This Week's Updates
Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 02/27/2026 01:40 PM AKST
ACoA February Draft Meeting Minutes
ACoA February Quarterly Board Meeting Minutes
Click here to read our February 10th and 12th draft board meeting minutes.
The ACoA Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report is available here.
The 2025 Senior Snapshot, our annual data report, will be released soon, stay tuned.
Full Lives Conference: Nominate ADRD Professional By March 2
Full Lives Conference is seeking nominations for professionals who serve people with ADRD to be considered for an award! Nominations close Monday, March 2nd at 12pm AKT. Recognize the great work being done around Alaska by nominating a deserving peer. Winners will receive $1,500 and free registration to the 2026 and 2028 Full Lives conferences.
Here is the link to the nomination form: https://form.jotform.com/252867997563985
Alaska Dementia Professionals Needs Assessment Survey Closes March 16
The Alaska Statewide Dementia Care Training Project Partnership is seeking responses for the Dementia Professionals Needs Assessment Survey.
This statewide survey is designed to gather meaningful input on the training and support needs of dementia care providers across Alaska. The information gathered will help them focus training and resources where they are most needed: supporting providers and improving dementia care statewide.
To ensure broad statewide input, please share the survey link with colleagues, staff, stakeholders, and partner organizations involved in dementia care and support. The survey will close by midnight on March 16th.
AHFC Older Alaskans Housing Survey Closes April 1
Alaska Long Term Care Ombudsman Call for Volunteers and April Training
Become a certified volunteer Ombudsman!
Visit with elders in nursing facilities and assisted living homes. While visiting, monitor the conditions in homes, listen to residents, work with the home to resolve problems, and alert Long Term Care Ombudsman staff when you cannot resolve problems or when residents are at risk of harm.
AKOLTCO's program’s mission is to assist residents to resolve any issues they are having while in the facility. Volunteers come from many walks of life, but they all have one thing in common: they are committed to making residents’ lives better.
The next AKOLTCO training is April 11th and April 18th. Learn more: https://akoltco.org/volunteer/
Statewide Independent Living Council Advocacy
Watch the recent SILC Legislative Lunch and Learn titled, Systems Change in Alaska: Supporting Alaskans with Disabilities.
Join the Brain Injury Council of Alaska
Have you or a loved one experienced a brain injury? Do you work in a field that serves Alaskans impacted by brain injury? BICA is a statewide group of Alaskans working together to strengthen how Alaska prevents, identifies, and supports brain injury—across the lifespan. BICA is looking for council members including: people with lived experience of brain injury, family members & caregivers, providers, partners, and community members, A statewide group of Alaskans working together to strengthen how Alaska prevents, identifies, and supports brain injury—across the lifespan.
What joining looks like: Attend meetings (virtual options available), share ideas and community needs, participate as much—or as little—as you want. Want to know more? Contact: Kayla Pokupec, BICA Coordinator: kapokupec@alaska.edu
Sign up for the BICA newsletter: https://bica-newsletter-dad4fe.beehiiv.com/
Legislative Lunch and Learn: Alzheimer’s Current Impact on Alaskans Recording
Watch the Lunch and Learn presentation featuring Alaska Dementia Action Collaborative, Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, Alzheimer's Association Alaska, AARP Alaska, UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research and ACoA. Thank you, Senator Yundt, for sponsoring. Review the slideshow here.
Please note correction: Hospice is not covered under ALI Waiver.
Advancing Dementia-Capable Primary Care: Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Webinar Series
Join the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) for a free, three-part webinar series designed for primary care clinicians and allied health professionals supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including individuals with Down syndrome. Register for the March 16th webinar here.
This series offers practical, IDD-informed guidance on recognizing dementia, navigating diagnosis and medical management, and supporting function and safety after diagnosis.
The series is offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Developmental Medicine (AADMD) and the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) and is supported by the Special Olympics Systems Change for Inclusive Health Subgrant, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CMEs and nursing CEUs available. Questions? Please email kathrynpears@the-ntg.org
Senior and Disabilities Services Presentation to State Legislature
SDS leadership presented to the House Health and Social Services Committee on February 10, 2026.
SDS begins at 1:32:40. Slideshow available here.
Senate Finance Committee Recordings
On Wednesday we shared information on the Fiscal Year 2027 public testimony opportunity that happened yesterday and today in Senate Finance Committee. You can view those committee meetings here.
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