Demand is high for more assisted living facilities in Juneau, and an aging population means the need is only going to grow.
A new study of senior housing and services says the city needs an additional 327 assisted living beds over the next 30 years to meet projected demand. Right now, the only major assisted living facility is the 48-bed Juneau Pioneer Home, which already has an active waiting list of more than 100 people.
Margaret O’Neal with the Juneau Economic Development Council says by 2032, one in five Juneau residents will be a senior citizen.
“We have really limited options,” O’Neal said Wednesday at an event held to unveil the new study.
JEDC commissioned the report along with the Juneau Assisted Living for Seniors Task Force and the nonprofit Senior Citizens Support Services Inc.
The study makes several recommendations, including a public-private partnership, where the city would provide land or financing for an assisted living project.
Jim Scholl with the assisted living task force says some private investors are already taking a look at Juneau.
“We’ve seen interest from at least two developers so far, and I expect more interest now that we have a quantified demand,” said Scholl.
The study cost $50,000 and was produced by Anchorage-based consultants Agnew::Beck. The City and Borough of Juneau provided half of the funding. The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority provided $10,000, and Senior Citizen Support Services came up with the rest.
The study is posted on JEDC’s website.
