In 2011, the Alaska Commission on Aging began the work of creating a state plan to address Alzheimer’s and dementia. With collaboration from other state agencies, community organizations, mental health professionals, and long-term care providers, the Commission formed a core team responsible for drafting Alaska’s response to Alzheimer’s. After collecting public input, Alaska’s Roadmap to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias was published in December 2014. A subsequent plan entitled A Call to Action: Alaska’s 10-Year Map to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia was released in January 2021.

Expand Access to Adult Day Services

Adult day and respite care services allow people living with dementia to remain in their homes for as long as possible while providing family caregivers much-needed support. Currently, 25,000 Alaskans serve as unpaid caregivers of individuals living with dementia, and only a portion of them have access to adult day services. These services provide daytime care, therapeutic activities and social engagement, while providing caregivers with a much-needed relief from caregiving duties. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for Adult Day Care service grantees to $1,500,000 and incentivize additional dementia training. The increase in funding can help to establish 3-4 additional adult day centers serving families with dementia in underserved communities.