Anchorage, Alaska Assisted Living Facilities & Senior Care

This page has been created to serve as a starting point for your research into assisted living in Anchorage. We have included many of the wonderful assisted living & senior care options in the Anchorage area on this page – all may be contacted directly and safely.

Assisted Living Directory also provides detailed information on state and local services and agencies in Anchorage that are available to help seniors, caregivers, and their families.

Anchorage, Alaska Salmon, Bears and Seniors Oh My!

Introduction by Trish Hughes Kreis

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city with 42 percent of the state’s population living in the city (New York, by comparison, is the only city in the United States with a higher percentage of residents living in the state’s largest city). Even though seniors (65 +) make up the smallest age group within Anchorage, adequate care and a solid safety net for them is essential in the often unforgiving climate of Alaska. Although, surprisingly, Anchorage is warmer than many think (reaching an average temperature of 68 degrees in the summer).

Salmon fishing, hiking (watch out for those bears!) and keeping an eye on the Northern Lights are a few of the spectacular reasons to visit Anchorage. But what if you are a senior or a caregiver for a senior living in Anchorage? Aside from enjoying the beauty of the city and its surroundings, what resources are available to ensure the safety and proper care of those needing assistance?

Resource Centers

State resources can be of assistance at the local level. The State of Alaska provides for Aging & Disability Resource Centers (http://hss.state.ak.us/dsds/grantservices/adrc.htm) throughout the state connecting seniors or those with disabilities or their caregivers with all sorts of resources. Resources are available through these centers for people of all ages and income levels.

Anchorage (officially referred to as the Municipality of Anchorage) has their own website (http://www.muni.org/Departments/health/PHIP/pages/seniorservices.aspx) dedicated to the senior services available through state and municipality funding. Anchorage is committed to enhance and support the quality of life of seniors through its senior services programs.

Three of the Resource Centers supported by municipal and state grant funding are listed below:

1. The Municipality of Anchorage Human Services Aging & Disability Resource Center (https://www.muni.org/Departments/health/PHIP/Pages/ADRC.aspx) is one such center. Their goal is to prevent those seeking long-term care support from having to navigate the maze of services alone Even figuring out which services are available much less applying for those services can be a daunting task but does not need to be navigated alone. Caregivers and seniors alike can take advantage of the resources provided by this agency.

2. Anchorage Senior Activity Center (http://www.anchorageseniorcenter.org), run by the non-profit Anchor-Age Center is another great resource center. It can be difficult to sort through the paperwork involved in order to apply to various federal and state programs but this (image: example of assisted living home in Anchorage)center will assist with referrals and give members assistance and information about programs, health and housing. Come for the information and stay for the social activities! There’s an emphasis on at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. Members can learn not only arts and crafts, use and learn computers but can participate in a variety of recreational activities such as dancing, billiards, cards and monthly birthday parties. There are membership dues associated with different levels of service but there appears to be a program available for everyone.

3. Chugiak – Eagle River Senior Center (http://www.chugiak.org). This organization is operated by the non-profit Chugiak Senior Citizens, Inc. This center has grown from a small facility in 1975 to a 100,000 square foot facility today. The center, which operates senior housing at their facility, provides both independent and assisted living options as well as day programs. The Chugiak Eagle Rivers Senior Center also coordinates a Meals-on-Wheels program to homebound seniors.

Housing

Several housing options are available for seniors needing extra care. The Providence Horizon House House listed in the Assisted Living Directory is one such facility providing a wide range of services for many levels of care.

The State of Alaska DHSS (http://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/default.aspx) provides additional housing links as well as information about in-home services.

Alaska is also one of many states which offer a Waiver Program for home-based care, or funding for an Assisted Living Facility or Skilled Nursing Facility. There are a wide variety of available waiver programs and eligibility requirements can be very specific so it is important to check the programs offered through the State of Alaska. The Alaskan Health and Human Services website can be found at http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dsds/grantservices/hcbwaivers.htm.

General Resources

The Older Persons Action Group (OPAG) is another non-profit organization which provides seniors with information and assistance for tasks ranging from income tax assistance to general advocacy. Their website is full of useful links to numerous senior support services and agencies (http://www.opagak.com/OPAGSV2011).

The public Para-Transit system in Anchorage, known as (http://www.muni.org/Departments/transit/AnchorRides/Pages/default.aspx) provides much needed transportation services to seniors as well as those with disabilities. Services may be provided under a variety of service providers so please check the website for details on eligibility requirements.

The Area Agency on Aging serving the Aleutians East and West counties can be found at http://www.agingcare.com/local/Aleutian-Pribilof-Islands-Association-Anchorage-Area-Agency-on-Aging-AK. The website for the Area Agency on Aging serving Anchorage County can be found at http://www.agingcare.com/local/Chugachmiut-Anchorage-Area-Agency-on-Aging-AK. Both agencies will be able to help point seniors or their caregivers in the right direction for services available in their county which are needed to keep them healthy, safe and happy.

Once housing has been found and services researched and evaluated (and social activities enjoyed!), there will be time to relax and reminisce about salmon fishing or hiking with bears and to enjoy the splendor of the Northern Lights.

[Video] Two Essential State/Local Agencies & Data Sources for Assisted Living Research – Anchorage

Video Produced by Assisted Living Directory

I will also show you how to easily obtain a comprehensive excel spreadsheet of every licensed facility in Alaska, including Anchorage!