 Good afternoon, everybody. And thank you again for joining us for another weekly edition of Condo Insider that is put on by Hawaii Council of Community Associations. So welcome to our show for this week. And in a few minutes, we are going to introduce our guest who is Derek Arayoshi with the elderly affairs division. Hi, Derek. Yeah, Raylene. Thank you so much for... Nice to see you. Same here. Appreciate the opportunity to join you and your audience on the show and hopefully share some helpful information for them. So thank you again. Thank you for participating in our education efforts with Hawaii Council. And one of the main things that we wanted to reach out to elderly affairs with is because there's a growing population of aging and Honolulu is supposed to be an aging in place city is characterizing the space as one of the best aging in place cities. And since we deal with a lot of condos and with condos, you have maintenance weeks and they only go up, they don't go down. So even in my own condo, there are some retirees and they're already starting to feel the pinch. And not just money-wise, but also some of them are healthcare. Like I know one that has Parkinson's and I've kind of started to see her really deteriorate and it's kind of getting scary. So let's go through what elderly affairs is. It's part of the city and county of Honolulu and it's been around for how long? Give us a little bit about how long it's been around. Plus in 1965 with the establishment of the federal law that guides all our services and programs called the Older Americans Act. So yeah, we're approaching a good amount of years being the area agency on aging for the island of Oahu. And if you allow me to share that designation as the area on aging is an important one, as it really the federal law, like I said, Older Americans Act tasks us as a AAA or very agency on aging to help support a web or network of services and supports for older adults and now caregivers to best support them to be able to live engaged and healthy on their own terms within their own homes and communities and trying to work with other community partners and other services in our charge to do exactly that. And each county has an office similar to yours. So Kauai would have their own Maui, they got in, right? Okay, so it's not just exclusive to Honolulu County. Each county has their own division. So what is the types of services that you provide to the elderly? Yeah, and you set it up perfectly. I think exactly that. Very similar because of our funding from Ketteron State governments. Our services are similar to other county area agencies on aging. So when we talk about support services to live in own homes and communities, generally the reference as home and community-based services. I know you're familiar with that terminology, but mainly things that you're familiar with in the community, for instance, then you can let me know if you're familiar, home-delivered meals, for instance, is one, personal care services, largely bathing services when we talk about that, homemaker, attendant care type of services, but other community-based types of services, too, like, for example, congregate meal sites and services where older adults can congregate and socialize at a physical location. We have adult daycare services, as well. But I'll point out, and I'm curious on your feedback, too, is that what we saw during the pandemic where there was extreme food needs and health and social service needs, what we realized quickly, and you can let me know if you saw the same, was the need for social connectivity. And that was surprising, yet not surprising, and it elevated on our radar to make sure our programs really support the holistic needs of the individual. No, it was. It created an isolation, even for people that live in single-family homes, you know, and it's gotten to the point where, you know, they were so used to how many years that we, you know, was limited ability to go out, and so they kind of adapted to that, and now it's a chore to get them out, you know? Like, come on, let's go out. We can go out. Just go for a walk or something, you know, or get out. So it's now gonna have to almost like reprogram ourselves to be able to go out into the public and not, you know, feel like we're gonna get infected with something. I think COVID is just like the flu. It's gonna be here forever, you know? It's just another virus that's pretty much gonna be around. So every year, everybody's still gonna do their vaccinations and do all that kind of stuff. But let's talk about the population and just within Honolulu County, because it's an alarming amount of seniors, and it's only getting bigger. That number is only getting bigger. So, again, really a stood point. I would say maybe reframing it. We do have the largest kupuna population, obviously, in the state. And I think last I checked the ballpark, maybe 250,000 older adults, 60 years, and I'll say better. And by 2040, maybe, so representing right now, maybe a quarter of our state's total population. And maybe by 2040, I see and hear some estimates that may be close to one third of our total population, depending on what survey or report you reference. But your point being is that there are definite opportunities for us as a larger community to make sure that the services infrastructure programs can support the growing older adult populations. And that requires an investment that requires some thoughtful strategies, building a programs and infrastructure, yes. But I would also say there's huge opportunities for our state and community as well, because you take both sides of it, right? A good population that has a lot of resources, knowledge, expertise, passions, et cetera, that we are and should tap into. So it's kind of understanding the opportunity as well as the challenge. And I think if we could keep that framework or that mindset, I think that just helps the larger community and state push forward to kind of address some of these challenges and opportunities as well. As a service provider to the community, do you find that the language barriers is part of some of the inability of some people to reach out for your services? For sure, for sure. And I think what we see is probably similar to what you folks see as well. And we talk about the both sides of the coins, right? The beauty of Hawaii and our populations, the diversity of culture and ethnicities is mirrored by our kupuna population. So to answer your question definitely, is that the richness of our culture and language, et cetera, there's so much to that of who we are, but the language barriers is a barrier for sure that we've seen in particular during the pandemic play out language barriers. So when we talk about food access or vaccine access, largely those were mass sites, right? It required registration of those services online and definitely was problematic to help support those individuals with limited speaking abilities. And we as a community, and I'm gonna task and challenge our agency too, is that we're gonna have to be thoughtful and strategic to make sure that we can support those individuals with limited English abilities. Not only English speaking, but it's the access, because remember, everything has to be done online. So there's no more picking up the phone and just making the appointment. With the elderly, you also have that lack of maybe being able to even access the internet or even have a computer. So when we talk about in a community living, you're talking about condos, I think some condos have to start realizing that within their own community, their own condo that they have to start changing and not being so private kind of and start maybe making like a computer accessible to an elderly because they need to log in and be a little bit more patient to help them. I know sometimes it could be challenging, but they have to have that level of patience to be able to give that or encourage a neighbor to help them out, something like that to help schedule the appointment, because that can be frustrating for someone that can't navigate that thing. I mean, and just like when the pandemic started, everything was on Zoom and I'm like, I have to go to my nephew who needs to know how to go. How does this work? Teach me how this works. I have to do this for work. I can relate. It was just so embarrassing. You have to go with them to figure out a work. Well, you're speaking my love language. I mean, yeah, so much of what you say really connects with me and is so true is that with your condo association and your listeners, yeah, absolutely. I think kind of being mindful of the residents and the diversity and some of the language, access barriers, like you said, language, digital, et cetera. But you know what? I'm gonna have a larger ownership that it's a community-wide ownership of that. So along with my office, along with your group, your membership is really identifying how we collectively can support better access and support for our older adults and or residents as well. And it's working together and kind of creating and motivating each other and inspiring each other to be able to take on that charge is where we're gonna really move the needle. Yeah, and that's one of the things I think several years ago, I think it was then Senator Chan Oakland, and now she's with the Catholic Charities, but she always envisioned some condo communities that have like community rooms or they have an open area that they can put table and chairs to allow the seniors to come make it their own McDonald's stop, sort of driving out, they can stay within their own community and do that with their neighbors and talk story, share information and that's how some of the information gets disseminated as well, and the support system will be helpful for those seniors. Love that, I'll share with you. So I mean, we have a wonderful opportunity in front of us as far as our state and our community. So with regard to digital access, there's a good amount of federal funds that are making its way to states and communities. So exactly like you said, is that if we can be forward thinking and kind of strategizing how to build infrastructure and services and programs that allow older adults and those other vulnerable populations to be able to better access the internet. And that really is the new age key to the door, right? Is everything, the ship has already sailed as far as a virtual type of services. So if we can be forward thinking as a community as a state to kind of strategize again, how do we support infrastructure programs and services, then that'll make us more competitive to access those funds. So I'm excited for that challenge to be honest. Yeah, yeah. So let's get back to condos and your services. So I know you guys do like, you guys do the Meals of Wheels or food deliveries, things like that, right? So one of the concepts was too about doing the show was maintenance fees are only going up. So the obligation is they have to pay their maintenance fees first. Some of them might be free and clear of a mortgage, but they still have that maintenance fee and it's only going getting worse. So some of them financially are facing challenges on their own because they're gonna pay the maintenance fee first, otherwise they get kicked out, they can get foreclosed on. So how can a senior reach out to elderly affairs for like food? So let me add context first though. When we look at any services and supports including elderly affairs division, I think the first place we should look is not limit services or programs to one organization. It's like, what does the larger community and service network look like as far as service and supports and will stick with food, right? So first understanding that and then working with organizations like elderly affairs division and you can folks then call our senior helpline at 768-7700, again 768-7700. And then our staff will do our best to provide options counseling. But going back to your point reading is when we take that call and staff do our best to kind of hear what the situation is and sticking to the food example, right? Is that we'll ask some questions. Do they have the physical ability and capacity to acquire the food or is it financial or economic, right? Cause that really depends on what direction an individual should be steered towards. So for example, if they have the physical ability to obtain food, cook food, prepare food, et cetera, then the likely the first place we would look towards is the SNAP program, right? Because the last data I saw is that SNAP utilization, especially older adults is really underutilized. And really there isn't established reason or understanding why it's underutilized, but I suspect that it might be some of the cultural stigmatism of Hawaii and shame or not wanting to lose space in accessing public programs and services, which is actually contradicts why the programs are in the first place is to support those people that you just mentioned, right? Fixed incomes, et cetera. So that's one program. Now we have other programs like Medicaid, for instance, that also provide similar programs to those folks with limited financial resources. And then you have our types of programs that kind of fills in some of the gap, but our home delivered meal program, for instance, are for homebound older adults. So if when we do an assessment, which we're required to do, to be able to access our services, we'll ask them a whole series of questions to establish their capacity, right? And if we determine in the assessment that they're homebound, that they have activities of daily living challenges, then they may be eligible for our services. So are there, let's start to interrupt. Are there two SNAP providers? Like one is state and there's a city and county, or is it just the one state SNAP program? Okay, so you will help them, if you think that they qualify, you will help them enroll in SNAP. We'll help them. So there's a lot of, so for instance, the state SNAP program actually contracts with SNAP outreach offices, some of our nonprofits, for example, La Makila actually Pacific being one. So what we would do is that we're the connectors. So in kind of doing the pre-screening and assessing their needs, we will do our best to steer them and connect them to those organizations that would do exactly that, help with the enrollment, help with the processing and get them to the door here. Okay, that's really cool because that's what I was kind of referring to it at a meeting that we had a month ago, is connecting the dots, you know? You see a, meet a senior and I think one of my biggest thing that's sensitive to me is someone that is possibly in dementia, stages, memory loss, and maybe because my auntie was like that and we had no clue. We were just like, why is she acting like that? You know? And somebody else may have met her and then think that she's crazy or that she's kind of like losing it, you know? But it's recognizing some of the issues and not just writing them off as being, you know, weird or whatever, you know? It's all connecting the dots and recognizing certain things that can connect that person or recommend that person to seek, like I just did to somebody else. I said, you need to call this number and you have to do it today, you know? And I go, don't let the name fool you because they will take anybody, you know? You don't have to be Hawaiian, even though the name says Hawaiian, you don't have to be Hawaiian but you have to call them, you know? So it's really connecting them to the right places and really going for you guys first because you know those agencies that you have a dot now you need to just match them with the right dot. Yeah, I would agree. I would, I'm curious if you remember this thing, you know, as far as raising children, right? They'll say that it takes a village, right? But in some ways it's similar for those older adults who are needing support, right? It takes a good support network, right? Yeah. So I would say for sure, lean into elderly affairs division but I would say with kupuna and any population, right? Is that we have to take advantage of the touch point with kupuna when we have the touch point. So meaning as a community, if we can educate ourselves by your invitation of me being on the show today, right? Understanding what resources and supports we do and what's out in the community is that when we have a touch point with kupuna, either ourselves or you or someone else, we have a base level knowledge already that we can drop on and we won't lose the opportunity and we won't lose that touch point with kupuna. Right, yeah, cause even SMP guys are gonna be on the show in a couple of weeks too. But and again, it was really about condos, financial because maintenance fees again are only going up. And so how can we get kupunas to rely on other or reach out to other services because they're on limited income typically, you know? So how can they reach out to these other agencies to help them out financially? And you know, SNAP is one and they just got to get over that, you know, the stigma, but still, you know, they've worked all their lives, you know, and they just need to get over, you know, of having to or reaching out to SNAP. I mean, but to me, they've worked all their lives. I agree, I agree. They bought their place, but now, you know, it's just the way it is in a condo. I agree. And in that village type of concept, right, is letting our kupuna know and giving them the OK, the approval to do exactly what you said, right, like is removing that stigma off of their shoulders and saying, no, you know, you put your time in, you contributed to our state and our community. Now it's our time in some ways to be able to support you, right, right, right. You know, so yeah, that's really lifting them up. So they don't I mean, they're already depressed in some ways. Now it's just trying to lift them back up so that they can be proud of themselves. For sure. For sure. And I think where the magic really happens and where we have opportunities, especially for I think your membership is that when we can create an environment, whether a community and or a condo unit event, right, that you have many older adults that are wanting and motivated to give back and contribute to the community, but even amongst fellow and other older adults too, right. But when we when we give the environment and the space and empower them to give the opportunity to do that, you have many older adults who are wanting to help others. Yeah, yeah. You see that, right? Yeah, you know, and I know so many people, so many, you know, adults my age or even younger and they've said that they'd rather see their parents live in a condo than in a single family as they age. That you have that surrounding area, you know. And I always tell the condo people, I said, you know, you don't want to, you don't necessarily need to be in the alley on your neighbors, but you normally know their routine a little bit. Like usually they go to work at a certain time at a certain time, they walk their dog, whatever, you know, but if you see something odd in their behavior is where you need to be a little bit open about it, if you haven't seen them in a couple of days, you know, and their car is still in the parking lot, but normally they're always out and about, you know, that's kind of a little bit of a red flag to make that alert and you want that community awareness and togetherness, you know, because I've heard some horror stories of some condos and I'm like, oh my God, the smell must have been horrendous alone, you know, for that person to have been like that for that long. But so what are some other takes? And I know you guys were really, really impacted by COVID. I mean, you guys just went into high gear, Department of Health went into high gear. They had that one guy that was helping to organize a lot of that stuff. He was, I forgot his name, but he was very, very good in organizing and pointing fingers and I was just impressed because I was involved in one. And I'm like, well, you should spark an order. So I'm like, everybody's paying attention. It was so cool. I was like, wow, this is happening, you know? So what words of wisdom can you give to the community about your services? I would say together we're better and stronger. So if the question is more specific to our services, I would say feel free to reach out our Senior Helpline 768-7700. And then we'll do our best to provide some options counseling and hopefully steer folks to the resources that might help them. Then on the larger response is maybe a call out to our community is that that opportunity to come together has already been demonstrated like use-sederating during the pandemic, some very inspiring and uplifting type of partnerships and coordinations to make sure no kupuna get left behind whether it be food or vaccines. That energy is still there. And we have groups like the kupuna collective now in the hundreds of people just coming together trying to problem solve these issues. So I guess that would be the answer and that would be the charge or call out is when we can stop the finger pointing, the temptation to do the finger pointing and look at as an opportunity for us to come together in solidarity and be inspired by each other to kind of problem solve these issues. That energy gets multiplied and that's where big and great things happen. So that would be my share. So as a little recap, so for a lot of people that are living condos that are facing this year's the kupuna, the seniors, it is time to take a look at your finances, take a look at what services you can engage in through either elderly affairs and then our next one will be Medicaid because like you said earlier, there's some other services that they might be able to get through Medicaid that they pay, they pay that. So they need to take advantage of what they pay, pay into and take those services back. So hopefully this will help ease some of the financial burden on some of these elderly, some of these seniors that living in a condo is still one of the best options for a lot of people. But then again, you have that cost of that rising maintenance fees. So hopefully this might help to alleviate some of that financial burden and take advantage of what they've worked for their entire lives. Well said. They worked it, take advantage of it. They deserved it. Well said, agreed. Okay, Derek, I wanna thank you so much for being on the show today with me. This was very enlightening. I did learn a few things as well too. So it was really quite enlightening for me. And we are gonna share this with our condo community and we hope that our audience will take to task what they have learned on this show today. Yeah, thank you. I enjoyed myself and you're kind and gracious. Oh, so I enjoyed my time with you. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Thank you, bye. Thank you so much for watching Think Tech Hawaii. If you like what we do, please like us and click the subscribe button on YouTube and the follow button on Vimeo. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and donate to us at thinktechhawaii.com. Mahalo.