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December 6, 2002
The Long Term Care Financing Board of Trustees will release their
findings and recommendations concerning a universal and affordable
system of providing long term care in a public briefing on
Wednesday, December 11 at 10:30 a.m. in room 309 at the State
Capitol. The public is invited to attend and provide feedback on
the proposal.
In legislation passed last session, the purpose of the Board was to
design a program with a means of financing that is affordable and
suitable for the majority of residents. The program is to promote
individual choice and discretion in selecting and paying for long term
care services.
The legislature found that people in Hawaii are living longer due in
large measure to the state's excellent health care. As the baby
boomer generation ages, there will be a host of social and
economic demands. Aging brings increasing risks of chronic health
diseases all of which necessitate intense daily care in the later years
of life. It would be ironic if the state could not care for the elderly
who have benefited from the enhanced health care received in their
younger years.
The dynamics of extended families in Hawaii is changing, placing
impossible financial and social hardships on Hawaii families. There is
a compelling need to create an affordable method of financing services
to assist families who wish to keep their elderly family members at
home.
New legislation is expected to be introduced this year to establish
the Hawaii Long-Term Care Financing program.
Copies of the Board's report will be available from the Executive
Office on Aging (EOA) at 586-0100. The report will also be posted on
the EOA website at www2.state.hi.us/eoa/
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