A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows someone else to make decisions on your behalf.  The person you appoint is known as a legal decision maker.  The point of time when your appointed person begins making decisions for you is outlined in the legal document for example, upon your signature (immediately), certain dates, or upon your incapacity (when you can no longer make your own decision per a court).  In Alaska, two physicians or a psychiatrist can complete an affidavit that states that you lack capacity to make your own decisions at which time your Power of Attorney would be able to make all the decisions you have outlined in the Power of Attorney document to assist you.

Power of Attorney or sometimes known as a durable Power of Attorney tend to be able to make decisions about financial matters such as accessing bank statements, paying bills, or establishing insurance benefits.

A Power of Attorney is also the name associated with a personal decision maker for an Advance Directive. An Advanced Directive is a legal document that allows you to choose a decision maker for your medical care needs and end of life decisions.

The State of Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services will sometimes require a client of Personal Care Services or Medicaid Wavier to have to have a limited Power of Attorney.  This type of appointment is limited to very specific duties like signing timesheet for services.

You can choose a person to act on your behalf as your primary decision maker as well as an alternative representative who can assist you if your first choose is unable to provide the assistance. You will want to choose someone who you trust with your information and who knows what kind of decisions you would make for yourself, if you could express your own wishes.

To obtain Alaska Power of Attorney documents: See Alaska Legal Services Family Self-Help at: https://alaskalawhelp.org/issues/life-planning/powers-of-attorneyadvance-directives

To obtain the State of Alaska Division of Senior and Disability Services Limited Power of Attorney at: https://health.alaska.gov/dsds/Documents/pca/Limited_POA.pdf

For assistance with completing a Power of Attorney

Alaska Legal Services – https://alaskalawhelp.org/issues/life-planning/powers-of-attorneyadvance-directives

Other possible resources private legal counsel, case manager, or hospital social worker.

Guardianship/Conservatorship

Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) along with all Alaskan Aging Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) provide the first step in the application process for a Medicaid Wavier or Medicaid Personal Care Services, known as a Person-Centered Intake (PCI) which is a short pre-screening tool that is completed with SAIL staff and submitted to the State of Alaska for review.

ADRC Referral Form

Referral Tips:

1) SAIL will accept the “referral form” but the individual seeking assistance will need to initiate the first contact to establish contact with SAIL.  SAIL will not call the individual based solely on the referral form submission.

2) Always obtain a Release of Information form from the individual to ensure appropriate coordination of support with respect to confidentiality.

Referral process:

Step 1: If you live in Southeast Alaska, contact your local ADRC site in Juneau at: 907-523-4428; Ketchikan at 907-225-4735; Haines at 907-766-3295 or call toll free: 1-855-565-2017. Someone will answer your call, take down basic demographic information and schedule an Intake.
SAIL conducts the intake/screening within 3 business days or at a time of your choosing.  If you’re in Juneau, Ketchikan or Haines they may try to meet face-to-face with the individual seeking the waiver, if possible.  For those outside Juneau, Ketchikan or Haines, the intake will be conducted by phone.

Step 2: Proceed with the Intake/Screening at the scheduled time.  You can expect to discuss your current disability or medical condition and how this affects you.  SAIL will ask questions to determine if you already have Medicaid and if you are receiving any services or support from an agency or other benefits.  Then they will ask questions to understand what you need help with, and what you can do for yourself with respect to your own care. Some of the questions may feel quite personal and it may be uncomfortable to admit that you are having difficulties, however, it is important that you respond as truthfully as possible. If you over-state your abilities, the intake/screening results may not reflect your true needs.

Step 3: At the end of the Intake, they will share the preliminary results with you. SAIL also may discuss other options like grant services or benefits which you may be eligible for.  This tool is designed to give them an idea if you may qualify for waiver services with the State.  The waiver application process takes time and if other options are available and better meet your needs, you may decide to forgo the waiver application process. Regardless of the Intake results, you are always free to apply for waiver services.

Step 4: Depending on what you are interested in pursuing, they will provide you with the information you need to access benefits & services or outline the next steps in applying for waiver services. SAIL will also follow up with you to ensure you’re on the right track to obtaining the services you need. If you hit a roadblock or decide to change course, you can always return to your ADRC for more assistance.

It is important to remember the Intake/Screening does not determine your eligibility for Medicaid or waiver services. That determination will be made by the State after a formal application is submitted. This tool is designed only to give us an idea whether an application for waiver services may be worth your efforts.