It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Chirstmas

Residents, family members, and staff kicked off the Christmas spirit by setting up the Christmas tree in the Aloha Cafe yesterday. Everyone lent a hand to open up branches and insert them into the the appropriate spots. Can't wait to see what the fully decorated tree looks like!

Residents Enjoy a Fabulous Thanksgiving Feast

Volunteer Lillian and Activities Assistant Donna plate the meals

Residents enjoy good food and great company on Thanksgiving day

Inspiration from an Eden-Registered Home

When I first applied at the Brethren Retirement community, I thought I was applying for a job as a nursing assistant. I never dreamed it would become so much more than that. It has become a family, a home, and a career for me. I am glad to say that I have been a part of the Brethren Retirement Community for more than ten years now.

Each floor of the Brethren Retirement Community is its own neighborhood. I work in a neighborhood that is home to people living with dementia. My main duties are to assist these individuals with all activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, eating and so much more. To some, this may seem mundane, but I receive a great deal of satisfaction from what I do. I get the distinct pleasure of becoming a large part of their lives and learning about their past. I get to be there to help them celebrate milestones like 100th birthdays or re-learning how to dress themselves or feed themselves after a stroke or an accident. Since I give direct care to those I work with, I am one of the first to notice changes in their behavior, mood or abilities, which is a key part of ensuring their health, comfort and happiness. As care partners, we are encouraged to come up with new and innovative ways to meet the ever-changing needs of the Elders who live here.

Upon hearing what I do for a living, I am often asked how I can handle such a depressing job where the residents ultimately either pass away or go home. I always respond the same way every time without hesitation. Before they pass away, they live. Before they go home, they grow stronger. I get to be someone who helps them achieve the strength needed to go home and I get to be the one who makes them smile and ensures comfort in their last days. Knowing this, who wouldn't want this job? You can't focus on the downside of a job, you can only focus on the upside and how to be better at your job or career. This position is no different. Wouldn't you enjoy making someone smile?

We at the Brethren Retirement Community strive to give our residents the best quality of life not just quantity. It is something that we take great pride in doing well and are always trying to improve upon. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to be a small part of something that is such a big part of life for so many others. For that I am forever grateful.

 

From a Care Partner at Brethren Retirement Community, Greenville, OH

Eden Alternative Tip of the Week: Reflections on Giving Thanks

As I celebrate my first Thanksgiving as a member of the Eden Alternative family, I realize how thankful I am for the opportunity to serve all of you in my new role. Since joining Eden Alternative in June, I have met so many wonderful people who are so passionate about serving Elders and each other by applying the Eden Alternative Principles. I want to personally thank all of you who live these Principles each day and for the positive example you share with the world.

 
It is just amazing for me to see how these ten simple Principles can have such a profound impact on so many lives when they are put into practice. It gives me pause to think about the awesome responsibility I have been given to lead the Eden Alternative and to bring our message to many more people here in the U.S. and around the globe. I am so thankful that I have been given this opportunity to work with an amazing group of people and an amazing organization as part of a powerful cause.

I hope you all will take a break over this holiday weekend to enjoy its blessings "Eden Style". Think about the ways you can give as well as receive care. Take the time to slow down and enjoy being in the moment. Celebrate the Elders who will be with you and the gifts they will share with you over Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy the simple pleasures that Thanksgiving Day with family and friends has to offer.  I wish you and yours the very happiest "Eden Style" Thanksgiving!

 

Best regards,
Chris Perna

Eden Alternative CEO

Resident Spotlight: Doris Voss

Doris Voss was born Doris Makalapua Shea, on December 20, 1927. She was raised in Papakolea on Oahu, Hawaii. She is one of Nine (9) children born to William AhLeong Shea and Hattie Makaneole, a full-blooded Hawaiian. During her childhood, Doris enjoyed playing games with her siblings and friends, especially marbles, at which she excelled. She looked forward to the annual beach picnic which involved the entire Papakolea community. Her community was part of the Hawaiian Homestead, and the people living there were very close and always involved in community activities.

Doris is pictured here with her son Al

After going to McKinley High School, Doris took shorthand and worked at Waikiki Bowl as a pin setter for a couple of months, then worked for Kodak of Hawaii as a checker, and later as a clerk/cashier. One day while she was working a uniformed gentleman came in to pick up photos for his friends, and gave Doris several receipt tickets. Doris couldn’t find the photos and told him she couldn’t locate them. This made him upset and he mumbled under his breath as he left the store.

About a month later, Doris’ friend named Queenie, who had been staying with Doris’ family for a couple of months, said her boyfriend was coming up to the house. When he got there, he told Queenie and Doris that he wanted them to meet his friend and neighbor, “Bud”. When Doris went up to the car and looked in, both she and “Bud” looked at each other and simultaneously said “it’s you?” After that awkward moment, the four of them and a friend decided to drive around the island. With ukulele in hand, Doris played and sang songs, one of which was “But Where Are You?”, which became the favorite song of Bud and DorisAlbrechtson, married December 14, 1946. Doris and Bud had four (4) children, Robynn Moana Sonoda, Lynnay Luana Argel, Albert Sigurd “Sparky” Albrechtson III, and Allyn Troy “Kippy” Albrechtson. Doris worked as a cashier at Zane’s Market in Kaimuki for 17 years while Bud worked as a police officer for 27 years, until the children were grown and out of the house. Doris also has 7 loving grandchildren. 

Bud passed away in 1988, and Doris remarried to David Voss. They traveled extensively while they were both in good health, but David recently passed away as well. His paintings are proudly displayed in Doris’ room, and she enjoys Hawaiian music, especially the oldies, and loves playing all kinds of card games.

She is indeed a family treasure! 

Submitted by Lynsey Capone, Activities Director

Happy for Sushi

Yesterday a handful of Hale Makua Wailuku residents enjoyed lunch at Genki Sushi at Maui Mall. "Genki" means "happy" in Japanese, and there were a lot of happy stomachs after eating all of that onolicious sushi! Mrs. Inouye and Mrs. Tamanaha were assisted in making their sushi selections by Activities Assistant Maile Licos and Volunteer Lillian Murakami (pictured above).

Veterans' Day Celebrated

Mahalo to the Na Pua O Kapiolani Hula Halau for providing all of the wonderful entertainment for Hale Makua Kahului's 26th annual Veterans' Day program. It is such a treat to have this tradition carried on for all these years. The residents enjoyed the hula and music performances by the dancers of all ages.

Crafts with Maui High School Students

High school students from Maui High School who have an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare come every year to Hale Makua Kahului to work on a crafts project with the residents. Each resident is partnered with one student. This year each student came up with their own individual crafts project to work on with a resident. In previous years all of the resident-student teams would work on the same crafts. It was great to see the residents and students working together as a team on a project, and we look forward to seeing the Maui High School students again next year!

Jerry works on a drawing

Wally and a student work on making lei together

Nancy and a student work together on a weaving

Shigeko adds color to her wooden box

Therapy Dog on Vacation

Ruth gives Jaya a treat

Therapy dog Jaya was vacationing on Maui for two months with her owner Melodie Ulman. During those months both Jaya and Melodie took the time to visit Hale Makua Kahului and got to know the residents. Jaya is a visitation dog certified by the Delta Society. She is six years old and is also a hospice volunteer in her home town of Tahoe, California. While on Maui Melodie wanted to give back to the Maui community by bringing joy to some of our residents who enjoy the companionship of a pet, but prefer not to have the full-time responsibility of caring for one. Melodie hopes to come back to Hale Makua with Jaya on all of her future trips to Maui, and we look forward to having them!

Petting Jaya puts a smile on Mary's face

Residents Volunteer at the Maui Humane Society

Maria Nishida getting some puppy kisses!

Today Hale Makua Wailuku residents and staff went to the Maui Humane Society to visit with the animals.  The residents donated plenty of goodies for the animals - comfy blankets for the new puppies and kittens to snuggle up to, fuzzy toys for them to play with, and treats! Most importantly our residents gave back to the community and gave the animals some much needed tender loving care!

Mistue Nakahashi with a kitten and Administrator Connie Miller

Eileen Kailihou and a recently fostered kitten

Eden Alterntaive Tip of the Week

When was the last time you filled out a care balance check-up sheet for yourself?  When was the last time your care partners did the same?  A care balance check-up involves thinking about an average day of any given week in your life.  During the course of an average day, what are the ways you give to others?  How and what do you receive from your care partners, both at home and in your professional life?  Think out of the box when it comes to what you receive.  The gift of warm, receptive smiles is as important as the obvious, more overt gifts of care.

An important part of reflecting on care balance is acknowledging the gifts of care you give to yourself.  Self-care is a vital and essential part of assessing care balance. If you notice a significant deficit in your own self-care, start holding yourself accountable to adding acts of self care, one at a time, each week.

Once you've all completed your care balance check-up, share them with each other to learn more about how you each perceive the balance of care between you. Use this information to make subtle adjustments. Open, supportive discussion around care balance is a vital part of creating a life worth living!

Making a Local Favorite

Yesterday residents made spam musubi, a local favorite consisting of Spam and rice wrapped in nori (dried seaweed). It was a great opportunity for residents to use their motor skills and enjoy an onolicious snack!

Volunteer John Harman helps Roberta Yamada with her musubi press

The ladies were pros at making a perfect musubi

(from left June Inouye, Dominga Asuncion, Mistue Nakahashi, Midori Hayashida)

 

Midori Hayashida enjoys the fruits of her labor

Sushi Making with Shigeko

On Wednesday, October 26th, Shigeko along with volunteer Ethel, and two Activities Assistants made traditional Japanese maki sushi, or rolled sushi. Shigeko's sushi rolls included tuna, carrots, egg. Once the ingredients are all rolled up, the maki sushi is cut to form cylindrical bite sized pieces, with the perfect amount of nori, sushi rice and filling. Yum!

Shigeko adds carrots to her sushi roll

One sushi roll done!