Sponsored by Pohai Nani
Pohai Nani embodies the aloha spirit, and employees at the windward Oahu retirement community go above and beyond to serve Hawaii’s kupuna. HI Now host Kanoe Gibson is with Jo Cinter, a wellness assistant at Pohai Nani, to talk about the most rewarding parts of her job.
“I am a senior fitness specialist and work as a wellness assistant at Pohai Nani,” Cinter begins. “I teach a variety of exercise classes, including a balance class and a class for people with Parkinson’s disease. I also work one-on-one with the residents in a personal training setting.” During her time at Pohai Nani, she’s seen a number of great success stories, but one stands out.
Cinter has known Abby Watson since 1999 and because of their close relationship, Cinter began to notice some changes in her.
“Her gait and mobility were deteriorating. She was having trouble getting out of a chair and sitting up straight. She was having trouble with urinary incontinence,” Cinter explains. “We talked about her health and her decline and she agreed to talk to her doctor.”
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Although Watson’s doctor referred her to physical therapy, her walking continued to worsen. Eventually, she could no longer walk long distances and had to begin using a wheelchair.
One day, Cinter heard a news story about the passing of one of her favorite comedians, Tim Conway. The story talked about his life, his rare diagnosis and life after brain surgery. It mentioned his condition was Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Cinter was curious to learn more about the condition, and the more she did, the more she thought of Watson and her struggles.
Cinter shared her thoughts with Abby and suggested she talk to her doctor, who then referred her to a neurologist. The results showed clearly that she had the condition. When the neurologist recommended surgery, Watson first refused. Finally, after talking it over with family and the neurologist, she agreed to have the surgery.
“On surgery day, I said a prayer and hoped for the best,” Cinter says. “The next time I saw Abby, she walked into the exercise class only three days after her surgery. She looked bright and alert, and like always, was smiling. The whole class was so excited to see her that they gave her a big cheer as she walked through the door.”
Cinter explains that Watson’s improvement has been astounding. Now, Watson has an easier time getting out of a chair, walking and sitting up, and her incontinence and memory have both improved.
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“I really love getting to know the residents at Pohai Nani. Many of them are faced with the challenges that come with aging. Some are dealing with health problems and chronic conditions,” Cinter says. “I have a lot of respect for them. I have a lot of empathy and compassion. I make the exercise program fun for them and hopefully they feel better after. It is a very rewarding job!”
Pohai Nani is celebrating 55 years of serving Oahu’s kupuna. If you want to set up a tour or talk to the sales team, just call 247-6211.
For more information: good-sam.com/pohainani, facebook.com/goodsamaritansociety, Instagram: @GoodSamaritanSociety