SEPTEMBER 2008

A L O H A P U M E H A N A

September 2008 • Tony Baccay, Editor • Elderly Affairs Division Quarterly PublicationDepartment of Community Services • Mufi Hannemann, Mayor • City & County of Honolulu

1 SEPTEMBER IS SENIOR FALLPREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

1-2 SURPRISE...I CAN’T DO THE THINGSI USED TO...!

2-3 “I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP”ISN’T FUNNY ANYMORE

3 PREVENTING FALLS - TIPS FORSENIORS TO STAY SAFE

3-4 EXERCISE HELPS MAINTAININDEPENDENCE AND PREVENT FALLS

4 SENIORS & FALLING: IT COULD BEYOUR EYES

5 “ELDERPROOF YOUR HOME”

5, 7 FALLS: A MEDICATION-RELATEDPROBLEM AMONG OLDERAMERICANS

6 BITS AND PIECES

6-7 DID YOU KNOW?7 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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In observance ofSenior Fall PreventionAwareness Month, this

issue of Aloha Pumehana featurestips, stories and advice to help youlead a safe and healthy life.

One of the factors that can contrib-ute to falls is medication. They mayblur your vision, make you dizzy, ormake you get up too often at night touse the bathroom and you could tripin the dark.

DRUG REVIEWBeginning September 10th, selectTimes, Safeway and Costco Pharma-cies encourage seniors to make anappointment with their pharmacistfor a comprehensive review of alldrugs taken, including over-the-counter medicines and alcoholicbeverages to see if they may makeyou sleepy or dizzy either alone or incombination. “Many patients forgetthat alcohol is actually a drug,” says

Dr. Shari Kogan, Medical Director ofGeriatric Services at the Queen’sMedical Center. “If you drink anyamount of alcohol, include it in yourlist. Doing so will help your doctor orpharmacist better evaluate whichmedications are safe for you to take,”she said.

These pharmacies will also be distrib-uting “Preventing Falls - Tips forSeniors to Stay Safe at Home,” ahandy flyer to stick on your refrigera-tor to remind you of how you canprevent a serious injury. Watch fornotices in the stores nearest you.

FREE SCREENINGA Physical Therapist will be availableat the Hawaii Seniors’ Fair and GoodLife Expo on September 19-21, 2008at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall toconduct a balance screening for anysenior that asks. Visit the Departmentof Health’s Fall Prevention booth andget your FREE screening!

SEPTEMBER IS SENIOR FALLPREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

Although most of us senior folks won’tmention it, we know even before ourdoctor that we are getting older. We

SURPRISE...I CAN’T DO THE THINGS I USED TO...!A Grandpa’s True Story

feel it, but don’t want to talk about it, oreven ask questions about it. It is just tooscary. It starts simple enough...you can’t

figure out why you got so windedchasing after your grandkids. Thenthere was the big garage springcleaning, something you had donemany times before, but this timeyour arms and back hurt for threedays.

It’s the subtle changes that are themost telling, like why can’t you stayup and play cards all night like you

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used to, or why is it so much harder toread the newspaper now...have theymade the print smaller?

So, considering myself in OK healthand condition, imagine my surprisewhen I just fell down. I was walkingthrough my living room and didn’tnotice the loose newspapers or was itthe throw rug edge...but bang...I wason the floor. I was fortunate to hit thecouch edge rather than the coffeetable. I got one ugly bruise and twistedmy back but I didn’t break anything.At first I thought I was very lucky. Isoon discovered that the twisted backwas much worse than originallythought.

So I fell. Will I fall again?

Was it a single incident or has some-thing changed inside me that makesme fall prone? The answers are noteasy or simple and range from “yes” to“no” to “maybe.” I do know this:

• I take three medications: one forcholesterol, no problem...one forday time back pain, probably aproblem...and one for night timeto help me relax and sleep becauseof the back injury...a real problemin the dark.

• I am not as steady on my feet. Istill have good balance, but mymuscles and nerves just don’treact as fast as when I wasyounger. So if I stumble, it is reallyhard to catch myself and the resultis usually a collision with a wall orfence. I don’t fall down ...but I dostumble.

• And probably the worst symptomthat I may fall again is that mybrain still feels young and has notlearned its lesson yet that I amnot. In other words, on occasions,I still take chances that a senior(55 or older) should not.

In brief, I am a darn poster child forfalls. The other day I tried to beat ablinking walk sign and sure enough, asI hurried and tried to jump up on thecurb, I stumbled. Dumb. As I writethis, I am nursing a very sore shoulderand neck because I jumped up out ofmy recliner to help my wife carryinggroceries through the door, andpromptly tumbled over the newspa-pers I had stacked to take out forrecycling. Then I had a horriblethought...what if I fell holding my new3-month old grandson?

All of these falls and stumbles werepreventable...not accidents. So here ismy promise:

• I will face my age.• I will take deep breaths and savordoing things a little slower.

• I will anticipate that stuff can andwill jump out of nowhere andmake me stumble...so I will walkwith care and balance.

• I will ask my pharmacist if any orall of my medications could makeme dizzy, especially if I get upsuddenly or at night.

• I will install that nightlight.• I will go to the eye doctor like Ipromised my wife.

• And I will get help, even when Ithink I don’t need it, for pickingmangos, painting the garage andreplacing the batteries in thesmoke alarm.’

Why the promises? Because my lovedones don’t need to care for a brokenold man that carelessly fell and hurthimself. I’ve worked too hard raisingmy family to not enjoy them because Iwas too dumb to be careful.

Walk careful...live safe...enjoy yourfamily. — Anonymous grandpa

“I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’TGET UP” ISN’T FUNNY

ANYMORE!Falls -The Hard Facts

By Daniel Galanis, PhD and

EricTash, MPH

Falls don’t alwayshappen to theother guy. Infact, 1 out of 3Americansover the age of65 fall, and

some fall mul-tiple times. On the average,

every 5 hours in Hawaii, a seniorsuffers a fall injury so serious theymust be hospitalized. Only 40% ofpatients are able to go back home afterdischarge from the hospital.

Most people think older adults mayonly break their hip when they fall, butresearch shows that traumatic braininjuries can be a serious consequence.Traumatic brain injuries are caused bya blow or bump to the head.

Just how serious is it? Falls are theleading cause of fatal injuries amongseniors in Hawaii. And fatal fallsincrease steadily as seniors get older.

From 2001 through 2007, falls werethe leading cause of senior:

• Fatal injuries (70 per year),

• Injury related hospitalizations(1,615 per year)

• Emergency department visits(4,300 per year)

Although accurate data on all thecauses of fatal falls among seniors issketchy, it is known that over one-third of the deaths were due to falls“on the same level,” meaning that your

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SEPTEMBER 2008

A L O H A P U M E H A N A 3

bedroom may be just as dangerous asyour stairs if you are not careful.

Did you know that as a Hawaiisenior, you are 10 times morelikely to be hospitalized from a fallthan from a vehicle crash, anassault, or being struck while apedestrian?

For every senior who died from a fall,it is estimated that there were 24 whorequired hospitalization, and another63 who were treated in an emergencyroom. Although men led in fatal falls,two-thirds with non-fatal fall injuriesare women. Forty one percent suf-fered a fracture, most commonlyfractures of the thigh bone (14%).

One third of these non-fatal falls wereagain “on the same level - slipping,tripping or stumbling.” Sixteen percentwere from “one level to another,” mostcommonly from beds, stairs or steps,and chairs.

What are the main causes for falls?Emergency Medical Services recordson Oahu show that an estimated 64%of falls involved personal factors suchas loss of balance, getting up fromchairs, getting out of bed, etc. Envi-ronmental factors such as clutter, looserugs, tripping on a phone cord, slip-pery bathtub, etc. were noted in 26%of reports. Three fourths of all fallsoccurred in the home environment.

Falling is not inevitable. According tothe Centers for Disease Control, fallsare not an inevitable consequence ofaging, but they do occur more often inolder adults because risk factors forfalls are usually associated with healthand aging conditions. Some of theseinclude mobility problems due tomuscle weakness or poor balance, lossof sensation in the feet, chronic health

conditions, vision changes or loss,medication side effects or drug inter-actions and home and environmentalhazards such as clutter or poor light-ing.

There are many programs, agenciesand individuals that can help preventfalls. For additional information, callthe Hawaii Department of HealthInjury Prevention Program at 733-9202.

EXERCISE HELPSMAINTAININDEPENDENCE andPREVENT FALLSBy Valorie Taylor

Honolulu Gerontology Program

The number one comment heardamongst seniors is their desire toremain independent. However,independence can be affected aspeople age and begin to “slowdown.” They may have medicalproblems that cause tiredness orpain. They may begin to withdrawfrom their usual activities. The lackof activity causes muscle weaknessand can increase their chances offalling.

There is one thing that we can do tohelp us remain independent as weage - EXERCISE. Having a simpleexercise program followed regularlycan help us remain independent inthree ways:

1. Exercise improves balance,flexibility, endurance andstrength thereby decreasing thefall risk.

• A simple walking program isthe easiest. By gradually in-creasing the distance that iswalked over a period of timeyou can increase the strength inyour legs.

• Another option is to try andwalk a little faster therebyincreasing your heart rate.

• If walking is difficult, stretch-ing, Tai Chi or Yoga may bebetter for you. Many county

Preventing Falls –Tips for Seniors toStay Safe• Exercise regularly. It increases

strength, flexibility and balance.

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist toreview your medicines...bothprescription and over-the-counter.

• Many medicines can cause sideeffects such as weakness ordizziness.

• Both can increase the risk offalls.

• Have your eyes checked regularly.

• Wear the right footwear. Thesafest shoes fit your feet, have lowheels, non-slip soles, and lace up orare secured with fabric fasteners.

• Stay out of trees and off the roof.

• Make your home safer by remov-ing fall hazards and improvinglighting.

• Remove clutter like loose papers,boxes, wires and phone cordsfrom walk paths and stairways.

• Add lighting or make lightsbrighter especially in stairways.

• Consider a nightlight in thebathroom, bedroom and hall-ways.

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agencies, churches and seniorcenters offer simple exerciseprograms.

2. Exercise can help to manage chronicconditions such as diabetes andhigh blood pressure.

• The benefits of regular exerciseinclude looking and feeling better.

• Exercise increases oxygen in thebody and also can increase the“feel good” chemicals in the brain.

• Those who exercise sleep betterand may notice an increase inmental acuity.

• Exercise improves digestion andelimination.

3. Exercise increases the chance ofrecovering from a fall and mayreduce the recovery time.

• The old adage “If you don’t use it,you lose it” is so true when itcomes to exercise.

• Our muscles become weak evenafter a couple days in bed sick.

• A regular exercise program canhelp you recover faster if you dofall.

It is very important to check with yourdoctor when starting an exerciseprogram. Start slowly and build upgradually. IF SOMETHING HURTS,STOP DOING IT. Drink more water(which keeps you hydrated) and keepbreathing. Holding your breath duringexercise can cause dizziness. Regularexercise can help us all to remainindependent by improving our healthand reducing our risks for falls. Andonce you start...stay at it so youcontinue to reap the benefits. As theNike commercial says ––“Just Do IT!”

SENIORS & FALLING:IT COULD BE YOUR EYES

By Roger Christian Ede, O.D.

Can’t see good at night? Headlightsblind your eyes? Spill your coffee?Have double vision? As we get olderthese are some things that may gradu-ally, or suddenly, happen to us. Someare due to natural changes, but othersare caused by serious eye or healthconditions that may lead to blindnessand even death if left untreated.Injuries caused by accidents such astripping, falling or car crashes may becaused by these vision changes.

Because vision is vital to daily living, itis important to have regular eye exams.For most seniors, normal age-relatedvision loss can be corrected withglasses, medication or surgery. Evenwith more serious conditions, usingvision aids and making changes in life-style can help seniors stay safe andindependent.

Some normal changes that occur inaging:

• Difficulty reading small print.• Taking longer to adjust from lightto dark.

• Increased sensitivity to sunlight orreduced vision in glare.

• Loss of depth perception makingit difficult to judge distance.

• Difficulty in seeing contrasts andcolors.

• Dry eyes or watery eyes.

Some signs or symptoms of seriousvision changes:

• Squinting and/or greater sensitiv-ity to light and glare.

• Spilling food or drinks becauseyou misjudge where items are.

• Making driving mistakes, such asmissing street signs, misjudgingturns; difficulty driving at night.

• Falling because of a missed step orunseen object on the floor.

• Seeing flashes of light or rapidmovement from the corners ofyour eyes.

• Sudden onset of spots, floaters,shadows.

• Choosing bright over dull coloredobjects or clothing.

• Finding it hard to copy fromwritten texts.

• Becoming clumsy, such as havingdifficulty in threading a needle orbuttoning a shirt.

When to call for Immediate Consulta-tion/Examination:

• Partial or complete loss of visionin one or both eyes, even iftemporary.

• Double vision, even if temporary.• Sensation of a shade or curtainblocking your vision.

• Blind spots, halos around lights,areas of distorted vision.

• Sudden painful eye, especially if itis also red. A red, painful eye is amedical emergency.

Prevention:

• Annual eye exam by an ophthal-mologist or optometrist if you are65 years or older.

• Wear sunglasses for protection.• Annual eye exam by an ophthal-mologist or optometrist if you are65 years or older.

• Wear sunglasses for protection.• Don’t smoke.• Limit alcohol intake.• Control blood pressure andcholesterol level.

• Control blood sugar levels.• Exercise and weight contro.• Eat foods rich in antioxidants, likegreen leafy vegetables.

If any vision problems are causing youtrouble with your daily activities, callyour eye doctor for an appointment.Don’t let untreated vision problemscontribute to a fall or accident.

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SEPTEMBER 2008

A L O H A P U M E H A N A 5

“ELDERPROOF YOUR HOME”(Get a Home Safety Assessment)

By Project DANA Staff

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Preventionhas indicated that many ofthe devastating falls that

impact our seniors occur in the homeenvironment. It is easy to see why. Asadults mature and live in the samehome for years, they become extremelycomfortable within its environment.However, with aging come reducedmobility, balance issues, vision loss,and chronic health problems that caninfluence stability. Therefore, smallchanges, adjustments and awareness inand around the home can make a bigdifference in reducing falls.

First you must be very truthful withyourself and ask these questions?

Are you at risk?1. Have you fallen in the last year?2. Do you take multiple prescribed

medications?3. Do you have trouble seeing clearly?

4. Do you have difficulty walkingnormally without pain or stiffness?

5. Are there physical obstructions inyour home that make it difficult tomove around, like stairs, low furni-ture or clutter?

If you answered “yes” to any of theabove, you are at risk.

The good news is that 30-40% of thesefalls are preventable.

An important step to fall prevention isa home safety assessment as it will help:

• To increase the awareness of homesafety with educational information.

• To create a safe home environmentby identifying potential risk factorsin the home.

• To enable participants to continueliving independently and maintaintheir quality of life, with recommen-dations of possible home modifica-tion.

Avoid becoming a fall victim! If youbelieve you are at risk, call ProjectDANA. Qualified staff will schedule anappointment and discuss how to

Too often, illness in older people ismisdiagnosed or dismissed as thenormal process of aging, simplybecause health professionals are nottrained to recognize how diseases anddrugs affect older people.

Medical experts believe that manymedication-related problems arepredictable and thus preventable. Mostpeople don’t realize that falls can be amedication-related problem.

These are examples of medication-related problems:

• Confusion• Delirium/hallucinations

More than 200,000 people die andanother 2.2 million are injured eachyear because of medication-relatedproblems.

The Journal of the American Medi-cal Association recently stated that ifadverse reactions to medicationswere classified as a distinct disease, itwould rank as the 5th leading causeof death in the U.S.

People over age 65 are especiallyvulnerable to medication-relatedproblems due to the number ofmedications they take and thebiologic changes of aging anddisease.

FALLS: A MEDICATION-RELATED PROBLEM AMONG OLDER AMERICANS• Depression• Dizziness• Drowsiness• Falls• Incontinence• Insomnia• Loss of coordination• Malnutrition/dehydration• Memory loss• Other psychiatric problems

Drug classes that frequently causeproblems from their side-effects:

• Antihistamines• Pain medicines

By Joy Higa, Pharm.D., CGP, Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist

improve yourself and your homeenvironment.

• An inspection and review of yourhome will be conducted for fallsafety concerns, i.e. loose area rugs,low furniture or obstacles in yourpathways.

• Can you see where you are going,especially in the middle of thenight? Is the light bright enough?Lighting is always a concern, as youmust be able to see properly toprevent a fall.

• Grab bars, shower seats, and toiletrails to make your bathroom safermay be recommended.

• What about special needs? Is theresufficient room for a wheelchair orwalker? Do you have an electricscooter and not have any way for itto enter your home?

Every person and everyone’s home isdifferent and your special needs will beaddressed. Call Project DANA at945-3736 for a FREE Home SafetyAssessment today!

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BITS AND PIECESBy Tony Baccay

Exciting News!Molokai GeneralHospital, QueensMedical Center andCenter for Medicareand Medicaid Ser-

vices are starting Kukui Ahi: PatientNavigation Services on Oahu. Theprogram helps Medicare Part A&Bbeneficiaries with cancer screeningand treatment services and is lookingfor eligible participants of NativeHawaiian, Asian, and/or PacificIslander ancestry. Kukui Ahi helpspeople manage cancer-screening tests,doctor’s appointments and healthcareissues. Home visits are available.Contact (808) 537-7422 for moreinformation and program details.

Caregivers Conference: Elderly AffairsDivision and AARP Hawaii are spon-soring the Caring for Family, Caring forYourself: Caregivers Conference onSaturday, November 1, 2008 at theSheraton Waikiki Hotel. Over 20sessions on various topics related toeldercare, plus self-care activities forcaregivers will be offered. A resourcefair with 30 exhibitors will provideinformation about their services tohelp caregivers and their familymembers.

Keynote speaker Dr. Bill Thomas is aHarvard Medical School graduate andan international authority on geriatricmedicine and eldercare. He is cur-rently an AARP Visiting Scholar and isthe founder of the Eden Alternative, aglobal non-profit organization that iscommitted to improving the carereceived by people living in institu-

tions. Dr. Thomas also hosts KGMBTV’s Genius of Aging broadcasts.

AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen isthe luncheon keynote speaker. She wasthe former Executive Director of OnLok, Inc., a non-profit organizationproviding integrated and primarylong-term care community-basedservices in San Francisco. For moreinformation about the conference callthe Senior Helpline at 768-7700.

KCC Caregiver Training: Are youcaring for an elderly family member?The Kupuna Education Center atKapi’olani Community College isoffering Family Caregiver Skills:Personal Care and Transfer Techniquesand The Basics of Family Caregiving,both of which are designed to teachcaregiving skills and how to preventburnout. Pre-registration is requiredand class sizes are limited. For moreinformation, call 734-9108 or visit thewebsite at www.kupunaeducation.com.

Economic Stimulus Payment: It is nottoo late to file for the EconomicStimulus Payment (ESP)! Individualsmust file a tax return before Oct. 15,2008. People who have no tax filingrequirement may still be eligible toreceive $300 ($600 for marriedcouples) if they have at least $3,000 inqualifying income and file a 2007“Economic Stimulus Payment” Federalincome tax return. Qualifying incomeincludes any combination of earnedincome from wages, salaries, tips ornet earnings; certain retirement,disability or survivor’s benefits fromSocial Security; disability pension orsurvivors’ benefits from Departmentof Veterans Affairs. Call Aloha UnitedWay 211 for free tax preparation sitesstill open.

Did you know?

• The #1 predictor of falling is aprevious fall.

• Good posture is critical to goodbalance. With age, some peopledevelop a kyphotic posture which isa hump in the upper back. Thisposture causes a forward head and ahyperextension of the neck to beable to scan the environment infront. This postural change movesthe center of gravity, making onemore susceptible for falling back-wards, especially with walkinguphill.

By Kevin Lockette, Physical Therapist

and Cora Speck, MS, Injury Prevention

and Research Coordinator, Queens

Medical Center

DID YOU KNOW?

Plan for the Worst and Expect theBest: The University of Hawaii ElderLaw Project (UHELP) is offering free,non-credit classes designed for olderpersons, family members andcaregivers. The curriculum coversbasic legal information to includeLegal Planning for the Future: Incapac-ity, Protective Services, Guardianship/Conservatorship and their Alternatives;Basic Estate Planning, Including Wills,Trusts, Probate, Gifts, and Taxes; andCaregiving Issues: Hiring a Caregiver,Coping with Death and Hiring aLawyer. The one-hour class starts at1:00 p.m. and meets weekly for sixweeks beginning September 17, 2008and till October 22, 2008. Reservationsare required. Seating is limited to 50applicants. For more informationregarding the course, parking, books,etc. contact UHELP at 956-6544.

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A L O H A P U M E H A N A 7

CALENDAR OF EVENTS1st Hawaii Chigiri-e Exhibition, Aug 6– Nov 7, Laser Eye Center, Pan AmBuilding, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 105, Mon – Fri, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,Admission is free. Chigiri-e uses washi paper torn and pasted to createpictures. Pictures from Habuki School of Chigiri-e in Tokyo will be displayed.For more information, call the Moiliili Senior Center at 955-1555.

10 AARP Driver Safety Program is a course (two 4-hour sessions) designed forthe older driver. It identifies physical changes in the mature driver and waysto compensate for safer driving. Cost is $10. Registration is required.

• LANAKILA MULTI-PURPOSE SENIOR CENTER, 847-1322 / Sep 10 & 12• QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTER, 537-7117 / Sep 14 & 21• HONOLULU KAISER CLINIC, 432-2260 / Sep 18 & 25• WAIPIO KAISER CLINIC, 432-2260 / Sep 26 & 27

5 AARP Driver Safety Program:

6 Show & Sell Bazaar, Thursday, Nov 6, Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center, 8 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. Food, crafts, books and white elephant items at bargain prices.Call 847-1322 for more information.

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1SEPTEMBER 2008

19Hawaii Seniors’ Fair, “The Good Life Expo,” Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Sep 19-21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The expo will feature exhibits, educational seminars,lectures, workshops and continuous entertainment. Admission is free.

OCTOBER 2008

17Medicare Part D Information Fair, Friday, Oct 17, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, LanakilaMultipurpose Senior Center. Speakers from Social Security and Sage PLUSprovide information on the prescription drug plan. No vendors allowed. Formore information, call 847-1322.

20 AARP Driver Safety Program:

• WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER, 923-1802 / Oct 20 & 22

• WAIPIO KAISER CLINIC, 432-2260 / Nov 5 & 7• HONOLULU KAISER CLINIC, 432-2260 / Nov 13 & 20• AARP INFORMATION OFFICE, 843-1906 / Nov 14 & 21• QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTER, 537-7117 / Nov 16 & 23• KAISER HAWAII KAI, 432-2260 / Nov 22 & 29

Mayor’s Craft and Country Fair, sponsored by the Department of Parks andRecreation, Saturday, Nov 22, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.Admission is Free. The fair will feature plant sales, arts and crafts, food, andcontinuous entertainment. Call 973-7258 for more information.

NOVEMBER 2008

• It is common for individuals to beunbalanced and/or fall followingprolonged bed-rest or hospitaliza-tion. Not only do the musclesbecome weak and possibly atrophy,but the vestibular system (balancesystem located in the inner ear) isinefficient when unchallenged orstressed due to inactivity.

• Improving balance is actually onlyone facet of fall prevention. It’s alsoimportant to maintain or improvemobility, strength and flexibility.

• Studies show that older adults withgreater quadriceps strength are lesslikely to fall than those with lessermuscle strength in the same musclegroup.

• Physical therapists can assess fallrisk and design an exercise programaimed at reducing falls and improv-ing center-of-gravity control inseated, standing and moving tasksituations. They can assess aperson’s need for an assistive deviceor other adaptive equipment neededfor improved function and safety.

• Men could get osteoporosis!

• Drinking water is one of the sim-plest fall preventive efforts you cantake in the battle against gravity.Dehydration can lead to dizzinessupon standing, which makes youmore prone to falls. As we age, ourbodies start losing the mechanismthat tells us when we’re thirsty. Plus,the older you get, the more fluidsyou lose, especially in our hotclimate. So remember to drinkmore water.

Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society 15th Biennial Conference: “Leaving ALegacy: Recreating Our Work and Life,” Sept 15-16, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.,Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. General Registration fees:$200 for two days. Discount rates available for seniors, caregivers andstudents. Advanced registration required. For more information,call 948-5717 or visit www.hpgs.org.

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• Psychoactive medicines includingthose for sleep, anxiety, relaxationand psychiatric conditions

• Anti-diabetic medicines

• Anti-hypertensive medicines• Anti-seizure medicines• Diuretics• Vasodilators – dilates blood vessels;Viagra is an example

“Any symptom in an elderly patientshould be considered a drug side effectuntil proved otherwise.”

America’s Senior Care Pharmacists® AmericanSociety of Consultant Pharmacists

FALLS continued from page 5

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715 South King Street, Suite 200Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Phone: 768-7705

Elderly Affairs Division is the Area Agency on Agingfor Oahu. Our mission is to develop and supportopportunities that enable older adults to live theirfullest capacity in their own homes and communities.

County Executive on AgingKaren Miyake

- STAFF -Aging & Disability Resource Center Coordinator

Sara Voneida

Assist. Caregiver SpecialistJoel Nakamura

Budget AnalystDung Vo

Chief PlannerPat Tompkins

Clerk TypistsMelanie Hite, Kelly Yoshimoto

Community Service Aides & Kupuna Care IntakersTeresa Bright, Roger Clemente,Donna DeBiasi, Ariel De Jesus,Barbara Evans, Sharra Feliciano,

Tauamatu Marrero, George Miyamoto,Lorraine Souza, Susan Tambalo,Carolyn Tellio, Mona Yamada,Johnell Yamamoto

Community Service Aide SupervisorsTony Baccay, Ryan Gallardo

Data CoordinatorCarlton Sagara

Grants ManagersMay Fujii Foo, Douglas Gilman,Craig Yamaguchi

Information & Assistance CoordinatorLei Shimizu

SecretaryAlex Blackwell

ALOHA PUMEHANA is published four times ayear to provide the public with information onaging issues and programs. To be placed on themailing list, please call 768-7700. Writtencontributions are welcomed.

MUFI HANNEMANNMayor of Honolulu

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICESCITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

715 SOUTH KING STREET, SUITE 200HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813

PRSTD. STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHONOLULU, HI

PERMIT NO. 178SAVE THE DATE!Hawaii Caregivers Conference:Caring for Family, Caring for Yourself (Oahu)

Saturday, November 1, 2008Sheraton Waikiki8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

REGISTRATION OPENS IN JUNE:$45 For family caregivers$60 For professionalsLunch and all sessions included in registration fee