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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 30, 2019Harry Kim Mayor 1. County of Hawaii 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 West Hawai'i Community Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4390 • Fax (808) 323-4398 MINUTES COMMITTEE ON AGING MEETING Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 10:00 AM - 12:OOPM 1055 Kinoole Street, ADRC Training Room Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Executive on AQinQ CALL TO ORDER: Meizhu Lui, Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:05A.M. 2. PRESENT: Members: Meizhu Lui, Judy Bell, Chalintorn Burian, Leonor Corpuz, George Ito, Stephen Ono, Frankie Stapleton, Rowena Tiqui. Public: Shelly Ogata, Katie Kosora, Karen Davis, Lei Kapuni, Chasity Quihano HCOA Staff: C. Kimo Alameda, Nicolas Los Banos, Mary "Keola" Okajima- Kenoi, Jolean Yamada, Luana Ancheta-Kauwe Legal Counsel: Malia Hall Members Excused: Lito Asuncion, Earl Tanaka, Jim Cisler, Teana Kaho'oha- nohano, Ruth Raza Excused Ex-Officios: Duane Hosaka, County Housing; Aaron Ueno, State Department of Health; Laron Kageyama, Dept. of Human Services, Adult Pro- tective Services Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Nzy An Area Agency on Aging COMMITTEE ON AGING MEETING Minutes of January 30, 2019 Page 2 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 18, 2018 SPECIAL MEETING: Frankie Stapleton moved to accept the Minutes, Judy Bell seconded, unanimously passed. 4. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: Meizhu Lui thanked Karen Davis from Services for Seniors and C. Kimo Alameda, Executive on Aging Kimo of the Hawai'i County Office of Aging (HCOA) for their presentations on case management in November and December, and to the Advisory Committee members for their thoughtful deliberations on changing the way HCOA delivers case management services. 5. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none 6. EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ON 2018: C. Kimo Alameda A. Kimo noted that there are three different fiscal cycles; the Federal, State, and County are on different cycles. He reminded us that the office's "kule- ana" is to the frail aging population, not to active seniors. There is a written report of what was accomplished in 2018. B. Some high points where the office went above and beyond: (1) The office stepped into a leadership role during the crisis caused by the volcano erup- tion in Puna that started on May 3, 2018; our experience and our database allowed the HCOA to provide relief in a timely way. Kimo and many staff worked day and night to meet the needs caused by the disaster; (2) The of- fice provided "Safe Haven" for seniors discharged from the hospital and no home to return to by securing two slots in Hilo and four slots in Puna; Kimo hopes to expand that program. Unfortunately the "little houses" and the community created in Puna is only temporary, and those houses will be lost. C. It was noted that homelessness is a statewide issue that will be tackled in the coming legislative session. A pilot program in Honolulu (of course!) will provide a 50 percent rent subsidy for the poor - but on Hawai'i island that is not the whole solution since there is not enough housing to meet the need. Community Alliance Partners was formed to address homelessness on our island, and we are a part of that coalition. COMMITTEE ON AGING MEETING Minutes of January 30, 2019 Page 3 7. AREA PLAN DEVELOPMENT: A. The results from the needs assessment surveys and focus groups were passed out. A major issue that was identified is the shortage of workers who can provide in-home care, and the fact that services are less available in rural areas - and even in Kona - than in Hilo. B. Discussion: There were ideas about tapping younger people for internships doing home care. It was suggested that pay and benefits need to be raised. However, Nic Los Banos had been to a conference where research was pre- sented that found the issue is not wages, but the lack of consistency in hours and assignments, and also the fact that travel is not compensated. Also many home care workers are on a path to become social workers or nurses. This is a problem nationwide. The fact that we now have "participant di- rected care" where the client sets the amount of time they need help makes it harder to give workers decent work schedules in advance. Nic will keep us informed of ways other states are addressing these problems. C. The Hawai'i County Four -Year Area Plan will be submitted to the State for approval. The Committee would like to see the objectives listed in the five (5) areas in the Four -Year Area Plan so that we can watch our progress and help brainstorm ideas if we run into problems meeting the objectives. D. Committee members asked that services be equitably provided across the County. 8. CASE MANAGEMENT: Meizhu Lui reported on the Committee's discus- sion in December on bringing Case Management in-house. The general feeling was, "If it's not broke, don't fix it." Quality is our main concern, and the kupuna and their families are satisfied with the current services. However, we understand the issue of complying with the State of Hawai'i Executive on Aging directives. We want to explore more options besides hiring five (5) Case Managers to work as HCOA staff, and to make sure that a good transition plan is in place if there are to be changes. Meizhu proposed that the subcom- mittee on Area Planning led by Lito Asuncion to be tasked with closer consid- eration of the issues. The subcommittee will bring their recommendations to the March meeting for approval, and a letter will then be written to the Mayor. COMMITTEE ON AGING MEETING Minutes of January 30, 2019 Page 4 It is understood that neither the Mayor nor the Executive on Aging must fol- low our "advice", but we want to do the best we can to advocate for what is best for our Kupuna. Not just now, but into the future. Once we make a change, it cannot be reversed, and the decision should be taken with care. 9. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES: Shelly Ogata, representing PABEA, Chair our legislative sub -committee which includes Chalintorn Burian from AARP, Steve Ono from HARA, and Meizhu Lui from the Hawai'i Democratic Party Kupuna Caucus. The three priorities agreed upon are: a. The Hawai'i Saves bill, which creates a retirement program for employees of small businesses; most of the savings will be from direct deductions from the employees themselves into a retirement program set up by the State of Hawai'i. b. The Kupuna Caregiver's Bills: SB No. 1025 and HB No. 467 that contin- ues funding for family caregivers, and changes the base for stipends from daily to weekly. c. Funding for ADRCs and Kupuna Care: $9M for KC, and $3.1M for ADRC's statewide. 10. DISTRICT NEWS, CONCERNS AND/OR ANNOUNCEMENTS - None. 11. NEXT MEETING: Friday, March 29, 2019. The meetings scheduled are all on Thursdays at the ADRC are as follows: No, May 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. No, July 25, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. No, September 26, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. No, November 21, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. 12. NEXT STEPS AND ADJOURNMENT: Steve Ono moved to adjourn, and Leonor Corpuz seconded; the meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Submitted by: Meizhu Lui, Committee Chair Recorded by: Luana Ancheta-Kauwe, HCOA