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The Assisted Living Licensing Unit of the Division of Senior Services is responsible for the orientation, licensing and ongoing monitoring of Assisted Living Homes that provide services to frail elderly residents and adults with physical disabilities.

Statistics:

• There are currently 125 licensed Assisted Living Homes in Alaska, up from 114 homes last year.
• There are currently 1,353 bed spaces available in licensed Assisted Living Homes including the Pioneers’ Homes.
• There are currently four full-time staff and one part-time staff to provide licensing services throughout the state.
• There is still a critical need for the development of small Assisted Living Homes in rural Alaska.

Significant Legislation:

• Senate Bill 73 was passed, increasing the daily payment rate to Assisted Living homes for General Relief residents. Homes may receive up to $50 per day, depending on the resident’s income level.
• Proposed changes to Assisted Living Home regulations (Chapter 7 AAC 75) were drafted and forwarded to the Department of Law for review. Included in the draft regulations is language regarding Barrier Crimes that would restrict individuals convicted of specific crimes from working in Assisted Living Homes for varying periods of time depending upon the severity of the crime.

Goals For FY 01:

• Develop and initiate a Public Education component.
• Expand and continue Public Forums for licensed homes.
• Expand focus on outreach and development of rural Assisted Living Homes.
• Produce an orientation video for distribution to rural sites.

The Division of Senior Services (DSS) administers two Medicaid home and community-based long-term care waivers: the Older Alaskan (OA) and the Adults with Physical Disabilities (APD). These two waivers provide myriad services designed to assist eligible individuals statewide to continue to reside in their communities as an alternative to receiving services in long-term care institutions.

In FY00, the OA waiver served 956 clients while the APD served 507. This was a combined 34% increase over FY 99. As the waiver program grows, the division continues working to improve the program. Streamlining processes, reorganizing workflow and developing technological supports internally and for service providers have allowed consumers quicker access to much needed services.

Next Section: Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program
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