What a beautiful day

This morning as I walked to the Ilima neighborhood wanting to wish Uncle Bud Uyenoyama a happy 97^th birthday. When I got there, care partner CNAs Dee and Faina were setting up a table in front of Uncle Bud. They both sat with him to wish him a happy birthday, and knowing that he likes to play cards they started a card game. Both beautiful young ladies taught Uncle Bud how to play a game called Monkey Monkey. Soon care partner Jay came by to join in the fun. I left to print a picture for Uncle Bud, and when I got back Uncle Bud’s roommate was playing cards with all of them and was teaching them how to play poker, which is Uncle Bud’s favorite card game. 

What a beautiful morning, I couldn’t help but play a couple hands of poker myself.

This is a great example of several Eden Alternative Principles:

• Principle 6: "Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health." - Dee and Faina gave Uncle Bud the opportunity to do something that was meaningful to him. 
• Principle 4: "An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness. - Uncle Bud's roommate taught Dee, Faina and Jay how to play poker. 
• Principle 5: "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." - Uncle Bud's roommate and care partner Jay unexpectedly joined in the card game.
• Principle 8: "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 Elders or into the hands of those closest to them." - Dee and Faina knew that Uncle Bud enjoyed playing cards, and decided to celebrate his birthday with a few hands of Monkey Monkey and poker. A manager or supervisor didn't ask them to do it.

Thank you Ilima staff you are awesome and you made my day!

- Teresa Lopes, Activities Director

Residents Highlight of Kokua for Kupuna Event

On Saturday, September 22nd, two residents, Faye Massey and Vilma Sanchez, attended our signature fundraising event, Kokua for Kupuna, to share their experiences that they’ve had while living at Hale Makua Wailuku and Kahului respectively. Their stories moved many guests to tears, and there were several individuals who commented that the speakers were the highlight of the event.

By speaking at our fundraising event, Faye and Vilma helped other individuals in our community learn about our services, their wonderful care partners, and that they still live full and active lives at Hale Makua. In this way, these residents provided care for our entire organization, which is an example of Eden Alternative Principle 4: An Elder-centered community creates opportunities to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness. It is also an example of Principle 6, which states that meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health.

Resident Shares Her Crocheting Expertise

Hale Makua Wailuku Resident Marieta “Nana” Yalon learned to crochet at school in the Philippines at the age of 15, and has been crocheting ever since. At Hale Makua, she makes tote bags, hats, and lap blankets, which she sells at the monthly Country Store.

While sitting and crocheting one day, Nana realized she was being watched. Administrative Secretary and Care Partner Temmie Faudan was watching with interest as Nana Yalon created a hat out of colorful yarn.

“Come on, I’ll teach you” Nana remembers saying to Temmie. Several lessons later, Temmie is trying to meet Nana’s high standards for tight stitches. “She reviews my work and sometimes tears it out and makes me start over” laughs Temmie. 

This is an example of Eden Principle 4:  An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care.  This is the antidote to helplessness.

Residents Participate in Care Partner Training

Care partner Ruby Yadao met with the members of the Hale Makua Kahului Resident Council to ask them if there were things that could be taught or shared with new hires to improve the quality of care that is provided to them. The residents couldn’t think of any specific areas of improvement, but suggested having a resident participate in the training so that care partners would get some practice with an actual resident and the resident could provide feedback at the time of the training that may help further improve care. Resident Beverly Kamimoto pictured above volunteers for training on the lift with care partners Malia Spencer and Ryan Nasu.

This is an example of Eden Alternative Principle 4, which states that an Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness. By asking residents for their input, and Principle 8 that states 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 Elders or into the hands of those closest to them