There is only one bill remaining of seven bills crafted out of proposals by the Maui Health Care Initiative Task Force in this year's legislative session. The bill would establish a long-term care commission to do more research on funding for long-term care services. Although the intent of creating a body to identify necessary resources and propose programs and funding mechanisms that will meet long-term care goals is noble, it could also be perceived as a duplication of work already being done.

Some of this work has been in progress on Molokai since 2005, and this past Thursday my office manager, Jan Lehner, attended a meeting setup by Na Pu`uwai in the Kulana `Oiwi complex to learn more about the issue. The lack of adequate and proper long-term care on the island is of great concern to me, especially considering the aging population of the island.

The ability for our elderly or disabled to afford this care in a comfortable environment, surrounded by loved ones if they so choose, is a choice that should be afforded to them.  And, those family members who choose to forgo careers of their own to care for their family should have the resources to do so.

One of the recommendations that came out of the Maui Health Care Initiative Task Force was for increased home and community-based long-term care services, of which Maui County, especially the islands of Molokai and Lanai, are in dire need. One bill that I introduced, House Bill 2581, would directly improve the ability of these services and the families that operate them to remain in business and help our elderly and disabled.  

House Bill 2581 would create a home and community-based services care home and long-term care home facility loan guarantee program. The passage of this bill will make it much easier for the operators of these care homes to secure loans in order to make improvements to their home or community-based care homes. Nevertheless, the debate continues as the Department of Health testified against this bill saying that a loan program could be problematic and requires more staff to manage the program. As this may be true, it is important to address those concerns and make it work so many care home operators and caregivers have an opportunity to improve and provide the care and services that many of our elderly and disabled ought to have.

Whether it be a loan program as my bill proposed, a grant, or any other mechanism for funding, we need all of our options open to best plan for the future of our kupuna.  Although the bill failed to have a hearing in the Senate and is dead this session, I want to continue the discussion and hear from those who want to work on long term care issues.  We cannot wait any longer, time is essential, and our Kupuna and loved ones deserve adequate care now.