Educating Elders

From yoga to proper dieting, cancer awareness and even legal assistance, resources for Molokai’s senior citizens were on display last Tuesday morning at Home Pumehana.

Nonprofit organization, Hale Mahaolu, which owns Home Pumehana, was just one of the many organizations on hand at the ninth annual Senior Fair to show that free, personal care assistance is available to those who need it. 

Kathy Louis, program director at Hale Mahaolu, said she wants to help seniors gain the skills to live at home, as well as help them subsidize their cost of living as needed.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs educated senior citizens about the risks of being conned for money.

Investor Education Specialist Theresa Kong Kee answered a variety of questions for concerned kupuna, such as how to identify fraud. She explained that all businessmen have to be legally registered in Hawaii, and said it is a good practice to ask for proof of registration.

 “We really enjoy getting information out to people and seeing how we can help them,” she said.

Molokai attorney Maria Sullivan, also attended the fair to let senior citizens know that she is available to assist them with trusts, health care, wills and estate planning.

The Molokai Community Health Center, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Molokai Drugs and the Molokai Police Station were a few of the other organizations on hand to make life easier for kupuna.