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LIFE AT 15 CRAIGSIDE

        From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

          DAY  USA  WORLD    Brazil    India    South Africa

June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82
July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572
Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130
Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82
Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85
Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118
Dec    30       3880    14748       1224       299      465
Jan     14       4142      15512        1151        189      712
Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398
Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194
April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37
May     4        853     13667        3025      3786     59 
June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95
 July    7         251      8440        1595        817      411
Aug     4         656    10120        1118        532      423 
Sept   22      2228      9326          839       279     124
Oct      6       2102      8255          543       315       59
Nov    3        1436      7830         186        458       23
Dec     1       1633      8475          266        477       28
Jan     7        2025      6729         148         285     140
Feb     2        2990   12012          946        991      175
Mar     2        1778     7756          335         173       28 
Apr     1          439      4056         290         52        12
May    5          225      2404        151            ?        64 
June    2         216      1413          130          10        31 
July    7          320       1958        297          38         9 
        14          231       1721           292          47         8 
        21          367       2063         351          45         4
        27          397       2326         308         44         5
        28          260       2088         276          47       10

Summary:
  • Certainly looks better.
  • Japan still #1 in new cases yesterday with 207,236 and USA #2 at 93,216.
  • Brazil #1 in new deaths with 276 and USA #2 at 260.
Some good news, as it was announced that the updated COVID-19 boosters shots by Pfizer and Moderna will now be made available around the middle of September.  This latest will be targeting both the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, which are super contagious and have become the dominant infection problem, making up 90% of all cases.
  • I got my second booster on 25April2022, so the third booster in late September would be a period of five months.
  • Currently, only those over the age of 50 and others with immune deficiencies are eligible for the second booster.
  • The confusion will come as to how soon this third booster can be taken after the second.  This will sort out over time

I am now in my 9th year at 15 Craigside, which I jokingly call a nursing home, but is really a senior's community with one building up Nuuanu Avenue in Honolulu.  We have an older (more than half a century) sister called Arcadia.  Our second floor is essentially for extended care, plus we have a clinic and wellness center, with exercise devices and stuff.

There are essentially several types of retirement center, here described in 2013 by HONOLULU Magazine, with my emendations.  They all have shuttle services to take you around, and provide 24-hour security.

  • Kahala Nui
    • You buy from $1 million + to own the apartment, for which your family essentially gets 80% or so back when you pass away.
    • You still need to still pay $5000+/month, whether you stay there or not
    • Essentially, this fee is for security, three meals/day (or less), weekly cleaning of apartment with change of towels and change of bedding.
    • There is a wait list of 2-4 years to get in.
    • Lifetime care is mentioned, but I hear you need to relocate for certain medical conditions.
    • As best as I can tell, it is managed by Greystone operating out of South Carolina.
  • Arcadia (photo to the right)/15 Craigside
    • You provide a $400,000 fee to move in.
    • An additional $5000+/month for the same services.
    • If you die in two months, all the money is owned by the administration, which is run by Central Union Church.
    • There is full lifetime care under any circumstances, even if you run out of money.  Of course, they don't let you in unless they feel comfortable that you will not face that problem.
  • Various Plazas 
    • Plaza assisted living centers opened in 2004 and now have 6 of them.
    • I don't know much about them except:
      • There is no entrance fee.
      • You pay a monthly amount of around $5000/month for the same services.
      • If you get severely ill you need to move out and find a care facility, which will cost from $8,000 to more than $12,000/month.
  • Pohai Nani Good Samaritan Society
    • Located on 16 acres in Kaneohe, is essentially like the Plaza, a rental center starting at around $4000/month for a studio up to more than $5000/month for a 2 bedroom, with full service.
    • Has been owned by the South Dakota-based Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society since 1980.
  • There are of course smaller facilities providing similar services for around the same monthly price or lower.  Need to find a care center if seriously ill.

So back to 15 Craigside where I live.

  • We are currently in a mild pandemic status where you can eat in the dining room or pick up take-out for free to dine in your apartment.  We are currently eating at home.
  • I try to go golfing on Wednesdays.  I now only ride a cart.
  • The bulletin board of the my 12th floor shows three new residents and our elected officers:
  • We have a plethora of activities.
    • Around 40-50 exercise classes/week, including balancing, strength, yoga, tai-chi, etc.  Of course our wellness center has all kinds of devices you can use at your own leisure.
    • There are other opportunities for worship, dance, singing, bingo, tea, photography, poker, art, etc.
    • Several films per week on our own channel.  Films and documentaries are also shown in our theater.
  • I took photos at two of these activities this week.
    • Bon Dance and Drumming.  Turns out that my camera had a smudge on the lens, so these are less than optimal.




Note that everyone is wearing a mask, save for one lady who is a problem.  A class here in ikebana made those flower arrangements.


We were provided treats:  spam musubi and andagi (an Okinawan donut ball).

The second was a monthly Aloha Hour to honor new residents, where wine, beer, etc. and a desert were featured in our Solarium:

If you saw my Blood Lily flower yesterday, you'll be surprised how the seven upcoming blooms are growing so fast.  This now day 9.

- 

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