Kupuna Caucus & Aging in Place meeting July 10

The Kupuna Caucus and the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place will meet at 2:00pm on Friday, July 10, 2009 in state capitol conference room 229 to receive reports and updates on:

٠Kupuna Care and Preservation of the Safety Net, ٠Health Aging Partnerships, ٠Aging Disability Resource Center, ٠Senior Centers, ٠Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, ٠Website Posting of Care Settings, ٠Home for Life Task Force, ٠Paid Family Leave, ٠Funeral Trusts, ٠Long Term Care Commission, ٠Center on Aging at the University of Hawaii, ٠Leahi Hospital Master Plan, ٠Certified Nurses Aide Continuing Education, ٠Home Care Agency Licensing, ٠Adequate Medicaid Reimbursements, ٠St. Francis Staying Healthy at Home, ٠Adequate Medicaid Reimbursements, ٠Quest Expanded, ٠Fall Prevention, ٠How to Start Up a Home care Business, ٠Universal Health, ٠Silver Alert System for Missing Seniors

Persons who wish to submit testimony or who have questions are asked to contact Senator Les Ihara's office at 586-6250. A copy of the JLCAIP notice can be found at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/hearingnotices/HEARING_JLCAIP_07-10-09_INFO_.HTM

Bill would create “senior alert” in Hawaii, similar to Amber alert system

by Larry Geller

A bill planned for introduction in the 2010 legislative session by Representative Cynthia Thielen would create a “Silver Alert” program, similar to an Amber Alert, for missing senior citizens.

According to the draft bill, the Silver Alert system would be similar to the existing MAILE AMBER (Minor Abducted in Life-threatening Emergency/America's Broadcast Emergency Response) alert program and operated under the direction of the office of the Attorney General.

The system could be activated by a county police department when it receives notice of a  missing senior citizen from the family or legal guardian who can document that the missing person has an impaired mental condition.

The bill will be taken up by the legislative Kupuna Caucus. Information on the Kupuna Caucus can be obtained from the office of Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, (808) 586-6130. Rep. Thielen’s office can be reached at (808) 586-6480.

June 22 Program: Long Term Care: Threat to Hawaii’s Future?

MONDAY, June 22, 2009

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall, Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.

Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Various Pizzas, Salad, Drinks, Dessert by Eloise $5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome: Introductions and Remarks, Tony Lenzer, Vice President

11:50 Discussion: Audrey Kubota and Marc Delorme, producers of the documentary Graying of Hawaii, will discuss the film and its production. The film and a panel discussion aired on PBS this week.

12:15 Program: “Long Term Care: Threat to Hawaii’s Future?”, Stuart Ho, AARP Hawaii State President and Chair of the Legislature’s Long Term Care Commission. Ho served as a director on TIAA-CREF Mutual Funds boards from the mid-1970s until the early 2000s. He also served as a University of Hawaii regent, state representative and as a member of a dozen corporate and charitable boards of directors.

12:30 Questions and Answers

12:50 Announcements

1: 00 Adjourn

Kupuna Caucus meeting - June 5

The Kupuna Caucus will meet Friday, June 5 from 2:00 PM in State Capitol room 225 to review the 2009 legislative package and plans for the interim. The public is welcome.

Contact: Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland at 586-6130.

May Meeting: The Good, Bad and Ugly

NO LUNCHEON MEETING IN MAY AT HARRIS

INSTEAD JOIN US MAY 13, 8:30 A.M. AT THE STATE CAPITOL

Room 329

HARA (Hawaii Association of Retired Americans) /Kokua Council Legislative Review Forum for 2009

“THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY”

HARA and Kokua Council are hosting a third Legislative Review on Wednesday, May 13 from 8:30 to 12 noon at the Hawaii State Capitol, Room 329. We are meeting to a sum up activities of the 2009 legislative session to help us to evaluate its successes and failures. More than ever, we believe it is important for like-minded organizations to work together toward common goals. Last year’s Forum was attended by over 80 people, representing 30 organizations and members of the community. We invite you to come early and join us for a continental breakfast. Then at the end of the program, about 11:30 a.m., we will host a light lunch to give us all an opportunity to engage in more informal conversation

8:30 to 9:00 -- Registration (with name tags) and continental breakfast

9:00 to 9:20 -- Welcome and Introductions by HARA President Al Hamai, followed by greetings from President Colleen Hanabusa* and Speaker Calvin Say*

9:20 to 9:30 – Questions and answers

9:30 to 9:40 -- Assessment of 2007 session by Majority Leaders, Senator Gary Hooser,* Rep. Blake Oshiro

9:40 to 9:50 Questions and answers.

9:50 to 10:20 -- Reports; Rep. Ryan Yamane, Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland*, Rep. Marilyn Lee* and from the minority party, Rep. Cynthia Theilen*.

10:20 to 11:20 – Reaction and suggestions from the audience

11:20 to11:30 – Presentation of Awards

11:30 to 12:30 -- Light lunch and mingling

* confirmed

We hope you will be able to join us. Please RSVP to Laura Manis at 597-8838 or manis@lava.net by May 8th. We look forward to your participation in our 2009 Legislative Review.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force meeting - May 8

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, May 8, 2009 at 11:30am at the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center at 1300 Halona Street. The public is welcome.

The Task Force was established by Act 220, 2008 to focus on the needs and issues of grandparents raising grandchildren. The Task Force plans to discuss the following: review draft "Benchmarks GRG Task Force Completed"; review draft "List of Issues for Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place Follow-up after June 2009"; announcements re: immunization of minors and Caregivers Consent to Minor's Health Care from the Department of Health; and an update on the DOE survey.

Persons who wish to submit testimony or have questions are asked to contact Senator Les Ihara's office at 586-6250. A copy of the hearing notice may be found at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

April 27 Program: Home for Life: Aging in Place, and Aging Together

Monday, April 27, 2009
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall, Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.
Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Variety of Subway sandwiches, salad, and dessert by Eloise- $5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome, Introductions and remarks, Larry Geller, President

12:00 Program: “Home for Life: Aging in Place, and Aging Together”, Anthony Lenzer, V.P. Kokua Council, Professor Emeritus of Public Health, former Director of the Center on Aging, University of Hawaii; Bonnie Osaki, Director of Customer Care for Graham Builders, Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS)

12:30 Questions and Answers

12:45 Announcements

1:00 Adjourn

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force meeting - April 3

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, April 3, 2009 at 11:30am at the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center at 1300 Halona Street. The public is welcome.

The Task Force was established by Act 220, 2008 to focus on the needs and issues of grandparents raising grandchildren. The Task Force plans to discuss the following: review DOE letter regarding the policy to include caregivers of special needs students, report on the March 9 focus group to identify issues that need to be emphasized in the report to the legislature, report on the March 12 Family Caregiver Awareness Day and Resource Fair, and April 13 presentation on 2008 Adoption Act.

Persons who wish to submit testimony or have questions are asked to contact Senator Les Ihara's office at 586-6250. A copy of the hearing notice may be found at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

March 23 Program: Fighting for Air

Click here to listen.

Speaker: Beth-Ann Kozlovich: is HPR talk show’s executive producer and host of Town Square and Director of Development, American Lung Association of Hawaii.



Handouts:
ALAH 2009-2009 Advocacy
ALAH Programs
Lung Disease in Hawaii


NOTES FROM MARCH LUNCHEON—“Fighting for Air”
Beth-Ann Kozlovich, American Lung Association

Kozlovich, an asthma sufferer herself and whose father died of lung cancer, started her talk with some very scary statistics: lung cancer is the #1 killer in Hawaii, asthma is #2. 154,000 people in Hawaii have lung disease. Her Association provides services to address the prevention of breathing disorders and the promotion of lung health.

One of its most successful programs, the Teen Cessation Program, helped drop Hawaii’s teen smoking rate from 21% to 9.7% from 2000-2008. Since smokers start smoking as teenagers, this program focuses on 7th-12th graders mostly in the schools. Their Asthma Education and management program targets school children, school personnel and parents.

ALA has successfully advocated against smoking in pubic places, and forbidding smoking within 20 feet from workplace buildings. Prisoners can no longer smoke and report how much better they feel; however their guards still smoke.

Of great concern to the organization that gets most of the funding for their 13 programs from the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Fund, is HB1731 now making its way through the legislature. The state administration wishes to balance the budget by “reallocating for 2 years from 07/01/09 to 06/30/2011, distribution of moneys in the Hawaii tobacco settlement special fund, including depositing 25% into the state general fund.” For information, go to www.ala-hawaii.org

March 23 Program: Fighting for Air

Monday, March 23, 2009
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall, Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.

Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Various Pizzas, Salad, Dessert by Eloise—$5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome, Introductions and Remarks, Larry Geller, President

12:00 Program: Beth-Ann Kozlovich: “Fighting for Air.” Kozlovich is HPR talk show’s executive producer and host of Town Square and Director of Development, American Lung Association of Hawaii.

12:30 Questions and Answers

12:45 Announcements

1:00 Adjourn

HARA Meets the Senators

HARA Meets the Senators—Al Hamai, chair of Hawaii Alliance of Retired Americans

Senator Dan Inouye

“We had a good meeting with Senator Inouye, not only on the issues but also a lot of small talk. The Senator has a collection of Jewish memorabilia, including a Hanukkah Menorah, which we all enjoyed. He noted that his first wife was a teacher and a member of a union. On a wall he had the labor contract for his grandparents, which paid his granddad $12 per month for 60 hours of work a week at a sugar plantation on Kauai, while grandma was paid $7.50. He said that contract reminds him of his background. He said that his Dad helped to organize his sugar plantation workers, before the ILWU.

We expressed our concern with the high cost of prescription drugs and the need to reduce these cost by authorizing our government to negotiate to drug companies to reduce drug prices. He stated that with the new administration and Congress, things would hopefully change. We also discussed the need to keep Medicare solvent and the desirability to end the Medicare Advantage program. We also urged him to support legislation to give retired Americans age 55-64 the option to join Medicare. He recalled that he was in the Congress when Medicare was enacted and he returned home to meet with the doctors and others who were opposed to Medicare because they thought it was "socialized medicine." He commented: we either are going to provide health care for all who need it or let them go without help as some countries had done. He recalled that Medicare when originally enacted was a simple basic program and not expensive. Now with many additions, it's a costly program.”

Senator Dan Akaka

States across the country are confronted with budget shortfalls while our citizens have increasing health care and social service needs. ARRA (the stimulus package) establishes the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund and provides emergency Medicaid funding to ensure Americans can continue to rely on vital education and social safety net programs. Funding is also provided for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps), and childcare services.

February 23 Meeting: PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Click here to listen.

Speaker: Karl Kim, Ph.D., UH Manoa Department of Urban and Regional Planning “PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance”. Kim received his Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Notes:

Our luncheon speaker Karl Kim, is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of the UH Program on Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. He has received more than $10 million in extramural research grants related to transportation, environmental management, urban planning and disaster management.

“The point I’m trying to make is that our society has known of these tremendous risks and threats to our communities across the planet yet we have not done enough to prevent the loss of lives and injuries and all the disruptions to our economies and communities. Planning for disaster is not enough.

“Hawaii is very different from the mainland. We can’t jump into our cars and drive away from an approaching storm. We need to develop more extensive shelter-in-place strategies.

“The challenge is not just to develop the best tools for predicting and managing disasters but also ensuring that those most vulnerable to these natural and technological disasters have access and knowledge and training and resources necessary to use these tools in order to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce the loss of income, jobs, property and other necessities of life.”

Kim believes there should be more direct involvement of the community in the development of plans and strategies for preparedness, response and recovery. First responders are also families and neighbors and need to plan and communicate with each other.

He therefore asked the audience for suggestions. Some of the suggestions:

• The telephone book tsunami pages are not the same as the Federal guidelines and should be changed.
• Warnings, evacuation information and shelter sites are not communicated well.
• Plans for different kinds of help should be tailored to the needs of vulnerable people.
• Problems with condos were repeatedly mentioned with many condo managers and boards resisting making plans because of liability concerns.
• A law is needed to demand condos plan for disasters.

Missed a Kokua Council meeting? Tune in on iTunes

Kokua Council presentations are available for free download through the iTunes store. To visit the iTunes web page where you can subscribe to the podcasts, click on the iTunes icon over on the right side of this page. Or click here.

You can also listen to individual presentations on this website. Just scroll down to find the ones you are interested in.

And please consider becoming a member of Kokua Council. Your $5 (or $100 lifetime) membership supports these monthly programs and our advocacy efforts.

February 23 Program: PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

MONDAY, February 23, 2009

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall
Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.

Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Vegetable/ Meat Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad, Dessert by Eloise- $5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome, Introductions and remarks, Larry Geller, President

12:00 Program: Karl Kim, Ph.D., UH Manoa Department of Urban and Regional Planning “PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance”. Kim received his Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

12:30 Questions and Answers
12:45 Announcements
1:00 Adjourn

Medicare cautions about fraudulent phone calls

Watch out!

A caller says he needs to know the name and address of the Medicare member in order to mail a new card. Another caller tells the Medicare member to make a one-time lump-sum payment and premium deductions from the member’s Social Security benefits check will cease forever so please provide a bank account number. Medicare does not sell products or services nor is issuing a new card.

Do not volunteer personal information to anyone claiming to call from Medicare. If this happens, report the call to SMP Hawaii, a fraud prevention program at Executive Office on Aging at 586-7281. If you think you have given your bank account number to a scam artist call your bank immediately.

February 9 Program: The case against legalized gambling

Click here to listen.

Speaker: John W. Kindt, Professor of Business and Legal Policy in the Department of Business Administration, University of Illinois. For 20 years his specialty research has been focused on the societal, business, and economic impacts of decriminalizing gambling activities--particularly gambling's destabilization of international financial institutions and criminal justice systems, resulting in increased addicted gamblers, bankruptcies, and crime. Presented by Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.


Click here for a set of slides in pdf format.

Federal Funding expiring July 2009! PLEASE HELP!

Contact Sen. Inouye for Prevention Funding
Take Action!
Act Now!

As you likely know, Congress is quickly moving to pass an economic stimulus package. We are pleased that the House has included a section providing $3 billion for a "Prevention and Wellness Fund." Of the $3 billion, at least $2.35 billion would go to programs funded under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, no funding is designated for prevention and wellness programs under the Older Americans Act.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is trying to get the final Senate bill to require Secretary Daschle to set aside $200 million for Administration on Aging (AoA) evidence-based prevention (EBP) and wellness programs, such as the Ke Ola Pono Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP) and EnhanceFitness (EF) programs currently being offered in Hawaii under an existing AoA demonstration grant. More information on Hawaii's programs can be obtained from the Executive Office on Aging at 586-0100. Hawaii's federal funding for CDSMP and EnhanceFitness will end July 2009.

NCOA is hoping that you can help us remedy this unfortunate oversight by supporting an amendment to provide an additional $200 million for evidence-based prevention and wellness programs administered by the Administration on Aging.

Senator Inouye is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and can play an important role in getting the amendment included in the stimulus package, expected to be considered by the Committee next week. To be successful, we need your help now! Changing the package at this point in the process will be difficult and we need to take action very quickly to find a leader on the Committee who can help move this important priority forward.

Please call or email Senator Inouye's office today or tomorrow. Suggested phone call talking points and email language are provided for your consideration and use. In addition, please share this alert with others in your state who would be willing to weigh in with the Senator's office on this important issue.

You can leave a message at Sen. Inouye's office at (202) 224-3934 and you can send an email by clicking on the "Take Action" link above.

Phone call talking points:

*The Senate stimulus bill should include funding for evidence-based prevention and wellness programs within the Administration on Aging.

*The House Stimulus bill provides $3 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund, with about 80% of the funding going to the Centers for Disease Control and nothing going to the Administration on Aging.

*Proven, cost-effective prevention and wellness programs are available through the Administration on Aging on a very limited basis for seniors in need. These programs are having a positive impact on Hawaiians, but the need greatly exceeds current resources.

*These programs reduce Medicare spending, help seniors continue to work, provide widely accessible jobs, and reach disadvantaged and at-risk minority populations.

*I urge Senator Inouye to support an amendment to the stimulus package to provide $200 million for Administration on Aging evidence-based prevention and wellness programs.

Mahalo!

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force meeting - Feb 13

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, February 13, 2009 at 11:30am at the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center at 1300 Halona Street. The public is welcome.

The Task Force was established by Act 220, 2008 to focus on the needs and issues of grandparents raising grandchildren. The Task Force plans to discuss the following: review recommendations from the Task Force's December 2008 Report to the Legislature; review letter to Dept. of Health about clinics and the Caregiver's Consent for Minor's Healthcare and affidavit; and review letter to Dept. of Education about policies requiring consent from parents who are inaccessible.

Persons who wish to submit testimony or have questions are asked to contact Senator Les Ihara's office at 586-6250. A copy of the hearing notice may be found at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

2/09 - The Case Against Legalized Gambling in Hawaii

Presented by Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.

Monday, February 9, 2009, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Harris United Methodist Church, Miyama Hall, 20 South Vineyard Blvd at Nuuanu Ave. Plenty of free parking.

Admission is free. Lunch, pizza, salad, desert $5 donation.

Co-sponsored by Interfaith Alliance Hawaii, Kokua Council, Interfaith Open Table, Church and Society Hawaii District UMC and Others. (Download flyer here.)

John W. Kindt is a Professor of Business and Legal Policy in the Department of Business Administration, University of Illinois. After receiving a B.A. in business from the College of William and Mary in 1972, Professor Kindt earned several graduate degrees in law and business, specifically, J.D., 1976, and MBA, 1977, from the University of Georgia; LL.M., 1978, and SJD, 1981, from the University of Virginia. During the 1970s, Professor Kindt was employed in several state and federal government positions. He also served as a senior fellow at the London School of Economics.

Professor Kindt’s research has resulted in over 70 academic articles and studies in the areas of the economic impacts of decriminalized gambling, antitrust law, tax law, commercial law, environmental law, and public and private international law. For 20 years his specialty research has been focused on the societal, business, and economic impacts of decriminalizing gambling activities--particularly gambling's destabilization of international financial institutions and criminal justice systems, resulting in increased addicted gamblers, bankruptcies, and crime.  Another specialty area in international law involves the corporate development of ocean resources. Professor Kindt’s teaching has been cited several times as outstanding.

For more information, Sam Cox 779-3606 SamCox@hawaii.rr.com, Bob Nakata 295-1316 or Jim Brooking 337-1464

January 26 Meeting: Waitlisted patient issues, a symptom of our broken healthcare system

Click here to listen.

Speaker: Coral Andrews, Vice President, Healthcare Association of Hawaii




Notes on the meeting:

“The Health Care System is constipated”, declared Andrews. Hawaii’s healthcare system is broken. Symptoms of this broken system are waitlisted patients. These are patients deemed medically ready for discharge and no longer in need of acute care services but who cannot be discharged (due to various barriers) and therefore must remain in the higher cost hospital setting.

A Waitlist Task Force, working under the direction of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii’s (HAH) Board of Directors, studied the waitlist issue and identified four barrier categories that contribute to the waitlisted problem. They are: reimbursement, capacity, regulatory/government and workforce. With waiting lists for any vacancy, nursing homes will select those whose reimbursement is assured, who present no behavior problems, and who require no special treatment for special needs. Especially out of luck because staff has no behavior management training or homes have not the special equipment for the care, are geriatric patients and younger, usually male long-term care patients. Recommendations aimed at addressing these barrier categories are summarized in the 2008 and 2009 Reports to the Legislature. HAH has introduced and will support legislative bills that address these barriers. The full report can be found at www.hah.org .

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Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place - report now online

Senator Les Ihara, Jr. and Representative Marilyn B. Lee, Co-Chairs of the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place, announce that the committee's recent report to the legislature is now available online at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/commreports/sb2830_cd1_jcr1_.pdf. Questions may be referred to Senator Ihara's office at 586-6250 or Representative Lee's office at 586-9460.

January 26 Program: Waitlisted patient issues, a sympton of our broken healthcare system

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall, Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.

Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Various Subway Sandwiches, Salad, Drinks, Dessert by Eloise, $5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome: Introductions and Remarks, Larry Geller, President

12:00 Program: Coral Andrews, Vice President, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, “WAITLISTED PATIENT ISSUES, A SYMPTOM OF OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.” Andrew’s areas of responsibility are Long Term Care, Home Care, Hospice, and Advocacy.

12:30 Preparing for the 2009 Legislature: Be Part of the Solution!

12:50 Annual Meeting, Election of Officers

1: 00 Adjourn and Announcements

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force meeting - January 9

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, January 9, 2009 at 11:30am in state capitol conference room 229 to discuss among other things: application of the Caregivers' Consent for Minor's Healthcare and affidavit, and GRGs without legal status communicating and working with the Department of Education on education issues for their grandchildren. The public is welcome.

Interested persons may contact Senator Les Ihara Jr.'s office at 586-6250 for more information or assistance.

Kupuna Caucus meeting - January 9

Happy 2009!

The Kupuna Caucus will meet Friday, January 9, 2009 at 2:00pm in state capitol room 229 to review the 2009 Kupuna Caucus Legislative Package.

The public is welcome.

For more information, please contact Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland's committee clerk at 586-6130. Mahalo.