The Informational Briefing focused on long term support and services for Hawaii's elderly.
The Federal Older Americans Act (OAA) establishes an Aging Network and provides federal funding for elderly support services, nutrition services, preventive health services, elder rights protection, and family caregiver support services. Chapter 349 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes establishes the Executive Office on Aging as the focal point for all matters relating to older adults’ needs and the coordination and development of caregiver support services within the State of Hawaii.
As the State Unit on Aging, they carry out the mission of the OAA which is to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated State System of Long Term Support Services in the home or community-based settings to enable older adults and individuals with disabilities to live in their homes and communities by choice. Moreover, State funds are also expended on numerous services to Hawaii's Kupuna.
The Briefing reviewed current programs for Hawaii's Kupuna and focused on recommendations from the Executive Office on Aging, Aging Disability Resource Centers, Kupuna service providers and the Kupuna being served with such services. The intent of this briefing is to establish a more efficient and cohesive system to ensure adequate and efficient services, while being prudent on funding of such programs and working for improved communication across the aging network.
The following agencies and departments were invited to participate in this Briefing:
The Department of Health
The Department of Human Services
The Executive Office on Aging
The Counties Branches of Kupuna Services
The Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA)
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Meals on Wheels
The Kupuna Care Program
The Kupuna Caregiver Program
AARP
Honolulu Council on Aging
Alzheimer's Association
University of Hawaii Center for Aging
Community Care Homes
Adult Day Care Centers
Health Care Case Managers
The Briefing was seeking to ensure essential and efficient services for Hawaii's Kupuna, healthy aging, in-home and community-based services, as well as family caregiver support programs with the various agencies working together to ensure seamless transition to the various services available to Hawaii's elderly
At the conclusion of the presentations and discussion the Committees reserved the final 10 to 15 minutes to highlight the top three priorities to ensure efficient and robust Kupuna services, seeking to eliminate silos and disconnection between service providers, government, and the Kupuna and family caregivers.
The Plan of Action may display bill proposals for the 2019 Legislative session and administrative changes or simple memorandum of agreements between services providers to ensure improved communication and greater connectivity of services for Hawaii's Kupuna.
The goal is to improve Hawaii's long-term services for Kupuna and their families.
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Mahalo!