AARP Hawai`i Webinar to Share Stories, Resources for Veteran Caregivers

Caregivers of veterans can find support and help at a free webinar and panel discussion on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

The webinar can be seen on the AARP Hawai`i Facebook page or the Skyblossom.com website.

Ron Mizutani, PBS Hawai`i President and former Channel 2 News anchor, will share his story about caring for his dad, a veteran. Richard Lui, MSNBC news anchor and the director of the documentary Sky Blossom, about young people caring for veterans, and Kamile Kapanui, whose story about caring for her grandfather on Kauai is told in Sky Blossom will also be on the panel with Ilihia Gionson, a 2021 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow. Gionson cares for his father, a Vietnam War veteran, and is the lead volunteer for the foundation and its work helping veterans and caregivers in Hawai`i.

There will be a free showing of Sky Blossom at the Dole Cannery Theatre at 1:45 p.m., prior to the panel discussion. Another showing will be on Kauai on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Waimea Theater. Tickets are available to either showing by going to Skyblossom.com or at skyblossom.typeform.com/to/iQNnUyPH.

On Veterans Day, PBS Hawai`i is broadcasting Sky Blossom at 8:30 p.m. – part of a full day of programming about veterans.

AARP Hawai`i is sponsoring the webinar to share information about resources available for caregivers. Of the 112,625 veterans in Hawai`i, only 21 percent have used their benefits at VA health care, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. AARP created the Veterans Health Benefits Navigator to help veterans access services.

 

 

AARP also created a free military caregivers guide. More information and tips for veterans is available at https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/, including information on free respite programs for veteran caregivers  and how caregivers of veterans can get paid for their caregiving .