Supporting Our Caregivers

April 3, 2007

The Fil-Am Courier (March 16-31, 2007) recently published an editorial: "DOH Overzealous Care Home Surveyors."  It touches upon a very important issue.  Hawaii is facing a rapidly aging population.  We can be grateful that many of our senior citizens will enjoy good health in their golden years.  But we also need to be prepared to help those who will need increased medical care.  Traditionally, many elderly and disabled population have been placed in nursing homes.  Recently, the trend has been to rely more on residential care homes. 

Residential care homes are important to Hawaii's future because they provide much needed care at a third of what a nursing home would cost.  Because of this, the Department of Human Services has been placing more and more people, even those needing intensive care, in residential care homes.  However, there have been allegations that the Department of Health has been hampering the care home industry with its increasingly stringent rules and regulations.  All this has caused many caregivers to feel frustrated causing many to leave the business.  This situation could turn into a major health care crisis for our State, unless positive steps are taken by all parties involved.

"CARE HOME OPERATORS SEEK FAIR TREATMENT AND RESPECT AS LONG TERM CARE PARTNERS" By Mila Medallon