For Caregivers

Who Counts as a Caregiver Here

We use the word broadly. If any of these sound like you, this site is built with you in mind:

• An adult child or grandchild looking after a parent or grandparent.
• A spouse, partner, sibling, or other relative handling someone's affairs.
• A close friend or neighbor who has stepped in to help.
• A paid caregiver, home aide, or case manager assisting a kupuna in your care.
• Someone who lives in a different state or even a different country and is helping a kupuna in Hawaii from a distance.

You don't have to be officially designated to use this site. You don't need power of attorney, you don't need to be on anyone's insurance card. You just need a question.

Two Ways to Use KupunaHub

1. Get Answers on Your Kupuna Behalf

This is the most common path. Use this resource finder just like a kupuna would, but describe the situation from your perspective: "I'm helping my mother who lives on Maui …" or "My uncle just got a bill from Medicare that doesn't make sense …" The site doesn't care who's typing, it matches the question.

When you fill out the demographics step, fill it out for the kupuna, not for yourself: age group, zip code, primary language, etc. Those details help the AI pick resources that are relevant to the person who actually needs them.

2. Point the Kupuna to the Site Directly

If your kupuna is comfortable on a phone, tablet, or computer, you can walk them through using the site themselves. The site is designed to be readable, free of jargon, and friendly to assistive technology like screen readers and larger text. See Accessibility & Language Access for how to turn on those tools.

A useful pattern: do the first question together, sitting beside them, so they see how it works. After that, many kupuna feel comfortable coming back to ask their own questions.

Caregiver Situations the Site Is Good For

A few examples of the kinds of questions other caregivers have brought to KupunaHub. Each one routes to the right place automatically.

Something on a Bill Doesn't Look Right

If you spot a charge on a Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits that doesn't match what your kupuna actually received, or if a stranger is suddenly billing for services no one ordered, that's exactly what SMP Hawaii exists for. Describe what you see; you'll get walked through how to verify, document, and report it.

A Phone Call or Letter Felt Like a Scam

Someone called and asked for the Medicare number for the kupuna, or said their coverage was about to be canceled unless they "verified" something. Scammers always target older adults. Describe the call and the site will route to SMP Hawaii for guidance on identifying and reporting it.

Medicare Enrollment Is Coming Up

Your kupuna is turning 65, or moving from one plan to another, or it's the Annual Enrollment Period and the mail is overwhelming. Hawaii SHIP gives free, unbiased help comparing options: original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap. They don't sell anything.

Prescription Costs Are Too High

There are federal and state programs that lower prescription costs for people with limited income, but they're not always obvious from the outside. Describe the situation and the site will point you to low-income subsidies, Extra Help, and other coverage options.

The Current Plan Isn't Working Anymore

Maybe a long-time doctor stopped accepting the plan, a needed medication is no longer covered, or your kupuna moved islands. SHIP counselors help kupuna review what they have and decide whether a change makes sense.

You're Brand New to Caregiving

If you've just stepped into a caregiver role and don't know where to start, describe that. We'll provide entry-point resources, from the State's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to caregiver support groups across the islands.

Tips for Caregivers Using This Site

Have a Few Documents Handy

You don't need them to use this resource finder, but having these nearby makes a follow-up counselor call much faster:

• The kupuna Medicare card (or Medicare number, if you have it written down).
• The current Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits you have questions about.
• Any insurance card for supplemental, Medigap, or Advantage coverage.
• A list of current prescriptions, if cost or coverage is the question.

You Can Ask the Counselor to Talk to You

When you request a callback, you can use your own contact information; counselors are used to working with caregivers and family. If the conversation will involve sensitive details about a specific Medicare account, the counselor may ask the kupuna to give verbal permission for them to discuss it with you. That's a normal protection, not a hassle.

You Can Come Back Anytime

The site doesn't ask you to sign up or remember a password. Within a single visit, it remembers the details you've already entered so you don't have to re-type them for follow-up questions. If you come back tomorrow, you can ask a fresh question without re-entering everything; it's the same on every visit.

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Caregivers carry a lot. The same site that helps your kupuna can also point you to caregiver-focused resources (support groups, respite programs, and trainings) if you describe what you need rather than what they need. It's a perfectly good way to use the site.

Helping from Out of State

If your kupuna is in Hawaii but you're not, the site works exactly the same. Describe their situation, enter their zip code in the demographics step, and the resources you'll see will be appropriate to where they live. When you ask for a counselor callback, you can give your own phone number and email; counselors are happy to coordinate with mainland or international caregivers as long as the kupuna is the one being served.

Ready to Ask Something?

Head to the home page resource finder. You don't need an account, you won't be asked for payment, and you can change your mind about a counselor callback all the way up to the last button click. Free, confidential, in your language.