Cayetano bails out 2 senior programs
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The Lanakila and Mo'ili'ili senior programs have been given a one-year reprieve from their pending closure after Gov. Ben Cayetano yesterday agreed to provide an additional $230,000 in state money to keep the programs alive through June 2004.
The governor is expected to make an official announcement following a press conference at the Mo'ili'ili Community Center this morning.
Rep. Scott Saiki, D-20th (Kapahulu, Mo'ili'ili), met with the governor yesterday after reading an Advertiser story about the cuts doing away with programs for 4,000 healthy senior citizens.
"I didn't realize the immediate impact of (the cuts)," Saiki said. "He decided to restore the funding for at least another fiscal year. This buys us some time to work this all out, and we will take a look at this whole issue in the Legislature. There are so many seniors impacted by these programs."
The state Office on Aging had decided to shift money from the senior programs to the Kupuna Care home services for the frail. Operating with a budget of about $4.8 million, Kupuna Care provided in-home and community-based services to 5,369 people in 2001 including adult daycare, assisted transportation, companion assistance, case management, chore services, home-delivered meals, homemaker services, and personal care such as bathing and toilet assistance.
The programs at Lanakila and Mo'ili'ili offer a variety of programs for healthy seniors. Classes, games, singing and socializing keep the mind active and body healthy.
The Mo'ili'ili center serves about 1,500 seniors. Lanakila has about 2,500 senior members.
Statistics show there are about 201,000 people in Hawai'i older than 60, and that number is expected to grow to almost 300,000 by 2010.
"Our seniors rely on the services provided by these centers, which play a vital role in keeping older people healthy and active in the community," Cayetano said. "Rep. Scott Saiki, in particular, has been both forceful and articulate in his push to get the funding restored."
The governor said a way was found to continue the services after meeting with Saiki and Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-14th (Palama, 'Alewa Heights).
The Lanakila Senior Center receives $125,000 annually from the state and would have shut down June 30 without the money. The Mo'ili'ili Community Center would lose five employees and cut most of its elderly services without its $105,000 state allotment.
"This is great news," said Stella Wong, executive director of Catholic Charities Elderly Services. The charity group runs the Lanakila center and provides an additional $125,000 to keep it staffed and running. "We are going to work with legislators to see if they will restore the funding."
E. Rebecca Ryan, executive director of the Mo'ili'ili Community Center, said finding money from sources other than the state will be difficult.
"We do raise money to help offset the program," Ryan said. "We'll look elsewhere, but foundations don't usually fund ongoing programs. It's usually new initiatives. You have to look at if the state is really committed to the seniors. This $230,000 between our two centers is very little money for what it does."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
