HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0521.020 2002-2004
Faith Rossman, MN, RN
Chairperson, Hawaii Community Caregiver Network
73-1176 Kahuna Ao Road
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740-8470
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The Honorable James Arakaki-Chairman
Hawaii County Council ~ . •
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo Hawaii 96720 ~
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Apri12, 2004 0~
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Dear Mr. Arakaki: - rv
I urge you to support all efforts for funding the Planner and Clerical positions for the Kona
Caregiver Resource Center. The Hawaii Community Caregiver Network has benefited
from the effective services provided by the staff at the Kona Office of Aging and I cannot
imagine how the older citizens of Kona will fare without the continued services of such
staff.
The Kona Office of Aging staff has tirelessly given their time and energy to ensure that our
elderly are cared for, and families receive the information and resources they need to
function productively in our community. Their resource library is impressive, but has run
out of space. The space is wholly inadequate for the needs of the population they serve in
Kona. Their resource technology has also fallen behind what is currently available to most
people at work.
Population statistics alone do not give you the whole picture. The Kona office is a
dynamic operation. The activity level there is quite amazing. Given the opportunity, the
Kona staff will be able to support a Caregiver Resource Center that the community
requested over ten years ago. Grass roots organizations like ours have been trying to do
our best, but without the funding and support from our legislators, we can only do so
much.
Please help us.
Sincerely,
C
Faith Rossman
Co m. No. ~ Z ~
Ref To: ~C.
Refi Uate~
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)
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What Has Been Done To Address Needsl
• Caregiver Resource Center Established in Kona Providing Resouroe Materials and
InfomreNon 8 Assistance Services.
• Caregiver Treining is Being Provided Through Special Caregiver Conferences and Treining
Sessions.
• Community Organization "Hawai7 Community Caregiver Network" (HCCN) Established To
Help Address Caregiver Needs.
• Community Planning Councils (Partners in Eldercare (PiE] Councils) Established In All
Districts To Identify Community Assets and Address Community Eldercare Needs.
• Grants Have Been Obtained To Address Development of Community Resources To
Address Service Delivery Needs At The Community Level.
• National Family Caregiver Support Program Funded By Congress To Address Needs of
Family Caregivers.
So What Is The Probleml
Both Positions At Kona Resource Center Are Federally Funded Through Title III of
The Older Americans Act.
Whv Is This A Probleml
• Authorization for Tkle 111-E Federal Funds for Implementation of National Family Caregiver
Support Program Contains Prohibition Against "Supplanting." We Cannot Utilize These
Funds To Cove? Personnel and Administrative Costs Covered By Other Resources. As A
Consequence, We Are Unable io "Free Up" Umited TNe 111 Funding For Provision of Needed
Direct Services.
• We Are Umited In The Amount of Funds That Can Be Used for Administration and Direct
Services.
• The Need and Demand fw Direct Services Increases Daily and Projected Future Demands are
Staggering.
Without Additional Resources for Provision of Direct Services, the Following Are Probable Consequences:
• Diminished Availabl/)ty of Support As The Anticipated Demand Increases.
• Public Outcry Demanding Proportionate Share of Services.
• Fragmented Services -Available Resources Wlll Only Provide Minimal "Band Aid"
Assistance.
• Increased Incidences of Caregiver Burnout
• Higher Rate of Caregiver Absenteeism from Regular Empbyment
• Lower Rate of Productivity at Work.
• Increased Institutionalization. Unable To Keep Older Persons /n Community And At Home.
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What Is Proposed Solution?
County Funding For Planner and Clerical Position in West Hawaii Caregiver Resource Center
What Would Be Direct Benefit To County?
• County Funding Would Release Much Needed Federal Funds To Enable Full Implementation
of National Family Caregiver Support Program in Hawaii County.
• Provision Of Needed Additional Community Based Services For Support of Family
Caregivers.
• Economic Stimulus Through Increases In Contracbral Services. Funding for needed services
goes back iMO communities.
• Stabilize and Maintain Sta/f Presence in West Hawaii. (Prevent loss of stable workers to more
secure jobs)
• Reduce Incidences of Caregiver Burnout
• Reduce Rate of Caregiver Absenteeism and Increase Productiwfy at Work.
• Decrease Institutionalization.
What Will Proposal Cost?
Total Salaries and Wages InGuding Fringe Benefds Total $82.729.00
What Do Poskions Provide?
• Resource Library and Information 8 Assistance Center for Caregivers.
• An Island-Wide Caregiver Program Aimed At Serving The Needs Of Caregivers.
• Caregiver Treining, Leadership, Infomration 8 Assistance, and Caregiver Care Management.
• Partnerships With Private Organizations, Service Providers and Other Entities To Plan
Conferences, Workshops, and Training.
• Outreach To Public, Especially Seniors and Caregivers, To Advise Of Program Services,
Assist Volunteer Coalitions Wifh Appropriate Projects and Develop Marketing Strategies For
Caregiver Program.
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