The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Anchorage, AK for 2024

The Residential Licensing Section of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services oversees the state’s assisted living facilities. All licensed Anchorage-area facilities must comply with applicable laws and regulations. 

• Retiring in Anchorage comes with significant tax benefits. Alaska has no state income tax, so seniors can keep more of their hard-earned money. It’s also one of the few states with no sales tax. While some cities have a local sales tax, Anchorage does not. Tax-free shopping helps seniors stretch their budgets.
• The Municipality of Anchorage’s Public Transportation Department makes it easy for seniors to get around the city. It operates more than a dozen People Mover bus routes, and seniors receive half-price fares. It also runs the accessible AnchorRIDES service, which helps seniors travel to pharmacies and medical appointments.
• With a violent crime rate of 12.4 per 1,000 residents, Anchorage was ranked among the nation’s 100 most dangerous cities by NeighborhoodScout. To ensure seniors are safe and protected, assisted living facilities may offer a number of security measures, ranging from electronic access systems to 24-hour video surveillance. 
• Older Alaskans with asthma or other respiratory conditions may flock to the Anchorage area for its very good air quality. According to American Lung Association rankings, it’s one of the nation’s 25 least-polluted cities by year-round particle pollution levels. Fairbanks, on the other hand, is ranked among America’s most-polluted cities. 
• Due to its remote location, Alaska is one of the most expensive states in the nation. However, Anchorage’s overall cost of living is about 2% lower than the Alaska norm, and compared to statewide prices, seniors may notice lower-than-average costs for groceries and health care. The annual Permanent Fund Dividend that most Alaskans receive can help balance out these high costs.
• With its nearby wilderness areas and beautiful mountain views, the Anchorage area is a nature lovers’ paradise. Seniors can watch for whales at Beluga Point or admire the brown bears, wolves and wood bison at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Other fun things to do include day cruises and railroad tours. 

According to the Genworth 2024 Cost of Care Survey, Anchorage features higher-than-average assisted living prices. Local rates are about $1,825 above the U.S. median, and seniors can find lower prices throughout nearby states. Portland, OR, offers the region's most significant savings, with an estimated monthly fee of $6,370. Bellingham, WA, on the other hand, charges a higher estimated monthly fee of $8,377.

Assisted living communities in Anchorage charge far less than nursing home facilities. At $18,706 per month, a semi-private room in a nursing home costs about $11,531 more than assisted living. Conversely, home health care costs notably less in Anchorage. Local providers charge approximately $6,578, making assisted living about $597 costlier.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Alaska page.