This Week's Updates
Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 11/21/2025 01:40 PM AKST
ACoA December 2nd Agenda and Tribal Elder Resource Guide
November is National Native American Heritage Month
November is a time to honor the deep history, cultural strength, and living traditions of Alaska Native peoples. Across Alaska’s 229 federally recognized tribes, this month celebrates the language, resilience, and leadership that shape our communities every day. It is also a moment to recognize the knowledge, stewardship, and intergenerational caregiving practices that continue to guide the health and well-being of elders throughout the state.
Download the Alaska Tribal Elder Resource, our newly updated guide to information and resources relevant to Alaska Native Elders and their providers.
Read this article on the Indian Health Service (IHS) blog, Honoring Our Caregivers: Recognizing Family Caregivers Month Across Indian Country.
Nimiipuu Health has released Missing Pieces, a powerful new documentary that follows the dementia journey of Colleen Lupe, a beloved member of the Nez Perce community, through the eyes of her daughters and caregivers. Created with support from an IHS Alzheimer’s grant, the film offers an honest and deeply cultural look at memory loss, caregiving, and the strength of family and community. Since its debut, the documentary has been shared at tribal gatherings and events across the country, resonating with viewers who see their own families reflected in Colleen’s story. Alongside the full film, Nimiipuu Health has produced short awareness clips, hosted community screenings, and submitted the documentary to national film festivals to broaden dementia education and visibility for Native communities.
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.
Thank you to Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill for inviting us to share resources and introduce "Eleanor the Great"! We appreciate colleagues and partners who joined us. See details on our Facebook page here.
You're Invited: 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.
The Zoom Webinar link to join is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84908301142
Public Comment is at 12:30pm. Public Notice here.
Download the attached meeting agenda.
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!
Zoom link to join at noon on December 11th: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85770530178For questions or help accessing Zoom, call our Program Coordinator at 907-230-0871 or email us at doh.acoa.info@alaska.gov.
ACoA Webinar: Social Security Administration Rescheduling
Homer Senior Center Board Member Opening
The Homer Senior Center currently has an open seat to be filled for the remainder of a term ending in May 2027, with three additional board seats coming up for election this spring. For more information or to receive a Board Application, please contact Tiffanie Story at Tstory.hsc@gmail.comPalliative Care Alaska Network Seeking Board Members
Applications to become a board member are due by November 30th. Please email pcanalaska@gmail.com for details.
RurAL CAP Foundation Grant Cycle Ends Nov 30
Alaska Training Cooperative Updates
AKTC is offering a full slate of trainings for November and December, including Alaska Core Competency Training, Basic Concepts of Care Coordination, and Dementia Care – Positive Approach to Care Skills®. Additional opportunities include Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults and several free or low-cost on-demand courses such as fall prevention, documentation, ethics and boundaries, and introductions to disabilities and Medicaid waivers.
Mark your calendars for the Frontline Leadership Institute, the April 2026 Full Lives Conference, and the 2026 Disability and Aging Summit, all focused on strengthening Alaska’s long-term care, disability, and aging services workforce.
Anchorage Catholic Social Services Bake Sale December 11
You’re invited to CSS's Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services Holiday Bake Sale where RAIS clients including Older Refugees showcase their delicious baking skills, earn additional income, and practice their U.S. currency skills!
The Holiday Bake Sale is December 11th from 3pm - 6pm at 4600 Debarr, Anchorage AK 99508. All proceeds go directly to clients. Cash is preferred!
Alzheimer's Association: Download the My ALZ Application
By delivering the right information at the right time, the My ALZ Journey app fosters connection and empowers care partners to take action with confidence. Download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Social Security Administration Announcement: Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec 7
Medicare's Open Enrollment period is currently underway and will close on December 7th. During this time, your clients can review and compare their Medicare options, including:
- Switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan
- Change to another Medicare Advantage Plan
- Join or change Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans
Any changes made during the Open Enrollment period take effect on January 1, 2026.
With a personal my Social Security account, your clients can complete many Medicare-related tasks online, such as:
- Apply for Medicare Part A and/or Part B
- Check the status of their Medicare application and coverage start date
- View and print proof of Medicare coverage
- Update their address and contact information
Your clients should ensure their current plan continues to meet their needs for the following year since Medicare health and prescription drug plans can change. If your clients are satisfied with their current health care coverage, they do not need to take any action.
For more information or to compare plans, please encourage your clients to visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Alaskans should contact the Alaska Medicare Information Office for support. Call 1-800-478-6065.
Please share this information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties.
Minnesota Elder Justice Center Upcoming Webinars
Parting with an Unwanted Guest, Part 1 - Understanding the Problem and Supporting Self-Advocacy
December 4th | 9am-10am | 1 CEU credit
Older adults and vulnerable adults may permit guests to stay at their homes for a variety of reasons. The arrangements can turn exploitative if the initially welcomed guest overstays their welcome, refuses to find alternative housing, or embarks upon controlling behavior. Victim services manager Betsy M and staff attorney Laura Orr of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center will offer insights into the elder abuse dynamics, client-centered approaches, and safety planning potentially applicable when an older adult or a vulnerable adult needs help parting with an unwanted guest. The webinar will feature a video telling the story of Helen, an individual who received services from MEJC to alleviate her experience of an unwanted guest.
Parting with an Unwanted Guest, Part 2 - The Law as a Tool for Individual Advocacy
December 11th | 9am-10am | 1 CEU credit
This webinar serves as a follow-up to MEJC's webinar on December 4, during which MEJC staff offer insights on 1) the elder abuse dynamics of unwanted guest situations and 2) client-centered approaches for serving affected older adults or vulnerable adults. During this session, MEJC staff attorney Laura Orr outlines potential legal interventions for older or vulnerable adults experiencing an unwanted guest whose behavior has become exploitative or abusive. Laura will specific address criminal trespass, three types of protective orders, and eviction.
Alliance for Health Policy: The Insider’s Guide to Health Care AI Policy Webinar Dec 4
The Alliance for Health Policy’s 2024 Signature Series brought together policymakers, technologists, and health leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming health care and what it means for policy.
Now, AHP is expanding on those foundational insights and bringing together a panel of experts to deliver an update on how the legislative and regulatory environment for health care AI has shifted over the past year and where it’s headed next.
Join AHP for a webinar on a policy area that offers a look at the unique challenges in health care: unprecedented opportunities for efficiency, personalization, and innovation on a mass scale, while raising critical challenges in privacy, safety, and access on December 4th at 9am AKT.
Justice on Aging Updates
Justice in Aging is hosting a webinar December 10th at 10am AKT titled, Overpayments, In-Kind Support, and Operational Impacts: How Current Social Security Administration Policies Could Affect Your Clients. This session will cover recent and proposed changes to SSI and Social Security rules, including updates on overpayment recovery, in-kind support policies, and current SSA operational challenges. Advocates and providers supporting older adults or people with disabilities who receive or may be eligible for SSI or Social Security benefits are encouraged to attend to stay informed about the latest federal policy shifts.
Join Justice in Aging on December 16th for Bird’s Eye View: Issues Impacting Older Immigrants in 2025 Part 2, at 10am AKT. The session will highlight major policy developments including changes tied to H.R. 1, PRWORA rulemaking, and recent efforts to designate English as the nation’s official language, and how these shifts may affect older immigrants’ access to essential health, economic, and legal supports. Presenters from the National Immigration Law Center and Justice in Aging will outline who older immigrants are, the barriers they face, and practical guidance for advocates working with immigrant communities.
States are beginning to roll out policies to implement new mandatory Medicaid work requirements, which will require most adults ages 19–64 to verify work or qualifying activities. Although seniors 65+, Medicare enrollees, and those qualifying through SSI are excluded, the added paperwork puts older adults ages 50–64, people with disabilities or chronic conditions, and family caregivers at risk of losing coverage due to administrative barriers. Learn more here.
DOJ Releases 2025 Report on Efforts to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse
The U.S. Department of Justice has released its 2025 Annual Report to Congress on Activities to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse, outlining significant progress over the past year.
During the reporting period, the Department pursued more than 280 criminal and civil enforcement actions involving over 600 defendants, including many transnational offenders who were extradited to face charges in the United States. These individuals collectively attempted to steal or successfully stole over $2 billion from more than one million older Americans. The DOJ also held several nursing home operators accountable for providing dangerously substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Public education and prevention were key components of the Department’s work. DOJ agencies conducted nearly 1,200 trainings and outreach events, reaching an estimated 15 million people nationwide.
The Department also strengthened the nation’s capacity to respond to elder abuse and financial exploitation. A major milestone was the first National Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Summit, which convened nearly 400 professionals to share best practices on coordinated responses and victim support.
The DOJ emphasizes that it remains committed to protecting older adults and will continue advancing enforcement, victim services, professional training, and public awareness efforts in the year ahead.
Academy for Professional Excellence: New Curriculum for Adult Protective Services
In an effort to enhance Adult Protective Services professionals' ability to develop and apply critical analysis, we developed and piloted a new learning experience. Critical Analysis in APS Casework is an instructor-led curriculum that APS programs can utilize to support their staff’s skill development. Pilot participants confirmed the training's impact, sharing testimonials like "The biggest takeaway that I will bring from this training is to better utilize the perspectives of others and be more open to looking at the issues through the lens of all parties involved in a report.”
ACL National Caregiver Support Collaborative Updates
New resources shared by NCSC include a Washington Caregiver Assessment Profile offering scalable strategies for caregiver assessment, a recapped Title VI chat on assessing Native caregivers’ needs, and a webinar on integrating family caregivers as members of the care team.
Organizations in the aging and tribal services network (including state units on aging and local caregiver support providers) are encouraged to use the NCSC TACC (Technical Assistance & Coordinating Center) for free personalized coaching on program design, caregiver assessment, and building partnerships.
AARP Survey Highlights Holiday Fraud Risks
AARP Research has released new findings from its 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey, revealing that fraud attempts remain widespread across all age groups. According to the report, nearly nine in ten U.S. adults (89%) age 18 and older have been targeted by or experienced at least one form of fraud.
Common scam attempts reported over the past year include:
- Unpaid toll text messages (58%)
- Fraudulent “shipment issue” notifications (55%)
- Scams tied to online ads or purchases (39%)
- Suspicious charity donation requests (35%)
Fraud affected every age group surveyed, with high rates among both younger and older adults: 92% of adults age 18–34, 90% of those 35–44, and 86% of adults age 45–64 and 65+ reported at least one fraudulent contact.
The survey also found that more than 70% of adults failed a 10-question safe shopping quiz, suggesting many consumers may still be vulnerable to common scam tactics.
Online shopping continues to grow this season: 23% of adults plan to shop online more than they did last year. Hispanic consumers reported the highest increase in planned online shopping (31%), followed by Asian American and Pacific Islander consumers (28%).
John A. Hartford Foundation Updates
- November 21st: Age-Friendly Learning Health Systems - UCSF Age-Friendly Health Systems Research Network Monthly Webinars
- December 2nd: 2025 Autumn Summit Part 2 - National Dementia Care Collaborative Virtual Forum
- Applications due December 14 to join the National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment 2026-2027 Mentorship Program.
- Witnesses before Congress testify to Older Americans Act importance, U.S. Senate Special Committee On Aging Hearing Recording
- Three immediate policy actions to make home-based primary care financially sustainable, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy Brief
- Marketing toolkit helps showcase your GUIDE dementia care program, National Dementia Care Collaborative Resource
- Elevating the role of nursing homes in clinical training can boost student, resident experiences, McKnight's Long-Term Care News Article Featuring the PA Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative
View recent JAHF updates here.
National Rural Health Association Updates
CY 2026 Medicare premiums announced.
On November 14, CMS issued notices of Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles for calendar year (CY) 2026. The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible will be $1,736, or $60 more than in 2025. The Part A inpatient hospital deductible covers beneficiaries’ share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. Beneficiaries will pay a coinsurance amount of $434 per day for the 61st through 90th day of a hospitalization in a benefit period and $868 per day for any additional days in 2026. For Medicare Part B, the monthly premium will be $202.90, or an increase of $17.90 over 2025. The annual Part B deductible will increase to $283. Find more information in CMS’ fact sheet.
Senate Finance hearing on making healthcare affordable.
The Senate Finance Committee addressed potential solutions to make healthcare more affordable during a hearing this week, “The Rising Cost of Health Care: Considering Meaningful Solutions for all Americans.” Much discussion throughout the hearing focused on the upcoming expiration of Marketplace enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) and potential policy solutions. Members discussed the merits of extending ePTCs while others sought new ideas like providing financial assistance directly to consumers through health savings accounts (HSAs).
House Ways & Means holds hearing on care coordination for chronic disease.
On Wednesday, the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Modernizing Care Coordination to Prevent and Treat Chronic Disease.” The hearing focused largely on extending ePTCs. Additionally, members of the Committee voiced the importance of early detection of disease and emphasized that coordinated care should be the goal in rural areas. Members also highlighted concerns about the lack of access to preventative services and specialty care in rural areas, leading to an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Lack of follow-up and preventable care contributes highly to unnecessary costs from diseases that are preventable in rural areas. The important role of telehealth and rural community pharmacies in expanding access to healthcare was also discussed.
ASA’s Generations Today November: The New Face of Caregiving
The latest issue of ASA’s Generations Today, The New Face of Caregiving, explores how caregiving is shifting as more older adults want to age in place and families navigate who will provide support. The edition combines reporting with personal stories to illustrate the realities facing both paid and unpaid caregivers.
Take a detailed look at today’s family caregivers including their roles, responsibilities, and the toll caregiving can take over time. Explore a data-rich examination of the paid caregiving workforce, highlighting the growing national crisis and the pressures on workers and families alike. And review the opportunities emerging at the intersection of aging-in-place, caregiving, and the expanding longevity economy.
The issue also features several deeply personal narratives such as the difficulty many Boomers have acknowledging their own future care needs, how caregiving can reshape Gen-X identity and sense of self and how one's own struggles as an unprepared caregiver led an individual to start a nonprofit supporting elders. Read an interview with a Millennial caring for her HIV-positive mother and teenage brother while managing her own lifelong HIV diagnosis.
American Public Health Association: Communicating with Policymakers Webinar Dec. 8
Join APHA, the de Beaumont Foundation, CityHealth and the National Association of Counties on Monday, Dec. 8, at 10:30am AKT for a conversation about how public health professionals can communicate more effectively with policymakers. The session will highlight research-tested messages and practical strategies to help make these conversations more confident and impactful. Register here.
MedPAC announces the release of the updated 2025 Medicare Payment Basics series
MedPAC's mission is to advise the Congress on Medicare issues, and part of that mission is providing clear and accessible information about how Medicare works. Payment Basics is a series of explainers on how Medicare's payment systems function. These "basics" are typically no more than 5 pages long and feature handy diagrams that visually depict how the payment systems calculate providers' payments. MedPAC produces "basics" for the major payment systems (20 in all), and updates the series once a year in the fall. The updated versions are now available here.
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.