DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Ernest Ching and Florida Villaroza accompany Kazuo Tomasa as he danced a hula at the Lanakila Senior Center. Gladys Goka assists at the music stand. They call themselves Mele o Lanakila.
Staying active is
key to graceful agingGerontologists believe programs
that promote healthy lifestyles
can help older residents
Four days a week, 90-year-old Fumiko Shima walks about a mile from her home near Foster Botanical Garden to the Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center.
CORRECTION
Saturday, Feb.14, 2003>> "Living Better" will air at 7:30 p.m. Monday on PBS Hawaii; a story on Page A6 Thursday said incorrectly that it would be on Sunday. Also, the invitation to residents to e-mail questions is no longer applicable.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com."I used to drive but my son said not to," said the Maui-born woman, who will celebrate her next birthday April 23.
Shima is one of thousands of seniors remaining physically, mentally and socially active in centers, community activities and other programs geared to older residents.
Choices are wide, from crafts and clubs to sports such as AARP Hawaii's annual TriUmph Classic swim-run-bike minitriathalon.
Sheila Wong, director of Catholic Charities Senior Services, which operates the Lanakila center, said a study of the last visits of 100 members who died in 2002 showed very few had been in nursing homes.
"We think it's partly because they keep active and are able to socialize ... and have meaning to life," she said, noting the average age of members is in the 70s and 80s, and some are "up to and past 100."
Shirley Ishikawa, 63, of Aina Haina, could not attend the Lanakila Senior Center as a member four years ago because she did not live in the district and was not old enough, so she volunteered as an arts and crafts instructor.
She retired from the Bank of Hawaii at age 55 after 35 years. "That's why I enjoy myself," she said, explaining that she is learning a lot from the other seniors.
For example, she learned about seed crafts from Shima, who also does embroidery and Hawaiian quilting and attends Japanese and Okinawan Club gatherings to "talk story."
Many of the 3,000 people served annually at the center do not go there until well past age 60, after losing a spouse, said program director Drusilla Tanaka, pointing out it is a good way to make new friends. One couple, in their 80s and married, met there after their spouses died, she said.
Quality of life, a major concern for Hawaii's aging population, does not just begin when someone qualifies for Medicare, said Kathryn Braun, director of the University of Hawaii Center on Aging.
"To be healthy, you've got to start young. It's something gerontologists talk a lot about -- a life course perspective on aging," she said.
"It says assuring a healthy old age starts at conception and that moms should be helped to have healthy babies, children should be taught about healthy habits, and the more education you get throughout your life span, the better and longer you'll live and the healthier you'll be.
"Poverty at any age ... is a big barrier to healthy old age," Braun added.
She said many gerontologists now believe that besides a healthy lifestyle, public policy initiatives are essential to keep people from poverty and guarantee a basic level of health care and access to good education.
The Hawaii State Plan on Aging lays out strategies to develop comprehensive systems to serve older residents and caregivers in the next four years.
It cites five major needs: easy access to information so older adults can make informed decisions; programs and services so they can live at home as long as possible; services to support caregivers; information on elder rights and benefits; and state-private-community partnerships to address the issues.
The plan, published by the Executive Office on Aging, points to the continuing growth and longevity of Hawaii's senior population.
Residents 60 and older jumped to 17 percent (207,001) of the population in 2000 from 9 percent (67,490) in 1970, according to the plan. In 1970 those 75 and older made up 22 percent of the older population, defined as 60 and up. In 2000 those 75 and older made up 36 percent of the older population, a 416 percent increase.
The Office on Aging estimates islanders 60 and older will represent 21 percent of the state's population by 2010 and 26 percent by 2020.
Life expectancy here is 79 compared with 75 on the mainland, Braun said. For women it is 82 and for men, 76, she said. However, it is only 74 for Hawaiians, compared with 83 for Japanese and Chinese, she said.
"If you have a population that's disadvantaged, with less access to opportunities and higher poverty rate like Hawaiians, you see that in fact they don't live as long."
Pat Sasaki, Executive Office on Aging director, said a person's perception of aging has a lot to do with how the person ages. "If we view it negatively, we're not going to think of improving diet or engaging in things physically, things that would sustain our health.
"If we can appreciate our own aging, we can appreciate aging of others. This makes it easier to deal with issues of providing care to older adults."
Sasaki said she "preaches three R's of aging: recognition, respect and responsibility," which "contribute to a more positive view of the aging experience."
It would be part of normal life rather than something to fear or deny, she said, pointing to the billions of dollars spent on medications, treatments, devices and other methods to try to ward off aging.
Karen Miyake, county executive on aging for the Elderly Affairs Division, noted a new AARP report shows older Americans know exercise is important, but behavior change has to happen.
"If everyone is eating burgers and you don't want to, it's very difficult to do," she said, adding that agencies concerned with aging are looking for ways to help people make behavioral changes.
Aging is not "a straight line down," Miyake emphasized. "People do get stronger if they exercise. ... They can achieve a lot of things. That is the message we want people to know.
"Older people can be incredible resources to the community, doing things like helping neighbors, taking them shopping, just extending a hand, tutoring a child or mentoring someone."
For more information about classes, volunteer opportunities and other activities or sources of help, call the senior hot line, 523-4545.
Panel to discuss senior health policies
A national panel will discuss public policy on the health needs of senior citizens in a special program sponsored by PBS Hawaii and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday."Living Better: A National Conversation on Aging" is presented by the National Governors Association and features Gov. Linda Lingle and national experts.
Lynne Waters will moderate a follow-up discussion with local authorities on issues such as financial planning for senior years, health challenges, support services and the government's responsibility to the aging population.
PBS Hawaii invites residents to send thoughts and questions in advance for the local panel. E-mail livingbetter@pbshawaii.org.
