Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hope House at Fatuoaiga has been allocated $100,000 from the Lolo Administration, under the proposed fiscal year 2019 budget. The funding allocation is listed under the Special Programs budget category which is overseen by the Governor's Office.

Operated by the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago since 1987, Hope House is the only home-care facility of its kind on island for the disabled and elderly, without regard for the denomination of faith.

Hope House depends on the generous support from the community for its operations.

In his budget letter submission to Fono leaders, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga noted that Hope House is the only hospice facility in the territory and “its capacity has been stretched to the limit because the demand is rapidly rising but limited by available financial resources.”

According to the governor, LBJ Medical Center is feeling the implication of not having a hospice facility operated by the government. “It is being observed that the seniors who are admitted at LBJ are very reluctant to be discharged because the service provided at home is not at the level received at LBJ,” the governor explained.

“Consequently, LBJ is forced to provide services to these senior patients,” said Lolo, adding that unfortunately, this “threatens” LBJ’s certification by the US Center for Medicaid and Medicare Service because patients must be discharged once determined that the person is eligible to be discharged.

“The other observation is the frequency of re-admittances of seniors is growing,” he said, adding that this “accentuates” the need for the Hope House facility and the need for ASG “to contribute to this operation.”

The annual Hope House Golf Tournament,  which helps raise funds to keep the facility up and running, is set for Sept. 22nd at the Iliili Golf Course. Letters have gone out to the business community for support.

Check out the Hope House Facebook page for more information on the tournament.