Category: Giving Care

  • Supportive Care During Serious Illness

    During a serious illness, supportive care helps people maintain the best possible quality of life.

    Supportive care focuses on relieving symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety or difficulty sleeping. It also helps individuals and families navigate complex medical decisions, understand treatment options and identify resources that can make daily life more manageable.

    Supportive care can begin at any stage of a serious illness and may be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. Early access to supportive care has been associated with improved symptom management, better communication between patients/healthcare providers and reduced stress for family caregivers.

    Supportive care also recognizes that serious illness affects more than physical health. Emotional well-being, social connections, spiritual needs and caregiver support all play important roles in overall quality of life. Addressing these needs can help individuals remain more comfortable, engaged and independent.

    Families are encouraged to ask healthcare providers about supportive care options soon after a diagnosis of a serious illness rather than waiting until symptoms become overwhelming.

    NAVIAN HAWAII
    Jody Shiroma, Chief Growth Officer
    808-302-4144 | jshiroma@navianhawaii.org
    NavianHawaii.org

    During a serious illness, supportive care helps people maintain the best possible quality of life. Supportive care focuses on relieving symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety or difficulty sleeping. It also helps individuals and families navigate complex medical decisions, understand treatment options and identify resources that can make daily life more…

  • Silent Disco Transforms Memory Care

    Music has a remarkable ability to awaken memories, spark emotions and bring people together. For older adults — particularly those living with dementia — combining music with movement can support physical, emotional and social well-being. Silent disco offers a unique way to experience those benefits.

    Unlike a traditional dance class, participants wear wireless headphones. Individual volume controls allow everyone to choose a comfortable listening level, while noise-canceling technology minimizes surrounding distractions. The result is an immersive experience that encourages participants to focus on the music, sing along and move with confidence.

    Research suggests that personalized music can help evoke memories, reduce anxiety and agitation, and encourage social interaction for people living with dementia. Adding gentle movement supports balance, coordination and physical activity.

    While silent disco is not a treatment for dementia, it is an engaging activity that can create joy and supports quality of life by combining the therapeutic power of music, movement and meaningful human connection.

    KĀHALA NUI
    4389 Malia Street, Honolulu, HI 96821
    808-218-7200 | sales@kahalanui.com
    kahalanui.com

    Music has a remarkable ability to awaken memories, spark emotions and bring people together. For older adults — particularly those living with dementia — combining music with movement can support physical, emotional and social well-being. Silent disco offers a unique way to experience those benefits. Unlike a traditional dance class, participants wear wireless headphones. Individual…

  • A Family’s Guide to Hospice Care

    As Hawai‘i’s kūpuna population grows, more families will face decisions about end-of-life care. Hospice can be a compassionate choice, yet many people are unsure what it involves.

    What is hospice care? Hospice provides specialized support for people with serious illnesses who choose comfort rather than curative treatment. Care is guided by each person’s goals, values and priorities, focusing on symptom management, emotional/spiritual support and quality of life. Hospice helps patients live as comfortably as possible with dignity, and supports their loved ones.

    Who provides hospice care? Care is delivered by an interdisciplinary team that may include doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, aides and trained volunteers.

    How does hospice support families? Hospice offers counseling, caregiving guidance, education and grief support, helping loved ones focus on meaningful time together.

    Where is hospice care provided? Care can be provided at home, in assisted living, a nursing home or a dedicated hospice inpatient facility.

    When should families talk about hospice? Early conversations with doctors and loved ones can align care with personal values, especially when treatment is no longer effective and comfort becomes the priority.

    ST. FRANCIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OF HAWAI‘I
    2228 Liliha St., Ste. 300, Honolulu, HI 96817
    808-547-6500 | stfrancishawaii.org/hospice

    As Hawai‘i’s kūpuna population grows, more families will face decisions about end-of-life care. Hospice can be a compassionate choice, yet many people are unsure what it involves. What is hospice care? Hospice provides specialized support for people with serious illnesses who choose comfort rather than curative treatment. Care is guided by each person’s goals, values…

  • Is Caregiving Straining Your Marriage?

    Retirement with your spouse is just within arm’s reach, when you receive the phone call: “Something happened to Mom.” Suddenly, your world is turned upside down as the realities of caregiving set in. You may think you can simply organize help, get things all set and quickly return to your world and your plans. But shortly into your new caregiving role, you realize that Mom and Dad did not plan well for this possibility and it’s too late to change things now. Somebody has to shoulder the work of caring, arranging for care and possibly, financing care.

    Aging Baby Boomers are faced with caring for our long-lived parents. Although we are glad to still have our parents with us and doing well, when things take a turn and caring becomes your all-encompassing activity, real problems can develop for you and your spouse.

    Approximately 80% of caregivers report strain on their marriages due to caregiving pressures. About 75% of them say they had no choice but to step up. So how do you create both the understanding and the support needed in a caring relationship that also includes providing care for a parent or other loved one?

    Understand that even if you are the only child, caring for your loved one is not a solo act. You may have to dig, get creative, not meet every desire expressed and accept whatever help is available. Providing care does not have to mean that you provide the care. It means you ensure that care is provided.

    Your spouse/partner cares more about you, the caregiver, than they do the loved one you are caring for. While that might seem selfish, would you really want it any other way? You must respond to that love openly and with acknowledgement. “I know this is not what we had planned and having you with me is the only way I can get through this. I love you for loving me.”

    Find ways to make as much of your life together shine. Kim Andreaus, the aging and eldercare manager for SAS Work/Life, urges people to keep romance alive. “Try to find small, regular moments for you and your partner to connect. This can be making time for morning coffee together, a special show that you make time to watch or an evening walk with the dog.”

    The Caregiver Foundation works with the community to promote caregiver support groups and holds a Caregiver Support Group on the third Tuesday of every month. Check out the website for announcements and registration details or call the number below.

    Joining a Caregiver Support Group connects you with others who understand your challenges, offering validation, practical advice and emotional support to help prevent burnout.

    THE CAREGIVER FOUNDATION (nonprofit)
    926 3rd St., Pearl City, HI 96782
    808-625-3782 | info@thecaregiverfoundation.org
    thecaregiverfoundation.org

    Retirement with your spouse is just within arm’s reach, when you receive the phone call: “Something happened to Mom.” Suddenly, your world is turned upside down as the realities of caregiving set in. You may think you can simply organize help, get things all set and quickly return to your world and your plans. But…

  • Assistive Technology: Help for Caregivers

    Caregiving can be overwhelming. Assistive technology (AT) offers meaningful support by increasing independence for care recipients and reducing the physical and mental strain placed on caregivers.

    AT tools, devices and systems are designed to help individuals maintain or improve functional abilities. These technologies support mobility, communication, cognition, vision, hearing and daily self-care. Seniors may experience physical or cognitive challenges that make everyday tasks increasingly difficult. AT helps bridge these gaps, allowing individuals to remain safer while easing the caregiving burden.

    AT devices include mobility aids (walkers, canes or bed rails), daily living aids (adapted utensils and automatic medication dispensers) and dementia-support tools (fidget blankets, therapeutic pets or smart home controls). These tools reduce the need for constant supervision.

    Caregivers also benefit directly from AT. Scheduling apps help manage appointments, transfer aids protect against injury and doorbell cameras allow caregivers to monitor visitors and deliveries. Together, AT can support well-being, safety and quality of life for families.

    ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTERS OF HAWAII (nonprofit)
    200 N. Vineyard Blvd., Ste. 430, Honolulu, HI 96817
    808-532-7110 | info@atrc.org | atrc.org
    ATRC does not sell products, but recommends vendors. Device demonstration and lending programs give individuals and groups the opportunity to make an informed choice about an AT device prior to acquiring one.

    Caregiving can be overwhelming. Assistive technology (AT) offers meaningful support by increasing independence for care recipients and reducing the physical and mental strain placed on caregivers. AT tools, devices and systems are designed to help individuals maintain or improve functional abilities. These technologies support mobility, communication, cognition, vision, hearing and daily self-care. Seniors may experience…

  • Finding Joy in the Final Chapter

    Aging and serious illness are often framed as loss — loss of independence, routine or health. Yet many kūpuna and families discover that this stage of life can also be a time of meaning, connection and even joy.

    Experts describe this as “meaning-making,” a natural process of reflecting on life experiences, relationships and values. Simple conversations, sharing memories, retelling family stories or expressing gratitude can bring a sense of peace and fulfillment. These moments often become some of the most treasured for both individuals and their loved ones.

    Creating a legacy can also be deeply meaningful. This may include writing letters to family members, recording stories, organizing photographs or passing down traditions such as recipes, songs or cultural practices. These acts no bonds across generations.

    Joy in this stage does not need to be grand. It can be found in small, everyday moments like watching the sunset, listening to music, enjoying favorite foods or spending time with ‘ohana. Reconnecting with friends or revisiting meaningful places can also bring comfort and happiness.

    Focusing on what matters most helps shift the experience from one of loss to one of presence. Even in life’s later chapters, there remains space for purpose, connection and moments of joy.

    NAVIAN HAWAII
    Jody Shiroma, Chief Growth Officer
    808-302-4144 | jshiroma@navianhawaii.org
    NavianHawaii.org

    Aging and serious illness are often framed as loss — loss of independence, routine or health. Yet many kūpuna and families discover that this stage of life can also be a time of meaning, connection and even joy. Experts describe this as “meaning-making,” a natural process of reflecting on life experiences, relationships and values. Simple…

  • When Care Feels Like Friendship

    When memory changes, familiar routines can begin to feel confusing or unsettling. A once confident parent may repeat questions, struggle with transitions or feel anxious in new settings. For families, these moments often bring concern and a deep desire to preserve a loved one’s dignity and sense of self.

    In Hawai‘i, an estimated 62,000 unpaid caregivers provide more than 111 million hours of support each year, care valued at nearly $2.8 billion. These figures reflect both the scope of memory loss and the growing need for compassionate, relationship-centered support.

    In response, memory care has evolved beyond task-based routines. One widely respected philosophy is the Best Friends™ Approach, co-created by dementia care expert David Troxel. This model emphasizes empathy, patience and intentional connection, encouraging caregivers to relate to individuals living with memory loss as they would a trusted friend.

    Understanding a person’s life story is central to this approach. Knowing personal history, preferences and lifelong habits helps caregivers create familiar routines and meaningful moments. Even as memory changes, the need for connection remains. Relationship-centered care ensures that identity, spirit and dignity stay at the heart of daily life.

    THE PLAZA ASSISTED LIVING
    808-809-9834 | info@plazaassistedliving.com
    plazaassistedliving.com

    When memory changes, familiar routines can begin to feel confusing or unsettling. A once confident parent may repeat questions, struggle with transitions or feel anxious in new settings. For families, these moments often bring concern and a deep desire to preserve a loved one’s dignity and sense of self. In Hawai‘i, an estimated 62,000 unpaid…

  • Thriving in Place

    Hawai‘i’s homes hold stories, carrying memories of raising children, holiday celebrations and laughter. For many of our kūpuna, remaining in that home is deeply personal.

    Today, more seniors are choosing to age in place, yet many are doing so alone. Children may live far away. Friends may no longer drive. Neighborhoods change. What once felt lively can become too quiet. Independence is precious, but
    without connection, can turn into isolation.

    Having lived with and supported my 93-year-old mother, I have seen how much the small things matter — regular conversation, help navigating schedules and doctor visits, guidance with nutrition for meals she can enjoy or simply knowing someone will check in consistently. These steady rhythms create calm. They restore confidence. They allow seniors to remain in control of their own lives.

    Aging should not mean shrinking one’s world. As Hawai‘i’s population continues to age, we must reimagine what community truly means. Supporting seniors who live independently is not only a family responsibility — it is a societal one. When we build thoughtful systems around our kūpuna, we strengthen the fabric of our islands. With intentional connection and steady presence, growing older at home can remain a chapter defined by dignity, purpose and belonging.

    VENTUS SENIOR CONCIERGE SERVICES
    1108 Auahi St., #307, Honolulu, HI 96814
    808-353-6280 | rlewis@ventus.design
    ventusconcierge.com

    Hawai‘i’s homes hold stories, carrying memories of raising children, holiday celebrations and laughter. For many of our kūpuna, remaining in that home is deeply personal. Today, more seniors are choosing to age in place, yet many are doing so alone. Children may live far away. Friends may no longer drive. Neighborhoods change. What once felt…

  • Supporting Adult Children Caregivers

    As we grow older, many of us rely more on our adult children for help — with transportation, medical appointments, household tasks or managing health concerns. While this support is often given with love, it can also place a heavy responsibility on family caregivers.

    Adult children who care for aging parents may balance many roles: employee, parent, spouse, caregiver. The emotional and physical demands can be significant.

    Jennifer Oyer and her mom, Karen Pape

    Kūpuna can acknowledge that caregiving may be stressful by asking, “How are you doing?” which can open the door to honest conversation.

    Seniors can also support caregivers by sharing responsibilities, when possible, keeping medical information organized, communicating preferences clearly and discussing future care wishes before a crisis arises. Small actions, like preparing a list of important phone numbers and medications, can ease the daily burden.

    Just as importantly, encourage your adult children to take breaks and accept help from others. Caring for a loved one shouldn’t be left to one person.

    Caregiving is an expression of aloha across generations. By supporting those who support you, families can stay stronger, healthier and more connected through every stage of life.

    NAVIAN HAWAII
    Jody Shiroma, Chief Growth Officer
    808-302-4144 | jshiroma@navianhawaii.org
    NavianHawaii.org

    As we grow older, many of us rely more on our adult children for help — with transportation, medical appointments, household tasks or managing health concerns. While this support is often given with love, it can also place a heavy responsibility on family caregivers. Adult children who care for aging parents may balance many roles:…

  • Adult Day Care: A Solution for Aging in Place

    Statistics show that most kūpuna want to age in place, in the comfort of their own home. But isolation and inactivity can lead to rapid decline in seniors’ well-being. Adult day care offers socialization, physical/mental stimulation and other benefits. It combats loneliness, improves cognitive function, provides exercise and offers an engaging social setting.

    For the caregivers, adult day care offers much needed respite from their caregiving responsibilities. Some centers open as early as 6am, giving caregivers the ability to get to work on time. Late pick-up times significantly reduce stress caused by traffic, work meetings or unexpected emergencies. Adult day care also allows caregivers time to tend to their own personal activities and appointments, reduces stress and provides peace of mind knowing their loved one is in a safe, secure and loving environment.

    A normal day at an adult day care facility may include arts and crafts, music, games, exercise, personal care, social interactions with peers and a lot of fun! It also can include a hot lunch and snacks. Clients are assisted with medications, if needed.

    As long-term care prices increase, adult day care serves as a cost-effective and engaging solution for caregivers. Fees are significantly less than other options, while providing safety, reducing isolation and preventing caregiver burnout.

    HALE HAU‘OLI HAWAI‘I (nonprofit)
    98-1247 Kaahumanu St., Ste. 207, Aiea, HI 96701
    808-798-8706 | halehauolihawaii.org

    Statistics show that most kūpuna want to age in place, in the comfort of their own home. But isolation and inactivity can lead to rapid decline in seniors’ well-being. Adult day care offers socialization, physical/mental stimulation and other benefits. It combats loneliness, improves cognitive function, provides exercise and offers an engaging social setting. For the…

  • The Gift of Planning Ahead

    Talking about serious illness, end-of-life wishes or the type of care we might need someday isn’t easy. In many families, these topics are avoided. But experts agree—early, open conversations can be one of the greatest gifts we give our ’ohana.

    April is National Advance Care Planning Month, a perfect time to start the conversation about advance care planning, which identifies what truly matters to a person. Do you prefer to be at home if your health declines? What makes you feel most at peace? What worries you? What brings you comfort? These answers help your ‘ohana honor your wishes and reduce stress.

    National surveys show that while 92% of adults think these conversations are important, only about one-third have had them. In Hawai‘i, where multigenerational living and caregiving are common, planning ahead can ease emotional strain and prevent conflict during a crisis.

    Start small by sharing a friend’s experience. Talk about what quality of life means to you. Invite your family to reflect on their wishes. Once the dialogue begins, it becomes natural.

    Planning ahead is truly an act of love. Advance planning empowers your ‘ohana, protects your wishes and ensures that the care you receive aligns with what matters most to you.

    NAVIAN HAWAIʻI
    Jody Shiroma, Chief Growth Officer
    808-302-4144 | jshiroma@navianhawaii.org
    NavianHawaii.org

    Talking about serious illness, end-of-life wishes or the type of care we might need someday isn’t easy. In many families, these topics are avoided. But experts agree—early, open conversations can be one of the greatest gifts we give our ’ohana. April is National Advance Care Planning Month, a perfect time to start the conversation about…

  • Traditions Shape Caregiving in Hawaiʻi

    Caregiving in Hawai‘i is strongest when it reflects local values and cultural understanding. Caregivers who live and work here bring knowledge shaped by the islands’ traditions. They understand how families relate to their kūpuna and why cultural practices help elders feel secure, respected and connected.

    Local caregivers recognize that caregiving involves more than completing tasks. It includes familiar comforts, preparing favorite local foods, sharing meals, using common greetings, supporting everyday cultural customs or offering quiet companionship that help kūpuna feel at home by creating a sense of continuity for seniors.

    Because many caregivers share similar cultural backgrounds or experiences, they respond naturally to the needs of kūpuna from Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino and other communities. They understand how respect is shown, how elders communicate comfort or concern and how families prefer to stay involved. This awareness strengthens relationships, builds trust and brings peace of mind for all those involved.

    As Hawai‘i’s population ages, integrating cultural awareness into caregiving will remain essential. When caregivers honor local traditions, they help ensure that kūpuna feel valued.

    GRISWOLD HOME CARE FOR O‘AHU
    500 Ala Moana Blvd., B-6, Ste. 400, Honolulu, HI 96813
    808-539-1700 | OahuInfo@GriswoldCare.com
    Griswoldcare.com

    Caregiving in Hawai‘i is strongest when it reflects local values and cultural understanding. Caregivers who live and work here bring knowledge shaped by the islands’ traditions. They understand how families relate to their kūpuna and why cultural practices help elders feel secure, respected and connected. Local caregivers recognize that caregiving involves more than completing tasks.…