Certified Eden Associate Graduates

Congratulations to twenty-one members of our staff ranging from Administrators and Senior CNAs to Activities Assistants and a Maintenance & Engineering Supervisor attended a three day Certified Eden Associate Training last week. Eden Alternative Community Builder, Denise Hyde, lead the training session focusing on team building and the Eden Alternative Principles:

Problem Statement
The three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom account for the bulk of suffering among our Elders.  

Solution
An Elder-centered community commits to creating a Human Habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with plants, animals and children. It is these relationships that provide the young and old alike with a pathway to a life worth living.  


Antidotes

• Loving companionship is the antidote to loneliness. Elders deserve easy access to human and animal companionship. 
• An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness. 
• An Elder-centered community imbues daily life with variety and spontaneity by creating an environment in which unexpected and unpredictable interactions and happenings can take place. This is the antidote to boredom.

Practice

• Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health.
• Medical treatment should be the servant of genuine human caring, never its master.
• An Elder-centered community honors its Elders by de-emphasizing top-down bureaucratic authority, seeking instead to place the maximum possible decision-making authority into the hands of the Elders or into the hands of those closest to them.

Drivers

• Creating an Elder-centered community is a never-ending process. Human growth must never be separated from human life.  
• Wise leadership is the lifeblood of any struggle against the three plagues. For it, there can be no substitute.

Certified Eden Associate graduates

The Blue Waves: Leilani Lion, Ella Elephant, Jodi Jumping Jacks, Asha Aligator, Kel Kangaroo

The Purple People Eaters: Carl Cougar, Lily Leaf, Dionie Daffodil, Denise Daisy

The Gold Medalist: Glenn Giraffe, Letti Lemon, Shelly Seagull, Lynsey Lemur

The Green Frogs: Queenie Quiet Time, Tony Tiger, Connie Caterpillar, May Might Mouse, Mely Mongoose

The Healing Hearts: Phyllis Philly, Janinne Jaguar, Chris Cat, Teresa Treefrog, Arlyn Apple

Five Days of Variety & Spontaneity

Bruno Wong waters plants for a shot on day 1

During the month of January, 40 plus Hale Makua residents and Adult Day Health clients played the starring role in our Luana video shoot. Over the course of the five day shoot residents and clients had their hair and make-up done, were coached and directed, and acted in over 35 different scenes showcasing the principles of Luana, focusing on: 

• The warm, home-like environment
• Opportunities to give care
• Self-empowerment
• Variety and spontaneity of activities
• Companionship of people, kids, pets and plants

Even those residents who were not playing an acting role in the video were entertained and intrigued by the video crew filming on-site at Hale Makua Kahului. Having the video crew of four  people plus someone doing hair and make-up added variety and spontaneity to the lives of those residents who were participating in the video and even those who were just watching.

Social Services Assistant & Vilma Sanchez in a care planning shot on day 2

Outing at the Maui Arts & Culture Center Schaefer Gallery on Day 3

Coffee service in the Aloha Cafe on day 4

John Kaawai being interviewed on day 5

The goal of producing this video is to share our vision of Luana with new hires, residents, families, donors, and the public. Stay tuned for the launch of our Launa video in late March or early April. It will also be available on our website (www.halemakua.org) for your viewing pleasure.

Crowning of a new Hale Makua Miss Sweetheart

 Miss Day Health is crowned this year's Miss Valentine's Sweetheart by Activities Director Teresa Lopes

On February 14th, Hale Makua Kahului held their third annual Miss Sweetheart Pageant. A total of eight contestants represented each of Hale Makua Kahului’s six neighborhoods as well as Adult Day Health and the Activities department. Each contestant was escorted down the red carpet by CEO and Kahului Administrator, Tony Krieg. All of the ladies looked exceptionally lovely in beautiful dresses, coiffed hair and adornments in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Miss Day Health tossed heart shaped chocolates to her adoring fans.

Contestants were asked “what does love mean to you?” Responses varied from caring for someone special to the wonderful care received from the caregivers at Adult Day Health. Emcee Brian Nagami joked that the swimsuit portion of the competition was held earlier. While the judges made their final selections for this year’s winners, Dani Waring and Brian Nagami sang a beautiful duet in honor of Valentine’s Day and the Activities team danced the Electric Slide.

Second runner up was Miss Activities, Juanita Blair. First runner up was Delores Witter, representing the West Neighborhood. The winner and 2011 Miss Valentine’s Sweetheart was Miss Day Health, Jean Kenar. Jean was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 27, 1924. She has been married for 64 years, has four children and many grandchildren. She enjoys cooking, gardening, baking, making plastic canvas ceramics, playing pinochle, ballroom dancing and traveling.

A special mahalo to Shannon Loo and Koa Simarago for generously donating their time and talents to transform the Aloha Café into a gorgeous Valentine’s Day catwalk complete with feathers and balloons.

Serving Up a Game of Volleyball

 

Yesterday residents and staff teamed up to play wheelchair volleyball in the activity center. Residents named their teams Kuaina against the Nokaoi. Two games were played and each team won one game each. We had so much fun, you could hear the yelling and laughter throughout the Weinberg Center. 

 

 

Fantasy Football League Winners

A group of residents Adult Day Health clients and staff get together every year to create their own Fantasy Football League. This year's winners were Brian Nagami in first place, John Bellini took second place for the second year in a row, and Richard Kam won third place.

Brian pictured in back with John on the left and Richard on the right

Kung Hee Fat Choy Cooking

In celebration of Chinese New Year yesterday the Activities staff of Hale Makua Kahului cooked up a batch of yummy crispy won tons for residents to enjoy hot out of the fryer.

Activities staff  hard at work.

Ali Helm biting into a hot crispy won ton!