Avalon Care Center - Honolulu is a 108 room senior care community. It is situated within the Liliha-Kapalama area of Honolulu, Hawaii. The community is in a generally middle income area, with an average household income of $67,978. ...
Nursing Homes in Hawaii
- SeniorAdvice's Guide to Nursing Homes in Hawaii
- Nursing Care Directory for Hawaii
- Nursing Care Costs in Hawaii
- Financial Assistance for Nursing Homes in Hawaii
- Hawaii Nursing Care Rules and Regulations
- Free Nursing Care Resources in Hawaii
Known as the Aloha State, the islands that comprise the state of Hawaii have a population of 1,415,872 citizens, with 19% of them aged 65 or older. Hawaii has many attributes that make it an ideal place for seniors who need nursing home care. While the cost of living is considerably higher than the national average, mainly due to the cost of housing, utilities and groceries, the cost of health care is below the national average. It’s hard to think about Hawaii without thinking of its ideal climate. The islands receive more than their fair share of rain, but they also experience more than a month of sunny days every year than the national average. Temperatures are also ideal, never going higher than about 83 in the summer and never lower than 63 in the winter.
For a relatively small state, Hawaii still has 44 certified nursing care facilities. Nursing care is the best option for seniors who require 24/7 physical and medical care outside a hospital setting. This guide will examine the cost of long-term care in Hawaii, the rules and regulations that govern nursing home facilities, and present information on government-sponsored programs that help ameliorate the cost of staying in a nursing home.
SeniorAdvice's Guide to Nursing Home Care in Hawaii
When seniors, their families or their caregivers are considering the livability of a community, they want to know as much as possible about that location before selecting it. This is where that location’s SeniorScore comes in handy. It’s a rating system comprised of 100 data points selected from government and private databases and broken down into an overall mark and marks in four separate categories: Health & Safety, Recreation & Leisure, Finances and General Quality of Life. The state of Hawaii has a good Senior score of 76, which is four points above the national average of 72.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Hawaii’s best mark comes in General Quality of Life with an excellent mark of 85. The state’s climate is perhaps the biggest reason for this mark. While Hawaii does receive about 20 more inches of rain than the national average, Hawaii scores 8.7 out of 10 on the Best Places in America’s Comfort Index.
Recreation & Leisure and Finances are tied with a 63. Hawaii has an average number of municipal parks and more than 650 churches. In Finances, property tax is significantly lower than the national average as is the state’s sales tax. However, state income tax is significantly higher and costs for senior care like assisted living, nursing home care and adult day care are also higher than national averages.
Hawaii’s lowest mark came in Health & Safety with a 59. While the state has a high number of Medicare registered providers and many hospitals, the state also has very high property crime and violent crime rates compared to national averages.
Top Nursing Care in Hawaii
Hilo Medical Center LTC is situated near the Wainaku neighborhood of Hilo, Hawaii. It is a 114 bed senior community. With roughly 47,000 people residing in the zip code of 96720, the encompassing area is densely populated. ...
Situated within the Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a 288 unit nursing care facility. The encompassing area has a dense population, with around 46,000 residents in the zip code of 96822. ...
Convalescent Center of Honolulu is situated within the Liliha-Kapalama area of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is a 182 bed senior housing community. The neighboring area is densely populated, with about 56,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 96817. ...
Situated within the Whitmore Village area of Wahiawa, Hawaii, Wahiawa General Hospital is a 93 unit skilled nursing facility. With an average family income of $53,401, the community is in a generally middle class area. It has a ...
Ka Punawai Ola is a 120 room senior care facility located in the Makakilo City neighborhood of Kapolei, Hawaii. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with around 40,000 poeple living in the 96707 zip code. With a median ...
Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is located in the Waialae-Kahala area of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is a 100 bed nursing home facility. The facility is in a generally upper class area, with a median per-family income of $78,882. ...
Aloha Nursing and Rehab Centre is a 141 room nursing home facility located around the Heeia area of Kaneohe, Hawaii. The neighboring area is heavily populated, with about 55,000 poeple living in the 96744 zip code. With an ...
Kahuku Medical Center LTC is a 12 bed senior housing facility. It is located at 56-117 Pualalea St in Kahuku, Hawaii. The surrounding area has a sparse population, with about 4,000 people residing in the 96731 zip code. ...
Pearl City Nursing Home is located near the Waipio neighborhood of Pearl City, Hawaii. It is a 122 bed nursing home facility. With about 41,000 residents in the zip code of 96782, the neighboring area is densely populated. ...
Nuuanu Hale is situated in the Liliha-Kapalama area of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is a 75 room senior housing community. With a median per-family income of $58,071, the community is in a largely middle class area. It has ...
Ann Pearl Rehabilitation and Healthcare is a 104 bed nursing facility. It is located in the Heeia neighborhood of Kaneohe, Hawaii. With an average per-household income of $90,519, the facility is in a predominantly wealthier area. It ...
Pu'uwai 'o Makaha Health Services is a 93 unit skilled nursing facility. It is located in the Makaha area of Waianae, Hawaii. With an average household income of $57,792, the facility is in a largely middle class area. ...
Life Care Center of Hilo is located at 944 West Kawailani St in Hilo, Hawaii. It is a 252 bed senior housing facility. With an average household income of $53,729, the community is in a predominantly middle class ...
Liliha Healthcare Center is a 92 bed skilled nursing facility situated within the Liliha-Kapalama neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii. With around 56,000 individuals residing in the 96817 zip code, the surrounding area is densely populated. It is a largely ...
Situated within the McCully-Moiliili neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, Oahu Care Facility is an 82 unit senior care facility. With approximately 32,000 individuals living in the zip code of 96826, the encompassing area is densely populated. It is a ...
Wilson Senior Living-Kailua is a senior housing facility situated in the Ala Moana-Kakaako area of Honolulu, Hawaii. The community is in a primarily middle class area, with a median per-household income of $45,742. With around 20,000 individuals living ...
Situated in the Palolo neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, Palolo Chinese Home is a 61 room senior housing facility. With a median per-family income of $78,882, the community is in a largely upper class area. It has a dense ...
Leahi Hospital is situated in the Kaimuki area of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is a 155 bed nursing facility. The facility is in a largely upscale area, with a median per-household income of $78,882. It is heavily populated, ...
Situated in the Punaluu area of the city, Oceanside Hawaii Assisted Living is a senior housing facility serving Hauula, Hawaii. The surrounding area is sparsely populated, with roughly 7,000 individuals living in the 96717 zip code. With an ...
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Hawaii
While the cost of nursing home care in Hawaii is high, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020, it is not as expensive in some of the states in the eastern U.S. Currently, the monthly average of nursing home care in Hawaii is $12,015 a month. That’s $4,000 more a month than the national average of $7,756. In terms of closest states, Oregon has the next highest cost at $10,114 a month, followed by Washington at $9,581 a month. Nevada has a monthly average of $9,262, while California is $9,247 a month.
- Hawaii: $12,015
- National: $7,756
- Oregon: $10,114
- Washington: $9,581
- Nevada: $9,262
- California: $9,247
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Hawaii’s Top Cities
Genworth lists only two cities in Hawaii, and both are less expensive than the state average for nursing care costs. Kahului has a monthly average cost of $10,494. The other location is Urban Honolulu, with a monthly average cost of $11,543.
- Kahului: $10,494
- Urban Honolulu: $11,543
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Hawaii
As with nursing care, other senior care costs in Hawaii are also expensive but are not that far off national averages. Monthly costs for homemaker care average $5,339, while home health care is $5,720 a month. The cost of an assisted-living facility averages $5,000 a month, while memory care is $6,250 a month. Nursing care with a semiprivate room is $12,015 a month, while the least expensive senior care cost in Hawaii is adult daycare which is $1,582 a month.
- Memory Care: $6,250
- Homemaker: $5,339
- Home Health Care: $5,720
- Adult Day Health Care: $1,582
- Assisted Living: $5,000
- Semi-Private Room: $12,015
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Hawaii
As you can see above, Nursing Home Care is often the most expensive senior care option – sometimes even 2-3 times the cost of other types of senior living. The primary reason for this is the 24/7 skilled nursing and other medical services that are provided. Thankfully, most people aren't forced to pay for skilled nursing care entirely out-of-pocket. Rather, many qualify for financial assistance programs to help cover the cost of nursing care.
Medicaid is the most comprehensive financial assistance program – but, not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid. And because each state operates its own Medicaid program within federal guidelines, eligibility and benefits vary from state to state. Below, we provide more information on Medicaid in Hawaii.
Medicaid in Hawaii
Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance plan aimed at low-income adults and children. Currently, there are 379,881 citizens in Hawaii who are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, which provide medical coverage to children. Hawaii expanded the number of people eligible for Medicaid in 2013, and since then, the number of individuals enrolled in Medicaid has increased by 31.72%. Almost 65% of nursing care residents in Hawaii rely on Medicaid to help pay for its costs.
Medicaid Eligibility in Hawaii
Hawaii has two different programs for Medicare recipients: Med-Quest, which is aimed at adults and children who became eligible for Medicaid coverage after 2013, and Medicaid Fee-For-Service which is specifically aimed at adults older than 65 or who are disabled.
- Individual applicants cannot earn more than $19,711 a year, while a couple cannot earn more than $26,654 a year
- An applicant must be a resident of Hawaii
- An applicant must be an American citizen or legal immigrant and be able to prove their citizenship or residency
- An applicant must provide a Social Security number
- An applicant cannot reside in a public institution
- An applicant must be aged 65 or else certified to be blind or disabled by the state
- An applicant must meet an asset test
- An applicant must meet an income test
The asset standard is $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple and $250 for each additional family member. Assets include cash, bank accounts, stocks, real property, bonds and other personal property. Home property, motor vehicles, clothing, household furnishings and appliances are exempt.
Applications for Medicaid are handled by the Hawaii Department of Human Services. Seniors who qualify for Medicaid are eligible to receive assistance to help with the cost of nursing home care. Seniors also become eligible for medical waivers, which will help pay for the cost of home care and home health care. Seniors can apply for Medicaid at the official government Med-QUEST site or by calling 800-316-8005 for more information.
Additional Financial Assistance Options
- Medicare: For the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will cover the entire cost of care, and a portion of the costs up until day 100. After 100 days, Medicare won't cover any of the costs. Importantly, seniors must also have a "qualifying hospital stay" that lasts 3 days prior to their admission to a nursing home in order to qualify for Medicare coverage.
- Aid and Attendance: Aid and Attendance may be available to veterans who receive a VA pension. This benefit is a monthly cash allowance that veterans receive in addition to their standard pension amount. It is intended for veterans in need of long-term care services and may be used to pay for skilled nursing care.
- Reverse Mortgages: For those who own a home, reverse mortgages are loans that one can take out against the value of their home, essentially converting some of the home's equity into cash. It's often a good fit for married couples when only one partner needs nursing care, as the other residents of the home may continue living there. Keep in mind that reverse mortgage loans do need to be repaid (with interest), typically within 12 months of receiving the loan.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: For seniors who already have long-term care insurance, the cost of skilled nursing care may be covered. Most policies cover at least a portion of the costs, but it depends on the specific policy terms. It's important to note that older adults who are already in need of skilled nursing care will not be eligible to sign up for a long-term care insurance policy.
Hawaii Nursing Home Care Rules and Regulations
Nursing homes in Hawaii are licensed and regulated by the Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Care Assurance. Meanwhile, the Nurse’s Aide Registry in Hawaii is maintained by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Following are some of the rules and regulations that govern the operation of a nursing home in Hawaii:
Scope of Care | Each facility shall employ staff sufficient in number and qualifications to provide on-duty 24-hour a day care to carry out the policies and responsibilities of the facility and meet the needs of all residents. This includes an administrator, a medical director, registered nurses, nurses aides, a licensed pharmacist, dietary staff and a rehabilitation therapist. |
Care Planning | Each resident shall receive a physical examination within five days prior to admission or no later than one week after admission. Physician visits shall be made at least once every 30 days for the first 90 days of every resident’s stay and then shall continue quarterly at a minimum. A comprehensive assessment of each resident shall be completed at least annually. |
Pharmacy Services | A nursing home facility shall employ a licensed pharmacist or have a contract with a pharmacist to provide consultation and create procedures that relate to all matters concerning residents’ medication. The pharmacist shall review each resident’s medication record at least once a month. |
Staff Screening | The state of Hawaii does not require a criminal check for a nurse to receive a license, but an employer may check into conviction records of any prospective employee directly involved with the care of a patient, provided that that record bears a rational relationship to their job the facility. These background checks shall only take place after the prospective employee has received a conditional offer of employment. |
Staff training | All new employees shall take part in an in-service education program that will acquaint them with the philosophy, policies and the organizational structure of the facility. Training in oral hygiene and dental care shall be given to the nursing staff at least annually and personal hygiene instructions shall be given to all personnel involved in direct care at regular intervals. The facility shall put in place a system to ensure that all staff receives in-service training. |
Medicare Coverage | Medicare in Hawaii is covered through the Medicare Fee-For-Service program, which provides financial assistance for seniors and disabled individuals who meet eligibility requirements. The seniors must pass both income and asset tests as well as an examination to determine if they require care in a nursing home. |
Reporting abuse | The Hawaii Long-Term Ombudsman program investigates and resolves complaints or problems about the care of residents in a long-term care facility area if a senior, their family or their caregivers suspect neglect or abuse they should call 808-586-7268 to reach a long-term care ombudsman. |
Free Nursing Home Resources in Hawaii
A project of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Kapuna Legal Aid Services offers free legal advice to seniors aged 60 and older. The organization works primarily in two areas: Advanced Planning and Senior Victims of Crime. Advanced Planning will be of the most interest to seniors in nursing home care as it deals with the process of developing a plan to manage health care (such as an Advanced Health Care Directive) and assets, avoiding unnecessary taxes and probate to help make it easier for seniors’ family to be informed of and carry out their wishes.
Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH)
The Healthcare Association of Hawaii works with nursing homes and other senior care facilities in Hawaii to provide resources for consumers and educational opportunities for staff members of nursing homes. This includes in-person and online educational seminars that deal with a variety of issues such as wound care, prevention of infection, avoiding UTIs, dementia training and other issues that confront staff members in a senior care facility.
Hawaii Agencies
Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
250 South Hotel St. Suite 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
888-875-9229
https://hawaiiship.org/
The Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) works with individuals who are eligible for Medicare, whether they are at least 65 or disabled, about their health care choices. SHIP’s trained volunteer counselors provide free, unbiased and confidential advice on various health care options, including Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care. None of the counselors are employed by a health insurance company, and none will ever try to sell plans to a senior.
Hawaii Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
250 South Hotel St. Suite 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
586-7281 or 800-296-9422
https://www.smphawaii.org/
Medicare fraud in the United States is a crime increasingly committed against seniors across the nation. The Hawaii Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) works with seniors in the state to raise their awareness about Medicare fraud and how to prevent it. They teach seniors, their caregivers or their families how to look at a Medicare bill to ensure that there are no errors. They will help seniors identify Medicare fraudsters when they try to sell them their products or services claiming they are covered by Medicare. While the SMP does hold regular outreach programs, there also available to have a one-on-one session with a senior or their loved ones who may suspect Medicare fraud.
Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
250 South Hotel St. Suite 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-586-7268
https://health.hawaii.gov/eoa/home/long-term-care-ombudsman-program/
The Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman program investigates complaints or problems concerning the care of seniors who reside in a long-term care facility. While the long-term care ombudsman strives to resolve these complaints, they can also advise residents about alternatives to nursing home care, outline their options for paying for long-term care, help them choose an appropriate nursing home and protect the rights of residents to both refuse treatment and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Area Agencies on Aging in Hawaii
The five Area Agencies on Aging in Hawaii, working through the Executive Office on Aging, provide many resources and information for seniors across the state. The AAA offices work with providers in their geographical areas to provide adult day care respite, legal assistance, transportation to medical appointments, deliver nutritious meals to seniors who are homebound or aging in place and provide consultation and guidance about health care options including long-term care.
Veteran Affairs Office in Hawaii
The Hawaii Office Of Veteran Services has several missions. It provides advocacy for the concerns of veterans and helps them with short-term counseling. It can also provide general and honorably discharged veterans with 24/7 skilled nursing and long-term care at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Other services include federal VA benefits assistance, appeals assistance and information and referral to other benefits when appropriate.
Social Security Offices in Hawaii
The four Social Security offices in Hawaii work with Hawaiians aged 65 or older or who are disabled with a variety of programs, including connecting them with Medicare, dealing with issues about Medicaid, answering questions and helping seniors apply for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. Seniors who can pass income and asset requirements can use SSI payments to help with the cost of long-term care.
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