Over 25,000 Alaskans are serving as unpaid caregivers for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and don’t have the support they need to care for their loved ones or their own well-being.
As someone who cared for my mother for 13 years during her journey with Alzheimer’s, alongside my dad and sisters, I know the importance of grant funding for Adult Day services. These services offer a safe place for Alaskans to bring their loved ones so they can go to work, school, or run errands, alleviating the strain on caregivers, especially with Alaska’s limited memory care centers.
The need for financial support for existing Adult Day service centers is urgent, as the 10 centers in Alaska already struggle with inflation, workforce turnover, and increased demand. The State of Alaska’s current Adult Day service grantees are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Palmer, Chugiak, Homer, Kodiak, Juneau, Ketchikan, Nome, and right here in Kenai where we have the Forget-Me-Not Center.
Many areas of Alaska are underserved and lack the presence of Adult Day services, making it harder for caregivers to find assistance. By supporting an increase in funding, we can help develop and expand Adult Day services in urban and rural Alaska, especially as our population silvers. Increased funding would allow Adult Day service grantees to serve more Alaskans and aid in the financial recovery of centers suffering to stay afloat.
Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in sharing your story and encouraging Gov. Mike Dunleavy to support increased Adult Day service funding in the fiscal year 2026 operating budget.
Cindy Harris is a board member of the Alaska chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.