Latest Annual Report
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Age-Friendly Honolulu 2019 – 2020 Annual Report www.agefriendlyhonolulu.com Honolulu is in the midst of an exciting transformation. With the vision and leadership of Mayor Kirk Caldwell and AARP Hawai‘i, Honolulu is striving to become an age-friendly city. According to AARP, an age friendly city entails “an inclusive and accessible urban or suburban environment that encourages active and healthy aging.” The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an age-friendly world as: It is a place that enables people of all ages to actively participate in community activities. It is a place that treats everyone with respect, regardless of their age. It is a place that makes it easy to stay connected to those around you and those you love. It is a place that helps people stay healthy and active even at the oldest ages. And it is a place that helps those who can no longer look after themselves to live with dignity and enjoyment. - World Health Organization Vision for an Age-Friendly Honolulu In an age-friendly Honolulu, inter-connected communities will embrace older adults who want to remain socially involved and physically active; the city infrastructure will remain responsive to capabilities and safety of our people; equitable services will enable community-wide health promotion; robust opportunities for intergenerational exchanges will exist; and, quality of life will thrive among all residents. Honolulu perceives active aging as a lifelong process and this initiative envisions the city being livable for all ages, not just for older adults. Safe and affordable transportation benefits all people, young and old. Families experience less stress when they have access to community support and health services for older adults they care for. A barrier-free city infrastructure enhances the mobility and independence of people of all ages with disabilities. With this vision of an age-friendly Honolulu, the city created an action plan after a two-year planning process and began implementation with the support of an Age-Friendly Honolulu ordinance. 4 Impetus for the Age-Friendly City Initiative: An Aging Population in Honolulu Hawai‘i is the most diverse state, and is growing older at a faster pace than the rest of the nation. In 2030, 24% of Hawai‘i’s population will be aged 65 orImpetus older, compared for the to 19%Age-Friendly nationally. By City 2040, Initiative: 27% An Aging of Honolulu’s population,Population more than in Honolulu1 in 4 residents, will be over the age of 65. Worldwide, a demographic phenomenon is visible and is gaining momentumHawai`i through is thethe aging most ofdiverse the baby-boomer state, and is generationgrowing older at a faster pace (born 1946-1964). thanBetween the rest2010 of and the 2040, nation. Hawai‘i’s3,4 In 20 population30, 24% of of Hawai`i’s population people 65 years andwill older be aged will 65increase or older, 104%, compared compared to 21with% ournationally. In Honolulu, total population increase of 28% over the same period. Hawai‘i is revered to be one27% of the of best residents places willto grow be 65 old years in America and older – in bylarge 2040. Worldwide, a part because of thedemographic beauty of the phenomenon islands, lush isnatural visible resources, and is gaining and momentum the thriving Aloha throughspirit. Our the state aging leads of thethe baby-boomernation in longevity generation and (born 1946-1964). Figure 1. Early in the planning process, a brainstorm with has the longest healthyBetween life 2010expectancy, and 2040, meaning Hawai`i’s that a population 65 year-old 65 years and older will Hawai‘i resident can expect to live another 16.2 additional years of life the Citizens Advisory Committee yielded these terms to envision an Age-Friendly Honolulu. in good health. increase 104%, compared with our total population increase of 28% over the same period.5 Older adults in Hawai‘i want to age in place, remaining active Hawai`i is revered as one of the best places Figure 2 Increase in 65+ Population in Honolulu and independent in their communities. More than half of 2010-2040 Honolulu’s older adults,to grow or old57% in percent, America have – in lived large in parttheir communities for twentybecause years of the or more.beauty of the islands, clean 30000 65+ Population The cultural traditionsand andlush values natural passed resources, down and from the older thriv- 25000 30% generations to youngering Aloha generations spirit. Our continue state toleads strengthen the nation 20000 27% 15000 25% 26% our communities, informalin longevity support and networks,has the longest multigenerational healthy 23% 20% 21% households that foster intergenerational learning, and support 10000 19% 16% life expectancy, meaning that a 65 year-old Population the transfer of wisdom from one generation to the next. Older 10% Hawai`i resident can expect to live another 5000 adults in Honolulu are a tremendous and valued resource and 0 0 therefore, the city 16.2should additional offer ample years opportunities of life in good for health.older 6 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Year adults to be engaged in the community and with younger generations. SimultaneousFigure 3 withPercent the Older demographic Adults transformation, a paradigm shift is changing society’s perceptions of aging toward a more positive view that embraces the surplus of human capital that lies within the older adult population, and the potential for these assets to strengthen Honolulu as a community for all ages. Honolulu can be a place that is friendly to all ages and where all ages thrive. Source: Figure 3 presents 2010 Census statistics of the percent- age of older adult population, those age 65 and older, within each census tract. Specifically, percent- ages were determined by dividing the total number of older adults in a census tract by the total population of Age-Friendly Honolulu Summit in 2015 that census tract. The graphic illustrates that the major location of older adults are in the southern portion of the5 island in the urban area of Honolulu and its surrounding neighbor- hoods. Introduction 5 History and Organization In 2013, the City and County of Honolulu applied for and was accepted into the WHO’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and AARP National’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities. This prestigious designation indicates that Honolulu is a member of a dynamic and progressive network of cities striving to become age-friendly. In turn, the City and County of Honolulu leverages best practices through these networks with the strong support of Mayor Caldwell and AARP Hawaii. After two years of broad engagement from kupuna, caregivers, government, academia, non-profit, and private sectors through listening sessions and workgroup meetings, an Action Plan was created. The initiative then proceeded with implementation under the guidance of its Interim Implementation Committee. In 2018, an Age-Friendly Celebrating the signing of the Age-Friendly Honolulu ordinance Honolulu ordinance was passed (Bill 54), which signified a in 2018 commitment by the City and County of Honolulu to be “age- friendly”. The ordinance requires, in part, that city and county departments develop their own goals and strategies to improve policies, programs, and the built environment to be inclusive to persons of all ages and all abilities. The initiative is led by Department of Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland, Elderly Affairs Division (EAD) County Executive, Derrick Ariyoshi, and consultant Christy Nishita, Ph.D. from the UH Center on Aging. The initiative is also guided by a diverse advisory committee representing different sectors and expertise areas: Age-Friendly Honolulu Leadership Advisory Board • Mayor Kirk Caldwell • Joy Barua, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii • Pam Witty-Oakland, Director of Department • John Goody, retired, Goody Consultants, of Community Services Complete Streets volunteer • Derrick Ariyoshi, Elderly Affairs Division County Executive • Leslie Kurisaki, HHF Planners • Christy Nishita, Ph.D., Coordinator, University of Hawaii, • Keali‘i Lopez, AARP Hawaii, Center on Aging • Robert Nehmad, 3M Transportation Safety Engineer 6 Department Age-Friendly Honolulu Checklists An annual age-friendly training provides departmental representatives with an understanding of age-friendly goals and strategies to ensure accessibility, community inclusion, and engagement. Following the training, representatives are tasked with reviewing current departmental programs, plans, and policies and then developing or updating its age-friendly checklist. In the section, city departments outline their strategies and action steps for aligning with Age-Friendly Honolulu goals. 7 Board of Water Supply BWS is doing its part to be “age-friendly” by ensuring the affordability of water service Highlight: Waives the applicable fees and charges for qualified on-site affordable and homeless dwelling units, up to 500 dwelling units per year Year Set Strategy Specific Actions Status Waive the applicable fees and charges for qualified on-site Ensure affordable housing 2020 affordable and homeless dwelling units, up to 500 dwelling units Ongoing development per year All residential customers will get a below-cost rate for their first Provide affordable water 2,000 gallons of water used. This tier will benefit those on fixed 2020 Ongoing service and/or low incomes and reward those customers who use water very efficiently Support opportunities for The Halawa Xeriscape garden offers tours, workshops, and 2020 Ongoing community engagement volunteer opportunities. Annual conservation poster and poetry contest Ongoing Issue news release and use social media to notify public about 2020 Provide consumer protection Ongoing scams Special assistance and accomodations due to a disability to 2020 Ensure community inclusion Ongoing participate in Board meetings can be made upon request. Board meetings are televised on ‘Olelo Ongoing 8 Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency CCSR is doing its part to be “age-friendly” through its focus on sustainability and resiliency, by supporting Complete Street projects, and engaging kupuna and keiki to create a more livable community.