; she wanted to help other “Renees” turn their lives around. Upon contacting The Salvation Army, Ana learned she could fulfill her wish to help other young women, and increase her retirement income at the same time.

It’s nice to know you can make a difference in the lives of others while also making a difference in your own.

If you’d like to learn more about the Charitable Gift Annuity, please call Ellen Kazama at The Salvation Army at 440-1862 or 1-877-840-1862 (Neighbor Islands toll-free).
Each year thousands of caring individuals use the Charitable Gift Annuity to secure a lifetime income and provide critical financial support for Salvation Army programs and services in their communities. This time-tested technique has resulted in many gifts that otherwise might not have been made. What is a Charitable Gift Annuity? The name says it…
Serving Kupuna with Award-Winning Programs
Long before the phrase “evidence based” became a buzzword, Child & Family Service (CFS) was providing award-winning evidence-based services. Founded in 1980, the Honolulu Gerontology Program, as it was then known, was incorporated into Child & Family Service in 1985. The following year the program received both the Department of Human Service’s Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Health Promotion and the Administration on Aging’s Project Health Award. In 1999, it received the Best Practice Award from the Health Promotion Institute of the National Council on Aging, and in 2002, CFS developed the No Fear of Falling program.

“The growing aging population and its increased life expectancy challenge service providers to develop and implement effective programs,” says Howard Garval, MSW, President and CEO of Child & Family Service. “We are proud of the evidence-based approaches we are using with seniors in our gerontology program.”

The CFS Gerontology Program offers Hawai‘i’s kupuna five national evidence-based programs:

The Wellness Services offers two forms of exercise tailored for seniors of different abilities. The Health Maintenance Program utilizes the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program for seniors who have more limited movement, so that they can exercise comfortably yet make progress and even graduate to the next level of exercise. No Fear of Falling utilizes the EnhanceFitness® Program. Each class is followed by a half hour of education and socialization. Classes are held across O‘ahu in nine locations.

The Chronic Disease Self Management Program addresses the chronic health conditions many of our seniors face. This six-week class helps seniors learn how to manage chronic illnesses. The program, developed by Stanford University, has proven to reduce the number of hospitalizations and doctor visits, which can lead to medical cost savings. Individuals who participate in these groups feel more empowered to take charge of their lives. Classes are now being formed across O‘ahu.

The Case Management Services focus on seniors’ needs through Senior Case Management, and the REACH Program centers on seniors at risk for abuse. The national program Healthy IDEAS (Identifying Depression, Empowering Activities for Seniors) helps seniors overcome the effects of depression, a problem often noted in these groups.

The Caregiver Support Program encompasses ‘Ohana Care, Caregiver Respite, and Chore Service; together they cover case management, the Healthy IDEAS program and caregiver training. We have also brought the national program Powerful Tools for Caregivers to the Islands. It focuses on overwhelmed caregivers who do not take care of themselves. Classes will be scheduled across O‘ahu four times in the next 12 months.

CFS Gerontology Programs are funded primarily through funds from the City and County of Honolulu, . The services are free to individuals 60 and over, or to their unpaid family caregivers. For more information, please call 543-8468 or email cfsgerontology@cfs-hawaii.org.
Long before the phrase “evidence based” became a buzzword, Child & Family Service (CFS) was providing award-winning evidence-based services. Founded in 1980, the Honolulu Gerontology Program, as it was then known, was incorporated into Child & Family Service in 1985. The following year the program received both the Department of Human Service’s Secretary’s Award for…
Looking for a Retirement Career? Maybe Being a Landlord is For You.

In today’s economy, it seems that everything old is new again … albeit with a bit of a twist. Years ago, it was common for older couples – and frequently widows – to rent out rooms for extra income. Taking in boarders was a viable way to supplement income.

Well, the idea is back, with a bit of a twist. As Baby Boomers face the cold, hard facts of retirement, they are increasingly changing the definition of the term to include at least some form of work. While you may not be ready to hang out a shingle on the front gate, “Rooms for Rent,” you might consider becoming a landlord. In fact, the Wall Street Journal Online (June 19, 2011) writes that it may be just the ticket, especially given the uncertain prospects for stocks and bonds and the meager interest rates on savings accounts.

Think about it. It’s a buyer’s market now, so purchasing a multi-family home is more financially feasible. And, the trend toward the renter’s lifestyle is picking up steam. All this means you have a low cost of entry into a market that is expected to expand. Starting to make investment sense?

Sure, it’s a career of sorts, but you also need to think of it as an investment. Weigh everything in the short term, including start-up and maintenance costs, as well as the marketability of the location you’re considering. But then also keep your long-term goals in mind, including appreciation and eventual sale. Buying in a depressed market, after all, is only a steal if that market bounces back. Finally, don’t overlook the possible danger of having all your eggs in one basket since being a live-in landlord will unite your home, equity and employment, into one potentially risky asset.

Like any retirement move, don’t make this one too quickly. Discuss plans with a professional who can help you sort out the details, including how an investment rental property could affect your Social Security benefits. Remember, too, that this lifestyle may not suit you. In which case, you would be wise to explore other, more enjoyable options.

If becoming a landlord seems like an attractive alternative, just be aware of the legal details you will need to consider. Will the rental income be subject to state tax? (Hint: If the property is located in Hawai‘i, it will be subject to General Excise Tax, plus any other taxes applicable to Hawai‘i residents.) Might it make sense to hold the property in an entity for liability and creditor protection purposes? Are there ways to hold rental property that will make it easier to pass on to your descendants? Be sure to address these questions with your trusted advisors before you take the plunge.

In today’s economy, it seems that everything old is new again … albeit with a bit of a twist. Years ago, it was common for older couples – and frequently widows – to rent out rooms for extra income. Taking in boarders was a viable way to supplement income. Well, the idea is back, with…
Donations Take Vision
Hugo Higa, M.D., of Aesthetic Vision Center, is a Lion. A proud member of the Kamehameha Lions Club, that is!

As a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, Dr. Higa encourages everyone to participate in Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight program by donating unwanted prescription and reading eyeglasses, or sunglasses, to one of his Aesthetic Vision Center offices in Honolulu or ‘Aiea. Simply drop off the glasses you don’t use in his “Recycle for Sight” Box. According to The World Health Organization, 153 million people have uncorrected vision impairments.

“ I urge everyone to donate old eyeglasses to the Lions Club’s Recycle for Sight Program.”

Most of them are quickly diagnosed and easy to treat with corrective lenses. Still, millions of people in developing nations are pushed deeper into poverty, simply because they don’t have glasses. For children, clear vision means a better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For adults, it means greater employment opportunity and economic strength. For seniors, it means less dependence on others. Sunglasses that offer protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays are also important to preserve eye health.

It costs Lions less than 8-cents to provide a pair of recycled eyeglasses and change someone’s life. Lions Clubs collect millions of eyeglasses each year, making “Recycle for Sight” one of the its most popular and important activities.

“I’m very proud to be a Lion, and to be a part of all the great work they do,” said Dr. Higa. “Lions are best known for fighting blindness, but we also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects, including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.”

The Lions Clubs International Foundation helps to fund Lions humanitarian projects. Its 45,000 clubs and 1.35 million members make it the world’s largest service club organization. Its also one of the most effective. Recently, for example, it:

Brought 3,000 volunteers together to build a playground for children of all abilities in California.

Fed 60,000 people in a township in South Africa.

Sent a team of eye surgeons to Honduras to treat more than 100 adults and children.

If you need your donation glasses to be picked up, please call Aesthetic Vision Center at (808) 947-2020.

To see the “Journey of a Pair of Eyeglasses” in the Lions program or for other information, please visit www.lionsclubs.org.

ABOUT AESTHETIC VISION CENTER

Hugo Higa, M.D. is a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, performing medical and cosmetic procedures. Aesthetic Vision Center is Dr. Higa’s thriving practice offering Aging Eye Health & Vision services, Aging Eye Cosmetic Surgery, Cosmetic Facial Surgery, a Medi-Spa and the newly-opened Hugo Higa, M.D. Hearing Center.

For more information, please visit the Web site at www.aestheticvision.com.
Hugo Higa, M.D., of Aesthetic Vision Center, is a Lion. A proud member of the Kamehameha Lions Club, that is! As a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, Dr. Higa encourages everyone to participate in Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight program by donating unwanted prescription and reading eyeglasses, or sunglasses, to one of his Aesthetic…
Never Too Old for Sex-Ed
Worrying about aging wasn’t a concern for anyone with AIDS in 1981, when the CDC reported the first five cases. In those days before any treatments were available, many who contracted the disease died within a few months.

Now, in 2011, older adults increasingly risk contracting HIV, and with 30 years of progress in research and treatment, most people with HIV/AIDS now live for many years after diagnosis and deal with aging concerns as well.

Older adults who are at risk of contracting HIV are those sexually active well into their 70s and 80s, and some use alcohol or drugs. Elders don’t worry about birth control, and often believe they won’t get sexually transmitted diseases, so they usually don’t take precautions to protect themselves from infection.

AIDS patients often experience health conditions common in older adults. Here, the author prepares for radiation treatment for throat cancer at Queen’s Medical Center.

HIV prevention messages are not targeted toward older adults, and many doctors don’t think (or are too embarrassed) to ask about sexual activity in their older patients.

The symptoms of HIV disease may appear differently in older adults, or may be mistaken for other age-related conditions, so detection and treatment are often delayed. While the majority of those with HIV/AIDS today are under age 50, the trend is clear: 30 years of AIDS requires greater awareness to protect older adults.

In Hawai‘i, more older adults, women and members of the Hawaiian and Asian-American communities are now contracting HIV than in the early years of the epidemic. The Life Foundation recently reported that a 60-year-old woman tested HIV-positive.

According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, in 2005, people over age 50 accounted for:

15 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases

24 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS

35 percent of all deaths of people with AIDS

These numbers are growing; more people now living with HIV/AIDS will experience health problems relating to both aging and HIV disease.

The Hawai‘i HIV/AIDS and Aging Coalition will bring greater public attention to this issue by observing National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day on September 18. The Coalition will also have a booth at the Blaisdell Senior Fair (Ewa Tabletop C) on September 23-25 to share information and resources with the community.

For more information:

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day: www.theaidsinstitute.org/programs/education/national-hivaids-and-aging-awareness-nhaaa

The Body: AIDS and Aging information www.thebody.com/index/whatis/older.html

O‘ahu: Life Foundation 521-2437, www.lifefoundation.org

Hawai‘i: Hawai’i Island HIV/AIDS Foundation 331-8177 (Kona), 982-8800 (Hilo), www.hihaf.org

Maui: Maui AIDS Foundation 242-4900, www.mauiaids.org

Kaua‘i: Malama Pono 246-9577, www.malama-pono.org
Worrying about aging wasn’t a concern for anyone with AIDS in 1981, when the CDC reported the first five cases. In those days before any treatments were available, many who contracted the disease died within a few months. Now, in 2011, older adults increasingly risk contracting HIV, and with 30 years of progress in research…
Getting the Most from Your Medicare

Now is the time to get the most out of your Medicare. The best way to stay healthy is to live a healthy lifestyle. You can live a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease by exercising, eating well, keeping a healthy weight and not smoking. Medicare can help. Medicare pays for many preventive services to keep you healthy. Preventive services can find health problems early, when treatment works best, and can keep you from getting certain diseases. Preventive services include exams, shots, lab tests and screenings. They also include programs for health monitoring, counseling and education to help you take care of your own health.

New in 2011 – The Affordable Care Act makes many improvements to Medicare. If you have Original Medicare, you will now be able to get a yearly “Wellness” visit and many preventive services for free. Whether it’s online, in person or on the phone, Medicare is committed to helping people get the information they need to make smart choices about their Medicare benefits.

MyMedicare.gov – Visit online to get direct access to your preventive health information—24 hours a day, every day. You can track your preventive services, get a two-year calendar of the Medicare-covered tests and screenings, and print a personalized “on the go” report to take to your next doctor’s appointment. Visit the Web site, sign up and Medicare will send you a password to allow you access to your personal Medicare information.

Medicare covers both preventive services, and other services that help keep certain illnesses from getting worse. The services are covered if you have Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). However, the amount you pay for these services varies depending on whether you get your Medicare benefits through Original Medicare (sometimes called fee-for-service) or through a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO). If you get your health care coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan, call your plan for more information.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 – December 7, 2011. Take the opportunity to review your current coverage and make sure it is what is best for you. For more information or to have a Medicare check-up call the Hawai‘i Sage PLUS program (SHIP) at 1-888-875-9229 or go to our Web site at www.hawaiiship.org for upcoming events. We would love to see you! Remember volunteering does the heart good . . . call us for opportunities.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov for the most current Medicare information. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Now is the time to get the most out of your Medicare. The best way to stay healthy is to live a healthy lifestyle. You can live a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease by exercising, eating well, keeping a healthy weight and not smoking. Medicare can help. Medicare pays for many preventive services to keep…
Senior Independence Through Catholic Charities Hawai‘i

Rita Lontayao grew up on Kaua‘i. She married her husband in 1935 and lived with him in plantation housing, where they worked and raised their family. After many years on the plantation, her husband passed away. Then a few months later, the plantation closed, forcing her to move to alternate housing. She recalls the uncertainty of that time when she did not know how she would make ends meet without her husband, or his source of income.

That was 20 years ago. Rita now lives independently at D.E. Thompson Village, a senior housing project. For many years, Rita relied on her daughter for many of her needs. However, when her daughter passed away several years ago, Rita needed help and found it at Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.

Rita receives several services from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, including case management and volunteer assistance. Her Catholic Charities case manager, Letty, originally helped to assess what Rita needed to help her maintain her independence. Letty made referrals for a Senior Companion for Rita, as well as for volunteer assistance through Catholic Charities.

A senior companion now visits Rita once a week and takes her to the grocery store each month to stock up on necessities. In addition, Rita has two Catholic Charities volunteers who visit her twice a week to provide companionship and run errands for her, including bringing her fresh fruits and vegetables. Letty visits her regularly to monitor her status and reassess her service needs.

“Without these services, Mrs. Lontayao would not be able to sustain her independence,” says Diane Terada, division administrator for Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s senior services. “At Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, we look at the whole individual to assess what kinds of services are needed. We are able to provide an array of services, from case management to housing assistance and more. Our case managers serve as the lynchpin to help assess what seniors need, help them access services and help monitor that they receive the level of services/benefits that are appropriate to keep them safe and able to maintain independent living.”

Given Hawai‘i’s rapidly growing senior population, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i remains dedicated to creating and providing services that keep seniors engaged and independent. Services include case management in various senior housing projects, transportation, housing assistance, respite for caregivers, medication management education, Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center activities and volunteers who provide a companionship.

“We have seen the tremendous difference our programs make in this community,” adds Terada. “Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s goal is to help seniors stay healthy, get the resources they need and live independently for as long as safely possible.”

For more information on senior services provided by Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, please visit www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org. Or call (808) 524-HOPE (4673).

GIVING BACK

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i also provides volunteer opportunities for those wanting to give back to their community. Interested volunteers can be a friendly visitor for seniors assisting them with small tasks from helping to read documents to escorting seniors to doctor visits. All volunteers are trained in providing services. If you’re interested in this personally rewarding opportunity, call the paraprofessional services at 524-HOPE (4673).

Rita Lontayao grew up on Kaua‘i. She married her husband in 1935 and lived with him in plantation housing, where they worked and raised their family. After many years on the plantation, her husband passed away. Then a few months later, the plantation closed, forcing her to move to alternate housing. She recalls the uncertainty…
Lanakila Meals on Wheels

Recently, Meals On Wheels Association of America President and CEO, Enid Borden, visited Lanakila Meals on Wheels in Liliha.

Borden spoke on national and local senior hunger issues, volunteerism trends and toured the Lanakila Meals on Wheels’ facilities. “Out of the 5,000-plus Meals on Wheels programs across the country, Lanakila is one of the best,” Borden said. “However, even with so many great programs, about 1 in 9 seniors in our nation are at risk of hunger due to poverty and our aging population—with someone turning 60 every 7 seconds.”

“We live in the richest nation in the world and nobody needs to go hungry,” continued Borden. “That’s what I like about Lanakila, which means ‘victory’ in Hawaiian. It’s victory over hunger, and I encourage individuals, corporations and the public sector to support this great organization.”

A program of Lanakila Pacific, a private Hawai‘i-based nonprofit, Lanakila Meals on Wheels aims to run a sustainable service. It receives less than 60% of its funding from government grants; the remaining 40% is donated by individuals, businesses and volunteers. All proceeds from Lanakila Pacific’s social enterprises, including Lanakila Kitchen’s catering and school meal services, go back into Lanakila Meals on Wheels.

As Hawai‘i’s largest meal provider for seniors, Lanakila Meals on Wheels delivers about 250,000 meals each year at O‘ahu homes and at 17 Kupuna Wellness Centers.

Interim Director Lenny Fabro said the program is driven by about 200 volunteers who help package and deliver meals.

“We try to make it easy for folks to get involved,” Fabro said. “People can volunteer once a week, or groups or companies can Adopt-A-Route and take turns delivering meals.”

According to Meals On Wheels Association of America, nationally, more than 6 million seniors face some form of food insecurity. In Hawai‘i, 5.24%, (more than 60,000 seniors) are at risk of going hungry.

Lanakila Meals on Wheels services on O‘ahu: 531-0555

Donations: www.lanakilapacific.org/donate

Volunteering: www.lanakilapacific.org/volunteer, or call Tiffany at 356-8541

Catering at Lanakila Kitchen: www.lanakilakitchen.org, 533-3054

General inquiries, 531-0555

Recently, Meals On Wheels Association of America President and CEO, Enid Borden, visited Lanakila Meals on Wheels in Liliha. Borden spoke on national and local senior hunger issues, volunteerism trends and toured the Lanakila Meals on Wheels’ facilities. “Out of the 5,000-plus Meals on Wheels programs across the country, Lanakila is one of the best,”…
August / September 2011

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Jane Serikaku: Uchinanchu: Hawai’i-Okinawans
Living at the Best Place … in the Best Years

15 Craigside is Hawai‘i’s newest not-for-profit senior living community. It welcomed its first residents on March 4, 2011. It is the first continuing care retirement community in Hawai‘i geared to moderate-income seniors who believed that a retirement community with a full continuum of care was not possible until now.

This brand new community features 30 studio and 140 one-bedroom apartments, offering independent living, assisted living services in one’s apartment, and an on-site 41-bed licensed skilled nursing and intermediate care center to support its residents. The community features a contemporary wellness and fitness center, an indoor heated pool, a convenience store, beauty salon, craft studio and meeting rooms, a multi-purpose room for guest lectures, music performances and spiritual observances, a library and computer center and more.

15 Craigside also offers a number of attractive lifestyle features, including a small e-café/bistro with wireless communication and technology, and a private dining area for special occasions, complete with a quality menu selection of many types of cuisines to entice the palate.

President and CEO, Emmet White, notes that “our new community welcomes small pets—so furry loved ones also undergo a pet ‘interview’ to assure their compatibility with the community.”

The development of the community brings life to the perception that 15 Craigside is a place where active and happy seniors want to spend the “best years” of their lives. “Imagine the possibilities!” says White with enthusiasm, “What would you be able to do if you had someone else cooking and cleaning and maintaining your home? We have seniors who engage in writing and painting, creating Websites, learning how to ‘Skype,’ volunteering and doing things that they never had time to do before. It is an exciting time providing the means for a very fulfilling life.”

Suzie Schulberg, 15 Craigside’s Chief Operating Officer, has been with the Arcadia Family for more than 10 years and has assembled a team  that is providing top-notch service to residents. She reports, “The life care guarantee, with a continuum of care, assures our residents assistance and care at all levels in a safe, secure and refreshing environment. The people who have decided to come to 15 Craigside have so much to look  forward to and have so much to share … it’s a wonderful community.”

If you are interested in visiting 15 Craigside, please call Maryanne Sullivan at 533-5437 to schedule a tour.

15 Craigside is Hawai‘i’s newest not-for-profit senior living community. It welcomed its first residents on March 4, 2011. It is the first continuing care retirement community in Hawai‘i geared to moderate-income seniors who believed that a retirement community with a full continuum of care was not possible until now. This brand new community features 30…
How to Hire a Caregiver

If you are hiring a caregiver for yourself or another loved one, you may be tempted to try to make the process as simple as possible by treating the caregiver as a “private contractor.” You tell the person, “I will pay you so much an hour, and you deal with the IRS and the State when it comes time to pay taxes.” After all, taking on the responsibilities of withholding taxes (and then paying the taxing authorities), buying Worker’s Compensation insurance, paying Social Security and Medicare tax, and all the rest, may seem daunting if you have never done it before. Be aware, however, that the IRS and the State will probably 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.

IRS Publication 926 gives very helpful guidance to those hiring household employees, including caregivers. You would do well to go through that publication and consider all of the questions it poses, several of which might never occur to you. For example, can your prospective caregiver legally work in the U.S.? How do you verify that, and what records must you keep to prove that you satisfied your obligation to verify the caregiver’s status? On that subject, you can find all of the information and forms you will need at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, www.uscis.gov.

Depending on your budget and the number of caregivers you need, it may make sense to look into local employment or caregiver agencies. This simplifies your job. You can contract with the agency, and the agency will be the caregiver’s employer and will deal with all of the details of being an employer. You will pay a premium for this kind of service, but the agency’s experience and employment expertise may make the extra cost seem like a bargain.

Another set of issues arises if you opt to be the employer of a caregiver, and then your employee is injured on the job. If you have made sure to carry the right kinds of insurance, you will be fine. However, the consequences of failing to do so can be financially disastrous. An agency will probably carry Worker’s Compensation insurance, but you should be sure to talk with your personal insurance professional to find out if there is anything else you should do to protect yourself through your homeowner’s and umbrella policies.

The bottom line is that you should not hire a caregiver without addressing your legal responsibilities and potential liabilities. Ask your trusted advisors — your CPA, your lawyer and your insurance professional — for guidance, and check out the resources cited above. You will be glad you did.

If you are hiring a caregiver for yourself or another loved one, you may be tempted to try to make the process as simple as possible by treating the caregiver as a “private contractor.” You tell the person, “I will pay you so much an hour, and you deal with the IRS and the State…
Blending the East And West for Optimal Health

Eastern medicine, or sometimes called Traditional Chinese Medicine, is an ancient system of medicine that has been in existence for more than 3,000 years. Its primary philosophy is to keep the body, mind, spirit and emotions in balance and in sync with our environment. Eastern medicine takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns of nature and applies them to the human body. The core of Eastern Medicine is Qi, or “vital energy,” and can be thought of as another word for “function,” for example Lung qi is the lungs’ function of gas exchange.

It is believed that there are channels of Qi energy that run throughout the body called Meridians. If an area on one or more of these Meridians becomes stuck then disease or pain may result and an imbalance will occur. Once the energy is freed, disease or pain may decrease or cease to exist altogether. A practitioner of Eastern Medicine may use acupuncture, herbs, massage, diet, and/or exercise to balance the body and allow Qi to flow freely.

One of the main differences with Western medicine is that it focuses on a specific disease or symptom. In Eastern Medicine, the physical body and emotional well-being are both examined for an individual “constitutional” diagnosis. For example, two people can both be diagnosed with depression, but treated completely different based on their own unique “constitution.”

In the West, when something happens we ask, “What can we do about it?” In the East, when something happens they ask, “What caused it?” Eastern Medicine looks for the underlying causes of imbalances and patterns of disharmony within the body and views each patient individually.

Because of these differences, Eastern and Western medicine should be seen as complementary as opposed to alternatives to each other. Both have their advantage and drawbacks, which is why when utilized together, we can gain optimal results. Research has shown that Eastern medicine can effectively complement Western medicine when the two systems are used for acute, chronic or life-threatening disease. In China, a combination of Eastern and Western medicine has been shown to be more effective in treat certain cancers than Western medicine alone.

Many major hospitals across the United States now offer Eastern treatments such as acupuncture. Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific here in Honolulu is an excellent example where acupuncture is offered along with physical, occupation and speech therapy to help patients recover  from orthopedic surgeries, stroke, trauma and other injuries.

As we transition through to the golden years, we are naturally more susceptible to an increasing number of chronic illnesses and prevention becomes critical to maintaining our most optimal levels of well-being.

Eastern medicine, or sometimes called Traditional Chinese Medicine, is an ancient system of medicine that has been in existence for more than 3,000 years. Its primary philosophy is to keep the body, mind, spirit and emotions in balance and in sync with our environment. Eastern medicine takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns…

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