Home-care providers launch Hawaii-chapter | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii’s home-care providers will have a new platform for collaboration and advocacy as the Home Care Association of America launches its first statewide chapter next week.

The national trade group — which represents nearly 4,500 private-duty home-care agencies nationwide — announced the chapter this month and will host an inaugural conference Nov. 6 at Dave & Buster’s Ala Moana, bringing together agencies, caregivers, government partners and industry vendors.

Advanced registration at 808ne.ws/4hpfKZC is required.

Fees are $150 for HCAOA members — reduced from the standard $180 — and $250 for nonmembers.

Leaders say the chapter is arriving at a pivotal moment for home-based care in Hawaii, as hospitals face capacity issues, nursing home beds remain limited, and more seniors express a strong preference to age at home.

“The home care business is pretty much a small business industry,” said Dew-Anne Langcaon, CEO of Vivia Cares Inc. and one of the chapter’s founding organizers. “As the health care system shifts and regulations expand, small providers now have to keep track of legislation and policy changes that directly affect how we care for seniors.”

Demand is rising faster than the workforce can sustain, Langcaon said. While caregiver shortages are a national challenge, Hawaii’s shrinking population of working-age adults makes the situation more acute.

“Hawaii has a more unique approach to caring for kupuna,” she said. “We have to personalize care for every individual — language, family support, chronic conditions — every situation is different. And we need more trained caregivers to meet those very specific needs.”

Kristen Wheeler, senior director of membership strategy and industry partnerships for HCAOA, said Hawaii’s cultural values around family caregiving make it distinct from other states.

“Hawaii has a unique cultural commitment to family and community care, with strong values around aging in place and multigenerational support,” Wheeler said. “The geographic isolation of the islands also presents distinctive workforce and access challenges that require creative, local solutions.”

Wheeler added that the timing of the new chapter reflects both urgency and local leadership.

“Now is the right time because the home care industry is growing rapidly across the country, including in Hawaii, and providers need a strong, unified voice to address workforce shortages, rising demand for care, and evolving state regulations,” Wheeler said. “What truly made this possible, though, is the initiative of Hawaii’s home-care leaders themselves.”

HCAOA membership allows Hawaii’s agencies to tap into federal policy updates, lobby for reimbursement and workforce improvements, and access training, operational resources, and national networking.

Each participating company pays a membership fee, which Langcaon said gives small operators access to advocacy for which they typically lack the bandwidth.

“Even as small businesses, we have the capability to get support for legislative advocacy that we can’t do on our own,” she said.

Interest already has exceeded expectations. Langcaon said roughly 30 agencies have signed up to participate in the chapter’s first gathering — quadruple the number of current HCAOA member agencies in the state.

Just the coordination required to organize the conference has been eye-opening, Langcaon added.

“Having peers who know your business and understand your challenges — it’s been extremely useful,” she said. “We’ve been able to support each other just by talking through common problems.”

Despite the workforce shortage, Langcaon said she is hopeful because of the people who continue entering the profession.

“What gives me the most hope is the caregivers themselves,” she said. “They have a very challenging job, and I’m grateful every day when we find caregivers who are compassionate and want to help seniors remain at home.”

Cory Kataoka, director of BAYADA Home Health Care, said the association has long been useful to members, but organizing the inaugural Hawaii conference has shown him firsthand how much stronger providers can be when they work together. He noted that forming the chapter has helped agencies connect and recognize the common challenges they share, opening the door to coordinated solutions and industrywide improvements.

Similarly, Griswold Home Care administrator Cecilia Fong described her involvement in the chapter as an essential entry point into Hawaii’s broader home-care network.

Fong said the experience has exposed her to the breadth and sophistication of local providers, giving her a clearer view of the sector’s growth and its potential to expand impact through collaboration.

The inaugural conference will include a panel of caregivers discussing what they need to succeed — including training and technology that reduces administrative burdens and allows them to spend more time with clients.

The chapter also hopes to foster stronger ties with hospitals, insurers, and health systems — relationships smaller agencies often struggle to establish alone.

“We’ve invited hospitals and health plans to the conference to help create some bridges,” Langcaon said. “There are conversations happening.”