This Week's Updates
Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 07/02/2026 02:52 PM AKDT
Exhibit at the Statewide Summit on Aging
Sponsor and/or Exhibit at the Statewide Summit on Aging this October
You're invited! Please join us this fall, either virtually or in-person at Turnagain Social Club in Anchorage for the Statewide Summit on Aging October 15-17. Continuing education credits are available. Stay tuned for early registration details this summer.
Interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities? Review our Sponsorship Prospectus here!
To register as a sponsor and/or exhibitor, visit myalaskatix.com/events/alaska-statewide-summit-on-aging-10-15-2026 and click "Buy Tickets." Exhibitor space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sponsorships are critical to ensuring rural voices are represented. Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions, contact Jenny at jenny@northernlightsconsulting.org. Note: we have combined forces with the Aging and Disability Summit traditionally held at Special Olympics to bring you this Summit on Aging.
Funding to Re-Launch the National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders: Apply by July 27
The U.S. Administration on Aging has released a long-awaited Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for three National Resource Centers serving American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian older adults. One cooperative agreement will be awarded to support a National Resource Center dedicated to Alaska Native elders.
The Resource Centers provide leadership, technical assistance, training, data collection, and the dissemination of best practices to strengthen services delivered through Older Americans Act Title VI Alaskan programs and other Native-serving organizations throughout the state. Areas of focus include healthy aging, long-term services and supports, elder abuse prevention, and other issues affecting Native elders.
The previously funded National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders was hosted at the University of Alaska Anchorage, providing local and national expertise on the unique strengths, needs, and priorities of Alaska Native elders and the communities that serve them.
Applications are due on July 27. The cooperative agreement provides approximately $215,000 annually for three years and requires a 25% non-federal match.
Eligible tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit organizations with expertise in Alaska Native aging are encouraged to review this opportunity. A National Resource Center dedicated to Alaska Native elders plays an important role in advancing technical assistance, research, training, and promising practices that benefit Title VI grantees and Native-serving organizations across Alaska.
Additional US Administration on Aging July Grant Announcements
The Administration for Community Living's Administration on Aging has recently released more than 20 funding opportunities including new listings posted this week! Questions should be directed to AOA.OAA@acl.hhs.gov.
The General Relief – Assisted Living Home Program received a budget increase of $382,000, which raises the minimum daily rate from $109.32 to $113.13 beginning July 1.
Additional funding was approved to strengthen community-based supports for older Alaskans. This includes $1.25 million to enhance adult day services statewide and $500,000 to stabilize and support senior centers across Alaska. These funds will be distributed to nonprofit agencies that provide essential services for seniors.
The Statewide Independent Living Council, a nonprofit that advances independent living and supports Alaska’s independent living centers, also received a $403,000 increase.
The State Fiscal Year 2027 budget additionally includes funding to raise reimbursement rates for Specialized Private Duty Nursing under the waiver program, as well as Private Duty Nursing available to Medicaid recipients under 21, helping ensure access to higher-intensity in-home care.
- A 3.1% inflationary increase for ambulatory surgical clinical services (costing approximately $124,060 federal / $57,822 state).
- A 3.1% adjustment to in-home peritoneal services (roughly $2,402 federal / $1,411 state).
- The adoption of updated Medicare-based physician conversion factors, raising costs by about $2.5 million federal / $2.27 million state.
- 3.2% rate increases for licensed behavior analysts, substance use rehabilitation, personal care services, personal care under the Community First Choice Option, chore services, and long-term services and supports (Targeted Case Management), with estimated federal/state cost impacts detailed in the notice.
- Clarifications to Attachment 4.19-B rate descriptions, streamlining outdated language regarding effective dates.
Public Comment Period: Feedback is welcomed through 5:00 P.M. AKT on Thursday, July 30th. Comments can be sent via email to christal.hays@alaska.gov (as a Word attachment or within the email), using “2026 Fee Schedule Updates” in the subject line, and must include the sender’s full name and email address. Individuals with disabilities needing accommodations should contact Christal Hays by Wednesday, July 15th via email or phone at 907‑891‑4830.
The Independent Living Network, in partnership with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, is hosting a statewide webinar for all Alaskans on Tuesday, July 14th from 1-3 pm to inform and discuss the potential for a self-directed services program under Alaska’s Medicaid home and community-based waivers. The Network wants to hear ideas and questions so it can make recommendations on how the state can design a program that will work best for Alaskans. Join to learn more about self-directed Medicaid waiver options. Meeting information is below.
Statewide Self-Direction Community Forum Zoom meeting:
- When: Tuesday, July 14th from 1-3 pm
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89352598449
- Meeting chat link: https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/89352598449
- View meeting insights: https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/edl?muid=d09ee9e4-7fcd-4d1f-acbf-bfe6f31e952e
- Meeting ID: 893 5259 8449
- Passcode: ILC
For more information or questions, please contact sandra.heffern@effectivehealthdesign.com
Summer Virtual Film Screening: "No Place to Grow Old" July 8
The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) will host a virtual screening of the documentary No Place to Grow Old on July 8, at 1:30 P.M. AKT. The film follows older adults experiencing homelessness and highlights the systemic factors driving increasing housing instability among seniors. Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to join a live discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Davey Schaupp, AARP Director of Livable Communities Corlette Hannon, and housing advocates, who will delve deeper into the issues raised by the documentary and the urgent need for solutions that support aging adults facing housing insecurity.
The National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) will host an upcoming webinar on July 28th at 10:00 A.M. AKT, “Building Community and Connections: Innovations in Adult Day Programming for People Living with Dementia.” During this session, Amazing Place and OPICA Adult Day Program & Counseling Center will share successful approaches and emerging strategies that enhance support for people living with dementia and their family caregivers.
Amazing Place will spotlight its efforts to cultivate a multigenerational workforce through programs such as STARS (Student Training in Alzheimer’s & Respite over the Summer) and its Legacy Workforce model. These initiatives create meaningful opportunities for individuals at the start of their careers as well as those seeking new roles post-retirement.
OPICA will discuss the sustainability of its adult day programs, highlighting the impact of its multidisciplinary internship program and creative fundraising practices. Presenters will explore the essential role interns play in engaging individuals with early memory loss, along with OPICA’s scholarship-supporting fundraising efforts and legacy giving program, both of which contribute to long-term program viability.
NADRC is funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and supports the implementation of evidence-based interventions and innovative practices that empower and assist caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. All events are recorded and later posted on the NADRC website, with closed captioning available. Questions may be directed to NADRC-Webinars@rti.org.
NCSC: Technology-Based Solutions to Support Caregivers Webinar July 30
The National Caregiver Support Collaborative (NCSC) will host a webinar, “Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Caregiver Capacity,” on Thursday, July 30th at 9:00 A.M. AKT. The session will explore how emerging artificial intelligence and digital tools are being integrated into aging network programs to support family caregivers while reinforcing the human connection and empathy at the core of caregiving. NCSC provides resources and technical assistance to aging network organizations, including tribal and kinship caregiver support programs.
The webinar will feature insights from the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and aging network providers, with speakers discussing practical considerations for adopting new technologies. Participants will learn about the evolving technology landscape, barriers to access, and experiences from organizations implementing AI‑enabled or technology‑based solutions.
Speakers include George Kueppers, Senior Research Manager with NAC; Claudia Bejarano Zambrano of Senior Connections Area Agency on Aging; and Edward Jones from Land of Sky AAA. A live Q&A will follow, giving attendees a chance to hear directly from providers using these tools to support caregivers.
Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), the National Caregiver Support Collaborative aims to strengthen recognition, support, and inclusion of family caregivers served through OAA caregiver programs. This national initiative represents the first large‑scale capacity‑building effort for these programs in more than 20 years. Questions? Email: CaregiverCollaborative@acl.hhs.gov.
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.