Hawaii home health care costs among nation's highest

Hawaii’s home care costs are among the highest in the nation, according to a cost-of-care survey released by long-term care insurer Genworth Financial, Inc.

With a median annual rate of $51,480, about 18 percent higher than the national rate of $43,472, Hawaii ranked as the seventh most expensive state for home care services. The following are key findings in the report:

• Home health aide services statewide have risen 2 percent annually over the past five years — the same as the national rate. The median hourly rate statewide for licensed home health aide services is $23, up from the national median hourly rate of $19.
• Assisted-living costs statewide are 18 percent higher than the national rate, with a median annual rate of $45,000, compared to $38,220 nationally.
• Nursing home costs have increased 4 percent in Hawaii during the past five years, with a median annual rate of $114,975, up from the national rate of $75,190.
• The median annual rate for adult day care services in Hawaii is $16,900, slightly higher than the national rate of $15,600.

“For many Hawaii residents, the ability to live independently is critical to maintaining quality of life,” said Buck Stinson, president of U.S. life insurance products at Richmond, Va.,-based Genworth. “Long-term care is not just about nursing homes anymore.”