$1.7 million to fund elderly bath service
A $1.785 million contract has been awarded to a St. Francis Healthcare System program to continue providing Kupuna Care Bathing Services for frail elders through fiscal year 2008-2009.
The funds were awarded by the City and County of Honolulu's Elderly Affairs Division. Another $15,000 in state funds were provided for the rest of this fiscal year to address wait lists.
The contract enables Oahu residents age 60 and older who qualify under federal, state and county guidelines to receive bathing services.
"Our commitment to providing personal care services for the elderly goes back more than 25 years," Michael Warren, chief administrator of St. Francis Community Health Services, said in a news release.
"Meeting the needs of Hawaii's growing senior population will continue to be one of St. Francis Healthcare System's key areas of focus."
St. Francis began Health Screening for Senior Citizens in 1977, a program that became Health Services for Senior Citizens in 1982 to focus mostly on personal care bathing services.
Karen Miyake, county executive on aging, Elderly Affairs Division, said St. Francis' Health Services for Senior Citizens is meeting an important community need by providing personal care services to the frail elderly.
The program will have assisted 610 frail elders by the end of this fiscal year in June. It has provided personal care services to about 8,400 residents since 1982.
For more information about the program, call 547-6121.