Kupuna Work:

Caring for Elders and Preparing Elders

to Work

Cullen Hayashida, Ph.D.

Kapiolani Community College
 Hawaii’s Elderly Growth Rate Explodes Pass
National Average After Year 2000

25 Hawaii 65+
US 65+
Percent Elderly 65+ years

20

15

10

0
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2010 2020 2030 2050

Source: Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 11/1999. ; U.S. Bureau of Census, 1975, 1993, 1998.
Source: Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 11/1999. ; U.S. Bureau of Census, 1975, 1993, 1998.
1. Where Are We Going?

2. Who is Leading the Way?

3. How do we affect
Social Change?
 What
What Are
Are We
We Trying
Trying To
To Achieve?
Achieve?
1. Self Responsibility --Healthy Aging, Successful Aging,
Productive Aging?

2. System Efficiency– An Adequate LTC Delivery System of

Cost Savings, Quality, Equity, Effectiveness

3. Emphasis on Non-Institutional Services and Age-in-Place– A

Re-Balanced Long-term Care System?

4. Care for Only the Very Needy--Safety Net for Elders?

5. Intergenerational Communities –An Elderly-Friendly

Community, Livable Community? Aging-in-Community
 Devolution of Responsibility

Federal Medicare & Medicaid cuts, Older Americans Act Funds

Statewide Medicaid waiver

State demonstrations. More State LTC programs

County CDBG grants. Community work

Caregivers Caregiver Support Programs

Consumer-

Seniors Control Projects

 Lack of Clear Direction
County State Office
Offices on Aging Governor
on Aging

Health
PUBLIC Dept.
University
LEGISLATURE

State
Senior Human
Groups Services
Trade Dept.
Associations
How Do We Get There?
Mapping the Trade-Offs
 Where Do We Find More Resources or
Reduce Demand?
• Taxes – increase taxes, tax credits
• Private Pay – liquidate fixed assets, LTC Insurance, reverse
mortgage
• Empower Communities
• Family Caregivers Support– training, respite
• Volunteers
• Pool Existing Funds
• Consolidate bureaucracies – one-stop shop
• Reduce Free Services
• Ration
• Education & Training
• Promote Consumer control/ Responsibility
 Workforce Strategies
for a Super-Aged Society
1. Promote Increased Fertility
2. Promote Increased Foreign Immigration
3. Promote Technology
4. Extend the Productivity of Older Workers- Target
Boomers for Employment and Civic Engagement
5. Promote Age-Friendly Communities
 Ways to Support Continued Work
Raise Retirement Age
Bangladesh 60 Retirement age
63.2
Indonesia
Indonesia 60 Life expectancy
70.5
China 60
73.2
Korea 60
77.4
Japan 65
82.1
UK 65
78.8
US 66
78.1
Germany 67
79.1

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Most countries are raising retirement age.

 Role of Community Colleges– KCC Kupuna
Education Center
• Direct Care Paraprofessional Training
– Elder Stay @ Home
– Care Home Training Development

• Family Caregiver Training

• Active Aging

• Networking
 New Face of Aging
• Aging – a growing liability or a dynamic asset?
• Existing Gerontology training – Sick care,
deficit perspective. Focus on the 5% of the
elderly who are disabled while 95% of retirees
are healthy and contributing members of
society
• How do we shift that focus?
Traditional Retirement Profile
Vital and Productive Aging
Vital and Positive Aging – II
Active Life Expectancy
 What is Active – Vital Aging?
Opportunities & rewards for volunteer service

Forums to share culture & history Support for family

care of dependents
Voice in government Social
Fitness Access to basic
Digital literacy medical care
Civic Physical
Opportunities to Fitness Fitness Rewards for
Older
work & volunteer Adult healthy lifestyle

Transition training Support for physical

Environ- activity & healthy foods
Economic
“Living wage” jobs mental
Fitness
Fitness Walk-able communities
Universal safety net
Universal Elder-friendly environment
Rewards for saving
design
 Older Adults/Boomers as Assets and as
Available Resource

• Skills
• Knowledge
• Experience
• Tradition and History
• Wisdom
• Time
• Connections
• Economic Resources
New Initiatives Targeting Active Retirees and
Boomers

• Encore Careers for Boomers

• Boomer Entrepreneurship
• Comprehensive Retirement Planning
• Fall Prevention
• Building Leadership for Community
Empowerment
 Kupuna Work
CARING FOR ELDER WORK
1. KCC workforce training –paraprofessionals
2. KCC Family Caregiver training

PREPARING ELDERS, BOOMERS TO WORK

3. KCC Active Aging Initiative
1. Boomers – preparing boomers as a resource