STAND

STAND. COM. REP. 1522

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 195

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 195 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING TO ESTABLISH AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES VOLUNTEERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO VISIT ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES, LICENSED ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, AND NURSING CARE FACILITIES AND TO REPORT ANY ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR MISTREATMENT OF THE ELDERLY AND DEPENDENT ADULTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, with the assistance of various agencies and organizations, to establish an outreach program to:

(1) Encourage volunteers and family members to visit adult residential care homes, licensed assisted living facilities, and nursing care facilities; and

(2) Report any abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of the elderly and dependent adults.

The Coalition for Affordable Long Term Care, AARP Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of this measure. The State Long Term Care Ombudsman supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Health (DOH), Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators, United Group of Home Operators, and Big Island Adult Residential Care Home Association opposed this measure. The Hawaii Long Term Care Association provided comments.

Your Committees find that outreach to encourage people to visit care homes and nursing facilities is vital to the health and happiness of the patients and residents. While it is also crucial that visitors be aware of signs of abuse of patients and residents, the primary goal of this legislation is to provide emotional stability and happiness to the patients and residents who have limited social contact.

Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1) Changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROGRAM STRATEGIES THAT ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS TO VISIT ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES, LICENSED ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, AND NURSING CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AND TO MONITOR THE HEALTH STATUS OF DEPENDENT ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS";

(2) Clarifying that the purpose of the visits is to provide support and encouragement, in addition to monitoring status of health and well-being;

(3) Requesting DOH and the Executive Office on Aging to develop educational materials and a program to encourage visitation;

(4) Encouraging care homes to obtain assistance from various agencies and organizations to develop policies and programs to encourage visitation, and to establish regular visiting hours;

(5) Sending a certified copy of this concurrent resolution to adult residential care home organizations and residential alternative community care home organizations; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 195, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 195, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing,

____________________________ MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair		____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair