February 3, 2009

A Grim Reality in Hawaii

A recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser highlighted the strain that the cost of elderly care is having on the state's middle class. A combination of the high costs of senior care, longer life expectancies and the country's current economic status are not only depleting the elderly's assets but also those of their children who are caring for them.
The cost of a semi-private room at a nursing facility in Hawaii ranks among the highest in the nation at just under $98,000 per year. This number is twice Hawaii's median annual household income. Less extensive assisted living facilities average a cost of $41,000 annually and the average yearly cost of adult daycare services is $15,000. According to the results found in a State of Hawaii Older Adults Needs Assessment, over 76% of seniors in the state indicate that they go without proper care because services offered cost too much. 31% say that services are not even available to them.
This is not just a problem in Hawaii. Across the United States, millions of people are being hit with economic hardships. These tough times are magnified when taking on the additional responsibilities of caring for a loved one.

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