Pillars of Care Assisted Living Home
- 618 Lower Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK. 99615
- 104 Center Street, Suite 103, Kodiak, AK. 99615
- Hot Line : 907-942-1596
Frequently Asked
Assisted Living Homes in Alaska
In Alaska, assisted living homes (ALHs) are residential facilities that provide nonmedical care for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, and eating. Services typically include personal care, medication management, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and social activities. Some ALHs oJer specialized care, such as dementia support.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska)
The average cost of assisted living in Alaska is approximately $6,830 per month, higher than the national average due to the state’s remote location and higher living costs. Medicaid (known as DenaliCare in Alaska) does not cover room and board but can cover personal care and other services through waivers like the Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver or the Adults with Physical and Developmental Disabilities (APDD) waiver. Nearly 1 in 6 assisted living residents nationwide rely on Medicaid for care services, and Alaska’s waivers support this.(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska),
(https://www.ncoa.org/article/does-medicaid-pay-for-assisted-living/)
To qualify for Medicaid-covered services in assisted living, individuals must be
Alaska residents, meet financial criteria (e.g., income below $2,829/month for an
individual in 2024, or 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, and assets under $2,000 for a single person), and require a nursing facility level of care. For the ALI waiver, applicants must be 65+ or 21–64 with a physical disability. The APDD waiver targets those 21+ with developmental disabilities. A functional assessment by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) is required.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska)
Apply through the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) online via the ARIES Self-Service Portal, by mail, fax, email, phone (800-478-7778), or in person at a local oJice. Required documents include proof of identity, income, assets, and residency. After Medicaid approval, contact the SDS Intake and Assessment Unit for a functional assessment to determine waiver eligibility. Applications are accepted year-round, but waitlists may apply due to limited slots (e.g., ALI has limited enrollment).
(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska)
(https://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/HCBWprogram.aspx)
Ensure the facility is licensed by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and accepts Medicaid waivers if needed. Check staJ qualifications, safety features, resident satisfaction, and services tailored to specific needs (e.g., IDD or dementia care).
(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska)(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Alaska
In Alaska, assisted living homes (ALHs) are residential facilities that provide nonmedical care for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, and eating. Services typically include personal care, medication management, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and social activities. Some ALHs oJer specialized care, such as dementia support.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska)
The average cost of assisted living in Alaska is approximately $6,830 per month, higher than the national average due to the state’s remote location and higher living costs. Medicaid (known as DenaliCare in Alaska) does not cover room and board but can cover personal care and other services through waivers like the Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver or the Adults with Physical and Developmental Disabilities (APDD) waiver. Nearly 1 in 6 assisted living residents nationwide rely on Medicaid for care services, and Alaska’s waivers support this.
(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska),
(https://www.ncoa.org/article/does-medicaid-pay-for-assisted-living/)
To qualify for Medicaid-covered services in assisted living, individuals must be
Alaska residents, meet financial criteria (e.g., income below $2,829/month for an
individual in 2024, or 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, and assets under $2,000 for a single person), and require a nursing facility level of care. For the ALI waiver, applicants must be 65+ or 21–64 with a physical disability. The APDD waiver targets those 21+ with developmental disabilities. A functional assessment by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) is required.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska)
Apply through the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) online via the ARIES Self-Service Portal, by mail, fax, email, phone (800-478-7778), or in person at a local oJice. Required documents include proof of identity, income, assets, and residency. After Medicaid approval, contact the SDS Intake and Assessment Unit for a functional assessment to determine waiver eligibility. Applications are accepted year-round, but waitlists may apply due to limited slots (e.g., ALI has limited enrollment).
(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska)
(https://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/HCBWprogram.aspx)
Ensure the facility is licensed by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and accepts Medicaid waivers if needed. Check staJ qualifications, safety features, resident satisfaction, and services tailored to specific needs (e.g., IDD or dementia care).
(https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/alaska)(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
Medicaid Waivers in Alaska
Medicaid waivers, such as the ALI, APDD, IDD, and Children with Complex Medical Conditions (CCMC) waivers, allow Alaska to provide home and community-based services (HCBS) to prevent institutionalization. These 1915(c) waivers target specific groups (e.g., seniors, individuals with IDD) and cover services like personal care and respite, but not room and board. They are administered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Senior and Disabilities Services.
(https://health.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/HCBWprogram.aspx)
(https://www.assistedliving-directory.com/blog/alaskas-four-medicaid-waivers-supported-services/)
The ALI Waiver covers personal care, homemaker services, respite care, home modifications (e.g., wheelchair ramps), adult day care, specialized medical equipment, and residential supported living in assisted living homes. The IDD and APDD Waivers cover similar services, plus day habilitation, employment support, and intensive active treatment for those with IDD. Services are tailored to individual needs.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
(https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/AK)
Applicants must be Medicaid-eligible, meet financial limits (e.g., income below $2,829/month, assets under $2,000 for an individual), and require an institutional level of care (nursing facility or ICF/IID). For ALI, individuals must be 65+ or 21–64 with physical disabilities. For IDD/APDD, a developmental disability diagnosis before age 22 is required. A functional assessment is conducted by SDS.[]
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)[]
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaidwaivers/adult-with-disabilities)
Approval can take months to years due to limited slots and waitlists. For example, the IDD Waiver serves over 1,900 but has a waitlist of 982, with only 50–100 annual selections. The ALI and APDD Waivers (149 slots annually for APDD) also have limited enrollment. After Medicaid approval, a functional assessment typically takes weeks, but waitlist delays vary. Contact SDS oJices (e.g., Anchorage: 800-478-9996) for updates.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/adultwith-disabilities)
(https://keycoalitionofalaska.org/campaign-priorities/)
Yes, the ALI and APDD Waivers cover services like personal care and residential supported living in assisted living homes, but not room and board. The IDD Waiver also supports services in community settings, including ALHs, for those with developmental disabilities. Confirm with the facility that it is Medicaid-certified and oJers waiver-eligible services.
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska/medicaid-waivers/livingindependently)
(https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/alaska)