Senior In-Home Program
Nikiski Senior Center Logo- A tree stands tall losing green and brown leaves in an invisible breeze.
Helping older adults in the Kenai Peninsula maintain independence, dignity, and connection in the comfort of home.
Contact them today!
Nikiski Senior Center
Senior In-Home Program
Direct: (907)513-4423 Office: (907)776-7654
Email: sih@nikiskiseniorcenter.org
The Senior In-Home Program provides personalized support to help older adults on the Kenai Peninsula remain safely and comfortably in their own homes.
Our program fills gaps in existing supports by connecting seniors with practical services and community resources tailored to their individual needs. Ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to age with independence and dignity.
Who do they serve?
Low-income adults aged 60+
Those needing assistance to remain living at home
individuals with limited access to other support services
Senior In-Home Services
Chore Services- Practical help with household tasks that become difficult to manage alone:
Light Housekeeping
Grocery Shopping Support
Meal Preparation Support
Firewood Stacking
Water Collection
Case Management- One-on-one guidance to navigate services and plan for long-term wellbeing:
Needs assessment and care planning
Benefits and resource navigation
Coordination with other service providers
Regular check-ins and follow-up
Advocacy and Support
Frequently asked questions
Where does Nikiski Senior Center Serve SIH?
Primarily serving Nikiski through Kasilof and Sterling, with services available throughout the Kenai Peninsula based on identified need and program capacity.
Who is SIH intended to serve?
Primarily low-income adults age 60+ who need assistance to remain safely in their homes and do not have adequate existing resources or supports to meet that need. There are additional populations that may qualify under the grant, primarily individuals with ADRD under 6, so unusual situations can still be referred for assessment.
Are you accepting new referrals?
Referrals will remain open throughout the year. SIH is needs-based rather than first come, first serve. We continually reassess recipients and new referrals based on current need and available resources.
What services in Nikiski providing through SIH?
The primary direct in-home service is chores, along with case management and applicable supplemental support under the grant.
Are you providing Respite?
NSC will not provide respite through SIH. When the identified need is relief for an unpaid family caregiver, we will refer to the Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program through Dani.
What if someone already has a PCA or another program providing services?
SIH is they payer of last resort, so we don’t use grant funding to duplicate services that are already available through another program or existing support. We look at what is already in place and determine whether there is still an unmet need that SIH can appropriately address.
What if someone doesn’t qualify for Medicaid?
That can be exactly where SIH is valuable. The program can help bridge gaps for people who need assistance, but don’t have another resource available - for example, someone with limited income who cannot reasonably privately pay for needed assistance, but does not qualify for Medicaid services.
How long can someone receive SIH services? Is there a time limit?
There is not a set amount of time that someone is automatically entitled to remain on SIH services or be discharged. Services are based on continuing eligibility and assessed need. At Nikiski Senior Center, we are authorizing services on a month-to-month basis, guaranteeing services 30 days at a time. During that time, we continue to consider changes in the recipient’s needs, household situation, available supports, and access to other resources. SIH can bridge services while a longer-term solution is identified. Because it is needs-based and payer of last resort, eligibility and service levels can change if someone’s circumstances, functional needs, household supports, or access to other programs change.
How often are recipients reassessed?
We’re assessing need throughout the year as circumstances change. Recipients also receive an annual care-plan renewal, which is our opportunity to do another comprehensive review of their needs, supports, eligibility, and whether the current service plan remains appropriate.
Why did you introduce a Participation Agreement?
Because SIH is a payer of last resort program, we want recipients to understand that receiving grant-funded services comes with the expectation that they continue pursuing other resources they may be eligible for. The Participation Agreement gives us a way to establish that expectation at the beginning of services and document that the recipient’s responsibility to participate in referrals, applications, and other reasonable steps toward long-term or more appropriate resources.
What if a recipient has family helping them?
Having family does not automatically mean someone doesn’t qualify. We look at what support consists of. Occasional help is very different from having someone in the household who is willing and able to routinely meet the identified need. The question is ultimately: What need remains unmet?
What if someonehas cognitive impairment but can physically do their household tasks?
For chore eligibility, the individual must require assistance with at least one ADL, or with one of the qualifying IADLs: meal preparation, shopping, light housework, or laundry. The need must also be unable to be met through another program or informal support, and the individual cannot reside with an able-bodied person who can meet that need.
What if someone is over income?
We still want people to contact us rather than assuming there is nothing available. We can determine whether grant-funded services are appropriate and help identify other resources or options when SIH isn’t the right fit. We look at the person’s overall financial situation and circumstances. Someone who is slightly over the income standard but has significant out-of-pocket medical expenses or other extraordinary health-related costs may still be considered for grant-funded services. For SIH, “over income” refers to being over the current Medicaid Long-Term Care income standard. We are also anticipating implementing a sliding fee scale that would allow individuals who do not qualify for grant-funded services to privately pay for services based on their income. Our goal is to make in-home care services available to more people in our community, including those who may not financially qualify for the grant, but still need assistance and are able to contribute towards the cost of their care.