Contents 4 24
Letters Locales
12 DEPARTMENTS HEALTH 6
Community Service “An integral part of every society”
14
15
Burning the Candle at Both Ends in Retirement
Preventing the Spread of Dengue Fever
Preventing Back Problems as we get Older
16 18 20 22 23
808 Contact Info for seniors & caregivers
Wheelchair Safety Caring for your wheelchair
19 CULTURE
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16
8 10 12 14 19 21
a brother’s tribute: Marilyn Matsumoto
Senbazuru Big Island Ukulele Guild Island Scenes Handlebar Ribs Around Hawaii crossword puzzle; Civic Beat
On the cover: Moke Manarpaac (“A proper Filipino name,” he proudly exclaims as I slowly repeat his last name), resident of Honokaa and a regular around town, sat down outside Gramma’s Kitchen recently. “The drum brings it out of me. At first I was just tapping, tapping, tapping, then all of a sudden... ‘Hey wait a minute... I know that tune!’ I started singing along and it catches on. The more I sing the more I want to sing and drum and carry on and be a ham.” Moke bursts into song: “My baby don’t care for rings, or other expensive things, my baby just cares for me!” He wears the 1st Cavalry insignia to honor his fellow Vietnam veterans. “I was a clerk. But those boys, they really took the fight to the enemy.” Moke frequently plays at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Honokaa. “We have 3 guitarists; I’m the percussionist. I enjoy that.” Thank you, Moke, for the coffee and good conversation. Photo: Christine Bothmer
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From the Editor
W
elcome to the 16th issue of Elder Resource! It’s our first on the Big Island and we’re excited to be expanding and including more civic groups, more health and home care articles, and more resources for seniors and caregivers.
December 5th is International Volunteer Day, and we mark the occasion with Community Service, offering tips and ideas for getting started. Most people volunteer in one form or another, sometimes without realizing it. When we participate in events, we are essentially volunteering to participate in a community. With the right frame of mind, our contributions make the community stronger, and we become stronger too, from all we learn from other people in the community. Look through these pages and you’ll see many volunteers organizing and helping, teaching, performing, and even babysitting. Formal or informal, it doesn’t matter. Where would our community be without volunteers?
Here’s a community service effort everybody can get behind: let’s stop the spread of dengue. By looking around our homes, yards and businesses and taking action, we can eliminate mosquito breeding areas and avoid getting bit. These two actions help prevent the spread of dengue. Check out Preventing the Spread of Dengue on page 16 for more info. Dengue could be transmitted to any of the islands, so take these precautions even if there is currently no dengue on your island. Be safe this holiday season, and may peace and goodwill prevail.
-Chris Bothmer, RN
Elder Resource
Health & Culture for Seniors & Caregivers in Hawaii
Christine Bothmer, MA, BA, RN
Advisors
Editor & Publisher
Winifred Tamura-Lis, PhD, MSN, RN-BC Gerontological Nursing
Julie Bothmer-Yost Graphics, Design & Millennial Perspective
Judith Lee Copy Editor & Creative Consultant
Contributing Writers Karyn Clay, Paul Gammie Stuart Hada, Winifred Tamura-Lis 4
elder-resource.org I October 2015
Allen Stinson
Leilani Hino
HR & Logistics
Auntie Advisor
Volunteers Sadie Doi, Dorene Sautner Kenneth Uchibori © Elder Resource, 2015
Letters Thanx for Misao Tamura’s journal excerpt about Frogs and Frogging. It’s not a story you hear too often, but it sure evoked “frog flashbacks” for me! I went on frog hunts with my uncles and aunties more than 65 years ago in a family friend’s watercress farm in Kukuihaele on the Big Island. I developed a taste for frog legs, which is still with me. --Leilani Hino, Ahualoa, Big Island . . . By the way, Dad has gotten several compliments on the “Frogs and Frogging” article. A couple wanted to know more about frog eating and took a couple of pictures with Dad (Funny, huh? You know what people like to read!!). --Winifred Tamura-Lis, Kauai ... I could go on and on about the many articles in the Elder Resource about friends and people I know. Elder Resource has so many articles about the Westside, where I lived for thirty three years to be near my son. I look forward to reading it every month. Elder Resource should be in every home on Kauai, it is truly a resource for the elderly and young people can learn from it, too. Kudos to Chris. --Monica Contrades, Kauai
Printed in Hawaii The material in this magazine is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. All rights reserved. Advertisement in Elder Resource does not imply endorsement of products or services. Subscriptions $24 per year (6 issues).
Contact Elder Resource P.O. Box 1257 Koloa, HI 96756 info@elder-resource.org (808) 212-2760
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Community Service “an integral part of every society”
I
By Winifred Tamura-Lis, MSN f you surf the internet for information on Community Service, you will encounter a hero in Florence Nightingale. She was a nurse who worked tirelessly to improve hospital care in the mid 1800’s. She helped raise money to improve the health care conditions of soldiers in her care and advance hygienic conditions in hospitals to minimize disease and death. Her aide and service to others grew as she got older. She left a legacy of writings designed to improve the conditions of a particular group of people, which in the end benefited the public (Wikipedia). This is the ultimate community service.
Community Service for many older adults equates to volunteerism. The United Nations describes volunteerism as “not only the backbone of civil society organizations and social and political movements, but also of many health, education, housing and environmental programs. . . . [and] an integral part of every society.” Older adults are ideally suited for community service because of the life knowledge, experiences, skills, talents and insight they possess. When they share these attributes in volunteer service, they give strength and sustenance to their communities. Many retirees find that volunteering helps keep them healthy by giving a sense of purpose to their lives. Having something to look forward to is a good feeling. Whether it is tutoring a student, doing beach clean-up, food sharing or helping with a chore, volunteers can get a sense of accomplishment and feeling of worthiness and pride due to their contributions. Have you considered being a volunteer? Here are a few things to think about before volunteering: What skills and interests do you have and enjoy using? Do you like to work in a structured setting like a clinic or in a more relaxed, non-structured environment, such as cleaning a beach or working outdoors? Do you have other responsibilities that might need your attention before you make a volunteer commitment? How much time do you have to spare--three hours
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once a month or two hours twice a week? Or more? Carefully consider how much, when, how and where you can contribute, then seek out places that suit your personality. Keep in mind also that some activities are individualized and some involve groups. Word gets around--when we enrich the qualify of life of one person we enhance the quality of life of the community. Find a volunteer opportunity for you: • If you regularly attend a church, temple or civic club, inquire if there are opportunities to volunteer. • Beach clean-ups are frequently posted in local calendars, or visit surfrider.org and follow the links to your island to find their calendars. • RSVP (Retired Senior and Volunteer Program) matches senior volunteers to opportunities in many areas including health, fitness, social service, educational, cultural, and environmental programs in government and nonprofit settings. For more info, contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (see page 20 for contact info). Learn to assist others and support emergency responders through service learning: • Medical Reserve Corps ( www.doh.hawaii.gov) • Community Emergency Response Team (www. fema.gov)
Wailoa Bridge, Hilo (photo: Christine Bothmer) visit our archives I elder-resource.org
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a brother’s tribute:
Marilyn Matsumoto By Stuart Hada
“They call me Melelani now,”
she told me as she picked me up at the airport. I had not seen my oldest sister for some time since I now live on the mainland. It’s the third name she’s taken on. In her older years, it’s a new wrinkle.
Her new name signaled a new life phase. In her retirement, she embraces Hawaiianness. Her hair, cut short to better hold her haku during hula performances, is always decorated with a flower. She gives ukulele lessons to senior citizens, and she takes lessons from her own kumus, perfecting her Hawaiian entertainment skills. Her embracement of the Hawaiian culture is not new; she is not a Hawaiian Renaissance faddist. She is embracing something deeper. When she was eight years old, she first learned to hula and to play the ukulele with our Kipu Hawaiian neighbors, the sisters Rachel and Patricia Malina. But it is more than ukuleles and hulas. Although both our parents were Nisei, full ethnic Japanese, my father seemed Hawaiian. He looked Hawaiian--stocky, dark skin, black hair. He resembled the silver haired Pili Malina, our full blooded Hawaiian neighbor. And he spoke Hawaiian. Whenever we visited the North Shore, the old time Wainiha Hawaiians hailed him with “Hanalei! Hanalei!” their version of Henry, my father’s Christian name. After this greeting, they all bantered in Hawaiian, belly shaking with staccatoed glottal stops, ending with hearty laughter. My father passed this Hawaiianess to my sister. C. Bothmer
Before
Melelani,
Above: Marilyn prepares to call out a bingo number; Shimoe Mukai turns the basket of wooden balls during Senior Fun Day at Lydgate Park, Kauai, 2014. 8 elder-resource.org I October 2015
most people called my sister Marilyn, her given first name. In post-war Hawaii through the sixties this name was like a badge. Its Americaness symbolized our right to be all things American. My sister took advantage of that right, especially in school, when women began being encouraged to excel in all subjects. She excelled in math. She showed such competency that Mr. Miwa, her high school math teacher paid her a home visit and encouraged her to study engineering at a four year university. Instead, she opted for Honolulu Business College. Soon after her graduation, she started her professional years as administrative assistant to the director of Kauai Veteran’s Memorial Hospital. In those years, she was efficiency driven. “A clerical engineer,” she now calls what she did. She ended up responsible for the hospital’s extensive medical records, and stayed with the job for nearly forty years. In those years she became Marilyn Matsumoto, married to Shigeru. Marilyn Matsumoto, wife and mother to two boys, would be known as Marilyn in her community and in her professional life. Like my siblings, I would continue to call her Etchan. After all, “Etchan” was the third name we learned after Ma and Daddy. A lifetime of memories has seasoned that name, making it implacable, irrevocable. In my young adulthood, I encountered Mrs. Mary Keuma, our old Chinese Hawaiian Kipu neighbor, in the lobby of First Hawaiian Bank. Then in her seventies, she said, “Stu, ‘as you. Ho! You big boy now.” Mrs. Keuma asked about my five living siblings and two cousins by name. Finally, she asked about my oldest sister, “And how’s Etchan.” When she recited that name, “Etchan”, I realized the emotional strength of the name. As I encountered other Kipu people in Lihue, when they referred to Etchan by that name,
I could not help but feel a great connection. When the Matsumuras, Tanjis and Goodales referred to Etchan by that name, it brought to mind our family’s long standing relationships--some going back three or four generations. The name also functioned as a portal to the past for my mother. Well into her eighties, she maintained her relationship our old Kipu neighbor, Rose Malina Matsumura. After one of her visits my mother said Rose still felt sad as she reminisced about her daughter’s shortened life. Rachel died in her 30’s more than two decades previous. My mother, to comfort Rose, told her: “Look at Etchan. she is so happy when she hula for the senior citizens, and look at how all the senior citizens perk up when she performs. She learned all that from Rachel and Patricia when they were small kids.” Rachel still lived in Etchan. “Etchan” resurrected memories of their treasured children at eight years old. On another occasion, Etchan and her friend Jeanie Yamanaka, a retired school teacher visiting from Oregon, hurried into my mother’s home. Both were in their late sixties. “Good fun,” Jeanie said. “We were down at Keapana chicken fight to sell Randy’s fish. Etchan would stand up on the back of the truck and yell, ‘Akule! Akule! Two dollahs! Two dollahs!’ Good fun,” Jeanie repeated. Two ladies
having a good time, telling their adventures to my mother. After they left, mother tells me, “Just like w’en they small kids. When Jeanie was 5 years old, she used to come over and she and Etchan would play in my kitchen.” Here, nearly 65 years later, my mother had the opportunity to see them again playing in her kitchen. “Etchan” is truly a name seasoned with a lifetime of memories.
C. Bothmer
Marilyn “Etchan” Matsumoto (far right) at the annual Kauai Senior Craft Fair 2013, with Karen Hiranaka and Lena Souza.
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Senbazuru By Christine Bothmer
Wikipedia: The word origami comes from two Japanese words, ori meaning fold; and kami, which means paper.
P
aper was invented over 2000 years ago in China, but it was a long time before it became available or even affordable to average citizens. In the Edo period of Japanese history (1615-1868), there were at least two types of paper--kozo, a lesser quality commercial paper; and hosho, a higher quality paper used for special prints (ViewingJapanesePrints. net). One of the earliest known books on origa-
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mi dates back to 1797, and the author is believed to be a Japanese monk whose name is no longer known. Origami crane images are present on nearly every page alongside images of origami instructions whose format remains popular to this day. The book’s title, Hiden Senbazuru Orikata, translates to The Secret of One Thousand Cranes Origami. The story of One Thousand Cranes is an ancient one with many variations. The folding of 1000 cranes is believed to bring good luck, good health, longevity. The tradition continues to this day, made even more popular by Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl who was suffering the ravages of radiation poisoning after surviving the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. As the illness took its grip, little Sadako started her journey of folding 1000 origami cranes. She died at the age of 12 from leukemia. Her story has inspired peace day observances, memorial parks and traveling museums in several countries. Collectively known as senbazuru, these one thousand cranes are given on many occasions. Leilani Hino, of Ahulaloa, shares her experience: “When my dad celebrated his 60th birthday, we made a thousand paper cranes and hung them all over the centerpiece, which was a dragon counting the cranes with a calculator (he was born in the year of the Dragon and was an accountant).� Senbazuru have been transformed in Hawaii, with the cranes being organized into an array of patterns, simple to ornate, the designs inspired by the surrounding culture. Oftentimes in the design, there is an extra crane offset from the rest, making the total one thousand and one. The purpose of the extra crane? For good luck.
Background image: Hiden Senbazuru Orikata, 1797
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Big Island Ukulele Guild
Photos & Captions contributed by Tom Russell Write-up by Christine Bothmer
T
he Big Island Ukulele Guild’s 11th Annual Stringed Instruments Show was held in October at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo.
With quarterly meetings, workshops three times yearly, and several exhibits around Hawaii island each year, the BIUG is a busy and active club. Many of their workshops revolve around building jigs. “Being a luthier (a builder of stringed instruments) is a lot about building jigs,” explains Tom Russell, guild treasurer, webmaster and avid ukulele builder. “A jig is a tool to help in the building of, in our case, ukuleles. For example, mating the neck to the body is a big challenge because of the level of precision needed.” The mortise and tenon joint, invented thousands of years ago, is used to join the neck and body, and a custom-made jig helps ensure a good fit and alignment. Tom Russell: “You don’t have to live in Hawaii to join Big Island Ukulele Guild and be a part of a group of people who are more than happy to help you with your ukulele building. Many are wood workers of every type with a lot of knowledge and experience.” 12
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Become a part of BIUG-- visit their website at BigIslandUkuleleGuild.org to learn more.
Stanford Regidor and BIUG member Doug Powdrell during the kanikapila at the 2015 BIUG Wailoa Arts Center show in Hilo.
Ernest Theisen examines the bracing for the top of this ukulele.
Guild member Paul Arrington from Kalaheo in his shop with student and her newly finished ukulele.
Tom Russell leads a group of BIUG members in building a mortise-tenoning jig at a workshop this past August.
Jenna Yanagi works on a radius dish used to shape the backs of ukuleles at a recent BIUG Workshop.
BIUG Member Tad Humble shapes the neck heel of a tenor.
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Island Scenes photos, Christine Bothmer
Donald S. Quon performs hula to Henehene Kou Aka, as played by the Kalaheo Ukulele Group at the PrimeTime Wellness Fair on Kauai.
Norberto Campo cherishing a moment watching over his new granddaughter at the Hilo Farmer’s Market. 14 elder-resource.org I October 2015
A brilliant lehua blossom on an ohia tree along a trail in the kipuka Pu`u Hulululu along Saddle Road. A kipuka is an area of forest separated from other forest by lava flows. This isolation allows for the evolution of unique ecosystems since species living in kipukas are genetically isolated from the larger populations.
Spencer Beach Park, Kawaihae
Burning the Candle at Both Ends
In Retirement
M
By Karyn Clay, of Ho`onani Day Center & Care Home
any individuals increase responsibilities to family and community when work demands come to a close in retirement. It is wonderful to keep active and involved in the world around you, and quite common here in our caring island communities. Should a caregiving situation arise; however, many seniors end up burning the candle at both ends without realizing how important it is to coordinate extra help. Many older adults care for their parent or spouse once early signs of dementia become apparent, or when they require physical assistance. These informal caregivers also often have commitments to local agencies where they volunteer, and their grandchildren sometimes need after-school care. They also maintain medical appointments for their family while being ultimately responsible for daily chores such as cooking and cleaning. What well intended older adults may not realize is how their full schedules may begin affecting their health and well-being. It is important to ease the demands on their time; however, pulling back from life-fulfilling interests may put them at risk of becoming depressed or resentful. Coordinating a team of support for this role is critical in order to maintain the other values and joys of life. Should you or someone you know see yourself in a similar situation, I encourage you to become involved with Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The Kaua’i Agency on Elderly Affairs and Hawai’i County Office of Aging are here to help you understand the full scope of resources that are available for those who are burning the candle at both ends. Allowing experts to enrich the life of your loved one while you volunteer or participate in social clubs that bring you fulfillment creates a win-win dynamic. All of this is imperative to giving you a well rounded life, so please consider getting the support you need to make the most of each beautiful Hawaiian day!
Karyn Clay has been caring for older adults in a variety of programs for the past 21 years. She earned a B.A. in Gerontology from SDSU in 1998 and moved to Hawaii that same year. Karyn founded Ho’oNani Day Center in 2002 and Ho’oNani Care Home in 2015, located on the same property in Kamuela, Big Island. Her husband John and daughter Charly are very supportive of her service to older adults. visit our archives I elder-resource.org
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Preventing the Spread
of Dengue Fever
C
ases of dengue fever have been reported on the Big Island, so now is a good time to check areas and eliminate or repair places where mosquitoes like to lay eggs. Aside from being itchy and annoying, the bite of an infected female mosquito can spread dengue, which is a virus. A female mosquito will lay hundreds of eggs in her short life, so a dengue outbreak can spread quickly. Infected people can spread dengue to other islands when they travel, so even if you live on another island, do your part to prevent the spread of dengue.
Dengue can have serious complications, so if you think you might have dengue see a doctor right away. Common symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, nausea, vomiting. Mosquitoes need only a little water to lay their eggs and become adults. The eggs are often laid on the walls of water-filled containers, remaining stuck there until they hatch or get scrubbed off. The next time the water level rises to cover the eggs, they hatch. Here are some things you can do to prevent the spread of dengue:
Interrupt the mosquito life cycle Drain and dump standing water inside and outside your home. Buckets, bowls, flower pots, tires and cans are common egg-laying spots. Cover water storage containers with a tight lid or mesh small enough to keep mosquitoes out. If it’s not possible to cover (vas16
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CDC/James Gathany
es, pet water bowls), empty and scrub out every week to remove eggs. Consider installing a pump to circulate water in larger open containers like bird baths or non-chlorinated pools. • Throw away, turn over or store under a roof any containers that could collect water. • Repair cracks or gaps in septic tank lids. • Cover septic tank vent pipes with a mesh small enough to keep mosquitoes out. • Keep mosquitoes out of the house: Repair screens and avoid leaving doors open. Prevent mosquito bites by covering up, using mosquito repellants, using mosquito nets over beds.
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Preventing Back Problems
As We Get Older
By Dr. Kalani Walther, DC of Kalaheo Wellness Center
A
s we tell our patients, “It’s always better to put out a campfire than a forest fire.” Too often we wait until we have a big problem before dealing with it and by then it is a crisis. This is true when it comes to back problems too. Prevention is much better than fixing a big problem. Back pain is actually your friend. I hear you saying “That’s crazy!” Pain is simply your body telling you something is wrong. When we ignore our aches and pains it is like driving down the road in your car and the engine light goes on. You can have it looked at right away, or put a piece of black tape over it so you won’t be reminded of the problem. We all can see how crazy the second approach is, but we do this with our bodies a lot of the time. Prevent back problems by listening to your body and working with it instead of against it. Another tip is to keep moving. I once treated a 102 year-old lady who lived alone and took care of herself. I asked what her secret was; she replied “Sonny, you just got to keep moving.” Movement of the joints in your back is necessary to keep the pain away. Daily exercise and gentle stretching are great ways to keep your joints from locking up. Hold your stomach in while you walk; this will help strengthen your back. Many back injuries happen when we bend over, lift and twist all at the same time. Avoid combining two of those motions, and never do all three together. Sitting correctly also helps prevent back problems. Support your low back with a chair that pushes your low back forward, or stick a small pillow behind your low back. Get up frequently and move around. These are just a few pointers on preventing back problems and remember: “You just got to keep moving.” Contact Dr. Walther at the Kalaheo Wellness Center at (808) 332-5580.
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C. Bothmer
HANDLEBAR RIBS By Christine Bothmer
Beef Back Ribs These easy and tasty ribs come with a built-in handle. • Season lightly with salt & pepper • Wrap in foil, place in a baking dish • For small, local grass-fed ribs like these, Bake for 1 hour at 350, and another hour at 300. “For big mainland ribs, bake at least an hour longer. Pour off fat to avoid lengthy frying, and the ribs will be tender and juicy. • Open the foil, slather both sides with your favorite barbeque sauce. Leave open and bake another 20 minutes or until sauce is good and bubbly.
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Members of the Hanapepe Senior Club are ready for the rush at the annual Kauai County Senior Clubs’ Arts & Craft, Food & Entertainment Fair held in October. From Left: Kenneth Uchibori, Tina Sakamoto, Sadie Doi & Kay Nakata. Photo contributed by Sadie Doi
Community Resources 808 Contact Info for seniors & caregivers County Senior Centers are a gathering place for social events, classes, exercise groups, arts, crafts, health & community information. Kauai 241-4462 Maui 270-7308 Honolulu 973-7258 Hawaii 961-8710 Aging and Disability Resource Centers help older adults, individuals with disabilities, and family caregivers find options for long term supports and services. Kauai 241-4470 Oahu 768-7700 Maui 270-7774 Molokai 553-5241 Lanai 565-6818 Hilo 961-8626 Kona: 323-4390 Child Welfare Services To report abuse or neglect, call: Oahu: 832-5300 Neighbor Island call 1-800-494-3991 Adult Protective Services To report abuse, neglect, financial exploitation by others or serious endangerment due to self-neglect of a vulnerable adult, call: Kauai 241-3337 Oahu 832-5115 Maui 243-5151 East Hawaii 933-8820 West hawaii 327-6280 USDA Home repair grants Home repair grants for income qualified homeowners ages 62+. To see if you qualify call: Kauai 245-9014 Oahu 541-2600 Maui 871-5500 Molokai 553-5321 Hilo 933-8330 20
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Civic Beat Happy Sakada Day! December 20, 2015 Last year, Governor Ige signed into law a bill designating December 20th of every year as Sakada Day in honor of Hawaii’s Filipino heritage. The sakadas, or Filipino plantation workers, were the first Filipinos to arrive in Honolulu aboard the S.S. Doric more than 100 years ago on December 20, 1906, to work as contract laborers in the plantation industry. About 120,000 sakadas arrived in Hawaii between 1906 and 1934. These sakadas paved the way for the legacy that would be built by the Filipino community in Hawaii and worldwide (House of Representatives press release).
Civic groups & private parties:
Commemorate Events & Milestones
with a story & photos in Elder Resource Magazine
- Anniversaries - Workshops - Birthdays - Gatherings - Parties & Potlucks For more information & to see if you qualify, contact Elder Resource: info@elder-resource.org.
Looking for senior softball players,
born 1961 or earlier, for team in Kauai Senior Softball league.
Men, women, all skill levels.
Senior rules: no sliding, collisions, unlimited courtesy baserunners, so don’t fret about minor ills. Good team spirit and community feeling in the league. Practices in Kapa’a.
Call Ron 808-651-9790 or Jed 510-332-3887. visit our archives I elder-resource.org
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Wheelchair Safety
H
By Christine Bothmer, RN & Winifred Tamura-Lis, MSN elping a person transfer from one chair or position to another can be tricky. Unless carefully thought out and rehearsed, there is a risk of injuring either the care recipient or the caregiver. Not everybody who uses a wheelchair needs help when transferring in and out of the chair, but for a person at risk for falling, and caregivers, here are a few safety tips to help assure a safe transfer. Every situation is unique, so consult a physical therapist to learn the best transfer technique for your situation.
Before the transfer, review the procedure so both people understand the process. Double-check that the wheelchair is nearby, the wheels are locked, the foot pedals are out of the way, and no garments are dragging on the floor or at risk for snagging. Care recipients, perform strengthening exercises regularly so you are able to help with the transfer. Use your hands to help push yourself up to stand or place your hands on the shoulders of the person helping you. Do not clasp your hands behind their neck. Caregivers, use these ergonomically safe movements: • Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back.
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• Keep your feet shoulder-width apart • Keep the person you are assisting close to you. • Avoid twisting; instead take small steps with your feet to reposition. During the transfer, the caregiver stands in front and lifts from the waist, clasping their hands behind the person’s back. Do not lift a frail older adult by the armpits, pull their arms to help them stand or push from behind. With practice, caregivers and care recipients can work as a team to assure both people stay free from injuries. Other equipment and techniques are available if needed. Contact a health care professional or medical supply company for more information.
A Light-Hearted Conversation on CARING FOR YOUR
WHEELCHAIR By Paul Gammie of Gammie Home Care No one ever WANTS to have to rely on a wheelchair for their mobility needs, but life conditions sometime require the use of these products. Thank goodness they were invented (a long time ago!) because they really serve a useful purpose. Alright, so now you’ve got yourself a brand new, shiny, wheelchair (Oh boy!!). What do you need to do to take care of it? There are two immediate dangers for wheelchairs: water and dust. When water gets into the metal frame of a chair, rust can happen from the outside of the metal frame inward AND from the inside outward. The salty dust we have in the islands will also greatly contribute to a rusting problem. The best thing is to prevent your chair from getting rained on, and wipe it down with a dry towel if it does get wet. Also, every three months or so, take a clean, dry rag and wipe down the frame of the chair (especially under the seat area!), and remove any dirt accumulation. Doing these simple chores can greatly increase the lifetime of your chair. Other common issues are adjusting the tension on the wheel-locks of the chair and replacing sagging upholstery. As the chair ages, various bearings may have to be replaced as well. Some of this you can do yourself, and some you may want a person trained in this type of work to do for you. A well cared for chair should last at least five years and possibly much longer. Give it some love!!! More helpful information is available in Lihue at Gammie Home Care. 2906 Akahi St., Lihue. And they have a Maui location in Kahului. Their phone number is 632-2333. www.gammie.com
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“Is this the store with that
Elder Resource Magazine?� C. Bothmer