RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in 1999, the Executive Office on Aging, in partnership with county area agencies, launched the Kupuna Care program to address the long-term care needs of the aging population; and

WHEREAS, Kupuna Care, designed to assist older adults living independently, has proven to be very successful, cost-effective, and in high demand; and

WHEREAS, although the allocation for fiscal year 2005-2006 is able to meet the current demands, it is unlikely to meet future demands due to increases in the cost of service delivery, increases in cost of living and wages, increases in longevity of the elderly population, and a decrease in voluntary contributions to supplement static funding; and

WHEREAS, critical steps to ensure an efficient service delivery system include long-term strategic planning and increased funding for the provision of current and needed Kupuna Care services; and

WHEREAS, successful long-term strategic planning requires a comprehensive review of state- and federally-funded service delivery systems for the federal initiatives currently under consideration for 2008, including budget reductions in funding for state and community-based services; and

WHEREAS, in order to forecast the need for caregiver services on a state-wide basis, development of a population-based needs assessment caregiver survey for each county is essential; and

WHEREAS, additionally, a strategic plan that integrates new complementary services and methods of service delivery, volunteer-based community organizations, and incentives for providers and agencies that will stimulate competition is imperative for successful service expansion; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Executive Office on Aging is requested to convene a focus group with other stakeholders to assess yearly service delivery needs and long-term strategic planning for Kupuna care; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Office on Aging is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Executive Office on Aging and the Director of Health.

Report Title:

EOA to analyze long-term care goals for Kupuna Care.