Hawaii’s kupuna need to remain engaged

Within the past few months, there have been a number of stories in the media about the challenges facing Hawaii with the aging of our people.

We are informed that nationally older Americans at 65 can expect to live 19 added years and 14 of those in fairly good health.

By comparison, Hawaii’s older residents can expect to live about 21 bonus years after 65 and most of that in good health. That’s the good news.

Others have been more pessimistic and pointed out that Hawaii’s next big crisis is related to the rapid growth of its frail older population that will need an enormous amount of long-term care services, workers and financing.

What do we do? What can we do to increase resources to care for our frail kupuna over the next generation? Do we increase taxes, rely more heavily on families, recruit more volunteers, encourage government to consolidate its complex bureaucracies, eliminate entitlements or free services, encourage prevention and self-responsibility or ration?

While the growing older adult population has stimulated an ongoing discussion of long-term care needs, the debate has tended to view aging as sick care, as geriatric syndromes and an economic liability.

This sick-care perspective has highlighted the myriad health and social service needs and burden of a frail and dependent population.

As a former nursing home administrator, I understand the need for long-term care services. Nevertheless, I believe there has been inadequate acknowledgement of the value of viewing age as an asset or a bonus.

Our aging population represents a growing natural resource that can be tapped for the greater good. How does Hawaii begin to recognize the power and potential of older adults by promoting active or successful aging?

Given the rapid growth of the older adult population, it is unlikely that Hawaii will ever have enough resources to address the demand for long-term care services. More attention needs to be placed on moderating this demand with methods that include an active aging approach. This initiative throughout the state will also help us address workforce shortages, civic engagement, well-being and intergenerational support.

Our challenge is not with longer life expectancy. Even with 20 bonus years, there are too many among us who have not planned how best to use this longevity dividend. As a state, we are also witnessing the loss of an enormous quantity of experience, knowledge and skills. How can we marshal even a percentage of the talents and skills of these active retirees?

Active aging is a movement that is building momentum throughout the U.S. and the world. Active aging will require the promotion of fitness — physical, mental, nutritional, financial, social and civic.

Active aging will also require the commitment by state and county governments to build the infrastructure to support it through the creation of age-friendly communities. This is what Mayor Kirk Caldwell referred to in his State of the City speech earlier this year and Gov. Neil Abercrombie committed to in his New Day in Hawaii plan two years ago.

This calls for Hawaii to envision older adults striving to achieve active life expectancy. Older adults should be encouraged to be actively engaged inter-generationally and continuously contributing to the community.

This will not happen without coordinated planning and a long-term commitment to action. But with vision and action, Hawaii can achieve a State of Active Aging.

Hawaii can benefit by the growth of the older adult population and the enormous longevity dividend of experience and skills that they bring forth.

Hawaii’s kupuna should not just be honored or celebrated and then de-commissioned. We need them to remain engaged!