2016, 3-2-2016 Committee on Aging Minutes

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Meizhu Lui mentioned that the HHSC is privatizing Honoka'a Hospital. The concern in the community is about the obvious issues with privatizing. DEBBIE SHIMIZU — REPORT AND DISCUSSION ON "NO WRONG DOOR" Power point presentation (see attached handout) Debbie Shimizu and Leolinda Partin from the State office reported "No Wrong Door (NWD)". There is a three-year grant for NWD. We are in the implementation phase. NWD is meant to provide a streamlined referral process between different agencies. The grant is $850,000 per year for implementation and infrastructure. The idea is that a consumer need only tell their story once and have all the agencies communicate with each other. There is information available at: http://hinwd.blogspot.com, including meeting information, notes from meetings, links to documents and comments. The overall idea of NWD is to help all agencies and consumers navigate the system together and to provide support for agencies to work together. The SOA wants to hear our concerns. Question from R. Masuda. How does this improve services to the consumer? There is a higher level of service, more awareness, more tools for staff, better information gathering by staff and helps to avoid misinformation. Jim Cisler questioned that the NWD has money to do things that ADRC has already figured out. We hope that ADRC is the dog (not the tail) and that NWD complements ADRC as opposed to the state changing what an ADRC has already accomplished. The disability advocate/lobby is strong and we're "out lobbying" the vets also strong lobby, up to same level. The concern is that the "A" (aging) is not impacted and then the aging community suffers especially at the county level. Jim Cisler asked who are the advisory committee. The grant requirements set that out. There are twenty-four (24) persons on the committee; meeting every other month. Meizhu Lui asked is this yet another level of red tape? The goal is that the money will be saved in other areas and money will be available for programs. Also, what will be the criteria to evaluate the success/impact of the program? Debbie responded that there is oversight evaluation from the University of Hawaii Disability Center. Evaluation should include how many more people were served and how they were impacted. The hope is that this is not just more bureaucracy, but actually improves life for consumers. Looking at creating a community health worker to assess needs on the ground. ANNOUNCEMENTS and NEXT MEETING: Chris Ridley, Alzheimer's Association announced classes in April at the ADRC, and Kona and Waimea in June. The schedule is on the website. Also, April 16th is National AHCD day; get them done! Opportunities at the ADRC are on 4/16 and on 4/15 at Life Care. Also, requested that people go to the website on Alzheimer's.org and register a team for the walk on 9/17/2016. Registration alone helps — no need to walk.