Alaska Assisted Living Information

Alabama defines Assisted Living Facilities as an assisted living home (or ‘home’) that provides a system of care in a homelike environment for elderly individuals, and individuals with mental or physical disabilities in need of assistance with daily living activities. Alaska is unique due to its size and sparse population, therefore providers determine the level of care and services they will provide, but must provide the state with a list of those services.

Alaska Assisted Living Facilities Scope of Care

Alaska assisted living communities may provide assistance with daily living activities, intermittent nursing services and skilled nursing care by arrangement. A licensed nurse may delegate certain tasks to staff, including noninvasive routine tasks. Certified third parties may provide skilled nursing care for 45 days or less with consent from the assisted living home, and arrange for that care to be provided in the assisted living facility to be provided by a licensed nurse as long as the arrangement does not interfere with services provided to other residents.

Alaska Assisted Living Admission Requirements

There are no limits on admission. However, facilities must have a residential services contract in place for each resident. 24-hour skilled nursing care must not last more than 45 consecutive days. Terminally ill residents may remain in the facility if a physician confirms their needs are being met. At least 30 days' notice is required before terminating a residential services contract. There is no required standard form. Applicable fire and environmental health codes must be followed.

Alaska Assisted Living Care Plan Requirements

While there is no required, standard form, a plan must be created for each resident including specific information.

Alaska Assisted Living Medication Management Requirements

The home will supervise the resident’s self administration of the resident’s medication if self-administration of medications is included in a resident's plan of care.

Alaska Assisted Living Facility Requirements

Alaska mandates that each home must furnish each resident’s living space in a way that is typical for residents of homes in both the community, and neighborhood. Residents must have 'reasonable privacy.' The home must occupy a building used exclusively for assisted living, although a home may be licensed in a building that has more than one occupancy if the other occupancy is in keeping with the health, safety, comfort, and well-being of the residents of the assisted living home, and the other users of the building comply with applicable fire and environmental health codes.

Alaska Assisted Living Staffing Requirements

The home must employ a certain type and number of care providers and other employees necessary to operate the facility, and must have a sufficient number of care providers and other employees with adequate training to implement the facility’s general staffing plan, and to meet the needs of residents. A Care provider must be on duty with CPR and first aid training. A criminal background investigation is required of staff and other residents of the facility who are not considered an assisted living resident. An administrator must be at least 21 years old, must complete an approved management or administrator training course, and have documented experience relevant to the needs of residents in the facility; or have sufficient documented experience as well as education, training, or other similar experience to fulfill the duties of an administrator for the facility. Providers in non-supervisory roles must be at least 16 years old. Care providers working without direct supervision must complete Staff Training for Alzheimer's Care. Each administrator must complete 18 hours of continuing education annually. Each care provider must complete 12 hours of continuing education annually.

Alaska Assisted Living Facility Medicaid Policy

A Medicaid facility and community-based services waiver covers the cost(s) of services. A tiered payment system is used to reimburse for services.

Alaska Division of Public Health