November 15, 2003
Artist's drawing of Assisted Living Home
Media Services Staff Reports
A feasibility study commissioned by YKHC and other local agencies recommends construction of an 18-bed assisted living home in Bethel for a growing population of Elders. An assisted living home, which would have a resident trained staff of personal care attendants and nurses, would be a transitional stage between congregate living for Elders, such as the Lulu Herron Center, and a nursing home.
The long term plan includes this first step of constructing an assisted living center. Additional future steps include the addition of a nursing home on the YKHC Regional Hospital campus.
Other levels of care for Elders are...- Senior Services such as those provided now by the City of Bethel Senior Center --transportation, meals, elder activities, adult day care;
- Home Care Services--assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation and eating for Elders living at home (currently available through YKHC)
- Congregate Living--apartments for Elders. Currently Ayalpik Apartments and the Lulu Herron Center are the only ones in Bethel.
- Skilled/Intermediate Nursing--the highest level of care, 24-hour nursing care. Not currently available in the YK region.
A site for the proposed facility has been identified which is just south of the Lulu Herron Center near AVCP Housing in Bethel. YKHC and the other agency members of the Bethel Assisted Living Steering Committee are asking the Bethel City Council to grant a long-term lease on the property so construction can begin in the spring of 2004. The City Council will consider the request at a special meeting November 24.
The proposed facility would accommodate 18 Elders, but would be built to allow future expansion as the population of elders needing the services is expected to increase. The feasibility study also looked at the Aniak subregion and concluded that an eight-bed facility there should also be built once the Bethel home is open and occupied.
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