Hawaiian Voters Concerned About Long-Term Care Services, AARP Report Says

Fifty-seven percent of Hawaiian voters believe the state's health and long-term care services are experiencing a crisis or major problems, according to a report released Friday by AARP Hawaii, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports. For the survey, led by Joanne Binette and Erica Dinger of AARP Knowledge Management, 1,043 registered voters were surveyed about access to care, costs and insurance coverage.

The survey found:

• 56% of voters say access and cost of care are their primary concerns for the next five years;
  
  
• 51% had difficulty paying out-of-pocket health care costs in the past five years;
  
  
• More than one-third of voters traveled to receive care that was unavailable in their communities;
  
  
• About six in 10 voters cannot afford one year of long-term care;
  
  
• About 73% are concerned about their ability to get long-term care in a setting of their choice;
  
  
• About 78% support increasing funds for long-term care services to help people stay in their homes or communities; and
  
  
• About six in 10 said they would contribute small monthly premiums to receive quality long-term care services.