The room was packed when Senator Roz Baker held a press conference to announce the introduction of SB2478 earlier this year. She will be at the Town Hall tonight to talk about the importance of ensuring kupuna can age with dignity in their own homes.
FEB 29 TOWN HALL ON SB 2478, UNIVERSAL LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE, SUPPORTING IN-HOME CARE FOR SENIORS
BREAKING NEWS: Senate Ways and Means Committee Does NOT Pass SB2478. Advocates Redouble their efforts with House bill
Free Community Meeting at Sacred Hearts Academy in Kaimuki. All are welcome.
HONOLULU, HI – More than 100 community members will come together tonight to hear Senator Roz Baker (HI-6, South and West Maui) explain SB 2478, the legislation she sponsored to provide universal assistance that will allow seniors to be cared for in their own homes.
Panelists will tell their stories about the challenges of caring for loved ones at home. Other special guests expected include Governor Neil Abercrombie, a longtime supporter of long-term care, and Colleen Hanabusa, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The event will give the community an opportunity to share their concerns, understand how the plan was designed to address their needs, ask questions, and let legislators know that passing a long term care insurance bill needs to be a priority in this legislative session.
The bill, if passed, will be a first for the nation and will provide a model for other states to follow in ensuring that family caregivers have the support they need to care for their loved ones at home.
WHAT:
Town Hall meeting on public long-term care insurance for Seniors
WHO:
Senator Roz Baker, other legislators, clergy, kupuna, members of Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), experts on aging, educators, community members, caregivers, and those for whom they care.
WHEN:
Monday, February 29, 2016, 6-7:30 PM
WHERE:
Auditorium, Sacred Hearts Academy, 3253 Waialae Ave, Kaimuki, Honolulu
Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) Hawaii and the national advocacy group, Caring Across Generations have been collaborating to advance this important legislation. For more information go to http://care4kupuna.com
This is the statement issued by Caring Across Generations after this afternoon’s vote:
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE VOTE ON IN-HOME CARE SOCIAL INSURANCE BILL ‘A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT,’ SAY FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Commenting on the vote, Kevin Simowitz, Political Director of Caring Across Generations, said, “Unfortunately, today the Senate Ways and Means committee chose to pass by indefinitely SB 2478, failing to meet the needs of caregivers and seniors. We are thankful for the senators who stood with us and supported the legislation in the Senate Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services committees, and we are disappointed in the senators who failed to act on the bill. After so much rigorous study, and so much support from the community, including the more than 1,350 people who signed a petition in support, the more than 20 faith leaders who signed a letter to the Ways and Means committee urging passage of the bill, and the undeniable need in Hawai’i for this program, it is unclear why some legislators chose to oppose this measure.
Our town hall program tonight will continue to highlight the importance of this bill and this issue, because legislators need to hear from us now more than ever. We want to make sure we thank the members who have stood with us on this issue, and make sure the legislators who voted against it make a better decision the next time this bill is before them. We will turn our immediate attention to the companion bill in the House Finance committee, and we will keep working to make support for our kupuna and their family caregivers the law of the land in Hawai’i.”
Call Dawn at 383-7581 if you need more information and to confirm attendance.
Dawn Morais 
Keep us posted, Dawn!