The Hawaii Aging Network
Agenda for the Decade

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The mission of the Executive Office on Aging is to promote dignity and independence of older adults, and to help prepare for the rapid expansion of Hawaii’s aging population.

The Hawaii Aging Network has served the 60+ population for nearly four decades in partnerships with the public and private sectors. Older adults themselves contribute to our aging society -- as advisors, volunteers, and consumers of aging services.

The EOA and Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with senior organizations, are developing strategies to:

Planners, policy makers, and researchers require reliable and valid data about Hawaii’s population. The EOA and UH Center on The Family are seeking resources to screen, centralize and make available diverse data and databases about Hawaii’s older adults and caregivers. The availability of improved data would enhance sound allocation of limited resources and long range planning for Hawaii’s long term care needs. For information, contact Pat Sasaki, (808) 586-0100 or Sylvia Yuen, (808) 956-4132.

Can communities design carefully guided remedies that will prevent or reduce the need for costly institutional care? A partnership among the EOA, Area Agencies on Aging, Department of Health, and community agencies has launched the Healthy Aging Project. This long-term endeavor will help communities design evidence-based research projects that test methods that will help older adults who are unable or reluctant to benefit from existing health programs. Increased physical activity and improved diets have proven effective in reducing certain injuries and diseases and having a major impact on long-term care needs and costs. For information, contact Shirley Kidani, (808) 586-0100.

Older adults and caregivers who seek independence -- and thus reduce the demands on welfare assistance that is costly for the State – deserve quality home and community-based services. The EOA will establish Kupuna Care as a system of services for older adults and caregivers who are in greatest need of support and who are not dependent upon Medicaid support. Aligning administration of State with federal services will advance procurement, management, and coordinated delivery of services by the County/Agencies on Aging. For information, contact Pat Sasaki or Elvira Lee, (808) 586-0100.

Hawaii’s citizens have long sought a centralized resource for long term care planning and resource and information. In partnership with the City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division (EAD) and Hawaii County Office of Aging, the EOA is gathering information and assessing sustainable partnerships for this effort. The EOA will seek resources to develop model one-stop centers that will serve older adults, caregivers, and persons with physical disabilities, regardless of income. The EOA and its partners are seeking an accessible and suitable site and firm agreements to collocate resources and staffing on a sustainable basis. For information, contact Pat Sasaki, (808) 586-0100.