Kupuna Caucus/Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place - meeting November 7

The Kupuna Caucus and the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place will meet at 2:00pm on Friday, November 7, 2008 in state capitol conference room 229 to receive reports and updates on the availability of Durable Medical Supplies, Nurse Delegation of Medication Administration in Nursing Homes, Home Modification Task Force, Posting Results of Annual Inspections, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force, and Family Leave Working Group. The Kupuna Caucus will also review potential 2009 legislation. A one page list of Kupuna Caucus Issues is available by fax or email.

Persons who wish to submit testimony, who have questions, or who would like a copy of the list 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/session2008/hearingnotices/JLCAIP_11-7-08_.htm

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force meeting - November 7

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, November 7, 2008 at 11:30am in Hawaii State Capitol Room 229. 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: housing rules for grandparents raising grandchildren; exit orientations for parents released from incarceration; responses to questions from area agencies on aging and state departments; and a request to include grandparents raising grandchildren in the Executive Office on Aging's 4-year State Plan.

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

Family Leave Working Group meeting - November 6

NEW ROOM #016!!!

The Family Leave Working Group will meet Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 1:00pm in Hawaii State capitol Room 016. The public is welcome.

The Working Group was established by Act 243, 2008 to explore the provision of wage replacement benefits to employees who need to take time off from work to care for a family member with a serious health condition. The working group will meet to receive a presentation on the adequacy of current long-term care system; discuss the administrative costs for unemployment insurance and a trust fund; and discuss the verification process of California and New Jersey's paid family leave program.

Persons who wish to submit testimony or have questions are asked to contact Representative Marilyn Lee's office at 586-9460. A copy of the hearing notice can be found at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

October 20 Meeting: 5th Annual Community Forum

Click here to listen.

Panelists on the recording:

Panel 1:

Speaker Calvin Say
Rep. Marilyn Lee
Bruce Bottorff, AARP Hawaii

Panel 2:
John McDermott, Long Term Care Ombudsman
Eudie Schick, Chair, PABEA Legislative Committee
Wes Lum, Caregivers Coalition
Jody Mishan, former caregiver, Genius of Aging Documentarian
Pat Urieff, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force
Rev. Bob Nakata, FACE
Alex Santiago, Phocused

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This Year was Different

The fifth annual Kokua Council Community Legislative Forum brought together over 60 representatives of government, community organizations and concerned individuals to discuss community needs and concerns and to share ideas for legislative action in the coming session. The discussion this year of both the panelists and the audience were colored by the concern of everyone of a budget shortfall, the economic crisis and personal worries about making ends meet.

The Forum helps Kokua Council identify those issues that should have top legislative priorities for our organization. And, finally, the Forum is a way to encourage organizations to work together to achieve common goals and objectives. Kokua Council will continue to support past issues that are still pending. The following presents a summary of the issues presented.

Speaker Calvin Say related the worries of his constituents as he walked door to door in his district. “The reality is all cost except gasoline is 30% higher. At the end of last year’s session there was a 3.9 million surplus, by 2009 there will be a 160 million deficit. This has already had an impact on Keiki health. If there is no work, there is no money. No money can lead to abuse.” Believes every child should have access to health care and education.

Rep. Marilyn Lee, Co-Chair of Jt. Legislative Committee for Aging in Place: The committee is spear-heading studies on Kupuna Care, Grandparents raising grandchildren, Paid family leave for working caregivers, cash and counseling (enabling families to choose services), compiling a Respite Inventory and Aging and Disability Resource Center progress update. These studies will provide the basis for making legislative decisions. JLCAP is looking into licensing home care agencies, access to healthcare, education and safe homes.

Bruce Bottorff, AARP: Supports the Long Term Commission financing (see below), access, and quality, Support for expanding home and community based services options for long term care, developing workforce for long term care, pedestrian safety and grandparents raising grandchildren.

Q and A: Support legislator’s pay raise? Say: “I will recommend the raise be suspended for two years if I am still speaker”. ( You heard it here first).
Why are long term care facilities so expensive here? Lee: We have fewer facilities and higher standards than most states. Medicaid pays for a disproportionate number patients to go to nursing homes.

Say: How to handle the deficit in funds? Look at all the tax credits to see which can be eliminated, furlough employees rather than lay them off. No gambling. Maintain health, human services and education.
Suggestion from audience: Change drug policy to treatment instead of high cost incarceration.

John McDermott, LTC Ombudsman: Public posting of results of inspections of care homes and foster homes to help families decide. Too many complaints of case manager fees, should be reexamined. Wants another LTC Ombudsman on a neighbor Island. Funeral trusts need more regulation.

Eudie Schick, PABEA Legislative Committee of Executive Office on Aging: Support for grandparents raising grandchildren, support and release of funds for the LTC Commission, Kupuna Care, ADRC(1 stop access). Department of Aging, LTC ombudsman.

Wes Lum, Caregivers Initiative: Develop respite services for caregivers, cash and counseling (consumer choice), Paid family leave for employed caregivers, Grandparents raising grandchildren and the one stop center(ADRC).

Bruce McCullough, HI Alliance for Retired Americans(HARA) as read by Laura Manis: Financing LTC, support for family caregivers and community services, reductions in Rx drugs, universal health care, LTC Ombudsman, a Department of Aging and regulating Prepaid Funeral trusts.

Rev. Bob Nakata, FACE: Concerned about the new Expanded Care Quest program. Clients have only 2 choices, why did the 2 mainland companies get a tax rebate? How will they provide services on neighbor islands with few service providers? Increase Medicaid reimbursements to MD’s and hospitals. Universal health care.

Pat Urieff, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Grandparents need children’s programs, financial assistance, respite, and rights with emphasis on policies that assist grandparents who are sole providers for their grandchildren.

Jody Mishan: Build a pro bono relationship of financial professionals who would be willing to adopt a family caregiver and provide continuing financial assessment, counseling and tax help.

Alex Santiago, PHOCUSED, Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Under-Served, Elderly and Disabled: Develop a unified, collective force leading to public policy actions statewide. It plans to train, mobilize and work collaboratively with government officials, elective officers, public agencies and concerned citizens to develop and sustain an effective system of services to address the health and human service needs throughout the state.

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Ballot Results

The audience was asked to list their top 3 issues of concern to give guidance to the Kokua Council Board in selecting priorities to pursue in the 2009 legislative session. Because of the wide spread of concerns, the issues have been arbitrarily listed in 5 categories in order of a compilation of the most votes.

1. Caregiver Support (16) includes Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, respite services, release of funds for Kupuna Care, tax credits for caregivers, paid family leave and financial security.

2. Financial Security (14) Maintaining Social Security, raising taxes on higher brackets, affordable housing, concern regarding the high cost of food and housing, against gambling, change drug policy from high cost of incarceration to lower cost for treatment, affordable mass transit.

3. Health (12), Support for universal health, lower Rx costs, raise Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, concern regarding Quest Expanded Care, help for single people with no caregiver.

4. Long Term Care (12) Funding for services, one stop center(ADRC), aging in place, workforce development, and case management, cabinet level Department of Aging.

5. Safety/Abuse (9) Pedestrian safety, LTC Ombudsman expansion to neighbor islands and publishing evaluations of care and foster homes, domestic violence, regulation of Prepaid Funeral Trusts.

October 20 Meeting: 5th Annual Community Forum

 

Be a Part of the Solution

Public is invited—it’s free.

 

NEW DATE- MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 11:30 -1:30

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

The program features lunch discussion, followed by a roundtable discussion by key government administrators, legislators, community advocates followed by Q and A.

Key topics expected for 2009: Campaign reform, caregiver support, affordable housing, universal health care, kupuna care, long-term care.

Representatives from nonprofit and other organizations involved with seniors as well as advocacy groups who have needs/concerns that can be helped legislatively or by other means will present their issues.

Please Join Us for Lunch!

11:30 Luncheon - $5.00 donation

To ask for time on the agenda or for more information email Laura Manis at manis@lava.net.

 

Here’s how it works: 

Process and Timeline for Choosing Legislative Priorities

October

Board will prepare community forum and ballot to present to members.

November

Newsletter will print suggestions from speakers.

December

Board will categorize priorities according to levels of advocacy (see above) and assign lead advocate.

January

Members will choose level of activity to support priorities. Lead advocate will prepare talking points for use in preparing testimony, training, telephoning legislators, and letters to editor; lead advocate will assemble teams for support of issue. If there is enough interest, a training session will be scheduled to prepare people for visits to legislators, preparing testimony, and testifying.

 

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The Kokua Council is one of Hawaii's oldest advocacy groups. Kokua Council seeks to empower seniors and other concerned citizens to be effective advocates in shaping the future and well-being of our community, with particular attention to those needing help in advocating for themselves.

We embrace diversity and extend a special invitation to any senior or intergenerational minded individual interested in advocating for these important issues in Hawaii.
All are welcome. Annual membership is $5 to defer printing and postage costs. Click here to join.

Family Leave Working Group meeting -- October 17

The Family Leave Working Group will meet Friday, October 17, 2008 at 1:00pm in Hawaii State Capitol Room 224. The public is welcome.

The Working Group was established by Act 243, 2008 to explore the provision of wage replacement benefits to employees who need to take time off from work to care for a family member with a serious health condition. The agenda will cover minutes of September 12 meeting, a presentation on medical privacy, a presentation on the adequacy of current long-term care system, review of the 2007 Family Caregiver Needs Assessment to explain the needs and characteristics of employed family caregivers, and review the 2007 inventory of eldercare policies and practices in the workplace.

Persons who wish to submit testimony or have questions are asked to contact Representative Marilyn Lee's office at 586-9460. A copy of the hearing notice can be found at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place/Kupuna Caucus -- joint meeting October 10

The Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place will meet jointly with the Kupuna Caucus to receive reports and updates on the following agenda items:
1. Kupuna Care Program
2. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force update
3. Family Leave Working Group update
4. Cash and Counseling Project update
5. Respite Inventory Project update
6. Aging and Disability Resource Center update

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 can be found at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/studies/commjlcaip.asp

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force -- October 10 meeting

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force will meet Friday, October 10, 2008 at 11:30 am in Hawaii State Capitol Room 229. The public is welcome.

The Task Force was established by Act 220, 2008 to focus on the needs and issues of granparents raising grandchildren. The Task Force plans to discuss the following: minutes of the September 5 meeting, testimony from the August 16 Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving, issues that may need to be addressed by legislation, subcommittees, and November 7 meeting agenda.

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