Workshop tonight on senior housing in Juneau

The Juneau Pioneers' Home is 25 years old.  The first Alaska Pioneers' Home opened in Sitka 100 years ago.  Photo by Heather Bryant/KTOO.
The Juneau Pioneers’ Home has been operating for 25 years. (Photo by Heather Bryant/KTOO)

What is Juneau’s vision of housing for an aging population?

The Juneau Economic Development Council is asking that question as it conducts a market demand study of senior housing and support services.

The research is part of an effort underway to bring an assisted living facility to the capital city.

A group of senior citizens started the conversation last year. Now the effort includes JEDC, Senior Citizens Support Services, Alaska Mental Health Trust, and the City and Borough of Juneau.

The groups will share more information in a workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Centennial Hall.

JEDC’s Margaret O’Neal says anyone with ideas and concerns should attend.

“Whether they’re seniors, have seniors in their family, whether they’re looking at retiring, look at figuring out what they can afford here versus elsewhere,” she says.

An assisted living facility is an intermediate level of care. The state-owned Juneau Pioneers’ Home is licensed as assisted living, and provides care for people who need help with medications, meals, housekeeping and other daily routines, or care related to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. It also has a long waiting list. People are encouraged to apply to become a resident long before they need assistance.

Independent senior housing is offered at Fireweed Place and Mountain View Apartments downtown as well as Smith Hall in the Mendenhall Valley.

Wildflower Court near Bartlett Regional Hospital is Juneau’s only 24-hour nursing care facility.

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