Hawaii experts share insights on issues related to Driving for persons who are living with memory loss or dementia and their caregivers.
By the end of the presentation, family and friend caregivers will be able to:
- Understand how dementia can affect driving ability (Identify common cognitive, visual, and motor changes that impact driving safety at different stages of dementia)
- Recognize warning signs and risks related to unsafe driving (Describe behaviors and incidents that may indicate it is no longer safe for a person with dementia to drive)
- Balance safety concerns with respect for independence and dignity (Explain why driving is closely tied to identity and autonomy, and why compassionate decision-making is essential)
- Communicate effectively about driving concerns (Apply practical strategies for initiating and navigating difficult conversations about driving with empathy and respect)
- Feel more confident and supported as a caregiver (Identify resources and next steps to reduce stress and support both the caregiver and the person living with dementia through driving transitions)
Gina Fujikami, MD, is Division Chief of Geriatrics at The Queen’s Medical Center. She earned her MD from the University of Hawaii (UH) John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) and completed a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Fujikami is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine at JABSOM and serves as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Hawaii’s Leadership Board, where she chairs the Care & Support Committee. Her passion for geriatrics is personal, stemming from her experience watching her grandfather who was living with dementia, which drives her commitment to helping families navigate this diagnosis.
Ivy K. Castellanos is Director of Programs with the Alzheimer’s Association, Hawaii Chapter. She holds a Master’s degree in Behavioral Science and Health Education from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and has more than 20 years’ experience in the combined areas of health education, health promotion and disease prevention, health equity, and corporate wellness. She has served in roles with organizations such as HMSA, the American Heart Association, and HealthAssist, and has held research positions with the Johns Hopkins Center for Cancer Pain Research and the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research in Baltimore, Maryland. Ivy joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2014 and finds joy in empowering families affected by dementia. She is a full-time mom of two and a full-time caregiver for her mother.
Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH) is continuing their series of expert speaker workshops focussing on Dementia-Related Behaviors and issues that can be challenging for caregivers and providers of persons living with dementia in the community. This series is made possible by a grant given to Catholic Charities Hawaii from the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging for the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative awarded to organizations across the country to increase resources and information with the goal of improving the well-being of persons living with dementia in the community and their caregivers. One of our grant objectives is offer training and support, connection to resources, and a chance to ask questions with experts in the Zoom sessions.
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