Aloha!
When Waimanalo resident Moana, 79, retired from teaching a few years ago, she imagined taking a trip to New York City with her two daughters, Puna and Robbie. Instead, she found herself in a similar situation as her father, who cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s. Today, Moana is the caregiver for her older brother Stanley, 90, a Korean War veteran with dementia.
A few months ago, Moana found herself in the ER and then hospitalized for extreme exhaustion, a precursor to a heart attack. Caring for Stanley had taken its toll. Moana and her doctors had a serious conversation about her health.
“They said I had to make a life change. The reality was Stanley not going to get better. So, how did I want to live my life?” shared Moana. “I was cooking every night. I was getting tired. But if I wasn’t cooking, all he’d eat was baloney sandwiches four times a day. And he loves spam musubi from the food wagon. His meals weren’t nutritious.”
It was Stanley’s case worker through his health insurance who suggested connecting with Hawai’i Meals on Wheels. He needed specialized meals to address his congestive heart failure. Soon after talking with Moana, we began delivering a five-pack of frozen, low-sodium meals for Stanley every Monday.
”“Now he’s able to eat at least one nutritious meal a day. He’s got a five-pound tub of ice cream in his fridge, and his cabinet is full of chips. But his doctor reminds me: There’s only so much you can do. I have to pick and choose my battles. One battle that’s been won is having the meals for Stanley. That’s been taken care of thanks to Hawai’i Meals on Wheels!”
Moana sees Hawai’i Meals on Wheels as part of a team of caregiving support needed to keep Stanley safe, healthy, and happy. Moana knows now that she can’t do it all alone. Now her daughter Robbie helps with bathing, taking his vitals, and keeping his skin moisturized, while her other daughter Puna attends to what he needs around his home, including searching for lost hearing aids.
More help means that Moana can reinvest in herself. Per her doctor’s recommendation, she returned to teaching part-time this fall to share mo’olelo (stories) with elementary school children, which has brought more balance to her life. Delegation of responsibilities and delivery of weekly meals means Moana can smile even on the toughest days.
“Meals are such a godsend! How fortunate for our family to have Hawai’i Meals on Wheels!” shared Moana.
Thanks to the generous support from those like you, thousands of family caregivers like Moana can receive the needed support of home-delivered, nutritious meals for their loved ones. For kūpuna who do not qualify for traditional government assistance, Hawai’i Meals on Wheels is able to provide discounted or sponsored meals – only thanks to your help with funding our safety-net program.
This coming year, we expect to deliver more than 150,000 meals. We have thousands of opportunities to help those like Moana and Stanley. That’s why I hope you’ll support Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels. When you share your tax-deductible gift, we can fulfill urgent requests for meals to kūpuna. Any amount you give will make a difference!
Serving kupuna together,
Michelle Coredero-Lee
CEO
Hawai’i Meals on Wheels
