MEDIA RELEASE

Audrey Suga-Nakagawa, state Aging & Disability Resource Center Coordinator (center) and Mark Miranda (right), the Governor’s Liaison, present the Excellence in Action Award from the U.S. Administration on Aging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and the Veterans Administration to Alan Parker (left), Hawaii County’s Executive on Aging.

In 2005, the State of Hawaii embarked on a major federal project led by the Executive Office on Aging in collaboration with the Hawaii County Office of Aging and the Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division to establish the Aging and Disability Resource Center – a one-stop shop for long term-care information and services.

It was a shared national, state, and county vision to establish a highly trusted, unbiased source of information that offers a full range of longer-term support options. Today, there are over 200 ADRC sites, covering 961 counties and serving 38 percent of the U.S. population.

The ADRC’s goal and objectives are to streamline the way people access services and programs – reducing paperwork and duplication in screening and ensuring that people are fully informed of all options so that they can select the most appropriate type of care, avoid premature institutionalization, and age safely and independently at home.

As the state’s first ADRC pilot site, Hawaii County took on a more ambitious plan. Not only did the County attempt to streamline a very complex system, it also renovated and transformed the former Sun Sun Lau restaurant into a state of the art facility to house major service providers and programs that serve our older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers and community at large.

This was not to be an ordinary public facility with many offices co-located in one building. Instead, it is a warm and inviting place that welcomes people who need assistance in finding care for a loved one. Kahi Mālama, a Place of Caring, is a fitting name for this ADRC site that offers comfort and hope to our families. Alan Parker is the County’s Executive on Aging in charge of the facility and programs.

Last month, the U.S. Administration on Aging hosted the national ADRC conference entitled, “Changing Systems, Changing Lives,” in Alexandria, Virginia. Over 350 people representing 50 states and U.S. territories attended. To recognize the exceptional work performed by the ADRC across the country, AoA created the Excellence in Action Award, a national award given for three categories: Changing Systems, Changing Lives and Exemplary Partnership Award.

Hawaii County was nominated for the Exemplary Partnership category for its outstanding partnership among the diverse stakeholders representing state and county government, private sector, nonprofits and the University of Hawaii system in establishing this beautiful facility and building a collaborative team to help address the complex long-term care needs of families.

Through this effort, the Big Island residents are greatly benefiting from an improved system where one can quickly get help especially when faced with a family crisis, said Audrey Suga-Nakagawa, state Aging & Disability Resource Center Coordinator.