Greenwell’s Mouse House on display in Waimea
Martha Lowrey Greenwell’s Mouse House Christmas Village will be on display at the Isaacs Art Center at Hawaii Preparatory Academy through Jan. 10. The village includes handmade mice in miniature shops and homes fully decorated with tiny ornaments, wreaths, candies and Greenwell’s paintings. A Christmas tree decorated with the late artist’s handmade Emgee ornaments will also be on display.
The Isaacs Art Center at Hawaii Preparatory Academy is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For more information or to arrange group visits, call 885-5884.
Parol-making workshop returns to Lyman Museum
In celebration of the holiday season, Lito Asuncion returns to the Lyman Museum presenting a workshop on the parol, a Filipino star-shaped Christmas lantern. For many Filipinos, making and lighting a parol each Christmas is an expression of shared faith and hope.
Members and visitors are invited to create a parol from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday at the Lyman Museum. Cost is $10 for museum members and $15 for nonmembers. Supplies are included. To register, call 935-5021 ext. 101.
Nesian N.I.N.E. to perform free concert at Waikoloa Bowl
Nesian N.I.N.E. rhythm, island and blues band will perform a free concert at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at Waikoloa Bowl. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Nesian N.I.N.E. (Natives Inna New Era) is made up of nine Polynesian men from Oahu who deliver original songs and covers of R&B, soul ballads and “old school” music with their own style. Shar Carillo & Crew will open the show. Beach towels, blankets or chairs are welcome. Coolers are not permitted to this alcohol and drug-free event.
For more information, including kamaaina rates on hotel accommodations visit waikoloabeachresort.com/hothawaiiannights.
Masons to install new officers
A new line of officers will be installed at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Kona Masonic Center. The new officers will be Ben Spencer, master of the lodge; Bob Brogan, senior warden; Ramon Villasenor, junior warden; Bob Foerster, treasurer and Lee Meyerson, secretary. Other men will take the positions to which they are appointed. Masons and their friends are asked to support the lodge at this important meeting.
A potluck luncheon will follow the installation at Old Kona Airport Park in Pavilion 3. Reservations are required. For reservations and further information, call Mike Baker at 938-7149.
Makahiki games training held in Waimea
Free makahiki games training is offered from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1, 15 and Jan. 12 at Waimea Park near the community center. All are invited. The training is hosted by Ka Moku o Keawe Makahiki. For more information, call Keala Kahuanui at 960-2811 or email kkahuanui@gmail.com.
Tips offered for helping dementia patients during the holidays
Whether it’s mom, dad, a grandparent or a spouse, the holidays can present challenges for families with a loved one suffering from dementia.
“We have an expectation that loved ones should never change from the person we’ve perceived them to be for years but everyone changes significantly over an extended period, especially those diagnosed with dementia,” said Kerry Mills, an expert in best care practices for people with dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Spouses have a particularly difficult time coping with their partner’s dementia, Mills said.
Mills, co-author with Jennifer Brush of “I Care, A Handbook for Care Partners of People with Dementia,” offers tips on how to interact with a loved one whose brain is deteriorating.
• Do not get frustrated. “First, do no harm” – the excellent maxim taught to medical students, is also a great first principle for those interacting with grandma, who may be experiencing frustration and anxiety. She simply doesn’t have access to certain details, but she is still a conscious, feeling person who has plenty to offer. If you get frustrated, she’ll pick up on it.
• Dedicate someone to grandma during the gathering. Of course, loving families will want to include her in the group but be careful not to overwhelm her with attention. Her brain, which has trouble processing some information, could use assistance, a liaison to help her process things. Grandpa could probably use a break; her son or daughter may be the best handler during a gathering.
• Give grandma purpose; give her a task in the kitchen if she used to be prolific there in the past. Simple tasks, such as mashing potatoes or stirring gravy may be best. Engage her in conversation about the food. If it’s grandpa who’s suffering dementia, include him in a group. Give him a cigar if the other men are going outside to smoke. Engage him in a conversation about football which may allow him, on his own terms, to recall details from the past.
• Use visual imagery and do not ask yes-or-no questions. Asking someone with Alzheimer’s to remember a specific incident 23 years ago can be like asking someone confined to a wheelchair to run a 40-yard dash – it’s physically impossible. Don’t pigeonhole her. Direct grandma in conversation; say things to her that may stimulate recollection but don’t push a memory that may not be there. Pictures are often an excellent tool.
• Safety is your biggest priority. Whether during a holiday gathering or in general, grandma may commit herself to activities she shouldn’t be doing, such as driving.