Anchorage Pioneers Home

The Anchorage Pioneers' Home is a five-story building occupying one third of a city block overlooking an area known as the Park Strip. This "greenbelt" in the center of metropolitan Anchorage area divides the business district from the oldest residential area of the city. The Pioneers' Home sits like a jewel in the crown of this historical community core. Behind Anchorage to the south and east lies the Chugach Mountains, easily visible from most floors of the Home. Mt. McKinley peaks out over the skyscrapers of the downtown area to the north and Cook Inlet lies to the west. The Home has accomadations for over 200 elders occupying four stories on the south side of the building and two stories on the north side of the building. Because of its size, the Home is almost a village within the city. A spacious dining room on the fifth floor, and five smaller, more intimate dining areas located throughout the building, allow many different kinds of dining experiences to take place within the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. Additionally, several lounge and recreation areas located throughout the building offer residents a wide range of places for activities to take place without ever having to leave the building. The Home's convenient location to the Park Strip also provides opportunity for leisurely walking and access to the shopping, restaurant and entertainment venues of the city. The home strives to assist older Alaskans to have the highest quality of life by providing assisted living in a safe home setting which promotes independence, positive relationships, meaningful activities and physical, emotional and spiritual growth. Like the other five Pioneers' Homes, the Anchorage Home offers different levels of services depending on health status and need. In 2000 the home became registered as an official Eden Alternative™ home. The Eden goal is to create a home environment where elders, caregivers, support staff, family members, friends and volunteers can flourish and grow. Elders of the Anchorage Home include many of the great Pioneers of the first half of the 20th century including homesteaders, miners, and bush pilots. The Anchorage Home also boasts pioneer fathers and mothers who turned Anchorage from a railroad tent town to Alaska's center of commerce and culture. These pioneering icons range in age from mid 60's to 104