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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0603.004 2010-2012 NEIL ABERCROMBIE i GOVERNOR OF HAMM ± LORETFA J.FUMY,AC.S.W.,M.P.H. t t1- % ' INTERIM aRECTOR OF HEALTH STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH P.O.BOX 3378 HONOLULU,HI 96801-3378 Dear Hawaii Island County Council 3/6/12 This letter is to support and request you adopt the resolution to appropriate the $7 million for the construction of a new facility for the Hilo Adult Day Center. This building will be built by Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC) on their new senior housing site in Hilo, for Hawaii Island Adult Care, Inc. (HIAC) to relocate the current Hilo Adult Day Center program. The current facility at the Old Hilo Memorial Hospital is a very poor condition, there has been structural damage to the building, wood is very termite ridden and the county has a 1- month termination provision in the current lease. In case of an environmental event such as earthquake, HIAC may be forced to halt their operations until suitable.quarters can be found and the state licensing process to operate an adult day care program is completed. As you could imagine this could take months if not years leaving many voting families with no acceptable alternative. A much needed new building for the current active adult day care is one key in facing this future. Currently H1AC's enrollment is 108, serving 60-75 people per day,providing an active organized day program with meals, bathing, medication and restorative care. The activities provide mental stimulation and physical activity to help aged elders continue to live at home as long as possible ("aging in place") and have a social life. More than 70% are over 80 years old, most are frail elders with some dementia,the remainder have Alzheimer's disease, are stroke debilitated and/or other conditions. HIAC has served the East Hawaii community for 36 years, adult day care participants have attended from many districts, even seventy miles away, Waikoloa and Ka'u. Adult day care saves the tax payer Medicaid money by delaying aged elders entry into long term care. Most patients in long term care end up as Medicaid patients within three months of entry and the average stay is three years. For every 10 persons who would have been in long term care if not attending adult day care, per year Medicaid saves $743,400; full time long term care (one person/$7,445 per month), full time adult day care including Saturdays (one/$1,250 per mo). An estimated 40% of Hilo's adult day participants would be in a long term care institution if the program did not exist. Many of my patients and their families utilize this program so the mother or father can remain at home but the family is still able to work while mom or dad is at day care. I have many patients and families who, if not for HIAC would have either been institutionalized, or at some other risk of injury long ago if not for this our one and only day care program on the East Side of Hawaii. Thank you for your assistance and support of this meaningful project. Sincerely, Jaf�d Gardner RN,PHN,MSN,APRN,PA-C �/ Comm. N9,4 _3 •T Ref. To: Ref. Date MAR 0 8 2012 T.. T 'd Gtb• t�T�!r �IGtl=;:nl :WoJA 6S:80 2�O2-9O-HUN March 7, 2012 Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear County Council Members, My name is Susan A. Kaneshiro, the primary caregiver for my aunt, Alice lmai who suffers from dementia. Alice is a client at HIAC six days a week so I can go to work and contribute towards our financial obligations. Because of HIAC and its wonderful, caring staff, I am able to rest assured that my aunt is in good hands while I am at work. Without them, I would have no alternative except to put Aunty Alice in a nursing home which she absolutely refuses to go. That thought just scares her. I am, therefore, so grateful that Aunty Alice is able to live at home with us and loves attending the Hilo Adult Day Center. It also allows me to have some time to do other things as I also take care of my mom. Because of this urgent need right here in our community for a new adult day care building, I am humbly asking all of you to support the resolution to the State Legislature to appropriate $7 million for this much needed facility. I'm sure that we all know someone who needs services such as HIAC, and I feel that we should honor our elder generation by allowing them to live at home comfortably with family and able to attend Hilo Adult Day Care and also utilize the many other services that they offer at a reasonable cost. As HIAC continues to be a blessing to so many families in our community, I hope that our county and state leaders will make this one of their priorities, especially with the growing number of our older generation who worked so hard to make our beautiful island what it is today. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated! Sincerely, Q- C a)c Susan A. Kaneshiro Karen Maedo 641 Mala'e Place Hilo, HI 96720 March 7, 2012 TO: Finance Committee Hawaii County Council FR: Karen Maedo RE: County Resolution No. 228-12 — PASS IT TODAY Thank you for permitting me to offer testimony in support of building a new adult day care center on the site of the senior housing building to be built on the corner of Mohouli and Komohana Streets. You, the powers-that-be, can provide needed assistance to turn this dream to reality. Support Resolution No. 228-12. I3oth my mother and the current facility housing Hawaii. Island Adult Care (HIAC), are 89. Obviously, looking at both, one can readily see that neither will go on much longer! As more kupuna require supervision, HIAC fills an urgent need. Morn greatly enjoys 6- day/week visits with friends at HIAC and it warms my heart to hear her express this_joy each day upon arrival, when she says, "Thank you very much for bringing me here. I just love it!" As a former educator, I appreciate the many activities which enable her to cling to basic skills like reading, writing, and math as well as art, music, and exercise, All these needs are addressed with regularity and such practice enables her to retain an identity which is uniquely her. In addition to meaningful activity, she is fed a wholesome breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Above all, she is treated royally by caring, loving personnel who treat her with dignity and respect. Although much "sweat equity" goes towards making HIAC a welcoming place, the old Memorial Hospital buildin.g is moldy, leaky, and otherwise being held together by sheer will! If ever there was a need for HIAC, it is NOW and that needs grows exponentially as baby boomers--like you and me--retire and age. If ever.there was a golden opportunity to make a difference, it is NOW and I implore you to make it happen! Mahalo n.ui loa. March 7, 2012 The Honorable Hawaii County Council Finance Committee: My mom, Mrs. Helen Chong, age 83, married 58 years, widowed the past 5 years has been a HIAC participant since February 2011. Basically a very quiet and shy individual, she has blossomed since attending HIAC and is "so happy" to be attending HIAC and looks forward to be at the program several days a week. She has been able to participate in activities that has kept her active and involved in maintaining her independence despite her medical frailties. HIAC has offered my mom a variety of supervised and structured group activities which promotes her independence, personal growth and enjoyment and offers a range of social and recreational activities which includes daily exercises, outdoor excursions, cultural activities, holiday celebrations, and especially craft oriented activities which she enjoys very much. Our family situation is such that she would be at home alone much of the time during the day (she does not drive) and the HIAC program keeps her safe and also enables her to remain in the community . It also provides a temporary relief from the daily demands of caring for an elderly and frail parent. HIAC has offered my mom and family a safe and supportive day-time environment which is a cost-effective alternative to placement in a care home or nursing home and avoids premature hospitalizations. I am hoping that you will see the value and necessity in supporting County resolution No. 228-12 which urges state legislators to appropriate funds for the construction of an adult day care facility in Hilo. I am in support of this project and am asking you, the Council to pass the County Resolution No. 228-12. Mahalo, Helen Nagashima 1385 Keneki Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720 PH: 808-959-1140 March 6,2012 Hawaii County Council: This letter is in regards to HIAC and the importance of their impact on my life. My mother goes to HIAC daily and she has been attending since August of 2011. Before then,she lived alone in her Senior Housing Apartment in Honolulu but with time she started to be more confused and was not able to remember things. My sister was going to put her into a home because that was the best solution for her living on Oahu. We brought my mother to live with my daughter and me. Being a single parent, HIAC has been the best place for my mom. I can leave her there every day knowing that she is safe and being cared for. They are able to give her that quality of life that she totally deserves;a place where she has friends that she sees everyday and a place where she has fun. If HIAC didn't exist where would I send my mom? Who would take care of her? Would I have to quit my job? How would I be able to care for my child and myself if I don't work? How would I be able to send my daughter to college right now and pay for what she needs? What about my mom's dignity to live life and not spend it in a home? The other day,we were at the Hilo Bay Front watching my daughter paddle and a cruise ship was being pulled out to sea and my mom said, 'Look! I saw that ship today when we went riding by the beach.' She actually remembered what she did and saw today; she never remembers but I felt totally happy to hear her say that. Please support the resolution to the State Legislature to appropriate$7millon for the NEW Adult Day Care building that is much needed for our Seniors on Hawaii Island. I'm shocked to know that HIAC's lease with the county is on a month to month basis. If anyone who cares can fix the problem,you can. You need to take care of our Seniors, and it starts here with you. Love your parents, We are so busy growing up, We often forget they are also growing old. Thank you very much! Sincerely, Dianne Justice March 6, 2012 Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear County Council Members: Please support the resolution sponsored by Councilman Dennis Onishi, requesting the State Legislature appropriate $7 million to construct the new facility for the Hawaii Island Adult Care, Inc. (HIAC) in East Hawaii. The Hilo Adult Care Center, currently housed in the former Hilo Hospital building, provides needed day care for our elders, many with special needs. This aged facility is in dire need of replacement in order to continue providing the valuable service to our community of elders and our future elders. As caregivers for our mother with dementia, this center provides us with needed respite that allows us to continue to care for her at home. Without this service, many caregivers would not be able to keep our parents at home, resulting in millions of dollars in government expense. As the elderly population increases, the need to expand and provide services must be addressed. Please continue to support our elders and our future generations of elders by providing the needed funds to support the valuable services provided by the HIAC. They all deserve no less. Thank you. 04 Niyak_er,„, k,(Aya,o Am P. Glenn Miyao 402 Ehehene Place Hilo, Hawaii March 7, 2012 To the Honorable County Council Finance Committee: I would like to urge the County Council to support county resolution no. 228-12. With the increase in longevity, there are more, and will be more elderly people in our community.From my own experience, I know there is a great need for more adult care facilities. There is often no space for those who need the help. There is need for more staffing to help care for the participants. Please support this resolution. Respectfully submitted, Aileen Wung Yeh 942 W Kawailani St Hilo, Hawaii. 96720 Ph. 936 2671 Email. Ayehnhawaii.rr.com Ms. Brenda Ford and Members of the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee: It is an honor to provide testimony in support of the planned request to the Hawaii State Legislature for funding for a new building for the Hawaii Adult Day Care program. When my mother, Lorraine Kiyoko Ishimaru, a county employee for 38 years, could no longer stay at home alone, HIAC became a comfortable home away from home while we all worked. Dad, Robert Sanji Ishimaru, also became a participant when he too needed all day care. It was satisfying to know that once dropped off at HIAC by private car or taxi, both were happy with the excellent care provided and talked about what they did at night. Mom and dad knew first hand the need for accommodations as they aged and were active volunteers for a senior golf club organized with the Parks and Recreation Department. They modified the game to accommodate various handicapping conditions of the elderly who wanted to golf. Their Double 9 Golf Club is still in existence today. We were very satisfied with the safety and health precautions taken by the staff and the care with which they maintained the facilities. However, as the building deteriorates and the types and variety of debilitation increase, funds are needed to continue to provide the quality of care and safeness of the facilities. Programs and services are only one part of the component of care - maintenance and cleanliness have everything to do with a patient's self-worth and attitude about receiving quality services. If the facilities are run down or unsafe, the patients will feel less cared for...an unhealthy state of mind. I whole-hearted support the county's request for state funding for HIAC for the elderly needing these services and their families who need support to care for their family members. We are better employees when the care is provided and we don't have to worry about the safety and health of our elderly. Your support is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Carole Anne Ishimaru