State wants to hear from Alaska seniors

4 years in the past, when Alaska surveyed its 60-and-older inhabitants, seniors mentioned their highest-priority points have been monetary safety and entry to healthcare.

Since 2018, that inhabitants has solely continued to develop, testing the boundaries of the state’s eldercare providers. Now, the state is conducting an up to date survey to take inventory of the highest-priority points dealing with Alaska seniors as we speak.

Jon Haghayeghi is government director of the Alaska Fee on Growing older, the state’s volunteer advisory board on senior points. He mentioned the survey is a requirement in order that the state can obtain federal funds for providers like vitamin applications and caregiver help by means of the Older Individuals Act.

And he mentioned all through the state, his group sees quite a lot of widespread traits.

“For instance, individuals have transportation points,” he mentioned. “Isolation points. Value of dwelling points. However what we’re hoping to do is get extra data by means of these surveys that basically permit us to know the place we’re as we speak so we are able to plan for the following 4 years.”

Over the past 11 years, the inhabitants of seniors aged 60 and older on the Kenai Peninsula grew by an estimated 6,597, from 9,986 seniors to 16,583, in response to the Division of Labor. Seniors as we speak make up 28 % of the borough’s complete inhabitants. Statewide, development of the senior inhabitants is anticipated to proceed by means of 2030.

In the meantime, the assets for seniors in Alaska — a traditionally younger state — haven’t at all times saved tempo. For instance, senior facilities and nonprofits on the Kenai Peninsula report lengthy wait-lists for reasonably priced senior housing.

Haghayeghi mentioned he’s anticipating at the very least one new issue to play into this 12 months’s survey responses: the pandemic.

“We’re interested by seeing whether or not or not individuals — and the way — they’ve been impacted because of actions taken at their senior facilities, influence on their meal deliveries, that sort of factor,” he mentioned.

The state’s survey is due by Saturday, Oct. 1. Take it right here.