The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced two of several updates to its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for benefits offered through this federal program.
SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing and medicine.
To receive SSI benefits, applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits.
Under SSAâs old rules, food and shelter were counted as unearned income, which may affect a personâs eligibility or reduce their payment.
Under one of the new rulings, âOmitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Calculations,â the agency will no longer include food in ISM calculations beginning on Sept. 30.
The new policy removes a critical barrier for SSI eligibility due to an applicantâs or recipientâs receipt of informal food assistance from friends, family and community support networks.
The new policy is also easier to understand and use, reduces month-to-month variability in payment amounts and will improve payment accuracy. SSA will see savings because less time will be spent administering food ISM.
The SSA also announced âExpansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients.â Beginning Sept. 30, the agency will expand its SSI rental subsidy policy, which was only in place for SSI applicants and recipients residing in seven states (Conn., Ill., Ind., NY, Texas, Vt. and Wis.). In those states, rental assistance (renting at a discounted rate) is less likely to affect a personâs SSI eligibility or payment amount.
This new rule will extend this policy to all SSI applicants and recipients nationwide. This may increase the benefit amount some people are eligible to receive and will allow more people to qualify for critical SSI payments.
For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit ssa.gov/ssi. To make an appointment, call between 7am and 5pm, MonâFri: 800-772-1213 (toll free) | socialsecurity.gov
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced two of several updates to its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for benefits offered through this federal program. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older who have limited income…
It was another great year for kĆ«puna. Gov. Josh Green signed into law bills that both enhance healthy aging and improve care for the frail. With support from the Council of State Governments Interagency Task Force on Sustainable Long-Term Care, the Kupuna Caucus convened a long-term care summit of 64 organizations in February 2024, with a focus on a person-centered long-term care continuum of services. Forty-three organizations committed to champion long-term care; addressing workforce shortage; cost and sustainable financing of long-term care and models of a continuum of quality long-term care services. The bills signed by the governor that support programs and services for kĆ«puna are: â Long-term Care Master Plan: HB2224/Act 159 directs the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) to develop a comprehensive long-term care master plan and provides funding for a full-time long-term care planner. â Adult Residential Care Homes: HB2216/Act 20 increases adult residential care home payments. â Personal Needs Allowance: HB1974/Act 18 increases care home residentsâ monthly personal needs allowance from $50 to $75. It had not been raised since 2007. â Silver Alert Program: SB2305/Act 158 directs the Department of Law Enforcement to establish a silver alert program to help locate missing persons 65 or older, cognitively impaired or developmentally disabled. â General Excise Tax Exemption: SB1035/Act 47 exempts medical and dental care providers treating patients on Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare from the GET, making providers more available to serve the vulnerable. â In the State Budget: HB1800 funds two programs to support community kĆ«puna: 1) increases fee reimbursement rates for Adult Day Care and Adult Day Health community-based programs and 2) funds $400,000 for Healthy Aging Partnershipâs âBetter Choices, Better Healthâ and âEnhance Fitnessâ programs on Kauaâi, Maui, Hawaiâi and Honolulu counties.
WHATâS NEXT:
During the interim (between now and next session), we can review the bills left on the table or others from previous sessions. What were the concerns raised? Can we amend the bill to address those concerns or return with more data and experience to show why the bill is needed? Work during the interim will also focus on long-term care. The last long-term care plan was adopted in 1988. Itâs time to plan forward, and with the 43 champions and others, to come up with a plan and priorities to ensure our kĆ«puna live quality lives in the community or in institutions.
If you want to work on these or other kƫpuna issues, contact Kupuna Caucus Co-chairs: Sen. Sharon Moriwaki (senmoriwaki@capitol.hawaii .gov) or Rep. Cory Chun (repchun@capitol.hawaii .gov); or State EOA Director Caroline Cadirao (caroline.cadirao@doh.hawaii.gov).
It was another great year for kĆ«puna. Gov. Josh Green signed into law bills that both enhance healthy aging and improve care for the frail. With support from the Council of State Governments Interagency Task Force on Sustainable Long-Term Care, the Kupuna Caucus convened a long-termcare summit of 64 organizations in February 2024, with a…
The 2024 Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society (HPGS) honoree is Dorothy Colby. Dorothy is a highly regarded dementia care specialist with more than 25 years of professional and personal experience in caring for people living with dementia. She is a Certified Positive Approach to Care trainer and mentor, as well as a Hawaiâi Alzheimerâs Disease Initiative Memory Care Navigator, Dementia Friends Master Trainer and Champion, and Roslyn Carter Institute Dealing with Dementia Trainer.
Dorothy was born in Kailua and raised in Hauâula on Oâahu. After graduating from St. Andrewâs Priory School in 1981, she attended Bryn Mawr College, where she earned her masterâs degree in 2023. She went back to school and graduated from the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiâolani Community College. She joined Hale Kuâike in 2005 and is now its community relations director.
An advocate for so many individuals, families and organizations, Dorothy says, âMy mission is to bring care partners together to learn how to better support those living with dementia.â
This yearâs HPGS student scholarship fundraiser will be held on Friday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 pm at the Arcadia. The registration form can be found at http://hpgs.org/scholarships.html. Donations will be accepted through Nov. 30.
HAWAII PACIFIC GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY (nonprofit) P.O. Box 3714, Honolulu, HI 96812 Sherry Goya, HPGS Executive Director 808-722-8487 | sgoyallc@aol.com | hpgs.org
The 2024 Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society (HPGS) honoree is Dorothy Colby. Dorothy is a highly regarded dementia care specialist with more than 25 years of professional and personal experiencein caring for people living with dementia. She is a Certified Positive Approach to Care trainer and mentor, as well as a Hawaiâi Alzheimerâs Disease Initiative Memory…
When my position as the vice president of operations for a large real estate franchise was eliminated, I created my own business consulting company in August 1993. It was also in 1993 that I took over the ownership of a real estate referral company. I have enjoyed over 30 years of being self-employed. All of this has been with the enormous support of my husband of 47 years.
All of my clients are like family to me, and I take great satisfaction knowing that some have been with me for as long as 20 years. I offer a variety of services to keep their clients, friends and family thinking of them, while saving money with bulk mail postage. I also do marketing for a shopping center and am the executive director for three nonprofit associations.
Generations Magazineâs art director and I have worked together since its inception in 2010. Now Iâm happy to be working for my daughter. The staff respects each otherâs talents, enjoys working together and takes pride in what we do for Hawaiâiâs kĆ«puna. We look forward to many important issues that are enjoyed, appreciated, and shared with family and friends. Our readers live in Hawaiâi and on the Mainland.
As you can see, I like keeping busy because it makes me happy. Hope you are also enjoying your life, no matter what youâre doing.
Mahalo for being a valued reader of Generations Magazine, some of you since 2010 and some who are new readers. It is my pleasure to be a part of this informative magazine.
When my position as the vice president of operations for a large real estate franchise was eliminated, I created my own business consulting company in August 1993. It was also in 1993 that I took over the ownership of a real estate referral company. I have enjoyed over 30 years of being self-employed. All of…
Every Sunday from 11am until 1pm HST, viewers from across the islands, the nation and the world join Melveen Leedâs Facebook livestream. Leaving their daily cares behind, they are uplifted by the singerâs distinctive voice and her words of wisdom, spiced up with humor and âMolokaâi Titaâ sass.
By casting her throw net worldwide, Melveen offers the opportunity to recall earlier, simpler times; or the glamorous era of hotel and Matson cruise ship showbands, revues and show rooms, and the beginnings of Hawaii Five-0, where she appeared regularly as guest. Younger generations get the chance to see and hear the artist whose albums their parents and grandparents cherish.
All are caught up in the magic, fun and â most importantly â the healing power of music.
Standing on a rock
Melveen learned how to make, mend and throw nets from her maternal grandfather on Molokaâi. To this day, she packs her shorts and a net she made herself on visits to the Friendly Isle. The strong foundation in life that her grandparents gave her is the rock she has stood upon through good times and bad, with her eyes on a sea of possibilities stretching to the horizon and beyond.
Melvina, as she was named by her grandmother, was born in 1943. Because my mother was only 17 years old and too young to raise me, my grandmother arranged a marriage for her to give me a name. He was from Tacoma, Wash., in the Navy, but she didnât love him.â Hazel (âDidiâ) was hiding herself and her child at different family memberâs homes in Honolulu, âso my grandparents came and took me off her bed and straight to Molokaâi and raised me. And Iâm glad they did that, because if I were living with my mother, I would have lived a different life. Very different. She was too young to raise a child.â
Her grandparents, William and Dora Place, lived at the East End of Molokaâi and had 11 children. William was the breadwinner, working for Maui County as a mechanic. He was self-taught, but considered one of the top mechanics on the island. Dora was a homemaker. âShe taught me housekeeping. She taught me how to cook. She taught me how to be neat. She taught me how to fend for myself. My grandfather taught me how to fend for myself, too. He taught me how to clean yard; how to garden.â Melveenâs aunts and uncles were like siblings to her. Aunt Rhoda became especially pivotal in her life.
Childhood on the Friendly Isle
Melveen grew up in a time when children were expected to do chores. But in their free time âwe went outside a lot to play, ride bikes, run with friends, and play hide and seek and chase master. We climbed trees like monkeys with ease,â she wrote in a recent Facebook post. They played marbles, tic tac toe, steal the flag, hopscotch and even âstuck cans to our feet with glue that was a sticky bean from a bush.â
Melveen graduated from Kilohana School in 1959. âI had an award â American Legion Award, which is a very high award. I was an A-student. And I was valedictorian for my graduating class.â Her time at Kilohana was another formative experience in her life because it provided opportunities to perform for people other than her family and the friends who visited her grandparents.
She had been entertaining them since the age of three, when William made her a âtiny little âukulele,â says Melveen. âHe played the key of C. I looked at his hands, he passed me the âukulele; I played C. He played G7, then put my little, tiny fingers on my uke and I played G7. Then I started singing. Thatâs how it all started.â By ear, Melveen taught herself how to play piano on the one at the school. To this day, she favors the key that her grandfather first taught her â the key of C.
In a 1984 interview archived on the Hawaiian Music Heritage Series website, she recounts the advice given her by Mr. James Lee, the principal of Kilohana School: âMelvina, if itâs from the heart, it reaches the heart.â That advice still resonates as she does her Facebook livestream. âI like music. Thatâs why on my show I do music that is pleasing to the ear; that is healing to the heart. That is why Iâm doing this.â
Adrift in Honolulu
Melveenâs grandparents always sent her to Honolulu to spend holidays and summers with her mother and stepfather. She lived with them while attending Radford High. It was an unhappy time â so much so, that she couldnât study and got bad grades. âI barely made it. However, I did graduate. The only thing I had good grades in was shorthand and English class.â
When she turned 18, Melveen moved out of their house and went to live with her aunt in Honolulu for a short while. Then she returned to Molokaâi, adrift in a sea of low self-esteem and not knowing what to do next. Her grandfather would have none of that attitude. âI didnât raise you to be like that. You better know what youâre gonna do, he told me, because itâs your future. Youâre going to get a good job, so you need a good education. Iâm sending you to Honolulu to stay with your Aunt Rhoda and youâre going to go to Honolulu Business College (HBC) and take accounting. You can do it; I know you can.â
The singing secretary
At HBC, she did well in typing and shorthand. âAnd they liked me because I sang for their programs,â says Melveen. When her uncle and aunt moved to Maui, she transferred to Maui Technical School â the predecessor of the University of Hawaiâi Maui College. She sang and entertained at college events, got a student council award and graduated with an associateâs degree in secretarial science.
Due to her top-notch skills, strong work ethic and effervescent personality, she had no trouble getting work as an executive secretary at enterprises as diverse as the pineapple canning industry on Maui and the newly opened Kahala Hotel (which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year) and the developer Jimmy Wong at Paradise Park on Oâahu. While working for him, she also began singing with the Berneâ Hal-Mann Dance Band at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Garden Bar.
Able to support herself from her Garden Bar gig, Melveen quit her day job. Toki Anzai, who owned Makaha Records, soon took notice of her. Makaha released âMelveen Leed at the Garden Barâ in 1966, âGive Me Tomorrowâ (1968) and âMelveen Leed Sings Todayâs Hitsâ (1969). Billboard said she was âstrictly pop, with tunes like âYesterdayâ and âThe Shadow of Your Smileâ,â but that Anzai was also developing âHawaiian songs with a modern beat to appeal to local patrons. Melveen Leed has great promise⊠as she is a strong performer who works well with chart songs and native material.â
âThe Hawaiian Country Girlâ
By the mid-â70s, she was working with Bud Dant, a former producer for Decca-Coral Records, who had succeeded Webley Edwards as host of the radio show âHawaii Calls.â Through his connections with Owen Bradley, legendary Nashville producer for singers like Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee, Melveen made 12 albums on the Lehua label with Bradleyâs famed session musicians, the Super Pickers. She was the first Hawaiian to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. âI like to be different,â Melveen chuckles. The liner notes for âMelveen: The Hawaiian Country Girl,â released in 1976, describe her as âa beautiful, intelligent and witty entertainerâ and âone of Hawaiiâs hottest recording artists.â
The stand-out song from her time with Lehua, âMorning Dew,â has a fascinating backstory â and it includes shorthand! Eddie and Myrna Kamae asked her if she would include their expanded English-language version of Larry Kimuraâs Hawaiian-only lyrics for âE Kuâu Morning Dewâ on the album she was about to record in Nashville. Sheâd left the song sheet at home, so she quickly transcribed in shorthand the lyrics from the cassette recording Eddie had given her. In her 1984 interview on the Hawaiian Music Heritage Series website, Melveen recounts, âI read it off of my shorthand notes and it was a one-take. At that time, I was so homesick, so I sang it with all my heart and soul. You could hear a pin drop after. All the guys said together, âBeautiful!ââ At the inaugural NÄ HĆkĆ« Hanohano Awards in 1978, âMelveen: The Hawaiian Country Girlâ album and âE Kuâu Morning Dewâ won Best Female Vocalist, Best Hapa-Haole Album, Best Single and Best Song. Melveenâs other albums include three recorded in Tahiti and two recorded with Hawaiâiâs Local Divas. In 2012, she released âI Wish You Loveâ on her own label, ML Records. It was her first jazz album and won the NÄ HĆkĆ« Hanohano Award for Best Jazz Album of the Year.
Pacific voyager
In 1995, Melveen was living in Tahiti. She was married to the boss of a pearl farm and lived on Aratika atoll in the Tuamotu Islands. Skills sheâd been taught by her uncles on Molokaâi came into play once again, as she free dived and spearfished. The breath control sheâd built up as a singer enabled her to dive 60 feet. Her sheer determination to prove her husband wrong â he thought she wouldnât be able to do it â helped!
During the 1980s, Melveen had started making jewelry to give as gifts, and Tahitian shells remain a key part of her artistry. The necklace she wore on the day of our interview âis a history of my life,â she said. Pointing to each component, Melveen explained, âThis is from Molokaâi and this is from Tahiti. I went to Samoa and Tonga â the Philippines. These all mean a lot to me.â Besides her Native Hawaiian and German ancestry, Melveen has identified Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Tahitian and Marquesan forebears in her genealogy.
In 2018, the Pan Pacific & South East Asia Womenâs Association of Hawaiâi honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. âLeed has made her marks in myriad of ways in education, television, entertainment, indigenous issues; her philanthropic charity work in the past 50 years; as well as being a positive role model for young people in the Pacific and the USA.â
Other horizons
Melveenâs favorite performance venue isnât one of the big ones, like the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall or the Mariinksky Theatre in St. Petersburg, but a small community theatre in Hastings, AÂŻ otearoa/New Zealand. The Hawkes Bay Opera House was originally built in 1915 but was newly restored in 2006 when Melveen performed there. A âlyric theatreâ in a mix of Spanish Mission and Art Nouveau architectural and decorative styles, it has perfect acoustics. âItâs a beautiful theatre,â Melveen says. âI made a whole pageantry there in honor of my very close friend Tommy Taurima.â She brought with her Waipahuâs HaÂŻlau Hula âO Hokulani. âI had the dancers chant and dance with sticks and spears. They were very good.â
The much-beloved MaÂŻori composer Tommy Taurima had a long association with the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oâahu, beginning in 1963. His most famous show, âHorizons: Where the sea meets the sky,â ran from 1995 until the end of the 2009 season. For her 2006 show, Melveen wrote a song for him in MaÂŻori. âItâs a song about saying goodbye. Donât go away. Just stay. I had this book of all the different composers of MaÂŻori music. So I got a line from him and a line from her, and I put the whole song together. Itâs a beautiful song called âE Noho Ra.â I had him sit on stage and I sang it to him.â In 2013, Taurima was presented with The Lei Pulama Aloha Living Treasure Award by the PCC. Sadly, he passed away in 2019.
Going with the âcurrentâ
In 1973, when The Congress of the Hawaiian People and Don Ho produced a concert designed to develop new talent in music and dance, Melveen presented young Little Anthony, as Tony Conjugacion was then known. The recording of their duet, âIesuÂŻ Me Ke Kanaka Waiwai,â was one of KCNN1420 radioâs most loved songs through the â70s and â80s. Five years earlier, Conjugacionâs mother had brought her 8-year-old to one of Melveenâs rehearsals at the Queen Kapiâolani Hotel and asked if she would hear him sing. âI invited him to my show that night and featured him to give him a start. The rest is history!â
James Dela Cruz, who formed his Na Opio O Koâolau hula haÂŻlau in 1981, is another mentee. He sometimes joins her on her Sunday livestream. âHeâs like a son to me â calls me âMama Melveen.â He teaches the tuÂŻ tuÂŻ and the young ones at his studio in KaÂŻneâohe, and he also has a studio in Japan. In his show at the âAlohilani hotel, he teaches the history of Hawaiâi.â
The 1973 concert was during the height of the âHawaiian Renaissance,â a time of controversy about traditional vs. modern forms of Hawaiian performing arts. Asked about todayâs music, Melveen says, âOne thing I know is you cannot stop progress. Every generation has their own music. Now we have different instruments. The sound is enhanced because of changes to the instruments . I can play slack key on my keyboard!â
The idea to use Facebook Live came to her in 2016, when she was thinking of cutting back on live performances. âIf I go on Facebook, I can go worldwide.â Sheâs been doing her Sunday livestream ever since, and those who join in are indeed from all over the world. The enthusiasm with which she has embraced new technology is no surprise. Enthusiastically adapting to what is available in her current environment, Melveen has transitioned to modern technology both musically and as an artist.
Her living room is a showcase of her wonderfully crafted decorative shell art, but she has also created many drawings and watercolor paintings on her iPad. All of them display a love of detail and balance, color, light and shade that would be at home in an art gallery anywhere in the world. âI cannot keep still,â Melveen says.
Healing in the key of M
In her tiny home-based studio on Sundays, Melveen uses her keyboard and voice for one purpose: âI donât do it for stardom. I do it because I know thereâs so many people out there who need it. Music is healing.â In her living room is a special area where she lights a candle and prays for people who are sick. Her prayer garden just outside her front door is filled with small, smooth rocks that she decorates with colored felt-tip pens. On each rock, she writes the name of the person she is praying for.
During her 12-year residency performing at the Ala Moana Hotel, Melveen had a phone installed on stage so she could sing to terminally ill patients. Every morning, she would call hospitals to find patients to sing to at that nightâs show. The next morning, sheâd visit the patient and bring them an autographed copy of âI Love You Hawaiâi.â âI would leave in a shambles knowing Iâd never see them again,â Melveen says. Now she takes calls from caregivers and performs their request in her home studio so they can share it with their loved one. Melveen is a Christian, deeply grateful for all the blessings Ke Akua has given her and for the healing that He brings. She believes He has given her this healing mission.
No stranger to health issues, herself, as a teenager, she had rheumatic fever and her Aunt Rhoda watched over her as she lay in a bed of ice. Melveen was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago. âIâve never experienced anything that brutal in all my life. My poor husband! He took good care of me.â Her illness is not something she shares with her Facebook audience. âIâm not here to tell them about my woes. I want them to heal.â Melveen has been married to Miguel âMikeâ Reyes, Jr. for 13 years. âI knew him when I was 15.
Heâs a real gentleman and very good looking!â Mike manages many aspects of Melveen Leed Productions, including the YouTube channel, her keyboard and studio equipment, and merchandise.
Closing the circle
Turning 81 in July, Melveen is pulling in her net full of wonderful memories. âNow I just want to relax and enjoy my life â do what I want to do. We stay at home and watch TV or travel. I do an event once in a while. I do my jewelry, and draw and paint. I love to cook. Iâve been married six times, so I learned different recipes from all the mothers.â In turn, sheâs taught her daughter and two granddaughters to cook, starting them off the same way her grandmother did when she was a baby â sitting her on the kitchen countertop with her feet in the sink, washing a pot of rice.
Every Sunday from 11am until 1pm HST, viewers from across the islands, the nation and the world join Melveen Leedâs Facebook livestream. Leaving their daily cares behind, they are uplifted by the singerâs distinctive voice and her words of wisdom, spiced up with humor and âMolokaâi Titaâ sass. By casting her throw net worldwide, Melveen…
According to a Federal Reserve System report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022âMay 2023 in 2023, â3/4 of non-retired adults had at least some retirement savings, about 28% did not have any. This share who did not report any retirement savings was up from 25% in 2021. While most non-retired adults had some type of retirement savings, only 31% of non-retirees thought their retirement savings were on track, down from 40% in 2021.â
In 2019, the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act was signed into law, and in 2022, SECURE Act 2.0 passed and amended its predecessor. The purpose of the SECURE Act was to assist Americans in saving for retirement by increasing access and encouraging contributions.
How does the new law affect estate plans? Prior to 2019, most retirement plan beneficiaries had the option to stretch taxable distributions and allow the assets to grow tax-free over the beneficiaryâs life. The SECURE Act 2.0 changed the stretch rules to apply to only a limited group â Eligible Designated Beneficiaries. So most beneficiaries will have to take distributions within 10 years.
Contact your estate planning attorney and financial advisor to review your financial and estate planning goals, and to ensure your retirement accounts name the proper beneficiaries.
According to a Federal Reserve System report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022âMay 2023 in 2023, â3/4 of non-retired adults had at least some retirement savings, about 28% did not have any. This share who did not report any retirement savings was up from 25% in 2021. While most non-retired adults had…
Having spent over 14 years handling elder issues, the one thing I have seen seniors do repeatedly is not plan for their passing because they think there will be time do it later. This naĂŻve mindset causes so much frustration and anger that instead of leaving behind a legacy of love and fond memories, ill will, anxiety and stress become the fallout.
Two months ago I met Lea, age 23. Her mother, Mary, died a couple of months prior. Mary was in poor health for years and did not think of what would happen to Lea after she passed. Mary was a single parent in her 60s with no other family. Although her home was mortgage-free, it was still in her deceased parentsâ name. Maryâs only source of income was Social Security, which was directly deposited into her bank account for paying household bills, utilities and grocery delivery.
Mary did not have any life insurance and only a few thousand dollars in savings. She did not make a will or any type of trust for her assets.
Lea dropped out of high school, spending the next four years as Maryâs caregiver. Lea never had a paying job.
When Mary passed away, Social Security stopped depositing money and the bank froze the account. Only Maryâs name was on it; Lea could not access it. Because utilities were paid from that account, notices from the utilities began arriving in the mail. Hospital bills and notices from collection agents also appeared. Additionally, the property taxes on the house Lea lived in that was in her grandparentâs name had to be paid. Lastly, her cell phone was disconnected.
It was at this time that I met Lea. She was a young woman with nothing in her name, no job or other source of income, no access to her motherâs monies, no transportation, no telephone and living in a house that the state assumed still belonged to her grandparents.
With no family and having lost contact with her friends from high school because of caring for her mother all these years, she was truly alone. She feared she would be homeless.
During the course of helping Lea out of this abyss, one thought echoed in my mind: âIf only Mary had taken a few hours to plan for the day she would leave Lea alone, this could have been avoided.â Now, instead of grieving for her mother, Lea was cast into a life of uncertainty and fear.
It could be that Mary didnât plan ahead because she was ill for years. But none of us should assume we will have sufficient time in the future to take care of our affairs and cause our loved ones to live the life of Lea. Do it now.
HAWAIâI STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Senior Counsel Division Alakea Corporate Tower, 1100 Alakea St., Ste. 1000 Honolulu, HI 96813 808-537-1868 | SCD@HSBA.org | HSBA.org
Having spent over 14 years handling elder issues, the one thing I have seen seniors do repeatedly is not plan for their passing because they think there will be time do it later. This naĂŻve mindset causes so much frustration and anger that instead of leaving behind a legacy of love and fond memories, ill…
You own your body after you die and you can say what happens to it. If you say nothing, it will be up to your next of kin, such as your spouse, your children and then more distant relatives. By planning your funeral in advance, you can spare your loved ones stress and conflict.
Your remains can be buried on your own land, but think about how that could affect the property value. The preparation for burial need not include embalming and may not require a casket. Many outside-the-box possibilities exist.
Burial and cremation are not the only choices. Google âdisposition of human remainsâ for ideas. Do you want your remains blasted into space or disposed of via alkaline hydrolysis? Do you want your ashes turned into diamonds for jewelry for your loved ones? The options might surprise you.
Many people recoil at the idea of donating their bodies to the local medical school, but medical professionals will tell you that the most valuable resource for learning about a human body is, well, a human body. A medical student could learn a lesson from dissecting your body that would enable them to save one of your loved onesâŠ
Finally, will there be some kind of service or celebration of life for you? You can have a say in those festivities. A funeral service planned by you might be one of the most loving gifts you can give the people who will mourn your loss.
You own your body after you die and you can say what happens to it. If you say nothing, it will be up to your next of kin, such as your spouse, your children and then more distant relatives. By planning your funeral in advance, you can spare your loved ones stress and conflict. Your…
If you are approaching retirement or are already there, you may be considering downsizing your home. Itâs a big decision, with ramifications for both your finances and your lifestyle. Here are some things to keep in mind: â Decide if a move makes sense. Your needs and priorities may shift in retirement. Perhaps you wonât require as much square footage as you once did, or you may find that maintaining your home is now a challenge.
It may be financially prudent and personally necessary to get out from under the costs and responsibilities of maintaining a larger property. Your location preference may shift, too. Commonly, retirees desire to live closer to family or in a warmer climate.
â Create a timeline for your move. Discuss the pros and cons of selling your family home now or in the future. External market factors can affect your next step. Timing the sale of your home and the purchase of a new one can be tricky. Be prepared in the event your home doesnât sell quickly.
â Consult a real estate professional. A real estate professional can help you determine what needs to be done before putting your house up for sale. Your home may need repairs to meet code or maximize its list price. Get an appraisal of current market value and decide what youâll be comfortable spending on a new, smaller home.
â Review your housing options. Once you decide to downsize, you can start looking for a new place that meets your needs and budget. If youâre considering a condo or townhome (two popular options for retirees) make sure to factor in any fees or assessments that are charged to residents when calculating the overall cost of ownership. If youâre in need of assisted living services, youâll also want to get a handle on those costs â and whether they can be offset by any long-term care insurance you may have â so you can plan accordingly. In terms of location, you may want to think about the proximity of amenities and services including grocery stores, transportation and your doctorâs office.
â Be prepared for a multi-gen conversation. A change as impactful as selling your home may prompt conversations with family members on the topic of your estate. Downsizing usually requires whittling down the personal possessions youâve acquired over the years. If youâre moving to a residence with managed maintenance, you wonât need the lawn mower, snowblower or other tools in your garage. If youâre thinking of giving items to family members, be prepared for the possibility of different generations having different interests and attachments to your home and belongings. It can be a good idea to establish how you want to explain to family members your lifestyle goals for retirement, so they can support you through the process.
â Review your finances carefully. Take the time to thoroughly review the financial implications of your situation. Just because you are downsizing does not necessarily mean you will suddenly have a cash windfall or establish enormous savings. Remember that HOA expenses, lifestyle changes and upgrades in construction quality can add to costs. Additionally, if you choose to move to a retirement area that has more built-in services, it can increase your cost of living, as well. Taking the time to explore the intricacies of your situation can prepare you for the next steps. And remember, you donât have to do it alone. A qualified financial advisor can help you navigate this complex process with confidence.
If you are approaching retirement or are already there, you may be considering downsizing your home. Itâs a big decision, with ramifications for both your finances and your lifestyle. Here are some things to keep in mind:â Decide if a move makes sense. Your needs and priorities may shift in retirement. Perhaps you wonât require…
Did you know WaikÄ«kÄ« Community Center (WCC) supports all Oâahu seniors, not just those from WaikÄ«kÄ«ÂŻ?
ACTIVE AGING: WCC offers a wide variety of classes, workshops and activities that can help improve balance, keep your mind sharp and teach you something new, all while having fun! Tai chi, hula, repurposing old jewelry, garden club, scrabble, ikebana and line dance are just a few examples of what the center offers.
SENIOR ASSISTANCE COORDINATION (SAC): SAC helps seniors facing a variety of challenges. We provide support for issues such as housing, nutrition, caregiver support and finances by coordinating other local services and accessing our programs. SAC can include direct financial assistance for emergencies and basic needs, such as help with utility and medical bills, or rental assistance.
âBUILDâ EMERGENCY SAVINGS: For Oâahu residents who are working, BUILD is a savings program that provides up to $1,000 in matched savings (weâll put in $1 for every dollar you save), with the goal of building $2,000 in savings over six to 12 months.
FREE PARKING/ACCESSIBLE BY BUS: Itâs easy to get here! Thereâs free parking in front of the buildings and a bus stop two blocks away.
Did you know WaikÄ«kÄ« Community Center (WCC) supports all Oâahu seniors, not just those from WaikÄ«kÄ«ÂŻ? ACTIVE AGING: WCC offers a wide variety of classes, workshops and activities that can help improve balance, keep your mind sharp and teach you something new, all while having fun! Tai chi, hula, repurposing old jewelry, garden club, scrabble,…
In the heart of Waiheâe, Oâahu, nestled under the protection of the mighty Koâolau Mountains, lies KEY Projectâs NÄ Pua o Koâolau KĆ«puna Program. Rooted in honoring those who served us, this free program offers a safe haven where kĆ«puna ages 50 years and older living from Kane’ohe to Kahuku can thrive through weekly social engagement, food and nourishment, and immersion in Hawaiian culture.
At the core of the KĆ«puna Program are its weekly social activities, including catered meals at KĆ«puna Breakfast and KĆ«puna Lunch. Other workshops serve as a bridge to perpetuate Hawaiian cultural arts, traditions and practices. Through hands-on experiences, kĆ«puna learn lei-making, ulana lau niu (coconut frond weaving), Hawaiian quilting and more. With the programâs intention to keep kĆ«puna mobile, they also visit neighboring wahi pana (legendary places) on monthly huakaâi (trips) from Waiheâe Watershed Tunnel, to exploring loâi kalo (taro patches), and traveling by boat to hear the moâolelo (stories, myths an legends) of Moku o Loâe (Coconut Island, a 28-acre island in Kane’ohe Bay). Each month is an adventure waiting to happen!
Overall, KEY Projectâs NÄ Pua o Koâolau KĆ«puna Program celebrates the golden years of life. Serving as that second home for many, you will quickly discover the key to its success are the program members themselves. Sign up for free at keyproject.org/kupuna-program or pick up a form at our office to be our next âpuaâ (flower)!
In the heart of Waiheâe, Oâahu, nestled under the protection of the mighty Koâolau Mountains, lies KEY Projectâs NÄ Pua o Koâolau KĆ«puna Program. Rooted in honoring those who served us, this free program offers a safe haven where kĆ«puna ages 50 years and older living from Kane’ohe to Kahuku can thrive through weekly social…
The MĆâiliâili Senior Center is dedicated to enriching seniorsâ lives through activities that enhance fine motor skills, cognition, balance and strength. Our offerings include exercise, dance, music, crafts, painting, Japanese and multicultural games. We strive to keep seniors safe, informed and connected.
The MĆâiliâili Community Center (MCC) Senior Program serves seniors 60 years and older living from Ward Avenue to Hawaiâi Kai. It receives partial funding from the Elderly Affairs Division, Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu, and the Hawaiâi Executive Office of Aging, an Aloha United Way Agency.
MĆâiliâili: A Community with Rich Heritage
MĆâiliâili has a rich history and cultural diversity. MCC began as a Japanese language school and continues to offer after-school Japanese language classes along with an after-school program that includes homework assistance, fun exercise and play. Keiki and kĆ«puna engage in shared activities, bridging generations and emphasizing sonkei â respect and care for elders.
MCC: A Hub of Support
Since 1945, MCC has been a cornerstone of MĆâiliâili, offering programs such as:
MĆâiliâili Senior Center (MSC): Fitness, arts, crafts, health talks and educational workshops
Kupuna Support Program (KSP): Respite care with social activities, hot meals, daily exercise, and cognitive activities
Children and Family Program (CFP): Afterschool programs, summer camps and cultural activities are offered
Community Impact
At MĆâiliâili Community Center, we create a supportive environment where seniors can thrive. We welcome you to visit us, participate in our programs, and stay active and connected at the MĆâiliâili Senior Center.
Join us in celebration of MĆâiliâiliâs rich cultural diversity and become a valued member of our vibrant community today.
The MĆâiliâili Senior Center is dedicated to enriching seniorsâ lives through activities that enhance fine motor skills, cognition, balance and strength. Our offerings include exercise, dance, music, crafts, painting, Japanese and multicultural games. We strive to keep seniors safe, informed and connected. The MĆâiliâili Community Center (MCC) Senior Program serves seniors 60 years and older…
