Resident Council Celebrates the Holidays

On December 23rd, 11 members from Hale Makua Kahului's Resident Council gathered to celebrate the holidays. Activities Director, Teresa Lopes, and Nutrition Services Manager, Rosie Kahiamoe, worked the grill to prepare a special meal for the Resident Council, including hamburgers, hot dogs and teriyaki beef. Yum!

Birthday boy, Bruno Wong, enjoys a BBQ lunch with Vilma Sanchez

Nancy Kawamura assembles her hamburger

Wally Oshiro & Shigeko Nemoto enjoy their lunch

Chirtmas is a Time for Family

Resident Stephen Harada and his grandson spent some quality time together on Christmas Eve, enjoying lunch and building gingerbread houses.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Antonius, Ilima Neighborhood Supervisor

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating

Holiday Decorations with Tutu

This year for Christmas Tutu (my husband's grandmother) wanted Christmas decorations for her bedroom windows, so this past Saturday we spent the afternoon decorating Tutu's windows at Hale Makua Kahului with removable, re-positionable stickers.

Tutu puts the finishing snowflakes on Frosty

Tutu adds the gum drops & peppermint sticks

Shaun & Tutu pose in front of their finished window decorations

Annual Winter Ball

For the past few years St. Anthony students have made it a tradition to throw a Winter Ball for the residents at Hale Makua Wailuku. The female residents get all dolled up and have their hair and make-up done by St. Anthony volunteers. The students decorate the dining room, sing carols, and spend some quality time with the residents in celebration of the holidays.

Roberta Yamada gets her make-up and hair done by a St. Anthony's volunteer

Laura Waiohu and Peter Kaina sing carols with the St. Anthony Students

Residents enjoying the festive décor and music

Santa makes a guest appearance

Connie Dang Celebrates 100th Birthday

 

Resident Connie Dang (pictured with her son Frank) celebrated her 100th birthday last week! I snapped this photo as she was on her way out to a family party being throw in her honor.

Amazon the Parrot Brings out Smiling Faces

Tony Basco, the son of a resident at Hale Makua Wailuku, frequently takes his beloved pet parrot Amazon in to visit his Dad. While he's here Amazon brings joy to the residents and sparks a lot of spontaneous curiosity.  

Peter Kaina takes a break from leading the exercise circle to meet Amazon

Sarah Takatani talking with Amazon

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