Pictured Above: Board member Dr. Steffi Kim is introduced on the House Floor of the Alaska State Legislature
Despite the efforts of Alaska’s dementia community, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed $1.5 million for adult day grants and $1.5 million for community-based services that advocates fought for this year.
While this news is disappointing, it is just a setback, not a defeat. Advocates’ work during this past legislative session raised awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the Capitol and garnered new allies for our cause.
By contacting your elected officials with this easy form, you can help convince Governor Dunleavy to support funding in the next budget cycle.
Oppose Governor Dunleavy’s Vetoes and Share Your Dementia Story!
Please edit the placeholder language to share your dementia connection. The email will go to Governor Dunleavy and your State House and Senate officials. You can encourage your friends and family to take action by sharing the form at this link: https://p2a.co/TsA4svD
What is Adult Day Service?
Adult Day is a respite service for adults experiencing impairments, such as Alzheimers or another dementia. Qualifying adults receive support in group-based facilities. This provides a short period of rest or relief for Alaskans providing unpaid care. The grantees who rely on the cut funding are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Palmer, Chugiak, Kenai, Homer, Kodiak, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Nome. The funding would have helped them expand their hours and provide the opportunity for more Alaska towns to provide respite. Further information can be found at the State of Alaska Adult Day grantee page.
How Does Adult Day Help Families?
Adult day programs are a respite solution that respects the challenges unpaid caregivers face, while promoting self-reliance and family values. Alaskans can drop their loved one off at a safe location, go to work or school, and bring their loved one home at the end of the day. For families who can otherwise care for their loved one at home, this is much better than adding to the already strained waitlists for Alaska’s few memory care facilities.
While more funding for adult day will support the well-being of our elders, it’s equally needed to support the 25,000 Alaskans who are unpaid caregivers. These Alaskans give their time and resources, often at great personal sacrifice, to ensure loved ones receive the care they need. Without respite, these caregivers face overwhelming emotional, physical and financial obstacles. Research by the Alzheimer’s Association has found:
57% of caregivers report needing to be late to work or leave early to provide care
18% of dementia caregivers in 2022 reduced their work hours due to care responsibilities.
Almost 54% of unpaid caregivers have chronic health conditions, and almost 30% have depression.
More facts and figures can be accessed in the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 Alaska Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures Report.
How Would This Funding Have Helped
Alaska’s 10 existing Adult Day grantees are struggling to provide services under inflation, increased needs and challenging behaviors, and workforce turnover. In addition to the need for meaningful financial support for existing grantees, many areas of Alaska are underserved or have no adult day or respite services available. Development and expansion of adult day services are needed across both urban and rural Alaska as Alaska’s population silvers.
Support of existing Adult Day grantees and the expansion and development of Adult Day Services in underserved areas is needed to provide respite for unpaid caregivers and financial stabilization for families while Alaska’s population ages.
The State of Alaska could build on its efficiency by allocating this funding, enabling Adult Day Service grantees to serve more Alaskans, especially those who do not qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, this funding would have helped facilitate the financial recovery of adult day centers still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19 complications.
Our Advocacy Continues
We can continue to raise awareness and advocate to our state or federal officials or candidates. Sharing your story with elected officials and candidates can help highlight the need for respite care funding and workforce training in dementia care and response.
Together we can continue to make a difference and ensure that dementia services receive the attention and support they deserve.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and advocacy. Let’s keep pushing forward.
Become an Advocate Today
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most critical public health issues in today’s society. This is why we are unrelentingly advocating for public policies that increase critical research funding and support all those affected. Help us raise awareness and help educate our elected officials on why these topics matter NOW.
Every story shared, every voice raised and every step taken is a step to helping support Alaskans and their families who are facing Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
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