Financing Long-term Care in Hawai'i: A Survey of Residents 18 and Older

With a quarter of the state's population expected to be 65 or older by 2030, where and how long-term care is to be provided – and how to pay for it – is of major concern in Hawai'i. This February 2006 telephone survey of 700 residents of Hawai'I age 18 and up gauges the need for financing LTC.

Of those surveyed...

• 80 percent say it is important to have LTC services that would help them or a family member stay at home as long as possible
  
• 82 percent say they would prefer to be cared for at home by family or friends (21%), home care professionals (19%), or a combination of both (42%)
  
• 81 percent are not confident they could afford the cost of nursing home care for three years, and 75 percent doubt their ability to pay for even one year
  
• 47 percent are not confident about being able to pay for home health aide care for three years, and 40 percent for even one year
  
• 85 percent would support a state LTC plan for all residents regardless of income
  
• 64 percent think the cost of LTC services should be shared between the individual and the state, and most are willing to contribute to such a plan

Surveying was conducted between February 22 and 27 by Woelfel Research Inc. Further information about the study may be obtained by contacting its author, Jennifer H. Sauer at 202-434-6207. (16 pages)