Assisted Living In Anchorage, AK

Assisted Living in Anchorage, Alaska: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask

Residential assisted living in Anchorage, Alaska, provides a supportive environment for individuals aged 55 and older, offering personalized care to meet daily living needs. Alaska ranks 31st in the nation for its assisted living facilities, reflecting its commitment to quality care and resident satisfaction. These communities in Anchorage offer services such as personal care, medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping, and engaging social activities, ensuring a vibrant and secure lifestyle for seniors.

Some are available for private pay, and others for Medicaid-paid residents. Assisted Living provides protective oversight, personal services, social care needed because of impaired capacity to live independently, and regular supervision on a 24-hour basis.

About Assisted Living in Anchorage, AK

When it comes to providing the necessary physical or cognitive care for an individual, managing home care can pose considerable challenges and often come with a hefty price tag. In Anchorage, Alaska, assisted living communities play a pivotal role in accommodating these needs, offering a beneficial alternative to home care by delivering specialized services in a supportive environment.

Diverse Assisted Living Facilities:

Anchorage features several types of licensed assisted living facilities, each structured to provide a spectrum of physical and mental healthcare:

1. Minimal Care Facilities: Catering to individuals who require minimal assistance, these establishments typically provide housing and meal services, ensuring residents can maintain a degree of independence.
2. Intermediate Care Facilities: Geared toward those who need a more hands-on approach to their daily activities, facilities providing intermediate care might offer assistance with tasks like bathing, dressing, and some degree of medical monitoring.
3. Advanced Care Facilities: For individuals requiring extensive care, these facilities provide comprehensive services including mobility assistance, medication management, and specialized healthcare.

Considerations for Senior Care in Anchorage, AK

There are over 200 assisted living facilities within Anchorage, Alaska. The estimated population of Anchorage is 291,244 with 12% of that number being those ages 65 and older. In Anchorage, the summers are cool and mostly cloudy and the winters are long, freezing, snowy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 13°F to 68°F and is rarely below -8°F or above 75°F.

Cities Near Anchorage, AK

• Wasilla, AK: About 43 miles northeast of Anchorage.
• Palmer, AK: Approximately 42 miles northeast of Anchorage.
• Kenai, AK: Around 158 miles southwest of Anchorage.
• Soldotna, AK: Roughly 147 miles southwest of Anchorage.
• Seward, AK: About 125 miles south of Anchorage.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Anchorage, AK

The financial aspect of assisted living is a pivotal consideration for families and individuals opting for such facilities. In Anchorage, Alaska, the costs can notably fluctuate due to various factors, such as the precise level of care required, additional amenities, and the exact location of the community or facility within the state.

While the specific average cost for assisted living in Anchorage might vary, it’s generally recognized that Alaska tends to have higher assisted living costs compared to the national average due to its remote location and higher cost of living. As a frame of reference, the national average cost for assisted living is about $4,000 per month, and costs in Alaska can often exceed this.

How to Pay for Assisted Living

You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.

The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.

Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.

Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.

For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.

Medicare – NO:

• Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
• People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
• Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.

Private pay – YES:

• Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
• Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
• Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.

Medicaid – MAYBE:

• Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
• Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
• Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
• National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
• The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
• If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.

Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:

Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.

• Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
• Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.

Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:

This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.

• There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
• A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
• If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.

Local Hospital and Healthcare Providers in Anchorage, AK

• Providence Alaska Medical Center
  • Address: 3200 Providence Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508
  • Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
  • Phone: (907) 562-2211

• Alaska Regional Hospital
  • Address: 2801 DeBarr Rd, Anchorage, AK 99508
  • Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
  • Phone: (907) 276-1131

• Alaska Native Medical Center
  • Address: 4315 Diplomacy Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508
  • Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
  • Phone: (907) 563-2662

• Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center
  • Address: 4951 Business Park Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503
  • Operating Hours: Varies; usually opens at 8:00 AM on weekdays
  • Phone: (907) 743-7200

• Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Hospital (JBER)
  • Address: 5955 Zeamer Ave, Anchorage, AK 99506
  • Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
  • Phone: (907) 580-6260

Questions to Ask

Finding a senior living community can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:

Resources and Links- Alaska

Alaska Commission on Aging The mission of the Alaska Commission on Aging is to ensure the dignity and independence of all older Alaskans, and to assist them to lead useful and meaningful lives through planning, advocacy, education, and interagency cooperation.

State of Alaska – Long Term Care Ombudsman Federal and State law authorize the Ombudsman to identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, seniors in long term care facilities. State law also authorizes the Ombudsman to resolve problems relating to the “residential circumstances” of seniors who live in their own homes.

Alaska Federal Health Care Partnership The AFHCP office strives daily to exploit new technologies to enhance access to care and improve clinical outcomes; capitalize on sharing capacity and special expertise to better meet patient care requirements; reduce the cost to members for continuing education by providing locally available high quality educational opportunities; reduce members costs by leveraging the partners’ collective purchasing power; encourage cross agency cooperation at all levels.

Adult Protective Services Use Adult Protective Services to report any incident in which a vulnerable adult suffers harm from abandonment, abuse, exploitation, neglect or self-neglect.

Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings

Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.

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