Caregivers Resource Initiative Project

Funded by the Executive Office on Aging

Families, not institutions, are the major providers of long-term care, providing 80% of all care at home. Shifting the long-term care spotlight on family caregivers maintains the strength and durability of the family network as the primary providers of long-term care.

It was estimated that in 1997, there were approximately 114,872 caregivers in Hawaii providing 106.9 million hours of care, at a value of $874.6 million. In 2003, it was estimated that in Hawaii:

(1) 20.7% of the adult population, or 198,816 individuals, were family caregivers to a person over 60 years old;

(2) Of these caregivers, 30% were caring for their spouse or partner and 21% were caring for a parent; and

(3) 22% of adults 30-59 were caregivers, 30% of those 60-69 were caregivers, and 17% of adults 70 or older were caregivers.

If the services provided by informal caregivers (i.e. family, friends, and neighbors) had to be replaced with paid services, it would cost an estimated $196 billion nationally.

The Caregivers Resource Initiative (“CRI”) project was started as a result of new demands placed on the states by the federal government to develop support systems, services, and products for caregivers.

The goal of the CRI project is to build a statewide system of support and services for family caregivers. Family caregivers refer to (1) anyone who is providing unpaid assistance to an elderly person 60 years old or older, or (2) an older adult (60 years old or older) who is providing uncompensated care for a dependent child who is under 18 years old.

The CRI Project focuses on:

(1) Policy Development

· Developing high-quality, cost-effective, and supportive policies and programs for Hawaii’s family caregivers

(2) Building Coalitions

· Hawaii Family Caregiver Network

· Coalition of Organizations Committed to Supporting Family Caregivers

(3) Strengthening Communication

· Family Caregiver Newsletter

· Caregiver Website: http://www2.state.hi.us/eoa.

For more information, please contact Wes Lum at 586-0100 or e-mail wlwlum@mail.health.state.hi.us.