Medication Reminders in Utqiaġvik, AK: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Utqiaġvik, AK: the local picture

22%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (16% in North Slope Borough)

26%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in North Slope Borough)

47%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (34% in North Slope Borough)

552

residents 65 or older (12% of Utqiaġvik)

About 118 Utqiaġvik residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (22%; 16% in North Slope Borough). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

138 older residents live alone (26%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Utqiaġvik compared with North Slope Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Utqiaġvik	North Slope Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	22%	16%	7.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	22%	27%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	47%	34%	11%
Residents 85 or older	0.1%	0.2%	0.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	45%	38%	15%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	20%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,965	$62,656	—

Hospitals near Utqiaġvik

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital	Barrow, AK	2.5 mi	not rated	(907) 852-4611

Straight-line miles from the center of Utqiaġvik. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for medication reminders can help with

Reminders at the times the doctor or pharmacist set
Checking a pill organizer or blister pack
Picking up refills and noticing when one is due
Keeping a simple log the family can see

Cost

What medication reminders costs in Utqiaġvik

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $5,247 monthly median income of Utqiaġvik households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for medication reminders

A caregiver reminds; giving medication (putting pills in the person’s hand or mouth, injections, eye drops on someone’s behalf) is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a separate state certification. Ask your pharmacist about pill organizers and blister packs, which make reminders easier to check.

Questions worth asking: How do you remind without taking over? How would you check that a dose was taken? Can you pick up refills on the way? More in our medication reminders guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Medication Reminders in Utqiaġvik: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Utqiaġvik?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $5,247 monthly median income of Utqiaġvik households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a caregiver give medication?

Usually not. A caregiver can remind and check; giving medication is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a state medication certification. Ask your state’s rules if you need more.

More near Utqiaġvik

More senior care near Utqiaġvik

Other care in Utqiaġvik

More for Utqiaġvik families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Medication Reminders at Home in Utqiaġvik, AK