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The Pacific island state of Hawaii is home to 1,415,872 full-time residents, and 18.4% are aged 65 or older. The statewide population grew by 4.1% between 2010 and 2018, and the senior population increased by 30.2% during that time. With its hot, snow-free tropical climate, stunning natural features and warm, friendly communities, it's easy to see why Hawaii is a popular retirement destination.
Assisted living facilities in Hawaii cost an average of $4,375 per month, according to Genworth's 2019 Cost of Care Survey. Assisted living care costs in Hawaii are higher than the national average of $4,051, although actual costs vary with each facility.
This guide provides in-depth information about senior care costs in Hawaii, as well as about the overall quality of life for seniors in the state. There's also information on state and federal programs for seniors who need financial assistance with assisted living costs, as well as support services for older adults, caregivers and family members.
Hawaii has a SeniorScore of 76%, which is above the U.S. average of 72%. The SeniorScore combines over 100 unique factors such as crime statistics, weather, cost of living, life expectancy and the availability of health care services to help seniors decide how each state stacks up in terms of livability for older adults.
With its SeniorScore of 76%, Hawaii is considered to be an above-average place for seniors to live. The state ranks high for health and safety, with numerous Medicare-registered health care providers, an exceptionally high number of hospitals and a life expectancy of 81.3 years, which is 2.7 years longer than the national average of 78.6 years.
There are 665 churches in Hawaii, 67 golf courses, and an average number of municipal parks. Property and violent crime rates here are high in comparison to national rates, which has a negative impact on the SeniorScore.
At 6.21%, the average state income tax rate in Hawaii is nearly double the national rate of 3.38%. Sales taxes here are also high in comparison to other states, although property taxes are much lower than the national average.
According to Genworth Financial's 2019 Cost of Care Survey, assisted living care in Hawaii costs an average of $4,375 per month. Assisted living costs in Hawaii are $324 higher than the national average of $4,051 per month.
The Cost of Assisted Living in Hawaii's Top Cities
As a relatively small state, assisted living data in Hawaii is only available for two cities, the capital city of Honolulu and Kahului, located in Maui County. Average monthly assisted living costs in Kahului are $4,300, while the average cost in Honolulu is $4,500.
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Hawaii
Seniors in Hawaii who need care can choose between residential services such as assisted living or nursing homes, or they can opt to remain in their own home with support from a homemaker, home health care aide or adult day health program. At an average monthly cost of $4,375, assisted living is an affordable option since it includes room and board, recreational programming and help with activities of daily living. By comparison, in-home care services cost between $5,100 and $5,220 per month for 44 hours of service weekly. These costs are in addition to ongoing expenses such as food, utility payments and rent or mortgage.
Phone Number: (808) 524-3370 (Oahu); 1 (800) 316-8005 (Neighbor Islands)
Website: https://medquest.hawaii.gov/
Med-QUEST is Hawaii's Medicaid managed care program for the elderly, blind and disabled.
Administered by the Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST gives qualified seniors and adults with some chronic disabilities access to a range of health care services and non-medical supports, including assisted living.
The Med-QUEST program replaces all previous Hawaii Home and Community Based Service Medicaid waivers, thereby eliminating enrollment caps and wait lists. Under Med-QUEST, every senior who qualifies for coverage is provided with a personalized care plan.
Med-QUEST services are assigned based on medical need, and these services may include:
Med-QUEST covers the cost of medical and non-medical care services for seniors in assisted living facilities, but Med-QUEST covered seniors are responsible for the room and board portion of their assisted living costs.
To qualify for Med-QUEST, seniors in Hawaii must:
A number of Med-QUEST eligibility branch offices are located throughout Hawaii. At these offices, seniors can submit Med-QUEST applications, update their information and check on their application status. Seniors can locate their nearest office by calling the customer services call center listed above.
Phone Number: (844) 698-2311
Website: https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
Veterans, their dependents and survivors who receive a regular VA pension and who need assisted living care may qualify for a higher pension payment through one of two VA pension top-up programs.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' VA Aid and Attendance and VA Housebound allowance programs provide enhanced pension benefits for beneficiaries who have chronic illnesses or disabilities.
To qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, VA pension recipients must meet at least one of the following criteria:
To qualify for the Housebound allowance, VA pension recipients must:
Hawaii's assisted living facilities (ALFs) are required to comply with a number of regulations designed to ensure residents receive safe, appropriate care. The Department of Health, Office of Health Care Assurance is responsible for the licensing and inspection of ALFs throughout the state. Hawaii regulations classify personal care services as either Level I or Level II.
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Scope of Care |
Hawaii ALFs with a Level I license can provide limited personal support services including housekeeping, meal preparation, and assistance with bathing and eating. Level II facilities can also include health maintenance tasks provided by a personal care aide, home health care worker or other paraprofessional. ALFs must provide apartment-style accommodations that include a private bathroom, full kitchen and emergency call system that residents can use to summon on-site staff. ALFs can choose to decline applications from residents who have advanced medical needs that cannot be safely managed in an assisted living facility, as well as those who have a history of violence or sexual aggression. |
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Care Plan Requirements |
ALF staff must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment on every resident, and this plan must accurately reflect the individuals' medical needs and personal preferences. This plan should also include details such as how services will be provided as well as the frequency and duration of services. |
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Medication Management Requirements |
ALFs can provide assistance with medication self-administration by giving residents verbal reminders, reading prescription labels and transferring the medications into a container that is easily managed by the resident. ALF staff may also administer medications under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse. All medications administered by facility staff must be reviewed every 90 days or less by a physician or licensed registered nurse. |
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Staff Requirements |
All ALF staff must comply with current health department tuberculosis clearance procedures, be certified in CPR and first aid, and be willing and able to comply with all standards of care. While there are no set staffing ratios for ALFs in Hawaii, facilities are expected to schedule staff at the levels needed to provide safe, respectful care for all residents. |
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Staff Training Requirements |
Newly-hired staff must complete a basic orientation on safety procedures and resident rights. Staff must also complete at least six hours of in-service training each year on topics related to assisted living. |
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Medicaid Coverage |
Medicaid recipients who reside in a licensed ALF may qualify for enrollment in Med-QUEST, Hawaii's Medicaid managed care program. This program covers the cost of medical and non-medical care services for seniors who reside in an assisted living facility. |
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Reporting Abuse |
Anyone who suspects elder abuse, neglect or safety concerns related to an ALF can file a report with the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program by calling (808) 586-7268. |
Seniors in Hawaii who need help navigating their Medicare options can schedule a free, one-on-one appointment with a certified volunteer counselor through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Also known as SHIP, this program provides no-cost, unbiased health insurance counseling, education and information to those who either have or are preparing to enroll in Medicare.
SHIP counselors can also help eligible seniors and people with disabilities enroll in a Medicare plan, access waiver programs and apply for low-income subsidy programs that cover costs related to Medicare plan premiums, deductibles and co-pays.
Contact: To contact a Hawaii SHIP counselor, call (808) 586-7299 or 1 (888) 875-9229 from neighbor islands.
Seniors, their family members and their designated representatives can contact Hawaii's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) with concerns or complaints about long-term care facilities in the state. The LTCO investigates concerns related to quality of care, safety and residents' rights in all long-term care facilities in Hawaii, including ALFs.
The LTCO also recruits and trains certified LTCOP volunteers who work as advocates for seniors living in long-term care facilities. LTCO volunteers make weekly visits to long-term care centers throughout the state to ensure residents' rights are protected.
Contact: To contact Hawaii's LTCOP, call (808) 586-7268.
Executive Office on Aging
Address: 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 406, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone Number: (808) 586-0100
Website: https://health.hawaii.gov/eoa/
Hawaii's Executive Office on Aging coordinates statewide services for seniors in accordance with state and federal laws. The EOA oversees a number of free programs for seniors and caregivers, including the Senior Medicare Patrol Hawaii, a volunteer-based Medicare fraud prevention program, the Family Caregiver Support program and the Healthy Aging Partnership, a collection of evidence-based disease prevention programs.
Any resident of Hawaii can contact the EOA for more information on government-funded programs and services for seniors, their family members and caregivers.
Area Agencies on Aging in Hawaii
Hawaii is home to four regional Area Agencies on Aging where seniors, their family members and caregivers can access free health insurance counseling, learn about local resources for seniors, and sign up for transportation and nutrition programs. Located in Hawaii County, Maui, Kauai and Honolulu, these AAAs are regulated by Hawaii's Executive Office on Aging. Seniors can connect with their nearest AAA by calling the statewide info line at (808) 586-4400.
Veteran Affairs Offices in Hawaii
Veterans, dependents and survivors in Hawaii may be eligible for federal VA benefits and services administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA offers a number of benefits that seniors can use towards the cost of assisted living, including the VA pension and two enhanced pension programs, Aid and Attendance and Housebound.
The state also operates the Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services. The Office provides vets and their families with free information on federal and state benefits and programs, help with VA benefit applications, and burial assistance for vets seeking internment at a Hawaii State Veteran Cemetery. To contact the VA, call (844) 698-2311. For Hawaii's Veterans' Services, call (808) 433-0420.
Social Security Offices in Hawaii
The United States Social Security Administration administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit. To qualify for SSI, seniors 65 and older must meet income and resource limits or be classified as permanently disabled in accordance with SSI eligibility requirements. SSI-eligible seniors can use their SSI benefits towards the cost of assisted living care.
To connect with the nearest Social Security office, seniors in Hawaii can phone the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
Reference: https://www.senioradvice.com/assisted-living/hawaii
The SeniorScore™ is calculated based on over 100 variables, some of which are shown below. The final score is curved based on a linear curving method. For More info visit 
