Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 6, 1 June 1991 — Free home health care offered [ARTICLE]

Free home health care offered

The Maluhia Project: Home Health for the Uninsured mak.es auailahle seruices for patients who may need home health care and/or case management. It is a federal and state funded demonstration project prouiding free home health seruices for the uninsured and underinsured persons on O'ahu. Mr. A, a 53-year old Hawaiian man, was admitted to the Maluhia Project with a history of repeated hospitalizations for heart problems, diabetes, history of stroke, and other medical problems. He is covered by Medicaid and Medicare but is considered underinsured, since his insurance would no longer coverforcontinued assessment and medication monitoring. Twelve months before he was admitted to the project, he was hospitalized six times and has recently been hospitalized every two to three weeks for at least a week.

However, since the last time he went into the hospital, Mr. A has remained out of the hospital for the past two months. One of the Project's nurses has been able to develop a trusting relationship with him, and he will allow only his nurse to fill his medications. He will also eall her if he is having changes in his health condition. Another client that the Maluhia Project serves is Mr. G, who does not have medical insurance. He suffers from heart problems, high blood pressure, and pancreatitis, and needs valves replaced in his heart. The Project's social worker isassisting Mr. G to obtain medical coverage to have the costly procedure done. In addition to helping Mr. G obtain insurance, a nurse helps with medical monitoring. She makes sure he takes his medication as prescribed by the doctor. There are 120 patients who currently receive home care services from the Maluhia Project. To date, the Project has found that 10 percent of its

clientele are Hawaiians. These clients are: • in need of professional home health and/or case management services; • at risk for repeated hospital and emergency room admissions; • have no ineome (no more than $1,900 per person per month); • have little or no savings; • 18 years old or older; and • live on O'ahu. The Maluhia Project offers services including nursing, social work, physical therapy, oeeupahonal therapy, speech therapy, and dietician consultation. These services may include providing wound care, teaching how to take medications, teaching you home exercises and transfer techniques, teaching you personal grooming and household tasks, and assitance to the caregiver.

Recently the project has begun to contract clients to other home health care agencies on O'ahu. Now in the planning stage is the inclusion of some home health agencies on the island of Hawai'i. Final negotiation between the Maluhia Project and Hawai'i County home care agencies is expected to take plaee in July. Another important development is the approval by Congress for this nahonal demonstration project to eonhnue until fall 1994. The Maluhia Project is a federal- and state-sponsored national demonstration project. lts goal is to promote wel!ness and reduce the need for hospital and/or nursing home placement. If you, or someone you know, who might need heahh services eall 845-2951 ext. 168, and ask for Gemma Mendoza. Project director is Cullen Hayashida.