Alaska Statewide Summit on Aging

The Alaska Statewide Summit on Aging, with the theme "Systems Transformation for a Stronger Future in Aging," will address the growing needs of Alaska's senior population, focusing on innovation, cultural relevance, and transforming how we think about aging. This 3-day hybrid event, held in-person at Turnagain Social Club in Anchorage and virtually, will bring together aging and disability services professionals, healthcare providers, tribal organizations, policymakers, researchers, caregivers, advocates, and community leaders from across Alaska. Sessions will explore how Rural Health Transformation and other statewide reform efforts intersect with aging and disability services, including healthcare access, care coordination, dementia and chronic disease prevention, behavioral health, aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities, healthcare workforce capacity and provider sustainability, elder justice, and housing and home- and community-based services that support aging in place. Content will be organized into targeted tracks for different audiences while maintaining a shared statewide perspective. Key goals include inspiring policy support for safe and independent aging, fostering cross-sector collaboration, generating actionable outcomes and shared advocacy priorities, and supporting the development of Alaska's next State Plan for Senior Services. The Summit will produce recommendations to improve older Alaskan care, with the Alaska Commission on Aging tracking progress. Continuing education credits are available. This Summit combines forces with the Aging and Disability Summit traditionally held at Special Olympics. It is hosted by the Alaska Commission on Aging in partnership with the Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska, Special Olympics Alaska, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, AARP Alaska, and other local and national partners.