Juneau Empire Story Archive

Southeast Senior Services becomes Alaska's Aging and Disability Resource Center

MARIANNE MILLS For the Juneau Empire

The Alaska State Independent Living Council is pleased to announce that Southeast Senior Services has been designated as Alaska's new Aging and Disability Resource Center. The Aging and Disability Resource Center serves as a visible, trusted place for people to go to for information and assistance with accessing services that support them in the community. The primary target populations are the elderly and people with disabilities, however, assistance is provided to anyone who seeks information or referral services on any long-term care issue.

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The SILC manages the ADRC program on behalf of the State of Alaska and had previously designated Alaska's five regional Centers for Independent Living as the Aging and Disability Resource Centers for Alaska. The IL centers, located in Soldotna, Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kotzebue, serve people of all ages with disabilities. Thanks to a new supplemental grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging, Alaska was enabled to start one new ADRC led by an agency which primarily serves senior citizens. Southeast Senior Services, an organization that runs multiple senior centers throughout Southeast, was selected as the new ADRC, effective Jan. 1.

The focus of the Southeast Senior Services ADRC will be on eight village communities: Angoon, Craig, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Klawock, Wrangell and Yakutat. The local SESS staff member will provide individualized information and assistance. This will help develop long term care options in the villages and encourage local Alaska Native participation in the ADRC project. The SESS regional Senior Information and Caregiver Resource Center will support the site managers' efforts and will continue to serve consumers and their families living throughout Southeast Alaska. SESS will also work closely with Southeast Alaska Independent Living.

In the fall of 2003, the ADRC grant initiative was launched by the United States Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to streamline Americans' access to long-term care. The ADRC Grant Program was developed to assist states in their efforts to create a single, coordinated system of information and access for all persons seeking long term support in order to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice, and support informed decision-making.

On behalf of the State of Alaska, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Senior Housing Office applied for the grant and contracted with the State Independent Living Council to manage the grant.

"Most Alaskans want to remain in their own home and community regardless of any acquired disability due to disease, accidents, or age," said Patrick Reinhart, SILC executive director. "Alaska's ADRCs are there to help them navigate the maze of services and questions that people have in this regard."

SAIL was the first designated ADRC to serve Southeast Alaska. SAIL staff, who for years have worked closely with the staff at the SESS information office, recognized that some senior citizens are not comfortable going to a "disability agency" for help and supported Southeast Senior Services' application to become the sister ADRC to serve Southeast Alaska. For further information and assistance, call SAIL at 586-4920, toll-free in Alaska at (800) 478-7425, or SESS at 463-6177, toll-free in Alaska at (866) 746-6177.

• Marianne Mills is the program director of Southeast Senior Services, which offers home and community based services for older Alaskans throughout the region. SESS is a part of Catholic Community Service and assists all persons regardless of their faith.

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