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State lawmakers Tuesday approved a package of bills that earmark about $10 million during the next two years for services and staff to support seniors.
The bills were backed by a group of lawmakers known as the Kupuna Caucus that focuses on issues that affect seniors.
The largest of the appropriations allocates nearly $8.3 million over the next two years for the Kupuna Care program, which serves more than 5,600 people statewide including frail seniors, said state Rep. Gregg Takayama, co-chairman of the Kupuna Caucus.
Takayama (D, Pearl City-Waimalu-Pacific Palisades) said the program connects seniors with services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation options and light housekeeping assistance so they can live independently at home or with help from family.
Lawmakers said that appropriation in House Bill 465, which was approved by the state Senate on Tuesday, will supplement about $9.7 million that already has been set aside for the program in the state budget for the next two years. In all, that will boost the funding for Kupuna Care to $9 million per year.
The state House on Tuesday also gave final approval to Senate Bill 1025, which expands funding for the Kupuna Caregivers Program to $1.5 million for fiscal year 2020, which begins July 1. That program was created in 2017, and the new bill increases the maximum amount of money that can be awarded to a senior’s caregiver to $210 per week.
That money is available to family caregivers who care for family members who are 60 or older provided the caregivers also work at least 30 hours a week outside the home.
The money can be used to help pay for adult day care costs, home health care workers, extra help preparing meals or transportation.
Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 366, which provides funding for the position of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Services coordinator for the next two years in the Executive Office on Aging.
The bills now advance to Gov. David Ige for his consideration.
BY THE NUMBERS
$10 million
Estimated funding for services and staff for seniors
$8.3 million
Allocated to the Kupuna Care program
$210
Maximum amount per week that can be awarded to a caregiver for a senior
75