Empowering Kaua‘i’s senior citizens

NAWILIWILI — The county Agency on Elderly Affairs may have one of the smallest operating budgets among all departments, but officials said its importance is immeasurable in planning, implementing, supporting and advocating for the well-being of senior citizens.

“Kaua‘i’s older adults will live independently at home or in the community with dignity and respect,” Administrative Officer Kealoha Takahashi read from the agency’s vision statement during the budget review hearing Thursday before the Kaua‘i County Council. The vision also looks after family caregivers to make sure they receive adequate support.

The agency is seeking $1.31 million to fund its operations in Fiscal Year 2012, which starts July 1, reflecting an increase of $111,000 from the current fiscal year’s funding.

The vast majority of the increase is in wages and benefits, mostly because of the end of furloughs. The agency’s request for its daily operations — $315,581 — is up $600 from the current fiscal year.

The agency seeks to develop Hawai‘i’s Aging and Disability Resource Center to a fully functioning capacity, serving all persons regardless of age. The ADRC serves as a one-stop source of information, Takahashi said. The goal is to empower older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers to make informed choices and to streamline access to long-term support.

The agency wants to enable older adults to remain at home, with a high quality of life as long as possible, by providing home and community-based services, she said.

Managing funds and ensuring the rights of older citizens to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation are also part of the agency’s goals.

The Better Choices, Better Health workshops — formerly the Chronic Disease Self Management workshops — help to empower older adults to stay healthy, active and socially engaged, using prevention and disease self-management strategies, she said.

Takahashi said the agency has 18 staff members, including an Enhanced Fitness coordinator. But staff turnover represents a challenge; a 37-year secretary retired in June and 32-year program specialist will retire in about two months.

The Enhance Fitness classes have served 185 participants, and a chart in her presentation showed that overall the seniors have improved their health, suffered less falls and got more involved with the community.

Councilman Tim Bynum praised Takahashi for the agency’s Enhance Fitness program, which started as a grant-funded program. The county took over the funding years ago.

“It’s been so well received, and I’m glad to see it here at the same funding level,” said Bynum, adding he was going to avoid saying he hasn’t been to one of the classes yet.

“You have the scheduling in case you want to visit any of our classes,” Takahashi told Bynum, causing laughter among other council members.

Bynum joined the laughter, and said he would put it on his calendar.

The EF program has eight classes in several locations island-wide. Each class has reached its full capacity, 22 participants. There are over 55 seniors on the waiting list.

“What would it cost to offer more classes?” said Councilwoman Nadine Nakamura.

“Money, basically,” Takahashi said in response.

Councilman Mel Rapozo said he has been to one of the EF classes, and noticed the seniors’ good shape.

“They wear me out,” he said.

Kealoha said the national recommended average of exercise for seniors is two-and-a-half hours.

Rapozo noted that Kaua‘i seniors in the program are exercising three-and-a-half hours.

“We’re beating the national recommended average,” Chair Jay Furfaro said.

Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura added to the hoopla at the meeting.

“They’re probably beating the council average,” said Yukimura, causing laughter in the Council Chambers. “Especially during budget sessions.”

Rapozo added that is even moreso the case now that Derek Kawakami is not on council anymore, causing even more laughter.