COM 0521.020 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Situation: Our Island's Population is Aaina Rapidly The Rate Of Increase of 60+ Individuals Living In Hawaii County Is Highest In The State During The Last Decade Like The Nation, The Old-Old Age Group (85+) Is The Fastest Growing Group Among The Older Population, Hawaii County had An 80% Increase of the 85+ Population In The Last Ten Years. It Is Estimated That There Are About 14,128 Informal Caregivers In Hawaii County Big Island Seniors Account For 60.39% (2 out of 3) Of All Older Individuals In The State Residing In Rural Areas. There Are About 1,546 Grandparents Responsible For Their Grandchild in Hawaii County It Is Estimated That 34°~ Of Hawaii County's Older Population Suffer Some Fomn Of Disability. 2,230 Older Individuals Experience Some Type Of Mental Disability. Nationally, Between 1987 and 1997, The Number of Households In The United States Caring for Family Members or Friends Over Age 50 Tripled to Over 22 Million. Caregiving Now Preoccupies One In Every Four Households. This Phenomena May Be Even Greater In Hawaii As We Have The Longest Life Expectancy in the Nation. What Dces This Mean For Hawaii CountvT • Growth Of Older Populatron With Associated Demands For Services Will Place a Considerable Strain On The Current Service Delivery Network. • Public (CommuMNes) Need To Be Informed of Trends And Implications • Service Delivery Capacity, Especially In Rural Areas Need To Be Expanded • Services !n Support of Caregivers Need To Be Provided: ? Information (Available resources, Literature, Public Education through Health Fairs, Expos, Group Outreach) ? Assistance (Assessments to determine specific needs, links to services, coordination and follow-up) ? Counseling (Help make decisions or solve problems and questions through individual or group counseling sessions, i.e.) one-to-one Caregiver session, support groups, family meetings, financial counseling. ? Respite Care (Temporary, intermittent or emergency services in the home or day care or institutional setting) ? Supplemental Services (Needed incidental services unique to individual situations such as yard work or heavy housecleaning) 1