Condos readjust to seniors

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Chris Herndon is the general manager at The Villa on Eaton Square, a Waikiki apartment complex where an agreement allows elderly residents to call the security staff daily to say they're all right. If they don't call by noon, the security staff will call them. If there is no answer, a worker will knock on the door. If there is still no response, a spare key is used to enter the unit to check on the resident. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It's just basic common courtesy," Clement said. But the need to assist condo owners or renters as they grow old in buildings around the state is becoming a more pressing issue as Hawai'i's senior population swells.

Problems range from simple things like elevator doors that close too quickly, to the annoyances of blaring TVs, to more serious ones of unkempt units posing a fire hazard.

Last month, the Hawai'i chapter of the Community Associations Institute held a conference to raise public awareness of the "aging in place" issue, after a similar event last year drew 200 participants hoping to help seniors, condo associations and managers resolve mounting problems.

According to a conference report, increasing numbers of seniors are having difficulty living out their lives in their condos or apartments because they need assistance that most owner associations weren't set up to provide.

It is a particularly pressing situation because the population of Hawai'i residents who are at least 65 years old is growing two to three times as fast as the national average. The population of those over age 85 will triple in the next 10 years, according to conference participants.

Moreover, about 90 percent of seniors don't want to leave their residences, while high costs, reduced outlays by the government and limited availability of senior-care facilities further keep elderly at home in residential buildings where friction can build.

"Condo associations are basically pulling out their hair over these real common issues," said conference organizer Cullen Hayashida, president of Assisted Living Options Hawaii.

"People are parking wheelchairs in the hallways, they're cluttering too many things in their apartment, and they can't clean it and roaches are infesting other apartments."

Richard Emery, a conference participant and president of condo management company Hawaii First Inc., said his firm once had to deal with a resident who taped over fire sprinklers because he believed they were surveillance cameras.

"I could go on an on," Emery said of senior-related issues ranging from public decency to health hazards that property managers regularly deal with. "I don't think anybody foresaw those issues."

Steve Pherigo, training director for the state's largest residential property management firm, Hawaiiana Management Co., said many associations are ignoring a looming clash between needs of the elderly and younger residents.

"Some condo associations are dragging their feet, hoping it will go away or pretending it doesn't exist," Pherigo said. "But it's a pressing problem. It needs to be embraced."

In the past few years more condo associations have begun addressing the issue with mostly piecemeal approaches, such as improving lighting, installing grip aides, changing door knobs, arranging social service visits or designating security as first responders in an emergency.

Yacht Harbor Towers, at Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana, offers wheelchair use, appliance inspections, minor maintenance, help carrying groceries and other services for nominal fees.

In Waikiki, The Villa on Eaton Square checks on elderly residents daily, calling them by phone if they don't call security by noon, then knocking on the door or entering a unit if there is no response.

Still, many condo associations have liability concerns if employees assist elderly residents, and some feel legislation is needed to limit liability.

Property managers also have complained they feel that family members of the elderly are "dumping" senior care requirements on condo associations, forcing all residents to pay for changes that don't benefit a majority of owners.

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to avoid making "reasonable accommodations" that would give elderly residents equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

Emery said owner associations and property managers should take care of seniors, and make exceptions for them whether it be waiving guest parking time limits for a visiting nurse, or providing wireless headphones to someone with poor hearing.

It is expected that with time, more seniors in buildings will dominate owner associations in what are called naturally occurring retirement communities where elderly majorities can easily adopt rules and appropriate money to serve their needs.

"These communities will develop," said Jane Sugimura, a local attorney and president of the Hawaii Council of Associations of Apartment Owners.

Hayashida, of Assisted Living Options, said he's pursuing a grant to hold focus group meetings in geographic areas with high concentrations of seniors in an effort to identify care needs and facilitate naturally occurring retirement communities.

"It takes community empowerment and some creativity," he said.

"The question is: Can we create an infrastructure to keep people in the communities where they are?"

Clement, the resident manager at the Victoria Plaza, reflected on an incident where he drove a tenant to Tripler Army Medical Center because the spouse couldn't drive.

"All of us are getting older," he said.

"We think we'll do it ourselves, but at some point we can't."

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.