Hawai‘i Dementia Initiative

Living with Alzheimer's: Support & Hope After a Diagnosis
2026-02-11 10:00 - 11:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii Office (Kakaako), 677 Moana Blvd, Ste 301, Honolulu, HI, 96813, United States
A new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, another dementia, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can bring a lot of questions, and can feel overwhelming. Please know you do not have to navigate the journey alone. The Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii is hosting an in-person 3-part series for individuals living with Alzheimer’s, other dementias, or MCI in February 2026. You’ll have a chance to talk story with others, learn what to expect, how to build a care team, and plan your next steps with more confidence and hope.

Participants will learn about the progression of the disease, effective communication strategies, and tools to navigate daily challenges while fostering a sense of connection and hope. This course provides guidance, resources, and support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

The 2026 Living with Alzheimer’s Series is comprised of the following programs:

Early Stage: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Mid Stage: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Late Stage: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

*This program is intended for persons living with dementia. Their care partner is welcome however caregiver participation is limited to supporting the care recipient (person living with dementia).*
Registration is required. Seats are limited to 12 people.

Living Longer: The Increasing Need for Dementia Care and Support for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
2026-02-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
Advances in medicine, technology, and community living are extending the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As a result, individuals with IDD are now at greater risk of developing dementia. Dementia can present differently in people with IDD, and supporting individuals with both conditions often requires specialized knowledge and skills from healthcare professionals and aging and disability service providers.
This webinar will provide participants with an overview of IDD and dementia including prevalence, signs and symptoms, and assessing if a person with IDD may be developing dementia. Participants will also learn practical considerations for supporting people with IDD and dementia with an emphasis on enhancing workforce training. The webinar will also include insights into the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center newly released resource, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia: Practical Strategies for Professionals.
Direct questions to NADRC-Webinars@rti.org
Please note: NADRC webinars are free and open to the public.
NADRC webinars are recorded and will be posted at https://nadrc.acl.gov/.
Closed captioning is available during the webinar and included in all recordings.

Implementing the National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)
2026-02-11 08:30 - 12:00 | Queen’s Conference Center, The Queen’s Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, United States
Free half-day training that will aid staff at Hawaii agencies and organizations as well as family caregivers to assess, record and observe cognitive function over time in persons aging with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).
In-person event with remote Zoom uplink available. Parking instructions will be sent to registrants who plan to attend in person. Lunch and handouts will be provided.
After the training, attendees will be able to:
• Describe clinical manifestations, incidence/prevalence, and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) with emphasis on Down syndrome
• Share an overview and rationale for use of the NTG-EDSD, an administrative screen designed to detect dementia-related changes in persons aging with ID
• Describe how Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia (BPSD) manifest in persons with IDD
• Develop an approach to managing BPSD that includes behavioral & environmental interventions as primary, and psychotropic medications as secondary, in partnership with healthcare professionals
• Understand how to complete the NTG-EDSD tool with persons aging with ID and their caregivers or whoever knows them best
• Know when the tool can be administered and kept in the person’s records – how and why it can be shared with the person’s physician
• Describe the challenges encountered in accurately diagnosing dementia with individuals living with IDD, and the rationale for using the NTG-EDSD tool to track cognitive changes over time to share with and help physicians with person-centered assessment and treatment options
Trainer: Ritabelle Fernandes, MD, MPH is a Professor at the Dept. of Geriatric Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii. She is also Medical Director of Population Health at AlohaCare. She is a certified Regional Trainer for the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices. Dr. Fernandes championed memory clinics across the state to provide comprehensive, person-centered dementia care. She has served on the Doctors workgroup for the State Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.
Learn more about the work and resources of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices.
To find out more about the NTG-EDSD for physicians, staff, advocates, and families, and translation of the tool into other languages: https://www.the-ntg.org/ntg-edsd

Gimme-A-Break Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-10 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-02-03 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-27 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-20 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-13 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-06 20:00 - 21:00 | Gimme-A-Break Zoom, Join the Zoom Meeting ID: 8087543787
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 alone!
Join the Zoom Meeting ID: 8087543787

Alzheimer's Association Hawaiʻi Chapter (Oʻahu) Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-12 19:00 - 21:00 | East Oʻahu (virtual)
We offer support groups for caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. All support groups are facilitated by trained individuals. Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. They also educate and inform participants about dementia and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems.

Building Brain-Healthy Habits with Dr. Rachel Lindsey
2026-02-05 12:00 - 13:00 | HI
Building BRAIN-HEALTHY Habits, Thursday, February 5, 2026, 12p m- 1pm via Zoom
Join the Alzheimer’s Association Hawaii and Dr. Rachel Lindsey to learn how you can live better NOW and protect your memory and thinking at any age.

Understand the lifestyle changes than can impact brain health and reduce dementia risk
Learn the new science about how physical activity affects the brain
Build a personalized action plan for brain-healthy habits

Click the link below to Register for the free webinar and receive the Zoom link information.

Alzheimer's Association Hawaiʻi Chapter (Oʻahu) Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-03 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-01-06 17:00 - 18:30 | Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii Office (Kakaako), 677 Moana Blvd, Ste 301, Honolulu, HI, 96813, United States

Hale Hauʻoli Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-02 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-01-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
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 share experiences and insights, ask for advice, and learn about resources available for aging seniors. Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i offers a virtual Caregiver Support Group on the first Monday of the each month at 6:30 – 8:00.

Caregiver Foundation Youth Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-02 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-05 16:00 - 17:00
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! At each meeting we will focus on a different topic, activity, or skill related to youth caregiving (for example, we will talk about self-care, identity, and making safety plans).
Groups are structured by an adult facilitator, but we want your participation and leadership! You are invited to contribute to the extent that you feel comfortable, and we will not force you to speak if you don’t want to.

Kauai Caregiver Support Group
2026-02-02 12:30 - 14:00 | Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, 4800 Kawaihau Road, Kapaa, HI, 96746, United States
This is a monthly get together of caregivers who wish to share and learn from fellow caregivers. Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. They also educate and inform participants about dementia and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems.
Note: This support group is for family caregivers, not persons living with dementia. If you are interested in programs for persons living with dementia, please contact the office for information [Cindy Fowler, Email: cfowler@alz.org Phone: 808.518.6655].
Space is limited – registration is strongly encouraged. You may be contacted by someone from the Alzheimer’s Association prior to the Support Group.

Cultivating Care: Memory Café - Connection
2026-01-29 16:30 - 18:00 | Hoʻōla ʻĀina Pilipili, 1776 University Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
The Cultivating Care: Memory Café is a monthly garden-based program for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Held at Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili Accessible Garden site, each gathering offers a welcoming outdoor space to connect, create, and build community through meaningful, accessible activities.
The garden includes wide pathways, shaded areas, seating, accessible restrooms, lighting, and nearby parking. We provide all tools, gloves, and garden materials, and serve light refreshments at each session. Registration is required, and a map with parking and site details will be shared upon sign-up.
Participants will be asked to sign in at the event and complete a brief evaluation form to support and improve the program. Our sessions will provide a supportive, relaxing environment.
2026 Memory Café Dates & Themes (Monthly on Thursdays at 4:30–6:00 PM):

January 29 – Connection
February 19 – Communication
March 12 – Creation
April 16 – Cultivation
May 21 – Celebration

Project Dana Caregiver Support Group
2026-01-26 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-01-21 10:00 - 11:15 | Zoom
Project Dana’s Caring for the Caregiver (C4C) program offers services to family caregivers and soon to be caregivers. The goal of the program is to help alleviate the stress that comes with continuous caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers will have the opportunity to “talk story” about their experiences and current concerns with their peers. The Project also plans outings to various locations and activities for fun and relaxation. The program’s coordinator facilitates the group meetings. Support group meetings scheduled and location are listed in the calendar.

Farm Fresh Pop-up
2026-01-23 09:00 - 11:00 | Kalakaua Homes, 1545 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI, 96836, United States
AlohaCare is sponsoring a Farm Fresh Pop-up event at Kalakaua Homes to provide free local produce and community resources. There will be SNAP and Med-QUEST Assistance, Meals on Wheels, Emergency Preparedness, Memory Screenings, Brain Health info, and Distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, while supplies last.

Alzheimer's Association Hawaiʻi Chapter (Oʻahu) Caregiver Support Group
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 | The Plaza at Kaneohe, 46-068 Alaloa Street, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, United States

Exercise Your Brain with Better Hearing - Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body
2026-01-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Hearing health plays a powerful—and often overlooked—role in brain health. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased risk of cognitive decline, social isolation, and changes in brain function, yet many people delay evaluation and care for years.
Join us for this statewide virtual education program with Dr. Robin Wielens, founder and audiologist with Island Audiology in Honolulu, as she explores the connection between hearing and brain health. Participants will learn how hearing loss affects the brain, why early detection matters, and practical steps to protect both hearing and cognitive health at any age.
This program is designed for adults of all ages, caregivers, and anyone interested in proactive brain health and healthy aging.
For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

Caregiver Foundation Caregiver Support Group
2026-01-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
The Caregiver Foundation hosts a monthly virtual support group for Caregivers. These groups provide a space for Caregivers to come together, share experiences, and build community. We also feature guest speakers, including medical professionals, attorneys, and other experts who speak about important topics for Caregivers.

Hypertension and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
2026-01-20 08:00 - 09:00 | Zoom
The National Association of County and City Health Officials is hosting a Cardiovascular Health Community of Practice (CoP) peer-learning session about the connection between Hypertension and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Reduction. This session will explore the connection between hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, highlight evidence-based risk reduction strategies, and share practical tools and resources that support local and state public health efforts. Participants will also engage in interactive discussion with peers working in cardiovascular health, brain health, and healthy aging.

Alzheimer's Association Hawaiʻi Chapter (Oʻahu) Caregiver Support Group
2026-01-19 18:30 - 20:00 | The Plaza at Pearl City, 1048 Kuala St., Pearl City, Hawaii, 96782, United States

The Truth About Long-Term Care: Why it’s the Most Critical Decision You’ll Ever Make
2026-01-15 11:30 - 12:30 | Zoom
Hawaiʻi Pacific Gerontological Society is hosting guest speaker, Roger Higa, President/CEO of Hawai‘i Long-Term Care Solutions, at the General Membership Meeting on Thursday. January 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM via Zoom. Roger specializes in long-term care and retirement planning, focusing on financial disaster prevention. He was a caregiver for over 12 years, Roger has spent 14 years working in insurance and financial services. Visit the Hawai‘i Long-Term Care Solutions website to learn more.
Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society is the largest non-profit multidisciplinary group of professionals, individuals, companies and organizations in the field of aging in Hawaii. Join their membership here.

Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
2026-01-14 08:00 - 09:00 | Zoom
Non-pharmacological treatments play a critical role in preventing and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This presentation will provide the latest updates on prevention and treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of managing midlife risk factors and adopting evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Attendees will gain practical, actionable steps to support cognitive health and learn about a comprehensive range of local, state, regional, and national resources available for individuals and families living with memory loss and dementia.
Participants in this webinar will be able to:

List risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia and ways to reduce these risks through improved management.
Identify lifestyle interventions that have an impact on cognition and neurological disease processes, from prodromal phases to early dementia.
Identify local, state, regional, and national programs and services to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with dementia.

About the Presenter:
Kristoffer Rhoads, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and serves as the Director of the Division of Neuropsychology at Harborview Medical Center. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Dr. Rhoads currently serves as the Governor-appointed Chair of the Health and Medical Subcommittee for the Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative and is also the Director and Co-lead of UW Project ECHO Dementia
*This webinar is designed for professionals and family caregivers. Eligible professionals can claim ONE FREE CE credit within 60 days of the live webinar by attending the live event or watching the recorded program.
