Ilihia Gionson, 2021 Dole Caregiver Fellow, Hawaii
All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Ilihia Gionson as guest to the show.
About Ilihia Gionson, 2021 Dole Caregiver Fellow, Hawaii:
In Hawaiʻi, caring for the elderly is part of the native culture. So when it was time for Ilihia to care for his father Anthony, he naturally stepped into the caregiver role.
Anthony was born in Hawaiʻi in 1947 and served in Vietnam in 1966 when he was 19. His time in Vietnam, with a climate and people who reminded him of home, was one of a series of transformational moments for him. Hawaiʻi had only recently become an American state, and he returned home to a mother close to the end of her life. In the decades following his return, he worked very hard for his family, including being a caregiver to his wife with a genetic kidney disorder and another son with an intellectual disability. Ilihia believes his tireless work ethic was his father’s coping mechanism for dealing with the invisible wounds of war. It was not until after Ilihia’s mother and brother passed away that Anthony transformed from the caregiver to the care recipient. Ilihia learned about his father’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when his father started going to grief counseling sessions and began unpacking his invisible wounds resulting from his service.
Anthony lives with Ilihia, his partner and their daughter, who all help care for him. As his father’s primary caregiver, Ilihia manages his appointments and medications, performs household chores, and listens to his father when he needs to talk. Anthony’s PTSD and anxiety make it difficult for him to participate in group activities, so Ilihia works hard to get his father out of the house, including getting him to the proper medical care and therapy.
Ilihia is the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the W. M. Keck Observatory. As a fellow, he hopes to help other veterans and caregivers in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific who struggle with access to VA resources. He also hopes that by sharing his story, he will help other caregivers self-identify and seek out support.
About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation:
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers—the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans. Established by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation works to empower military and veteran caregivers, their families, and their communities through programs, partnerships, and advocacy that drive innovative, impactful, and sustainable solutions.
About the 11th Annual National Convening:
Registration is now open for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s 11th Annual National Convening – and you won’t want to miss it!
Join us on May 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C., at the iconic Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where leaders, advocates, and caregivers from across the country will come together for a powerful day of connection, conversation, and action. If you are unable to join us in-person, you can register for virtual attendance using the same link.
Last year, Convening attendees helped us begin to develop the National Blueprint for Action—a practical, solutions-driven roadmap designed to strengthen support for the 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers nationwide. Now, as we officially launch that Blueprint, we commit to act—bringing together caregivers, business and industry leaders, and policymakers to advance a nationwide Culture of Caregiving. Inspired by thought-provoking plenary speakers, you will participate in interactive working sessions and breakout discussions to learn how you can make a difference.
In-person attendees will also experience our dynamic Innovation Expo, featuring more than 30 organizations across military and veteran services, healthcare, and beyond. There, explore valuable resources, spark meaningful connections, enjoy a complimentary headshot, and take a moment for yourself at our chair massage station.