Our mission is to support Alaskans affected by Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and other disabilities to ensure quality of life.
What We Do
At Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska (ARA), we believe no one should face the challenges of Alzheimer’s and related dementias alone. We provide the following services:
Care Navigation
When you’re facing the many decisions that come with caregiving - medical, financial, housing, and more -our Care Navigation team steps in to guide you onward. We help you understand your choices, connect with trusted services, and make confident decisions so that both you and your loved one have a clear path forward.
Care Coordination
Medicaid Waiver funded assistance in coordinating dementia care.
Educational Programs & Webinars
Increasing understanding of dementia and disability care tailored for individuals, families, and professionals.
Support Groups & Engagement
Includes Drop-in support (online or by phone), Creative programs like Art Links, The Forget-Me-Not Chorus for joyful connection through music Peer Support Groups.
Memory Screenings & Consultations
Helping assess needs and connect individuals with resources in person, by phone, or Zoom.
Coaching
Personalized professional guidance provided individually.
Mini-Grants
Helping fund services like respite care, home modifications, medical equipment, and other quality-of-life supports.
Virtual Dementia Tours
Fostering empathy by simulating the dementia experience.
Community Outreach
Raising awareness about dementia risk reduction and ARA’s resources.
Dementia Training for Professionals
Equipping first responders, care staff, and healthcare providers.
Meeting Alaska’s Growing Dementia Challenge
The journey with Alzheimer’s and related dementias can be overwhelming, but no Alaskan has to face it alone. As our state's population ages faster than any other in the nation, the need for specialized support, education, and care services grows more urgent every day.
Our History
Founded by two sisters from Anchorage caring for their mother with dementia, ARA has grown from grassroots support to a statewide leader in dementia and disability services. Key milestones include:
1984
Incorporated as the Alzheimer’s Disease Family Support Group and received the first state grant.
1996–2005
Expanded services to include Medicaid Waiver Care Coordination, consumer-directed care, and the Amblin’ for Alzheimer’s fundraiser.
2015–2020
Became a conflict-free Care Coordination agency and expanded service locations in Mat-Su and Juneau.
2020–Present
Transitioned many services to virtual delivery to better reach rural Alaskans with a focus on risk reduction. Expanded Rural Outreach Established Resource Specialist and Care Navigation Services.
Our People Make All the Difference
Lisa Sauder is an accomplished leader in the nonprofit sector, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as the Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska (ARA). With a remarkable track record in nonprofit leadership, Lisa’s tenure spans over two decades.
Previously, Lisa served as the Executive Director of Bean’s Cafe, a prominent organization in Anchorage dedicated to addressing homelessness and hunger. Her strategic vision and leadership played a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s impact and reach within the community.
Before her role at Bean’s Cafe, Lisa was the Executive Director for the Alaska chapter of the American Heart Association, where her strategic approach and dedication significantly contributed to the success of the association’s mission to promote cardiovascular health and reduce the impact of heart diseases in Alaska.
Lisa is honored to join the ARA team, recognizing the transformative power of nonprofit organizations. Committed to enhancing the services and support provided by ARA, she is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Her extensive background in nonprofit leadership, coupled with her passion for serving the Alzheimer’s community, positions her well to lead ARA into its next phase of growth and impact.
Lisa works with a diverse board of directors, professional staff, family caregivers, and community partners across Alaska to oversee the organization’s effectiveness by providing strategic, operational, and inspirational leadership that is consistent with the mission, values, and principles of Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. She resides in South Anchorage and enjoys fishing, hiking, bike riding and cooking for friends and family.
In October 2023, Rob made a bold move from Virginia to Alaska, drawn by the exciting opportunity to become the Director of Operations at Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. Despite never having visited Alaska before, the job offer inspired him to take the leap. Soon after arriving, Rob not only developed a deep affection for his role but also fell in love with the beauty of Alaska.
Beyond his professional commitment, Rob has a genuine passion for nature and wildlife. During weekends, you’ll often find him hiking, even in the snow and frigid temperatures, embracing the outdoor wonders that Alaska has to offer.
Meet the Board of Directors
I retired from education (Math Teacher, Principal, and District Director) in 2017 after 37 years to care for my wife with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. It was our dream to move to our Alaska property full-time after we retired, so I built my wife an off-grid home with an indoor toilet for the last several years of her life. Alzheimer’s Resources of Alaska was a stabilizing force during those final years as they helped us find a private care assistant, put us in contact with legal services when needed, awarded us grants to make it easier for my wife to live at home and were there when I was having difficulty and needed to talk. My wife, Laura, died in January of 2023, and that following summer I joined the ARA Board of Directors so I could use my administrative and non-profit background to help ensure ARA was able to continue providing the services that benefit those with Alzheimer’s. I use my time teaching bible studies, working with my church, being on the board of ARA, and assisting one other Alaska non-profit, plus I garden and tend to my 20 acres, love to always have a building or mechanical project in process and stay in contact with my three children and nine grandchildren. It is hard being single after 45 years of marriage, but the Lord is with me.
I serve on the Board of Directors of Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska because I believe deeply in the importance of ensuring that no individual or family has to navigate Alzheimer’s or related dementias alone. ARA’s commitment to compassionate, accessible, and practical support across Alaska is what drew me to the organization and continues to inspire my service.
I bring more than ten years of nonprofit financial management experience to my role, along with key insights into operational practices that help mission-driven organizations succeed. As Treasurer, I work to support financial sustainability and ensure responsible stewardship of the organization’s resources. What I value most about ARA is its person-centered approach and its ability to meet individuals and families where they are, whether through education, care coordination, support groups, or outreach. I believe strong financial oversight is not just about numbers, but about enabling programs and services to have real impact in people’s lives.
After moving to Alaska over ten years ago with my husband and children, I quickly fell in love with its natural beauty and strong sense of community. From vibrant summers to uniquely special winters, Alaska truly feels like home. Outside of my board service, I enjoy volunteering with many nonprofits in Anchorage, spending quality time with my family, and relaxing at home with our dog and two cats. Serving on the ARA board allows me to combine my personal passion and professional skills in meaningful ways that benefit the broader community.
I have served on the board of the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska (ARA) for the last 6 years. I am impressed with this unique nonprofit agency’s quality of service and commitment. With an increasing older adult population in Alaska, ARA is needed now more than ever! With over 25 years of professional experience in Alaska’s senior services, I have held key roles in advocacy, education, and administration at the state and local levels. My passion focuses on improving the lives of older adults, with an emphasis on addressing health challenges that come with age. My journey in senior services began with personal experience as a caregiver for my parents, who both faced dementia in their later years. My father was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, while my mother experienced multiple strokes that led to Vascular dementia. As caregivers, my sister and I witnessed the profound effects of these illnesses, which not only changed their lives but also shaped my purpose. Alaska is fortunate to have the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, which has been serving seniors and their families since 1984. ARA offers a variety of programs including educational classes, support groups, professional training, and care coordination. ARA helps families navigate the complexities of healthcare and social services. While my own family did not have access to such services, ARA plays a pivotal role in making a significant difference to those impacted by ADRD, by providing hope and help to many in our state.
I’m Kara Thrasher-Livingston. I have 2 young adult sons who have autism and live with me and my husband at home. I have a brother who experiences intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). We grew up together in the family home. I moved to Anchorage with my husband in 1993 to be closer to family. I volunteered with a service agency for people with IDD and their families. I became a direct care staff there, then worked as a program manager. I earned a Master’s in Adult Education from the University of Alaska. Then I began working for the State of Alaska Department of Health, Senior and Disabilities Services as an educator for community providers doing long term services and supports through Alaska Medicaid. I’ve been lucky to learn, participate and teach about a complicated system involving State and federal regulations, and to bring my experience as an advocate, family member and end user into the conversation. I enjoy helping Alaskans do their best for people and families. My mother was a big influence on me. She kept our family together in times when most people with a severe disability were expected to live in an institution, instead of at home. Because of her, our family was inclusive. She enriched my life with lots of support, showing me how to cook, appreciate the arts, and going camping and hiking. She encouraged me to be a creative person. She lived with Alzheimer’s for the end years of her life. She enjoyed the art program at ARA. I have wonderful memories of doing art with her then. She passed away in 2019. I enjoy going on vacations with the family, creating original rock and metal music, going for walks, painting, and teaching my sons to create their own artwork.
I am a proud Alaskan, born and raised in this beautiful state, and I share my life with my husband, Michael, who is also a lifelong Alaskan. Together, we are navigating the rewarding yet challenging journey of parenthood as full-time working parents of three wonderful children. Our family includes a spirited 13-year-old daughter and energetic twins, a boy and a girl, who are about to turn 8. My personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease runs deep. My grandmother was diagnosed with the illness during my middle school years, and I witnessed the profound impact it had on her and our family. Her battle with Alzheimer’s lasted until she passed away in 2017, leaving a lasting impression on my life and motivating me to take action. In 2020, I joined the ARA Board with the hope of learning more about this complex disease and to contribute to the education and awareness efforts in Alaska. I believe that by sharing knowledge and resources, we can help others facing similar challenges and foster a supportive community for those affected by Alzheimer’s. I enjoy going on vacations with the family, creating original rock and metal music, going for walks, painting, and teaching my sons to create their own artwork.
I am a 3rd generation Alaskan who grew up on the Kenai peninsula and spent teenage summers working at my dad’s fish processing plant. I successfully escaped from the ‘slime line’ and earned degrees in psychology and nursing. I have worked in healthcare for 20 years, and I’ve been honored to spend the last 7 years as a family nurse practitioner at Southcentral Foundation primary care center. In 2025 I also completed training and board certification as a psychiatric nursing practitioner.
My inspiration to join the board at ARA is twofold. I witnessed my husband’s family navigate the complex, exhausting, and often isolating world of dementia with a close family member. I am also frequently inspired by my patients living with dementia- I want to become a more skilled dementia care provider and an advocate both within my professional healthcare community and the community at large. I believe the ARA has a passionate and dedicated team and I’m excited to watch their mission and vision unfold in real time!
In my spare time I enjoy adventuring with my husband and two wild boys, serving in my church, competing in triathlons and running races, assembling jigsaw puzzles, and hanging with my two black cats and one spunky ‘village mix’ dog. I am also a proud living kidney donor as of March 2024 and love sharing my experience and raising awareness for living organ donation.
Angela Merkle serves as a board member for the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska and is passionate about supporting individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across the state. She brings a strong commitment to community health through her professional work with the American Cancer Society, where she contributes to advancing support, education, and resources for those facing serious illness.She lives in Anchorage with her husband, Nic, and their daughter, Madilyn. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, she enjoys reading, traveling, fishing, and camping—embracing the many opportunities Alaska offers to explore the outdoors. Through her role on the board, Angela is proud to help strengthen programs and outreach that improve quality of life for Alaskans impacted by memory loss.
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