For more, please visit hawaiiislandadultcare.org. Hawaii Island Adult Care Inc. is celebrating 35 years of providing adult day care and in-home care for East Hawaii, helping families to keep elders living at home. ADVERTISING Staffer Paula Uusitalo interviewed some of
Hawaii Island Adult Care Inc. is celebrating 35 years of providing adult day care and in-home care for East Hawaii, helping families to keep elders living at home.
Staffer Paula Uusitalo interviewed some of the clients and their families and compiled the following selection of comments on what HIAC services provide and mean to isle families and their loved ones.
— In the words of Karen Maedo: Hawaii Island Adult Care is a safe haven, with kind and compassionate workers and volunteers. Reasonable fees. Enjoyable and meaningful activities. Although only recently a part of HIAC, my mother utters high praises and offers words of thanksgiving each day she is part of this loving, caring ohana. Once again enjoying the company of former co-workers and old friends, Mom is in her element! I am at peace during the day, knowing she is in good hands, among folks who show her respect and shower her with love.
— Helene Tajiri: All the people at HIAC are so pleasant and cheerful. Harvey says it’s like they all took a “happy pill” before going to work. They are all very caring and loving as evidenced in their interaction with those who need care and with each other, too. When my mother was living with us and either Harvey or I took her to HIAC for day care, I always felt such a peace knowing that I could go to work and not worry about her at all, that she was being well taken care of, being served a nutritional lunch and snacks, too!
On occasion, we would leave my mother at HIAC during a Saturday when Harvey and I had to go to Kona for the day. Again, we felt very good about the fact that she would be fine at HIAC while we were gone. I am extremely grateful to Hawaii Island Adult Care for being available to care for my mother and do it so well and with so much love and aloha.
— Dwayne Miyashiro: I’m going to tell you the story of how HIAC became a valuable partner to my family. In April of 2001, my father, Kotoku Curly Miyashiro, at age 83, had a stroke which partially paralyzed him on his right side. Since he was still mobile, my mother, Masako Milly Miyashiro, cared for him at home.
As Dad grew weaker with age and subsequent strokes, it was time to seek additional assistance. Fortunately, through consultation with Services for Seniors, we were made aware of various community resources for the elderly. That’s when HIAC became a part of our family.
Dad started in 2003 or 2004 on a half day, twice or three times a week. The van transportation was an important part of the service. This provided relief for my mother, who was responsible for Dad’s care 24 hours a day. Dad was not able to communicate well due to the stroke affecting his speech, but he had previously found joy in talking to and being around people, especially the elderly. So I know that he appreciated and enjoyed being at HIAC. Dad was a regular client till the end of 2006 when he was hospitalized. After an extended hospital stay, he passed away in Sept. 2007.
I then became Mom’s caregiver upon Dad’s death, as she was already showing signs of dementia. It was apparent that she needed more stimulation than sitting at home in front of the TV. She resisted all attempts to join in any of the Department of Parks and Recreation senior programs. Finally came the fateful day that I said she had to become a client of HIAC.
The first several attempts to get her there were met with tremendous resistance and I physically had to carry her down the house stairs and put her into the car. Thankfully, the staff assured me that she was not the only client that put up a fuss about coming to their wonderful facility, which eased my guilt. She finally accepted the fact that she would be a regular client and did so for six days a week. While not an avid participant in all activities, she did enjoy singing and she does have a loud voice. Luckily for the staff and other clients, she at least could carry a tune.
She remained a client till the end of August 2010. Considerably weakened and under Hospice care for several months, she passed away peacefully at home, a week later. It was always a pleasure visiting HIAC and the staff while my parents were clients. They were given compassionate care coupled with a sense of humor and keen understanding of the frailty of mind and body of the people they served.
This is why the staff, the frontline employees that care for clients like Dad and Mom, are such an important component of the success of HIAC. I have no hesitation in recommending families needing their services to go by and see for themselves that their loved one will be properly cared for, while they can enjoy some time for themselves.
To all of you at HIAC, thanks for caring for our ohana. While we may not say it often enough, we do appreciate what you do. And please pass this message of appreciation to all your employees and volunteers.
For more, please visit hawaiiislandadultcare.org.
