Kathleen Wyatt

  • Am I Doing This Right? Where Do I Turn?

    These questions are asked by every caregiver everywhere! Family caregivers frequently begin their journey with no experience and little or no training, which, understandably, leaves the caregiver feeling overwhelmed by their new responsibilities. There are 60,000 family caregivers caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s, so they bear the brunt of the disease in Hawai‘i.

    Caregivers don’t know what to expect as their loved one’s dementia progresses, so they don’t know what questions to ask in order to prepare themselves for what lies ahead. With no experience and no education, the caregiver will most likely experience stress, uncertainty, fear, frustration and a myriad of other emotions.

    The most effective ways to help ensure the highest quality of care for those with dementia are through caregiver education and making sure all the resources available to caregivers are easily accessible. Learning about the disease and knowing what to expect can help caregivers feel more in control and better able to cope and plan. Knowing where to turn to for help is crucial to help caregivers navigate their caregiving journey.

    There are many organizations that offer quality caregiver education at no cost to the caregiver, including the Alzheimer’s Association, The Caregiver Foundation, Project Dāna, AARP, the Hawaii Parkinson Association and Hale Hau‘oli Hawai‘i. Virtual workshops are advertised on websites.

    “To be forewarned is to be forearmed” makes sense for providing the public with information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Receiving education and training for caregiving, learning practical caregiving approaches and using local caregiving resources are important strategies. Armed with the resources needed to continue to provide safe, effective care for their loved one, and knowledge that there is help in the community to assist them, caregivers can be successful in their caregiving journeys, and their loved ones can remain in their communities.

    In addition, “The Dementia Public Awareness Campaign” bill passed through the legislature a few years ago and will be rolling out soon.

    HALE HAU‘OLI HAWAI‘I (nonprofit)
    98-1247 Kaahumanu St., Ste. 207, Aiea, HI 96701
    808-798-8706 | halehauolihawaii.org
    alz.org/help-support/caregiving
    thecaregiverfoundation.org/the-caregiver-foundation-services
    projectdana.org/caregiver
    states.aarp.org/hawaii/caregiver-resources
    parkinsonshawaii.org/resource-center

    These questions are asked by every caregiver everywhere! Family caregivers frequently begin their journey with no experience and little or no training, which, understandably, leaves the caregiver feeling overwhelmed by their new responsibilities. There are 60,000 family caregivers caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s, so they bear the brunt of the disease in Hawai‘i. Caregivers…

  • Kūpuna Services Re-Emerge in Kāne‘ohe

    The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in countless ways. Businesses closed, including services for kūpuna and their family caregivers. Unfortunately, many of these businesses did not reopen as the rest of the state began recovery from the pandemic and began to rebuild.

    Adult day care services are important to kūpuna who need supervision and socialization during the day while their caregivers work or carry out other personal chores.

    Due to the pandemic, Kāne‘ohe had been without these services for over three years.

    As the need in this area became apparent, Hale Hau‘oli Hawai‘i, a nonprofit organization with two established adult day care centers in ‘Aiea, began looking for an appropriate location in the Kāne‘ohe area for an additional adult day care center.

    After many months of delays, Hale Hau‘oli Hawai‘i was finally able to open a new center in the Windward City Shopping Center, 45-480 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, on Aug. 1, 2024.

    The interest in this adult day care center location has been overwhelming, showing the dire need for this type of service in this underserved community. Hale Hau‘oli Hawai‘i is honored and excited to bring this assistance to the windward side of O‘ahu.

    HALE HAU‘OLI HAWAI‘I (nonprofit)
    98-1247 Kaahumanu St., Ste. 207, Aiea, HI 96701
    808-292-4665 | kwyatt01@aol.com
    halehauolihawaii.org

    The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in countless ways. Businesses closed, including services for kūpuna and their family caregivers. Unfortunately, many of these businesses did not reopen as the rest of the state began recovery from the pandemic and began to rebuild. Adult day care services are important to kūpuna who need supervision and socialization during…