Hawaii Chore Services Program

This program provides elderly or disabled Hawaiian residents with housekeeping and other basic chore services to help them remaining living independently.  The program’s name of Chore Services is somewhat misleading in that the services included in this program are not limited to just household chores.  Also included are support services that help the program participants with their activities of daily living such as bathing, eating and grooming.  It should be noted that because the intent of this program is to help individuals remain living independently, persons residing in assisted living or nursing homes are not eligible.   

Designed on the Cash and Counseling model, the Chore Services program provides participants with the ability to self-designate their service providers.  This “self-direction” is also referred to as consumer or participant direction.  Individuals receive cash payments directly from the state to pay their service providers. This program is particularly attractive to individuals because friends, neighbors and some family members can be paid to provide caregiving services.  The hourly rate which providers are paid is agreed to in advance with the state and typically is minimum wage.