Early Stage Dementia
Symptoms:
- Trouble with the more executive cognitive functions like planning and judgment
- Difficulties in problem solving, and possibly trouble planning ahead to prevent problems
- Begin to show signs of having trouble with abstract thought, and/or difficulty grasping “the big picture”
- Have difficulties with complicated tasks they were previously able to perform well and with satisfaction
*note that there may be overlap with other stages
Resources & Recommendations:
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Talk to healthcare provider at least annually
- Potential disease modifying treatments
- Consider clinical trials
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Planning Ahead
- Advance Care Planning
- Start the Conversation
- Advance Healthcare Directive
- Power of Attorney
- If I need help with my daily activities one day, what are my care preferences?
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Financial Guidance
Place safeguards on finances and ask trusted people for support.
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Home safety tips
- Fall risk
- Tracker info
- Signs for direction/cues around the house
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Support groups for person living with dementia and caregivers
Visit our Events page to learn more!
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Wandering
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Transportation
- Apply for parking permit for person with a disability
- TSA Cares Notification Card for disability
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I need help taking care of my person living with dementia. Who can help?
Private Home care
Home care offers non-medical services such as cooking, cleaning, personal grooming, transportation, and companionship. It is usually paid for privately by the patient or covered through long-term care insurance.
Home health care
Home health care offers both home care and medical services to patients. These services include medication management, wound care, pain management, and more. To qualify for home health care, patients must meet specific eligibility criteria, and the services are typically covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance plans.
Adult day care
Adult day care offers support and companionship to older adults who need supervision during the day. These programs give family members and caregivers respite, giving them the chance to work, take care of errands, or rest. Adult day care services may be partially covered by Medicaid and some Medicare Advantage plans, depending on eligibility and plan details. These services can also be paid for privately.
Resource Library
Ko‘olau Caregivers’ Support Group – Koolau Golf Course club house
Support Group
- Types: Support Groups & Community
- Stages: Early, Middle, Late
- Areas: Oahu
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Contact:
Phone: (808) 233-3789
Kula No Na Poʻe Hawaiʻi
several community based research projects; ʻAuamo Ke Kuleana O Nā Maʻi Poina = Carrying responsibilities associated with Dementia; I Kua Na’u (Advance Care Planning)
- Types: Education & Training
- Stages: Before, Early, Middle, Late
- Areas: Oahu
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Contact:
Adrienne Dillard PhD, Puni Kekauoha, Mahealani
Kupuna Pono, The Mediation Center of the Pacific
Family conferencing and mediation for elder care issues
- Types: Guidance & Counseling
- Stages: Early, Middle, Late
- Areas: Oahu
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Contact:
Phone: (808) 521-6767
National Parkinson’s Foundation
Support groups, seminars, online resources, peer-to-peer connect
- Types: Education & Training, Guidance & Counseling, Info & Resources, Support Groups & Community
- Stages: Early, Middle
- Areas: Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Statewide
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Contact:
Glen Higa
Phone: (808) 219-8874
Positive Approach to Care
dementia education, training, skill-building
- Types: Education & Training, Info & Resources
- Stages: Early, Middle, Late
- Areas: Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Statewide
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Contact:
Dorothy Colby, Jen Cox
View More Resources
Select the stage of dementia your person is in. This will take you to resources curated for caregiving in that stage.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (Before)
Experiencing difficulty with word recall and comprehension, memory for appointments and familiar locations, and challenges with decision-making, task completion, and following instructions may indicate cognitive impairment.
Mid Stage Dementia
Mid-stage dementia involves increased memory loss for personal history and recent events, confusion about time and location, a tendency to wander, and the emergence of personality and behavioral changes such as suspiciousness, delusions, or repetitive behaviors.
Late Stage Dementia
In late-stage dementia, individuals require constant care for daily activities, lose awareness of their surroundings and recent events, experience physical decline affecting mobility and swallowing, and become more susceptible to infections like pneumonia.
Support Groups & Upcoming Events
June 2nd from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Caregiver Foundation Youth Caregiver Support Group
Our Youth Caregiver Support Group is a virtual meet-up hosted monthly for young caregivers. If you are 20 years old or younger and identify as a caregiver, please join us! […]
June 2nd from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Hale Hauʻoli Caregiver Support Group
Caregiving can be a difficult and isolating experience, but interacting with people in similar situations can help make the task more manageable. Support groups provide a space where caregivers can […]
June 3rd from 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gimme-A-Break Caregiver Support Group
Gimme A Break offers free support, resources and more through our Weekly Support Sessions, online and in-person every Tuesday evening Join our Community! Do it for you! You are never […]
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