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Working at ‘home’
in Palolo
Question: How did you get this job?
Answer: I applied for it. (Laughter) And I'm probably very lucky, to be able to live and work so close to each other.
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Who: Darlene Nakayama Title: Administrator, Palolo Chinese Home Job: Administers eldercare programs offered by Palolo Chinese Home in Palolo Valley.
Darlene Nakayama has been administrator of Palolo Chinese Home since December. She lives practically right next door to the 100-year-old institution, which this past weekend rededicated its Lani Ward Booth Hall, a 15-bed nursing center , as part of a $20 million campuswide renovation project. Nakayama, 46, has a master's degree in nursing from the University of Hawaii. She also is licensed as a registered nurse, a nursing home administrator and a care home administrator. She has been chairwoman of the Palolo Neighborhood Board for six years, is president of a group that opposes a new power line in Palolo Valley, and is second vice president of the Palolo Lion's Club. She is married and has three sons, ages 13 to 20.
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A: He's worked all the way out there ever since we've been married, for 21 years.
Q: How big is the Palolo Chinese Home?
A: It's 15 acres, and we have a total of four buildings.
Q: How many residents live there?
A: We have 50 care-home residents, and 10 of them are expanded care, which means we have sick ones within the 50. We're licensed to have 10 out of the 50 to have that level of care. Then, of course, we have the 30-capacity daycare center (for older people).
Q: How old are these folks mostly?
A: On average they're in their 70s to 80s. They just need real simple supervision and activities of daily living and quality of life. So we have excursions, projects such as kite flying. We have people that come in and entertain. We have tai-chi twice a week. We have all kinds of programs.
Q: Your title is administrator. What do you administer?
A: I take care of all the programs. In addition to all that, we do meals-to-go, so if someone wants meals delivered, we provide meals, in Palolo, Kaimuki, Hawaii Kai, around this area generally. We also have overnight respite. So a lot of our residents come because their sons or daughters have to travel or something, so they drop off grandma or grandpa for two or three days.
Q: How many people work at Palolo Chinese Home?
A: There must be at least about 60 to 70 people.
We have nurses, we have clerical help, we have a full-time licensed social worker, a full-time social activity coordinator, and, of course, we have a Hainoa program coordinator (Hawaii Neighborhood Outreach to the Aged), which is our community outreach program. That is administered by Anne Chipchase.
Q: Who is in charge of raising money for the renovation?
A: Leigh-Wai Doo.
Q: Is the home only for Chinese?
A: Oh no, we have people of all different backgrounds here. It started out as a Chinese hospital for the homeless men, but at what point it was opened up to everyone I think was 1917.
Q: What keeps you the most busy?
A: My focus is always resident care. And we really try to give quality care to our residents, so it's making sure they're happy, that things are clean, and that their needs are being met. And, of course, as administrator, you have to count the pennies, to make sure the money is being spent effectively.
