In-Home Care in Alaska

Although Alaska is typically considered an unusual retirement destination, retirees are sometimes drawn to the state because of its low population density, stunning natural beauty and status as one of the most tax-friendly states in the country. Because Alaska doesn’t enact a personal income tax, residents don’t pay state income tax on Social Security and other retirement benefits. Residents of Alaska who have lived in the state for at least one calendar year are also eligible to apply for the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend, which is an annual payout from the state’s mineral revenues and investments.

Older adults in Alaska have several options for senior care, including in-home care, home health care, adult day health care, assisted living and nursing homes. In-home care involves nonmedical tasks such as housekeeping and personal care assistance, while home health care includes medical care provided by licensed professionals such as nurses and physical therapists. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost for in-home care in Alaska is $5,720.

This guide provides an overview of in-home care in Alaska and includes information on Medicaid and Medicare coverage and costs as well as a list of relevant resources.

With an average monthly price tag of $5,720, in-home care in Alaska is $763 more expensive than the national average of $4,957, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Monthly costs rise to $6,547 in Washington and $6,006 in Oregon, while costs are slightly lower in Idaho and Montana at $5,434 and $5,339, respectively. n-home care in Alaska is $5,621 per month, based on 44 hours of service weekly. These care costs in Alaska are $1,331 above the national average of $4,290 and significantly higher than prices in three of the four nearest states along the northern border — Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. Only Washington state has higher average in-home costs than Alaska at $5,720 per month.

Within the state of Alaska, in-home health care in both of the state’s largest metros, Anchorage and Fairbanks, mirror the overall state average of $5,720. Although Alaska has the largest landmass of all the states in the union, it’s among the least populated states, so we had to look outside Alaska’s borders to find cost comparisons for other cities. Costs in Seattle and Bellingham are higher than they are in Alaska at $6,769 and $6,483, respectively. The average costs of in-home care rise to $7,146 in Portland, while the western Idaho community of Lewiston is more affordable at $4,576 per month.

With an average monthly cost of $6,830, assisted living is $1,100 more expensive than in-home care in Alaska. The most affordable senior care option in Alaska is adult day health care. At an average of $1,562 per month, adult day health care is $4,158 less expensive than in-home care, while home health care comes with the same average price tag of $5,720 per month as in-home care. The most costly senior care option is nursing home care, which costs an average of $31,512 per month. 

Alaska’s version of Medicaid, known as DenaliCare, covers some of the costs associated with home care. DenaliCare is administered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Assistance. It provides funds for in-home care through the Personal Care Services (PCS) program and the Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver.

DenaliCare directly covers the costs of in-home care in Alaska. Services include assistance with bathing, dressing, basic grooming and household tasks such as cleaning, meal preparation, laundry and errands.

Alaska residents have several options for applying for Medicaid. They can:

• Apply online through the federally facilitated marketplace or My.Alaska.gov.
• Call 800-478-7778 (TDD/Alaska Relay: 711) to apply by telephone
• Download an application from the Department of Health and Social Service’s website, print it out, and mail or hand-deliver it to the closest Senior and Disabilities Services office. 

What Information You Will Need

Applicants for Medicaid in Alaska need to provide information about their financial status, such as pay stubs, pension or other retirement income such as Social Security, bank statements, tax returns and receipts for recent medical costs. You may also need copies of existing life and health insurance policies.

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.