Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, home attendants, social workers, and therapists provide the services for home care or senior home care in Hawaii. Senior home care can provide a range of care options because people need different levels of care. They can be assisted a few hours a few times a week for physical therapy, or 24/7 for hospice. Anyone that needs less specialized medical care, but still needs help around the house should look into personal care. The intent is to keep seniors in their home and allow them to be independent. There are about 81 agencies and the average monthly cost of Senior Home Care is around $4,671.
Hawaii home care allows you or your loved one to receive care in a familiar setting tailored to one’s individual needs. Licensed medical professionals or non-medical paraprofessionals are the main classifications of caregivers in the home health care field, with many overlapping roles and duties.
Generally speaking, nurses, physician’s assistants, physical and occupational therapists among others are able to administer medical attention and services. Health aides, personal care attendants, homemakers, or companions provide more general caregiving services like hygiene assistance, shopping, medication management, and transportation. Location, license type, and the amount of time required of your caregiver will affect the price of home care.
There are a number of cities throughout Hawaii that have senior home care agencies but there are two that have most of them:
City Homemaker Services Monthly Costs Home Health Aides Monthly Costs Kahului $5,053 $4,957 Urban Honolulu $4,576 $4,767 Rest of State $4,195 $4,195
Hawaii has many sights to be seen such as the Volcano National Park, Rainbow Falls, Pearl Harbor, Haleakal? National Park, Polynesian Cultural Center, and more. The Volcano National Park offers the chance for visitors to see active volcanoes up-close and experience how the volcanoes changed the surrounding land. Rainbow falls are two waterfalls cascading down into a large pool below, causing rainbows in the mist during sunny mornings. The Haleakal? National Park has a beautiful assortment of forests, waterfalls, rivers, inactive volcanoes, and wildlife. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a place that allows visitors to experience the culture of the Polynesian people through their dances, music, craft demonstration, games, and of course food!
As a senior, there are still numerous places to go and things to see in Hawaii even if you aren't as mobile as before. There are senior centers throughout the state that provide senior-oriented activities such as crafts, game tournaments, art classes, music class, and exercise classes. Specialized senior trips are also available near or far like to the Pearl Harbor/WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument or Ka’anapali Beach.
The climate in Hawaii supports two very similar seasons; summer, which is considered May to October, and winter from November to April. The average temperatures in the summer are the high 80s and the winter average highs are in the low 80s. It is not often that the temperature ever exceeds 90 degrees, or drops below 60 degrees. The location of the islands, in the Pacific Ocean, and their mountainous topography influence the weather. Most areas get significant rainfall, 54 inches annually, while a few others are arid. The islands are moderately humid, with the humidity being regulated by the constant breezes and winds. The 240 days of sun every year can be very intense because of Hawaii’s close location to the equator. Lightweight clothing is necessary with needed sun protection such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Beachwear is very popular.
Hawaii is known for its native Polynesian culture. You are likely to see many flower leis, hula dances, hear traditional Hawaiian music, as well as the Hawaiian language called Pidgin. There are many superstitions or omens that are still widely recognized such as rain during weddings, or taking lava rocks from volcanoes. Many Native Hawaiians believe that taking the rocks will lead to bad luck or misfortune. Visitors who have taken rocks from the Volcanoes National Park have been reported to mail rocks back to the island, having regrettably ignored the Natives' recommendations.
Location Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Ko Olina 0.54 6.70 East Honolulu 1.17 14.51 Kailua 1.20 15.98
A total of 34 states and the District of Columbia require the minimum federal standard of 75 hours of training, along with 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 month period. Hawaii actually requires 100 hours of training for its home care professionals, so you can rest assured that you'll find a great option.
Medicare-certified home health agencies are required by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to only employ health aides who are trained and evaluated by programs approved by their respective states. Federal regulations also outline the qualifications for approved trainers and define the competency evaluation process in tangent with state specifications.
Paying for home care in Hawaii can be achieved in several ways, each based on what can work the best for your unique situation.
First off, seniors may look to Medicare to receive coverage for their copayment and deductibles for medical home care through the Medicare Supplemental Insurances program. However, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover non-medical home care whatsoever. If this is an issue, it may be necessary to look to the other remaining methods of payment.
For veterans of the U.S., the Improved Pension and Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension may be used to help pay for or cover the entire costs of home care. To learn whether you or a loved one qualifies for these benefits, contact your local Veterans’ Association or Area Agency on Aging.
Most of the time, seniors will choose to pay for their home care privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions. If these options are unavailable to you, it may be reasonable to consider paying through a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting your life insurance policy to cash.
Finally, Medicaid is a joint federal and state insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that in most cases can be used to cover the costs of home care if it is deemed medically necessary. Each state has its own rules, requirements for eligibility, and specific benefits that will vary depending on where you go in the United States. Medicaid refers to these services as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). For information on Hawaii’s home care Medicaid benefits, check out this list.
Seniors receiving home care from a Medicare-approved home health agency retain a series of guaranteed rights and protections with the intention of keeping your needs met. Before receiving home care in any form, it is required that the home health care agency provides you with information detailing your rights. You’ll be informed that you reserve the right to choose your own home care agency and to decide what services (medical or non-medical) you want to participate in. Your personal privacy and property are to be respected at all times in circumstances that it does not interfere with necessary medical attention.
Although there may be the possibility that you will lack the ability to make reasonable or informed decisions about your home health care, you can appoint a family member or legal guardian to act on your behalf. Remember, you still retain your rights as a United States citizen as afforded to you by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In the case of these rights are violated, contact an elder law professional to help you and your family understand the proper legal actions to take.
Seniors receiving home care in Hawaii have the right to obtain copies of their medical records and other protected health information. Although it’s a common misconception that this information cannot be disclosed due to privacy laws, the fact is that you can submit a written request to your health care provider and actually receive copies or digital versions of this information, although it is likely you’ll be charged a fee to receive your records.
This protected health information will detail information relating to your physical and mental health, including medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other documents used in making decisions about your health care. In some cases, your information can take up to 30 days to be fully processed and available to you, with healthcare providers allowed one extension of an additional 30 days. If this limit is exceeded, you must be provided with a written statement as to why the delay occurred.
