There is an increase in that segment of the population with Alzheimers and the Alzheimer's association of Hawaii received a Caregiver award in the education category.

The Association has worked tirelessly in raising awareness about the disease.

Wes Lum from the Executive Office on Aging says "As the population ages, we're going to have people who are being affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and so we're very thankful to have that type of innovative educational programs available, training really."

"As the baby boomer generation, we're right into that group, we're at risk and we have a lot of health situations and a lot of challenges and we really need to be prepared and we really champion the work that Laura is talking about," says Janet Eli of the Alzheimer's Association.

The Laura she mentioned is Laura Manis of the Kokua Council.

The council received an award in the Advocacy category.

The council was instrumental in getting the Kupuna Caucus formed at the legislature.

"We go to hearings, we testify, we call, we lobby as hard as we can for our issues," says Laura Manis of the Kokua Council.

"And the programs that they instituted such as the Silver legislature and they have these community forums, it's really trying to empower individuals to make a change at the state level," says Lum.

Some years ago, St. Francis Hospice Bereavement Center began its Grief Walk, offering an outlet for those mourning the loss of a loved one. The center also conducts grief workshops.

"Some of them are related to different ethnic groups, how they handle their grief reactions. We also have grief workshops during holiday season," says Felicia Marquez-Wong from the St. Francis Hospice Bereavement Center.

Percy Ihara of Financial Freedom says, "Everybody talks about the baby boomers - I'm a baby boomer - but really we have to worry about our baby boomers parents and that's who St. Francis does a great job with."

Thanks to Financial Freedom for helping sponsor the awards.

Individual winners of caregiver awards include May Tsunaka in Hawaii County, Kenneth Woo in Kauai County and Jay Feldman in Honolulu County.