ALZ Alaska Blog

Adult Day respite providers allow caregivers to get to work or school on time, and ensure their loved ones are staying physically and mentally active. These aren’t just respite centers – they are community centers available to those in need of services and their families. They provide care for loved ones, provide engaging activities, help with day to day tasks, and so much more. These facilities exist across the state and are essential in our communities with Alaska’s large aging population.

At the Rendezvous Senior Center in Ketchikan, attendees engage in daily activities, including making jam, canning goods, or playing bingo. Attendees at the Nome XYZ practice their technology skills with a computer lab, tablets and cell phones. The Fairbanks Resource Agency’s Adult Day service offers help with personal hygiene, exercise, crafts, games, and more to keep vulnerable adults healthy and active.  

While these services are often characterized as being for older generations, regular attendees at the Nome XYZ and the Ketchikan Rendezvous range in age from mid 30s to the elderly. Alaskan adults of any age with cognitive impairment may be eligible for these services.

Unfortunately, many adult day respite providers across the state of Alaska are struggling to recruit and retain staff and need more funding support to offer meaningful dementia training to their staff, continue providing nutrious meals despite the effects of inflation, and simply provide more respite care in their communities.

That’s why we need to urge members of our Alaska State Legislature to support a fund enhancement of $2,000,000 for Adult Day Services, housed within Senior and Disability Services Community Grants. Inflation, the changing workforce landscape and impacts from COVID-19 are all hindering the ability for Adult Day service providers to provide essential care in their communities.

There are over 25,000 unpaid family caregivers in Alaska who put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones, a number that is only expected to grow. As Alaska’s population continues to age, the demand for these services continues to increase. An increase in funding will allow care centers to offer more services and support Alaskan caregivers by allowing them to continue

In an effort to encourage our Alaska State Legislature, three Adult Day respite care providers wrote a letter, outlining the importance and need for this funding for our communities across the state:

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Honorable Members of the Alaska State Legislature,

We are adult day providers in Fairbanks, Nome, and Ketchikan, and we have joined together to request your support for a fund enhancement of $2,000,000 for Adult Day Services, housed within Senior and Disability Services Community Grants. Fairbanks Resource Agency is short staffed, and facing challenges in budgeting into the future to provide reliable services for adults experiencing impairments and their family caregivers. Ketchikan’s Rendezvous Senior Center, like Fairbanks, is struggling to attract and retain staff due to low wages. The Nome XYZ Senior Center seeks funding to provide dementia training, ensure their meal program is nutritious despite inflation, and provide respite for more Nomeites.

Adult Day grantees across Alaska are grappling with the impact of inflation, increased needs, and the changing workforce, all of which are hindering our ability to provide essential services. Challenges, including lingering financial issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, are impeding progress. Our current financial constraints are limiting our ability to maintain operations and provide necessary care to Alaska families in need of respite.

Caregivers across Alaska would greatly benefit from expanded respite hours. The demand for meaningful financial support for existing grantees, coupled with the need for development and expansion of ADS, is growing as Alaska’s population continues to age. Increasing the funding for Adult Day Services, specifically allocating an addition to the Senior and Disability Services Community-Based Grant Program, is needed for the Fairbanks Resource Agency to budget ahead and maintain operations into the future. This funding increase will allow Adult Day providers to not only overcome current financial challenges, but to serve more Alaska families.

Your support for this funding increase is crucial for Alaska’s to continue serving our communities effectively. We appreciate your attention to this request.

Thank you for all you do for Alaska,

Respectfully,
Patt Ward, Director, XYZ Senior Center.
Lynette Falke, Chief Operating Officer, Fairbanks Resource Agency.
Licha Kelley-King, Executive Director, Rendezvous Senior Day Services.

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Want to show your support for increased adult day respite services? Write showing your support and urging the Alaska State Legislature to support a fund enhancement of $2,000,000 for Adult Day Services to House.Finance@akleg.gov.