In Recognition of the Molokai Neighborhood Night Shift Team

For most of us, our nights are spent relaxing with our families in the comfort of our homes.  We share stories of our day, spend time with our children, or maybe even enjoy a movie with our spouses. For the staff of the Molokai night shift, their nights are spent providing care and compassion to the residents, many of whom might be restless, anxious, or unable to sleep.

Nights can be a difficult time for residents.  It is dark, quiet, and the environment is often unfamiliar.  Residents who used to sleep next to their spouses now wake up in the dark alone.  Midnight bathroom trips that we all take for granted are no longer possible for many residents.  They wake up and may be frightened, cold, and needing help.

This is where the Molokai night shift staff becomes so important; answering that frightened call in the middle of the night, comforting someone who is lonely and unable to sleep by making a cup of hot tea and “talking story”. To the residents of the Molokai unit, they are the angels of the night.

I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Molokai unit night shift staff: Irene Parr, Marilyn Timbreza, Ines Antolin, Loreto Mendoza, Richard Guiwa, Catherine Nakama, and Irene Alejo. While I am home snuggled warm in bed, they are here ensuring that the residents have a safe and peaceful rest. No one should spend their nights lonely and afraid, and as long as the Molokai night shift team is on duty, no one will.

With Love and Aloha,

Janinne Grimes, RN, Neighborhood Supervisor

The Language of Luana

Starting in the month of October we will be making a conscientious effort to use our Luana language, meaning that we will begin making a shift from using institutional language like “facility” to refer to our two physical locations. During the month of October we will ask that all staff start using our Luana language by changing two simple words in your vocabulary.

1) Instead of “facility” try using “community” or “campus”. For example Mr. Doe lives in the Hale Makua Wailuku community.

2) Instead of “unit” or “wing” use the word “neighborhood”. For example, Jane enjoys working on her garden in the Pikake Neighborhood.

Stay tuned we will be featuring two new words every month to help align our everyday language with our cultural change initiative.

Residents View 30 Years of Photojournalism at the MACC

On Wednesday, Hale Makua residents visited the newest exhibit at Maui Arts & Culture Center's Schaefer International Gallery - Matthew Thayer and The Maui News: Thirty Years of Photojournalism. A wonderful exhibit chronicling three decades of Maui's front page news events. Starting in the 1980s through the 2000s.

the exhibit begins in the 1980s

Ali & May look at newspaper articles from the past

Bette & Rhonda view some of the more current photos

Photographer Matt Thayer pictured with mom, Bette & Rhonda

Bety & Gloria

Robert and his daughter Gayle

Nancy looks at a compilation of past newspaper font pages

Casey with his son Gary

A Luau for Luana

On Sunday, September 19th, Mythical Magical Maui was held at the Wailea Marriott Resort & Spa, our 22nd annual luau fundraiser. The program include four fantastic performances by 'Ulalena; guest speakers including our CEO, former and current Hale Makua residents, and a member of Hale Makua Health Services' staff; and honored Walter Hester, CEO of Maui Jim Sunglasses. All proceeds from this event will benefit Luana, our efforts to create culture change at Hale Makua Health Services.

'Ulalena performs "Kumulipo"

This was such a great event that wouldn't have been possible without the help of so many people, particularly the cast and crew of 'Ulalena, who donated their time and talents for this year's luau. 'Ulalena performed four vignettes: Kumulipo, Makahiki, Hina, and 'Ulalena, which included amazing vocals by Lia Krieg, hula numbers, instrumentals, and aerial acrobatics. If you're on Maui, their show is a definite must see!

'Ulalena's performance "Hina"

Guest speakers included former resident, Joe Thomas, and current resident, Nancy Kawamura. Nancy spoke about her life at Hale Makua, all of the activities she looks forward to and the quality of care that she receives - all she has to do is push a button and someone will come to her room to assist her. Joe shared the moving story about how after over a year at Hale Makua, he was able to leave the community to live independently at Hale Mahaolu. Such an inspiring story. When Joe first moved into Hale Makua he wasn't able to speak or stand due to a stroke.

Guest speakers included a former & current resident

The most passionate guest speaker was Activities Director, Teresa Lopes, who spoke about why she has worked at Hale Makua Health Services for over thirty years. Her speech started with why people worked at the same place for long periods of time, the first being pay and the second pension. Working for a non-profit organization, she stated that neither of these were the reasons why she stayed, but the fifth reason, the people, this was why she's been with the organization for over three decades. Teresa shared a heartfelt story about one of the many residents who have inspired her over the years. This resident, like so many, thought that when he came to Hale Makua he was going to pass away soon, that Hale Makua literally was the place people go before they die. This same resident that cried every day for weeks when he first moved to Hale Makua began doing things that he had never done before, like swimming and bowling, he told Teresa that moving to Hale Makua was like just starting another chapter of his life.

Emcee Mitch Mitchell introduces Teresa Lopes

This year's luau honoree was Walter Hester, CEO of Maui Jim Sunglasses. Walter was recognized for his generous contributions and support over the years, from becoming this luau's first principle sponsor and remaining the principle sponsor for eight years, to serving on our Board of Directors. We are so thankful and grateful for his efforts in helping us as we strive to stimulate our residents with hope, sense of family, and inclusion.

Honored guest Walter Hester, CEO of Maui Jim Sunglasses

Mahalo to our sponsors Carlsmith Ball, Arisumi Brothers, Atlas Insurance Agency, American Savings Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank. Without their generous support this event would not have been possible.

Music & Hula

Residents enjoy music by Hollis Lee and Hula from Pookela

Eden Alternative Tip of the Week: Bringing Change into Your Organization

Develop a sense of urgency around the need for change. Share with people why change is needed NOW.   This will spark the initiative to get things moving.  Get the conversation started! 

Form a powerful coalition of people that will assist you.  It takes strong leadership to convenience people that change is needed.  You will need visible support from key people within your organization. Form a support team by identifying the natural leaders, make cross-departmental selections, secure a commitment from them, and develop and deepen your teamwork within the team.
 
Create a shared vision for change.  A clear vision will help everyone understand why you're asking them to get on-board. To develop a shared vision, explore what values best exemplify the change you want to see, capture a short summary of this vision in writing, define a strategy for bringing it to life, and make sure that all on the support team can confidently describe your vision in five minutes or less!

Communicate your vision.  What you do with your vision after you create it will determine your success. Consider speaking frequently about your vision, openly address the concerns of others, apply your vision to all aspects of operations, and lead by example.  

Systematically remove obstacles. You can achieve this by examining your organization's structure and systems and affirming that they are aligned with your vision.  Leave no stone unturned.  Seek out those who are resistant to change and work with them, helping them see how they can be a powerful part of the solution.   

Stop and smell the roses!  Celebrate what you've accomplished along the way.  Create an oral history of your successes and repeat the stories often.  Make sure that word of these successes reaches beyond your doors. And lastly, set goals to continue building on what you've achieved so far.

Cheering on Hawaii's Little League Team

On August 26th, Adult Day Health clients and staff cheered on Hawaii's Little League team to defeat Pennsylvania in their quest for another Little League World Series title. Go Waipio!

Revisiting Luana's Vision & Guiding Principles

Last week members from our senior management team met to discuss next steps in reinvigorating our Luana journey, starting with the formation of a Sponsor team of eight individuals, a segment of the original Core Team that would create the initial plan and be responsible for ensuring that we complete all of the milestones necessary for completing The Eden Alternative Path to Mastery: The Art of Creating a Caring Community.

In this pre-planning meeting we also reviewed the mission and guiding principles that the Core Team agreed upon last year, which warrants restating here:

The mission of Luana is to create a self-sustaining long-term care village at Hale Makua Health Services that is inviting, lively, inter-generational, educational, and valued as part of the journey of life. 

Luana's guiding principles:

• We are a village with compassion, meaningful engagements, and diversity - the antidotes for loneliness, helplessness and boredom
• We honor our community everyone, every day, and every way by celebrating life and honoring the journey.

Favorite Recipe Shared

Hale Makua resident Nonna Yalon and Activities Assistant Jackie Tapuro share a favorite Filipino recipe for Sinigang. Ono-licious!

Bon Dance in Wailuku

Residents enjoy the dancing and music

Hale Makua Wailuku continued the annual tradition of dancing and music with its annual Bon Dance. Hale Makua's 27-year tradition of the Bon Dance was first started by our CEO, Tony Krieg, who at the time was the Administrator of Hale Makua Wailuku. He shared that he used to take his two young daughters to the Bon Dance.

It's such a treat to be a part of an organization with such a rich culture and history. I hope that this tradition continues on for many years to come. Mahalo to all of the dancers, musicians, volunteers, and staff members who help to make it possible!

Midori Hayashida & Asha Piekarz

Grandparent's Day Photo Contest

Throughout the week of September 6th we'll be having a Twitter photo content in celebration of Grandparent's Day on Sunday, September 12th. Please tweet @HaleMakua your favorite photo of a grandparent (it doesn't have to be your grandparent) with #GDPC, and include a brief description of why it is one of your favorite grandparent photos. You can tweet as many different photos as you like. 

All submissions will be entered into a random drawing for two tickets to our annual Ohana Luau, Mythical Magical Maui, on Sunday, September 19th at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, featuring performances by 'Ulalena and an onolicious Hawaiian buffet dinner. The winner will be drawn on Monday, September 13, 2010, and the winning photo will be featured on our blog.

And don't forget to honor your grandparents on their special day this Sunday!

Eden Alternative Tip of the Week: Pay Attention to the Harvest

It won't be long now and fall will be in full swing. The nights will start getting cooler, the days getting shorter, and did you see that beautiful harvest moon last week? Soon the farmers will be out harvesting their crops, the results of their hard work during the growing seasons of spring and summer. School has started and the favorite fall pastime of football season is kicking off near you. Fall is a great time of year!

On your home's journey toward culture change and person-directed care using the Eden Alternative, you also experience seasons. You experience times when everything is just right to plant the seeds of change. You invest heavily in educating, involving, planning and implementing those new ideas. Then, if you have done well, you reach the time of harvest, when you can see those efforts pay off in benefits to all care partners.

Just as we take time to breathe a little deeper and enjoy the fall warmth and explosions of color in the out-of-doors, do not forget to do the same within your home. What harvest has your home been reaping from its efforts at transformation this summer? Are you noticing, sharing and celebrating the successes you are seeing, no matter how small? Sometimes when we as leaders have our eye on the bigger vision of where we are leading, we forget to stop and breathe deeply, and celebrate what is happening right before our eyes.

Recognize and celebrate the harvest that has been sown in your home's journey! It is what keeps people energized and motivated to move forward, to dig deeper, to try to take it to the next level. It will also help make them stronger should the cold winds of winter blow in the door. You are making a difference everyday in the lives of so many others ... celebrate!

Benefit of Engaging Activities

This morning Administrator in Training, Connie Miller, shared a story from her volunteering experience at this past Friday's Bon Dance at Hale Makua Kahului, where she helped with transporting residents to and from the Bon Dance site. The evening's entertainment of taiko drumming and Bon Odori (Bon Dancing) went on for more than an hour, and many residents got into the spirit, clapping their hands or even doing the dances along with the Bon Dancers. 

The resident that Connie was assisting was having a fabulous time enjoying the instruments, the beat of the drums, and the beautiful, colorful kimonos. As Connie helped the resident back to his/her room, the resident commented that usually (s)he has a difficult time falling asleep at nights and typically has to take medication to help with going to sleep, but that night (s)he wouldn't need to take anything to help with sleeping, (s)he would be sleeping well without it.

I thought that this was a wonderful, heart-warming example of how getting a resident engaged with something that they truly enjoy, and have a great time doing, is often the best "medicine".

The Men Get Pampered

Activities Director Teresa gives Shigemi a hand massage

After several male residents asked to be pampered like their female counter parts, on Monday the men of Hale Makua Kahului had their day at the "spa". The men were treated to massages, manicures, hair cuts, and personal shaving. There were smiles all around, and a couple of residents who were so relaxed I think they were sleeping.

Wally gets a quick haircut from Bete

Gemma lathers up Jerry for a shave

Peter receives a hand massage from a volunteer