By Staff Reports
(WAILUKU)– The Maui County Office on Aging, a division of the County of Maui’s Department of Housing & Human Concerns, and Christ the King Church are co-sponsoring a film screening of “Koi, Like the Fish” to promote elder abuse awareness.
The free screening is open to the public, but due to strong language and intense scenes the film is not recommended for children under the age of 13. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, December 7 at the Christ the King Church hall on the corner of Puunene and Wakea avenues.
The film tells the story of an independent man who becomes unable to care for himself. His niece and her family move in with him so that she can care for him. The household experiences tension when lifestyles and decisions are challenged. The film, based on a play by Keali’iwahine Hokoana, addresses issues such as caregiver burnout, abuse in different forms and the challenges of coping with life’s hardships. It has been praised as offering a sobering but realistic look at how losses affect the human spirit and the quality of life.
A discussion will follow the film with representatives from the Maui County Office on Aging, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Adult Protective Services, Maui Police Department, Mediation Services of Maui, Victim Witness Assistance, and Mental Health America of Hawaii. Organizers hope to help prevent elder abuse by educating older adults, their families and caregivers on recognizing when someone needs help and how to go about doing so.
For more information, call the Maui County Office on Aging at 270-7349 or Christ the King at 877-6098.