ROLE AND DUTIES

Mission

The Hawaii County Office of Aging develops services in Hawaii County which enable older persons to reach and maintain the highest level of dignity, independence, and personal well-being.

Responsibilities

The Office of Aging is an Area Agency on Aging. It:

• Continuously assesses the needs of older persons in Hawaii County and develops programs aimed at meeting these needs;

• Monitors, evaluates, and comments on policies, programs, and community action which affect older persons;

• Represents the interests of older persons to public officials and public and private agencies;

• Develops and maintains a public awareness program for older persons;

• Maintains data on the profile and needs of older persons in Hawaii County and has this information available for other organizations and the general public;

• Plans and coordinates with other agencies and organizations;

• Promotes new or expanded benefits and opportunities for older persons;

• Develops and administers an Area Plan on Aging for a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system in Hawaii County;

• Enters into sub-grants or contracts for the provision of services outlined in the Area Plan; and

• Provides technical assistance, monitors, and evaluates the performance of all service providers under the Area Plan.

STAFF

The Executive on Aging is the director of the Office of Aging. He is responsible to the Mayor of Hawaii County, and must ensure that plans and programs are developed according to all applicable rules, regulations, and initiatives, and that the office is effectively administered.

The Office of Aging employs nine permanent employees, seven in Hilo and two in Kona.

BUDGET

During the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000, the Office of Aging's operating budget was $334,481. By obtaining an additional $1.9 million in federal and state grants, the Office of Aging was able to administer a variety of services for older persons on the Big Island.

Major services funded were: caregiver support, case management, chore, employment, hospice, information & assistance, legal, nutrition, outreach, personal care, residential renovations, respite, transportation, and volunteerism.

The Office of Aging carried out the following major projects and/or initiatives:

Area Plan on Aging

Revised the Area Plan on Aging for the period October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2003. The Area Plan outlines the Office of Aging’s strategy for developing a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older persons on the Big Island. Office of Aging staff worked with ten Community Planning Councils on Aging throughout the island for the past six years obtaining input for the Area Plan.

The State Executive Office on Aging distributes Title III Older Americans Act funds to counties with approved Area Plans on Aging. This year’s amendments focused on the establishment of a congregate mealsite in Kailua-Kona. The Office of Aging worked very closely with the North Kona Community Voices Council as part of its overall plan to establish a senior resource center in Kailua-Kona.

"Senior Helpings" Grants

Entered into a contract with Alu Like, Inc. to implement a $20,000 "Senior Helpings" grant to provide ethnic home-delivered meals to homebound older Hawaiians. Collaborative efforts involving KTA Super Stores and Suisan enabled the project to test frozen and ethnic entrees. Project participants evaluated these products for taste and overall quality.

Assisted the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council obtain a $25,000 "Senior Helpings" grant from the Phillip Morris Foundation to provide home-delivered meals to homebound older persons during FY 2000-01.

Caregiver Resource Center

Surveyed and established a database of 160 caregivers. Used information to establish and conduct caregiver training activities.

• Worked with Na Leo ‘O Hawaii, a public access television station, to broadcast Home Care Companion videos on the Big Island. The purpose was to bring training into the home for caregivers, senior center participants, and the general public.
• Coordinated the Healthwise for Life handbook training project with the Kona Community Hospital and other service agencies and organizations. Purpose of the project is to improve the quality of health in the community, and to educate residents on how to manage their health concerns in partnership with healthcare professionals.
• Sponsored a Carousel of Care self-care clinic for 75 caregivers. This clinic offered strategies to assist caregivers maintain their own emotional and physical health and well-being.
• Co-sponsored with First Hawaiian Bank a financial planning symposium called "Aging in Hawaii—What Does This Mean to You?" The symposium provided participants with answers to questions on long-term care, Social Security, Medicare, and advance directives and durable power of attorney.
• Sponsored a Parkinson’s Disease seminar, in coordination with the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group in Kona. The purpose of this seminar was to introduce physician resources and current pharmaceutical and medical information to attendees.

The Caregiver Resource Center continues to restock and update its lending library of printed and audio visual materials. A newly trained videographer (staff) will be adding video programs from conferences and seminars to this library.

QuikFIX Home Modification Program

Initiated a QuikFIX Home Modification Program aimed at making a disabled older person’s home more accessible. During this period, the program provided 150 pieces of safety equipment to frail elderly clients on the Big Island. Safety deficits were identified through case management assessments. This service enabled participants to live safely at home.

Van Purchase

Provided $30,000 to the Coordinated Services for the Elderly program to purchase a 15-passenger van for Kona. The vehicle will be used primarily to transport elderly individuals to medical facilities, for essential shopping, and to resource agencies in the community.

Community Voices Project (CVP)

Continued to support nine Community Voices Councils on Aging (CVCAs), involving 360 individuals in all major districts of the Big Island. The CVCAs, which began in 1995, have completed seven community-based long-term care projects which reached 7,790 residents. The Office of Aging is currently assisting the State Office on Aging plan a statewide CVP conference at the University of Hawaii East-West Center. Major accomplishments for Hawaii County’s CVP include:

• Completion of an island-wide conference on July 30, 1999;
• Completion of 114 training sessions and community meetings;
• Training of 61 facilitators;
• Submission of 14 funding proposals;
• Completion of a Capacity Building Training session in October 1999; and
• Planned and implemented various community projects which focused on transportation, health education and wellness, resource center development, emergency information, intergenerational planning, street/road sign improvement in rural communities, and identification and return of "lost" dementia patients.

Kupuna Care Project

Implemented the Kupuna Care Project (KCP), a statewide long term care program for Hawaii’s frail elders. The first year of the KCP has been successfully demonstrated on the Big Island through the use of the Office of Aging’s FasTRAK 60+ system of assessing, authorizing, ordering, and providing services to the frail elderly. Through the KCP, 1,200 seniors were provided with 49,700 units of case management, home delivered meals, personal care, homemaker, chore, attendant care, assisted transportation, and day care services.

Public Benefits Outreach Project

Partnered with the AARP’s Western Region Office to carry out a public benefits campaign on the Big Island. The first phase of this project focused on training service providers on Medicare benefits. A system to assist older persons apply for such benefits has been developed and will be in place for the second phase. The second phase will include an island-wide outreach campaign using mail-outs, ads, and posters.

Administration on Aging Symposium

Participated in the Administration on Aging’s symposium, "Building the Network on Aging Toolkit" in Chicago, IL. The purpose of the symposium was to "bring the players together" to bridge the gap between research and practice. The goal was to seek "evidence-based" activities that would improve health, increase economic security, decrease caregiver stress, and increase the independence of older persons. The tools, best practice models, and national perspectives on priority issues will be used in Hawaii County to improve services.

Employment and Training Fund (ETF) Training Grant

The Office of Aging submitted a $183,000 ETF grant application to the State Workforce Development Division (WDD) to establish a training institute on aging in Hawaii County. A response should be received from the WDD in September 2000.

Silver Bulletin

Published 12 editions (3,000 copies each) of the "Silver Bulletin" newsletters which provide information to readers about services, benefits, and other topics of interest to older persons.

Outstanding Older Americans Awards Ceremony

Recognized 21 senior citizens and two organizations for outstanding achievements and services to their communities. In addition to the selection of two outstanding older Americans, ten special awards were presented to outstanding senior nominees, and two partnership awards were given to organizations for their outstanding support of eldercare programs.

SilverFest

Co-sponsored with American Savings Bank "SilverFest 1999," which was held on November 4 at the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium. The event featured over 53 exhibits to inform retirees about program innovations and new products. Over 1,500 persons attended.

Silver Spelling Bee

Coordinated the second annual "Silver Spelling Bee." This event was held on May 11, 2000 at the Afook-Chinen Auditorium. Co-sponsors were KTA Super Stores, Meadow Gold Dairies, Big Island Candies, and Big Island Toyota. Over 40 Big Island seniors participated in this event. Winners were Ruth Benton and McWarren Mehau.

60-Second Service Survey

Conducted 60-Second Service Surveys on over 2,000 older persons receiving services through contracts from this office. The purpose of the survey was to determine client satisfaction, and to allow recipients an opportunity to provide feedback on services received. Overall, responses were very positive.

Performance Outcome Measures Project

Assisted the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) with its Performance Outcome Measures Project (POMP). Through this project, the AoA will be developing and implementing outcome measures for all major services that it funds.

Committee on Aging

A Committee on Aging, appointed by the Mayor, assists the Office of Aging in carrying out its planning responsibilities. The majority of its members are over the age of 60 and represent major districts of Hawaii County. The following are its members:

Senior Representatives

• Shigeko I. Chang, S. Hilo, Chair

• Henry Dulan, N/S Kohala, Co-Vice Chair

• Robert A. Pennington, Upper Puna/Kau, Co-Vice Chair

• Alwin Campainha, S. Hilo

• Colleen Fuhrmann, Upper Puna/Kau

• James Ota, N/S Kona

• Tom Poy, N. Hilo/Hamakua

• Daisy U. Smith, Lower Puna

• Pearl L. Wong, S. Hilo

• Harold Bugado, Hawaii County Elderly Activities Division

• Billie P. Keawekane, Alu Like

• Roland Kleger, Alzheimer’s Association

• June T. Kunimoto, State Department of Health

• Derek M. Kurisu, Business

• Larry Manliguis, Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council