Program Description
Kupuna Care (KC) is a state program designed to help non-Medicaid eligible elderly residents continue living at home or in the community instead of in Medicaid-funded nursing home residential care. Kupuna Care assists families by providing a variety of different long-term caregiving and support services, such as adult day care, personal care, and transportation assistance. The program is available throughout the islands.
Eligibility Guidelines
General Requirements
To be eligible for Kupuna Care, one must meet the following requirements:
- A resident of Hawaii who is 60+ years of age.
- The applicant cannot live in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living residence, foster care home, or other adult residential care facility.
- He or she must have a functional impairment that prevents them from performing at least 2 activities of daily living (ADL), OR 2 instrumental ADLs (IADL), OR 1 ADL and 1 IADL, OR they must have significant cognitive impairments that jeopardize their safety or the safety of another person.
Please note that in order to be the recipient of home-delivered meals, the functional requirements are slightly different. First, the individual must have functional impairments of at least 2 ADLS OR have a significant cognitive limitation. In addition, the applicant must be unable to leave the home.
Financial Requirements
There are no published financial eligibility requirements. However, to be eligible, a senior cannot be receiving services via a comparable government, private home, or community based care services program, such as those provided under Hawaii’s Medicaid Med-QUEST program.
In brief, this means as of 2024, an individual’s monthly income must be greater than $1,442.50. (Otherwise, they would qualify to receive similar services under Med-QUEST). More details about Hawaii Medicaid eligibility are available here. Individuals with higher incomes are expected to pay for a larger share of the costs of the services.
Benefits and Services
Kupuna Care provides a variety of different services. The services that an individual receives are determined on a case-by-case basis and may include any of the following:
- Adult Day Care
- Case Management
- Chore Services
- Attendant Care
- Homemaker Services (assistance with meal preparation, grocery shopping, and laundry)
- Hot or Prepared Meal Delivery Services
- Personal Care (assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and grooming)
- Respite Care
How to Apply / Learn More
The KC program is managed by each island’s county aging office. One can apply with their county Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Contact information for each county ADRC can be found here.
Priority for services is given to those who have the greatest financial need, are at risk of nursing home placement, or live in rural areas.
Limited information on Kupuna Care can be found here.
Did You Know? Of all 50 states, Hawaii has the longest average life expectancy. In fact, Hawaii residents can expect to live almost two years longer than the average American.
