HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 28, 2021 Minutes
Mitchell D. Roth William H. Farr
Mayor Executive on Aging
County of Hawai‘i
OFFICE OF AGING
Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-3872
Phone (808) 961-8600 Fax (808) 961-8603 Email: hcoa@hawaiiantel.net
West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona 96740
Phone (808) 323-4390 Fax (808) 323-4398
MINUTES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGING MEETING
Friday, May 28, 2021, 10:00 A.M.
1055 Kinoole Street, ADRC Training Room
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
1. EXECUTIVE ON AGING – Horace Farr called the meeting to order at
10:00 a.m., and opened with welcoming our new members to the Committee on
Aging.
2. SWEARING-IN OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Horace Farr
Members of the Committee was sworn in at 10:05 a.m. Christina Raine completed
the notary.
3. INTRODUCTIONS:
Committee members present: Marsha Okajima, Clyde Silva, Pauline Spencer,
Laenette Longakit, Gwen Huston, Enola Kaneta
Hawaii County Corporation Counsel (Legal): Jean Campbell
State Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs (PABEA): Shelly Ogata
Shelly is the Council Aide for Councilmember Sue Lee Loy, and also sit on
State’s PABEA and represent the Big Island.
Hawaii County Office of Aging staff (HCOA): Horace Farr, Christina Raine
and Luana Ancheta-Kauwe
4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, SECRETARY
Horace Farr mentioned one of the functions of the Committee on Aging (COA)
the nomination of officers. At this point, the Committee was not able to fill those
roles. Nomination of officers will be taken at the next meeting.
An Area Agency on Aging
Hawai`i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Advisory Committee on Aging Minutes
Friday, May 28, 2021
Page 2
5. EXECUTIVE INTRO TO OLDER AMERICANS ADULT AND AGING
NETWORK: Horace Farr
Horace mentioned that the Hawaii County Office of Aging (HCOA) is here to
support the Committee, and its roles. Jean Campbell will be here for the legal
aspect of what the functions of the Committee are. This Committee is not on the
Charter, and HCOA is not in the County Charter as a stated agency; however, we
are an attached agency. We are an attached agency to the Mayor’s office and are
required to have this Committee by federal law. The Older Americans Act (OAA)
states that we must have this Committee, and be in compliant with our Area Plan.
That is how the federal money comes to the HCOA. Horace explained that the
Federal money goes to the State first to the HCOA. This Committee is important
because it provides us to meet the compliancy of the Area Plan. HOCA is
governed by the 4-Year Area Plan, and coincide with the State’s Area Plan.
Horace went over the handouts on how HCOA operates. The handouts are as
follows: Important Terms; Hawaii County Office of Aging’s Mission, Philosophy,
Goal, and Vision; The Aging Network and the Hawaii’s Aging Network. On all
islands, we are defined as Hawaii County; whereas on the Mainland, sometimes
the street will cut the boundary.
Committee members wants to know what services are offered to the caregiver?
Horace explained our services fall in the gap group. For example under Respite
the caregiver’s client goes to Day Care for about 2 to 3 times a week for about 2 to
3 hours while the caregiver do some shopping, take a break, go to counseling,
training, etc. For support services there are assisted transportation, assist with
diaper changing, etc. As far as any monetary benefit given to the client
(caregiver), any set amount given to the client? Horace replied not through our
program.
HCOA assist with services and the purpose is to meet the Federal requirement so
that the monies can be drawn to provide the services. Without the Federal
government, we cannot provide these services. If we are not in compliant and we
do not have the Area Plan in place, which this Committee is a part of the Area
Plan, then we do not have a mechanism to receive the Federal and State funds.
Many places on the Mainland is almost 60 percent that are private/non-profit. We
are a county attached to a county. One of the other functions is this Committee is
an Advisory to the Mayor. This Committee does not make policies and laws. Part
of the Committee’s responsibility is you are the eyes and ears to the community’s
concerns.
8.
Advisory Committee on Aging Minutes
Friday, May 28, 2021
Page 3
6. CORPORATION COUNSEL (LEGAL) – Jean Campbell
Jean mentioned that she is new to Corporation Counsel and has 20 years of
experience in private practice. Jean explains that we are subjected to the Sunshine
Law and Rules and the Code of Ethics.
7. POLICY ADVISORY BOARD OF ELDER AFFAIRS (PABEA) – Shelly
Ogata
Shelly is a Registered Nurse by trade, worked in the Office of Aging and now is a
Council Aide to Councilmember Sue Lee Loy. Shelly was the family’s caregiver
for both parents.
As far as PABEA the Governor with the consent of the State Senate appoints all
members except the Ex-Officio members. The Ex-Officio members are selected
from various departments such as DOT, SSA, Department of Human Services,
Medicaid, Ombudsman, State and Federal agencies. PABEA works with the State
Executive Office on Aging (EOA) in matters pertaining to aging and family
services. Membership must be 60-years and over, and at least one member from
each County. There are two members from Hawaii County. Shelly represents
Hilo and Puna, and Roberta represents West Hawaii. The major area that PABEA
advises is the State Director is Identification of Issues and alternative approaches
of different kinds of solutions. Shelly is the Chair of the Plans and Review
Committee, and helps to review the process for the State Plan and the Area Plan;
and looks at other programs that come up to help the State with the COVID
vaccine plan especially for our Kupuna. Also looking at the pandemic on the
social, economic and racial disparities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Horace announced that he received the stats on the vaccine. Across the State for
70+ then it dropped down to 65+. Statewide for our Kupuna we got 90 to 91
percent vaccinated. On Hawaii island we are up to 75 percent to maybe 80 percent
of getting them vaccinated.
Horace announced the two winners of the 2021 Outstanding Older Americans.
They are Wayne Kawachi of Pahala, and Anne Kuamoo-Kaaukai of Puna.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn the meeting by Horace Farr seconded by Jean
Campbell. The meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.
Submitted by: Horace Farr, HCOA
Recorded by: Luana Ancheta-Kauwe, HCOA