September 25, 2025
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Subject: RESTORE FUNDING FOR HOME MODIFICATION & UPGRADES PROGRAM
Dear Governor Dunleavy,
The Alaska Geriatric Network (AGEnet), the Alaska Independent Living Network, and all signers to this letter are writing to urge our Governor, Mike Dunleavy, to restore funding for the GF/MH-funded Home Modification and Upgrades Program to its FY2025 level of
$1,150,000, which was reduced to $575,000 for FY2026. We recognize that Alaska is currently faced with significant budgetary challenges and that difficult decisions sometimes must be made in these challenging times, but failing to maintain our investment in this essential program stands to exacerbate these challenges in future years, while placing the health and safety of Alaska’s seniors and people with disabilities at serious risk.
For many older adults and individuals with disabilities, home modifications such as ramps, lifts, and roll-in showers are crucial in addressing barriers to independence, community integration, and safety, allowing Alaskans to ‘age in place’.
Falls are the number one leading cause of serious injury requiring medical attention and loss of independence among Alaska residents aged 65 and older. They are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injury for those 65 and older, and the leading cause of long-term disability in older adults. A 2023 survey conducted by United Health Foundation found that 32.3% of Alaskans in that same age group experienced a fall within the last year, with only eight states having a higher percentage. For Alaskans with disability impacting mobility, that number climbs to 49.1% and climbs higher still to 69.2% for Alaskans with an independent living disability.
Based on data from 2020, the national total health care cost of non-fatal older adult falls is $80 billion per year, up from $50 billion in 2015. The cost of treating injuries caused by falls among older adults is projected to increase to over $101 billion by 2030 (USA Injury Prevention, 2024).
We are all acutely aware of Alaska’s growing senior population, with the fastest-growing demographic being those 85 and older. The State of Alaska’s Population Projections 2023- 2050, published by the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, states, “Alaska’s large cohort of aging baby boomers means Alaska’s senior citizen population is likely to rise substantially.” Comparatively, Alaska’s population aged 0-19 is projected to decrease by 14% and the 20-64 demographic is predicted to decline by around 2%.
The Home Modification and Upgrades Program has long been one of the State of Alaska’s most important strategies to allow seniors and people experiencing disabilities to avoid falls, age in place, delay or avoid moving to a more restrictive and more expensive setting, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility. Reducing funding for this essential program is a step backwards in accomplishing this, especially at a time when Senior and Disability Services and its partners are working hard to address the remaining barriers faced by individuals seeking home modifications through Alaska’s Medicaid Waiver Environmental Modification (E-Mod) Service.
We recognize that funding for home modifications will never be able to keep up with demand, given Alaska’s rapidly growing senior population and the fact that this trend is expected to carry well into the future. Still, there are ways that the State of Alaska can get a higher return on its investment for all its home modification services and programs.
Modular ramps, like those built by Kasilof Wood & Metal, represent one of these opportunities. Each ramp is designed so that the modular parts can be recycled and moved to other sites as needed, effectively creating a reverse supply chain that maximizes cost savings and generates a larger return on investment. The cost of moving a reusable modular ramp within the same community can be as little as 10% of the cost of a new ramp. Moving a ramp to another community, given disassembly and shipping, can cost as little as 25% of shipping and installing a new one. The ramp parts have been tested in weather extremes and include custom features to accommodate climate-related issues such as snow, freeze, rain, and frost heave, giving them greater durability than other options, ensuring that they will not need replacing every few winters as has been the case with ramps made out of wood and other materials that are less durable. Kasilof Wood & Metal also ensures that each ramp complies with ADA regulations.
Governor Dunleavy, based on the data provided and the positive impact this program provides for senior Alaskans, please restore funding for the GF/MH-funded Home Modification and Upgrades Program to its FY2025 level of $1,150,000, for FY2027. We recognize that by acting now, we can maintain our investment in this essential program to face the health and safety challenges expected for Alaska’s seniors and people with disabilities in future years. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We can be reached at Marianne Mills, AGEnet Board President, marianne.mills@cssjuneau.org, or Michael Christian, Statewide Independent Living Council Executive Director, michael@alaskasilc.org.
Sincerely,
Marianne Mills, Michael Christian,
AGEnet Board President SILC Executive Director
