This Week's Updates
Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 11/07/2025 11:13 AM AKST
November Proclamations, Grant Announcements
November is Family Caregiver Month & Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
November is a key month of recognition here in Alaska. An estimated 94,000 Alaska caregivers provided nearly 88 million hours of unpaid care in 2023 and that is projected to grow annually: a contribution valued at over $1.7 billion. In 2024 about 10,145 Alaskans ages 65+ were living with Alzheimer’s disease, while the number of Alaskans ages 85+ is projected to soar past 29,000 by 2050, a nearly 270 % increase. These awareness and recognition months remind us of the indispensable role of caregivers and the growing challenge of dementia in Alaska. Click below for the full proclamations from Governor Dunleavy. We thank him for his support.
You can read the Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month Proclamation here.
The Family Caregivers Month Proclamation is available here.
At Bear Tooth Theatrepub in Anchorage on Monday Nov. 10th and Wednesday Nov. 12th at 5:30pm, Eleanor the Great is showing. Our Program Coordinator will be sharing a message before both film screenings about Family Caregivers Month to introduce the film. Come watch a great movie and pick up some ACoA resources!
Save the Date: Alaska Commission on Aging Board Meeting December 2
Join us all day on Tuesday, December 2nd for our quarterly board meeting featuring legislative priority discussions pertinent to senior issues, special guest speakers on senior resources and programs, and much more. Save the date and look for the Zoom Webinar link in next week's e-blast.
ACoA Free Community Webinar: Kinship Family Support with Haa Yatx’u Saani, Volunteers of America Alaska and Generations United Dec 11
Our Grandparents Day Kinship Family Support Webinar is now happening December 11th, and we hope you will join us for this wealth of information! All are welcome to learn about supports in Alaska for relatives raising children, featuring Southeast Alaska's Kinship Navigator Program Haa Yatx’u Saani, Volunteers of America Alaska , and Generations United on Thursday, December 11th at 12pm. Are you a grandparent or relative raising children in your family? Do you want to learn what supports exist for kinship families in Alaska? Join us!
Save the date and stay tuned for the Zoom Webinar link.
For questions or help accessing Zoom, call our Program Coordinator at 907-230-0871 or email us at doh.acoa.info@alaska.gov.
Department of Health Public Input Sessions Next Week
Governor Dunleavy released Administrative Order 360, instructing all state departments to examine their existing regulations and guidance materials to find sections that are outdated, duplicative, or confusing. Each department must cut regulatory requirements by 15% by the end of 2026 and by 25% by the end of 2027. Your input is highly valued.
These meetings will be held virtually via Zoom and can be accessed by calling-in as well:
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General Relief Assisted Living Home Care
- Monday, November 10th from 2–3 pm
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Home and Community-Based Waiver Services
- Wednesday, November 12th from 12–1 pm
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Personal Care Services and Community First Choice Services
- Thursday, November 13th from 12–1 pm
If you have questions, please email: doh.sds.info@alaska.gov.
Alaska Senior Voice November Issue is Live
The November 2025 Senior Voice newspaper features the Alaska Commission on Aging’s centenarian interview with Jean (Genevieve) Armstrong, a 103-year-old former flight attendant and business owner whose story reflects a lifetime of adventure, resilience, and community spirit. It also spotlights the Salvation Army Club in Fairbanks, where Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training (MASST) participants are gaining valuable work experience while supporting their community.
Another feature introduces Alaskan Way, a new Anchorage-based nonprofit focused on serving elderly and medically fragile Alaskans who cannot meet their daily living needs. Founded by Theresa Hankins, the group aims to provide 24/7 staff support, personal-care assistance, case management, life-skills programs, and nutritious meals for residents once funding is secured.
Additional stories include updates on the Social Security Administration’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), Medicare changes, caregiver support resources, fraud prevention and more. Read the full issue at seniorvoicealaska.com.
Updated Department of Health Get Ready! Toolkit
Download the updated Get Ready! Toolkit: Alaska's emergency preparedness toolkit for people with disabilities.
Making an emergency plan and putting together your emergency kit is a big job. Your plan may include family, friends, neighbors, and organizations that support you and can help you make decisions. Your toolkit does not have to be perfect, but it is important to plan ahead.
Because everyone's situation is different, not all subjects of emergency preparedness are covered in this guide. However, this guide includes information on Being Prepared to Stay or Go, What to Prepare for, Tips for Specific Disabilities, Making a Plan, and other Tools and Resources.
For a physical copy of the new Get Ready! Toolkit – contact Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education staff Lanny Mommsen at: Lanny.Mommsen@alaska.gov or call 907-269-8992.
Alaska Falls Prevention Community of Practice (Coalition) Meeting Nov 12
Title VI Grantees: Family Caregiving Grant Opportunity Due Nov 14
The Center for Advancing Caregiver Financial and Workplace Security will fund three short-term pilot projects (Google document) lasting 10 months, during which selected Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) will collaborate with at least one local employer to improve workplace support for family caregivers. These projects are available to AAAs at the county, regional or state level. Prior experience with employer engagement is not required. Title VI programs are encouraged to apply. The award amount can be up to $10,000 for each selected Tribal Older Americans Act grantee. Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are eligible to apply, but Alaska does not have AAAs. The Division of Senior and Disabilities Services acts as the State Unit on Aging (SUA) instead. The deadline to apply is November 14th.
Northrim Bank Corporate Giving Program Deadline Nov 15
Provides grants to Alaska nonprofit organizations in the areas of community and economic development, programs supporting low-income families, and health and wellness initiatives that strengthen communities.
National Council on Aging: Apply to Become a Benefits Enrollment Center by Dec 1
USAging Grant Program to Boost Social Connection for Older Adults Due Dec 5
USAging is now accepting proposals for its Strengthening Social Connection in Communities (SSCC) initiative, offering 12-month seed grants of up to $35,000 to as many as 10 Aging Network organizations. The program aims to improve the health of older adults and caregivers by supporting the replication of evidence-based and evidence-informed social connection programs, partnerships and referral processes. Grant applicants can choose between two tracks: Program Replication and Expansion or Cross-Sector Partnership.
The SSCC Project is co-managed by USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute and engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York and RRF Foundation for Aging.
Click above for details about how to submit your proposal and requirements, as well as to view a recorded webinar. The submission deadline is December 5, 2025, at 7:59 AKT. Contact the Aging and Disability Business Institute with any questions at businessinstitute@usaging.org.
Community Health Worker Program – Alaska Primary Care Association Funding
Provides funding for organizations to hire and mentor Community Health Workers to improve healthcare access and outcomes, especially for individuals facing barriers to care in rural communities. Deadline: January 31, 2026.
Healthy Impact Grants – Mat-Su Health Foundation Rolling Deadline
Funds nonprofit and community organizations for projects that improve health, social well-being, and nonprofit capacity, with flexibility for capital improvements, operations, and technical assistance.
Milbank Foundation Grants Rolling Deadline
Supports U.S. nonprofit organizations with priorities that include aging in place through community-based health and social services, veteran reintegration, and disability empowerment.
Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting Program 2024 Annual Report
Data Release: AK Health Facilities Data Reporting Program 2024 Annual Report
The Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS) announces the release of the Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting (HFDR) Program 2024 Annual Report, available on the HAVRS Data and Statistics website.
This publication provides comprehensive information about health facility discharges in Alaska during calendar year 2024, including data on hospital, emergency department, and surgery center visits. Subjects include:
- Leading causes of hospital and emergency department encounters
- Billed charges
- Lengths of stay
2024 Key Hospitalization Facts: 62,201 inpatient hospital discharges in Alaska generated about $6 billion in billed charges. The median billed charge for a hospitalization was $50,674, with a median stay lasting three days.
Alaska Vital Statistics 2024 Annual Report
Data Release: Alaska Vital Statistics 2024 Annual Report
This publication provides comprehensive information about vital events in Alaska during calendar year 2024, including data on births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, divorces, and adoptions.
Key 2024 AK Resident Death Facts: 5,525 Alaska resident deaths were recorded, down from 5,544 in 2023. The age-adjusted death rate was 744.5 deaths per 100,000 population, down from 766.5 per 100,000 in 2023. Average life expectancy was 77.6, up from 77.2 in 2023.
The three leading underlying causes of death were:
- Malignant Neoplasms (1,137 deaths)
- Heart Disease (821 deaths)
- Accidents (667 deaths)
Death data can also be explored using HAVRS interactive Alaska Death Dashboard.
November Economic Trends: Alaska's Veterans
Alaska State Museum Featured Exhibition: Continuing My Grandmother's Legacy
Exhibit Opening Friday, November 7th, 4:30–7:00 pm
Lecture at 7:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall, Alaska State Museum, Juneau
Through his knowledge of traditional art forms and sewing skills, Golga Oscar creates cultural attire that becomes a strong visual element in his photographic imagery.
In Continuing My Grandmother’s Legacy, Oscar takes self-portraits wearing parkas, mukluks, and masks from the museum’s collection. Oscar explains that he uses photography to show “the concept of two worlds, Indigenous and Western identity, which tells a story about my art career and how it saved me despite Western influences.”
The exhibition also features Oscar’s textile artwork, including Yup’ik headdresses and parkas, as well as ledger drawings and beaded/quillwork artwork.
Oscar was born and raised in the village of Kasigluk, near Bethel. He is a fluent Yup'ik speaker and is dedicated to keeping his culture and traditions alive and relevant by teaching the next generation about their language and art.
Fairbanks Senior Center & ADRC: Take Charge Tuesday Nov 11
From 5:30-7pm at Fairbanks Senior Center, 1424 Moore St, on November 11th with the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) North.
63 million Americans are family caregivers Family care partners are the backbone of home-based care Caregiving impacts emotional and physical wellbeing"Finding yourself unexpectedly as a primary caregiver for a loved one can be overwhelming. Please join ADRC and industry experts for an evening of reflection and coping skills honoring those who find themselves thrust into the role of caring for a loved one. Family care PARTNERS are the backbone of our nation’s long-term care system, doing essential work with devotion, often at great emotional and financial cost. While providing care can be immensely rewarding, the caregiving journey includes many complexities like managing logistics, financial strategizing, and coping with the emotional stress that can lead to burnout. As we enter the Holiday Season, it important to remember that, for many, it is their first season in this new role. Traditions change and families re-define themselves as caregivers find themselves caring for someone who used to care for them."
AK Disability Benefits Information Nov 12
Alaska Disability Benefits 101 is your one-stop resource for employment and benefits information — from SSA disability, Medicaid, and Medicare to job supports and accommodations. Learn how to use this tool to navigate work and benefits for yourself, your clients, or your family.
Come Learn More About Alaska DB 101! Wednesday, November 12th, 11am-12:30pm AKT. Professionals will learn how to use DB101 to:
- Explain SSI/SSDI rules/work incentives and the impact on state/federal benefits because of employment
- Complete Estimators, including quick Estimators, and explain the results of the impact of earnings on benefits
- Motivat`e and support plans for employment and transition to self-sufficiency
Use registration link here or contact: Benefits101@wid.org for more information.
Find Alaska DB101 at https://AK.DB101.org.
Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska (SILC) Board Meeting Nov 13-14
The Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska (SILC) Board meeting will be held this November 13th and 14th via Zoom. Public comment is scheduled for November 13th from 4:00-4:20 pm via Zoom or may be provided in writing. Written comments may be emailed to Info@Alaskasilc.org.
Interested in attending? Please contact Info@Alaskasilc.org.
Denakkanaaga Holiday Native Artwork Pop Up
A great opportunity to purchase some unique Native artwork for the holidays, made by Elders.A (Virtual) Dementia Friendsgiving Nov 18
Tuesday, November 18th, Main Event 7am-11am AKT; After Party 11:10am-12pm AKT
Join Dementia Friendly America (DFA) for this “potluck” celebration of our lively and growing Dementia Friendly movement! Acknowledge how far the network come and rededicate one another to this important work. DFA will be sharing our gratitude for people and organizations from every corner of the dementia-friendly movement and sharing what’s to come for DFA.
Dementia Friendsgiving will feature:
- Keynote Speaker Teepa Snow, a dementia care specialist, educator and advocate focused on supporting those living with dementia in a positive and respectful way.
- Dementia Friendly Showcase: Panels on starting or strengthening dementia-friendly communities, Dementia Friends programs, Memory Cafes and Giving Voice choirs.
- “Potluck” Celebration: An opportunity to share what’s meaningful to you.
- Lived Experience Panel: Hear what people living with dementia and care partners have to say about what makes a community dementia friendly.
- What’s Happening and What’s Next: State of the movement and what’s to come for DFA.
- Awards Ceremony: A celebration of DFA Communities, Memory Cafes, Dementia Friends Champions and movement leaders.
- New to the Movement? Become a Dementia Friend and learn how to get your community or organization involved.
National Academy for State Health Policy: Family Caregivers Month
"Did you know that 70 percent of family caregivers are employed, and 40 percent are salaried workers? To address potential stress and strain on caregivers and their employers, many states are working with businesses, communities, and organizations to better support working caregivers. This can improve caregivers’ financial stability and workforce retention. This new brief shares current data about family caregivers and highlights a range of policy approaches states are taking to support working family caregivers.
At a recent in-person meeting from NASHP’s Caregiving State Policy Learning Collaborative, subject matter experts and state speakers addressed the pressing challenges and opportunities in the respite care workforce. A robust and well-trained respite care workforce can help ensure caregivers have access to high-quality respite services. Learn more about how states can utilize the National Respite Care Provider Training (NRCPT) and workforce registries to strengthen their respite care workforce.
Alaska Public Media Updates
Kodiak-born Jerry Laktonen named 2025 Rasmuson Distinguished Artist: "Laktonen, originally from Larsen Bay, is self-taught and didn't even start carving seriously until the age of 45. That was after many years as a commercial fisherman, a career and livelihood disrupted by the Exxon-Valdez oil spill..."
UAA taps veteran Alaska medical professional as new College of Health dean: "An Alaska and Arctic health veteran has been selected to head the College of Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Dr. Jay Butler, who is a nationally recognized expert in infectious diseases, will start his UAA position on Dec. 28, the university announced on Friday. Butler has experience in state, federal and tribal governments. Most recently, he was deputy director for infectious diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta..."
Caregiver Action Network: Family Caregivers Month
Care Connections: The Plug-in to Care Webinar Series. Free expert-led webinars designed to connect you with trusted resources, support, and community. All sessions are at 9am AKT:
- Nov. 10th Plug-in to Care: Finding Strength in Community and Connections
- Nov. 14th Plug-in to Care: The Intergenerational Balancing Act — Caring for Parents, Kids, and Yourself!
- Nov. 19th Plug-in to Care: Turning Caregiver Experience into Action
New: Help Desk App: Managing caregiving can feel overwhelming — but you don't have to figure it out alone. Introducing the new National Caregiver Help Desk Companion app, powered by Carallel and designed to connect you with answers, resources, and support when you need it most. Whether you're looking for financial guidance, workplace support, mental health resources, or community connection, the Help Desk Companion app puts trusted information at your fingertips.
Disclaimer: The information and announcements included in this email are being redistributed for informational purposes only. Our agency does not necessarily endorse or support the views, opinions, or activities of these organizations, and inclusion in this email does not imply any affiliation or recommendation.