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Assisted Living Services

The Kotzebue Senior Citizens Center is a licensed, 20-bed assisted-living facility that provides regional elders with a safe, comfortable setting to live while maintaining individual independence and dignity. Residents receive meals, assistance with medication, grooming and other personal care according to their individual needs. The program also offers a transient room for elders coming to Kotzebue for medical or social appointments and need a place to overnight.

Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes Prevention provides specialized education and care for those at risk of, or diagnosed with Diabetes. Both primary prevention (stopping the onset of Diabetes) and secondary prevention (stopping complications after Diabetes occurs) are addressed in this program. Prevention oriented programs are conducted in schools and community centers with groups of all ages in all service area communities. Individualized and family care for diagnosis and prevention of complications is provided in clinical settings as well as health fairs and home visits. The Diabetes prevention staff visits all villages on a periodic basis to make home visits, conduct diagnostic and care clinics, and to gather data concerning the prevalence of diabetes in the Northwest Arctic Borough.

Emergency Medical Services

The EMS Department has a dual function. The Paramedic/Trainers staff the Maniilaq MedFlight plane, flying over 300 missions a year with contracted sources, ranging from pre- hospital emergencies to inter-facility transfers. The Flight Paramedic/Trainers are also responsible for all pre-hospital certification classes and continuing education for the staff at Maniilaq Health Center and the Northwest Arctic Borough, as well as Basic First Aid and CPR classes for the public. The Flight Paramedic/Trainers can also be called upon to assist Kotzebue Volunteer Fire Department with ambulance calls and any emergency that over taxes their resources. Maniilaq EMS is also an intricate part of the Northwest Arctic Borough’s Emergency Management Plan and participates in all regional and local Emergency Preparedness Drills. Maniilaq EMS is also responsible for coordinating Search & Rescue for the Northwest Arctic Borough.

You can find the State EMS web site at www.chems.alaska.gov. The Regional EMS sites are www.iremsc.org and www.sremsc.org.

Health Education

Health Education employs staff in Kotzebue and in several regional villages. Projects include organization of school and community health fairs, health-related school programs, supply of health education materials to teachers & community groups, and assistance with preventive health training for Maniilaq employees. Health Education provides education, information, and referrals on all health-related topics. The program writes and distributes Pulse Points, the regional health letter, and Vibrant Living, the Maniilaq Association employee letter. Health education also offers information services to walk-in customers, provides health education videos, models, displays, and books, and organizes and coordinates all regional health fairs.

Home Care

Administered through the Kotzebue Senior Citizens Cultural Center, Home Care provides Personal Care Attendants and Chore Service Providers to elderly and disabled residents of the Northwest Arctic Borough and Point Hope. This program enables individuals whose medical needs would otherwise require placement in an acute or long term facility to remain safely and comfortably in their own home.

Injury Prevention

Unintentional injuries are a major cause of fatality in arctic Alaska. The Injury Prevention program conducts educational and informational programs to increase public awareness of risks and prevention strategies. Additionally, Injury Prevention sells safety equipment such as helmets, life preservers, fall-prevention supplies and survival suits to the public at reduced prices. Other services include home safety surveys, smoke alarm installation and survival and flying safety classes.

Public Health Nursing

This department attempts to control communicable diseases and promote health and wellness for all residents in Maniilaq’s service area by offering numerous services, including well-child screening, immunizations, tuberculosis testing and follow-up treatment, and case management for patients with sexually transmitted diseases.