Maui County Executive Elected to National Association

Maui County’s Office on Aging’s Executive, Deborah Stone-Walls, was elected by her peers from across the US to serve as the first vice-president of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, abbreviated as “n4a.”

As Chair of the State Task Force, Stone-Walls will lead the effort to review elder services, assess anticipated demands for services, determine requirements for adequate training, workforce expansion, services expansion, and financing to improve the current situation and meet anticipated need. Photo Courtesy

Stone-Walls has been serving on the national board since 2009, and now has the opportunity to represent Maui County and the State on the national level.

In her role as first vice president, Stone-Walls will hold a key leadership position to assert direct influence on national policy and strategic planning for the aging network. As president elect, she will serve in the organization’s top spot next year.

Locally, she has served at the helm of Maui County’s Office on Aging since 2008, overseeing a staff of 21 that provides health and social services to over 40,000 seniors in Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

The Maui County Office on Aging says it is dedicated to promote and protect the well-being of older adults in Maui County. The agency is authorized by the Older Americans Act, and the primary objective is to help kupuna and caregivers lead dignified and meaningful lives in their own homes for as long as possible.

“Deborah Stone-Walls has the necessary experience, knowledge, and skills to take on such important leadership positions at the National and State levels,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “At a time when Hawaiʻi’s senior population is growing four times faster than our total population, it is imperative that we understand nuances of the silver tsunami that is changing the composition of our community and to focus on future impacts. Addressing our elderly population’s needs is a top priority for the administration and Deborah is the perfect individual to lead the way.”

N4a is the national association for 622 Area Agencies on Aging and more than 250 Title VI Native American aging programs that work year-round to provide members with a wide array of technical assistance, training, resources, advocacy, and other benefits to support the critical efforts on behalf of older adults, family caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.

She was also selected to serve as the Chair of the State of Hawaiʻi’s HCR35 HD1 SD1 Task Force, a resolution passed by the 29th Hawaiʻi State 2017 Legislature to convene a Task Force to “assess current elder and Kupuna Care services and the anticipated demand for those services in order to improve those services and meet demand.”

As Chair of the State Task Force, Stone-Walls will lead the effort to review elder services, assess anticipated demands for services, determine requirements for adequate training, workforce expansion, services expansion, and financing to improve the current situation and meet anticipated need.

To learn more about the n4a click here. To learn more about Maui County’s Office on Aging and its senior programs and services call 270-7755 or click here.