Articles from the July 1, 2014 edition
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Are you sure you're the beneficiary?
If your spouse has a retirement plan of his or her own, are you the beneficiary? Are you sure? Federal law requires that for 401(k) plans and most types of retirement accounts, the spouse must be the beneficiary. But this is not true of all types of...
Serving up a healthy lifestyle in Sitka
"This is the heart of Sitka for so many seniors." Anita VanDyck shared this with me as she was busy serving desserts, fresh fruit cups, to several tables at Swan Lake Senior Center for the Friday...
Stay out of Iraq and focus on our veterans instead
During the past few years I have limited my Senior Voice commentary to non-controversial matters; however, I want to take this opportunity to expand the dialogue regarding further American military involvement in the Middle East. After 9/11, the USA...
New law promises a 'probate revolution'
Effective July 21 this year, under a new law, an owner will be able to sign a transfer on death (TOD) deed transferring real property to a person or organization (including a charity) upon death. The TOD deed must provide a few simple facts, includin...
IRS impostors ramp up deceitful robocalls
It’s one of the “Dirty Dozen” tax scams and it’s making its way across the Pacific Northwest again. Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington has received several reports of IRS impersonators. The Internal Revenue Service...
AARP says more must be done to support family caregivers
According to a new, state-by-state, long-term care scorecard from AARP, Alaska ranks fifth in the nation overall when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents. But AARP cautions against too much optimism since improvements...
Hepatitis C: Older Americans are at higher risk
Hepatitis C is a disease that is caused by a virus that affects the liver. Even though the disease often doesn’t produce symptoms, it can seriously damage the liver and can be fatal. An estimated 3.2 million Americans have Hepatitis C. Older p...
Get your coupons for fresh, local produce
Alaska's food-growing season is kicking into high gear and Alaska farmers grow some of the best produce in the country, so now's the time to pick up your sheet of coupons for locally-grown fruits and...
Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line adds new tools for smokers
Two-thirds of Alaska adults who currently smoke say they want to quit. The state Department of Health and Social Services is now offering additional support to help them. Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line has enhanced the free tools it offers to provide e...
Updates on Medigap, state retiree benefits, more
If you are new to Medicare, you need to know that Medicare almost always only pays 80 percent of the cost of most medical procedures. In order to be completely covered, you should buy a Medicare...
Anchorage seminar will focus on better 'health literacy'
Every day, people confront situations that involve life-changing decisions about their health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using the health information that is routinely avail...
Gun ownership should not be the VA's focus
Just when you thought the VA couldn’t be more offensive, we find out they are denying veterans with traumatic brain injuries and/or post traumatic stress disorders (TBI/PTSD) of their Second Amendment rights. Yes, you read this correctly, veterans as...
New depression treatments move beyond just drugs
New findings in the physiological causes of depression are leading to treatments other than widely used antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft, according to a report in the journal Current Psychiatry. Depression is a problem facing many seniors....
New uses for breath tests; benefits of prunes
Breath test may be important new tool against lung cancer Researchers have now come up with a new breath test that can diagnose patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as...
Free training and support for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings and trainings in July. This month’s theme is Nation UV Safety Awareness Month, with a handout on the risks of sun damage provided at each caregiver s...
Medicine mistakes are common, can be serious
Most Americans – 75 percent! – don't take their medicine as directed. Forgetting pills, taking them at the wrong time of the day, not filling a prescription because of cost or inconvenience – all t...
All aboard for the fair
This year's Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines is July 31 through Aug 3, with the theme "Unleash Your Inner Fair." In its 46th year, the fair reflects the cultures and people of Southeast Alaska. S...
12th Annual Alaska International Senior Games, Aug. 8-17 in Fairbanks
This year's Alaska International Senior Games will be held Aug. 8-17 in the Fairbanks area. Events range from horseshoes, bocce and golf to tennis, racquetball, archery, cycling, track and field,...
Elections near: Registration and early voter deadlines
July 20 Deadline for voters to register to vote or to update their registration. Aug. 4 First date for Absentee In Person; Early Voting; Electronic Transmission; and Special Needs Voting to begin. Aug. 19 Primary Election Day, Polls open 7 a.m. to 8...
Treadwell's tons of gold
A gambler's hunch compelled California mining magnate John Treadwell to purchase a claim from "French Pete" for $400. That decision turned into the discovery of the famed "Glory Hole" on Douglas...
Marsha Hunt: The blacklisted beauty who bounced back
Eighty years ago, 16-year-old Marsha Hunt began her professional career with a prominent New York City modeling agency. But her real love since the age of four was acting. So, the following year, in M...
Miscellaneous information about your money
Why some older people are sitting ducks for con artists Sad but true, seniors are often targeted by scam artists because they make good victims. Reader’s Digest asked one former con artist, Jim, what it is about some seniors that make them the f...
Choosing a power of attorney for a 'control freak'
Dear Jonathan: I am an elderly gentleman who is not married and has no children. Because I have become increasingly aware of my own mortality, I have decided to engage in estate planning for the first time in my life. Interestingly, I am more concern...
It's easy to move photos from smartphone to PC
Q. Can you recommend a simple program to move pictures from my Android phone to my Windows 7 computer? A. You really don’t need a program or an app to do that. Instead, follow these steps and you should be all set: First, connect your smartphone t...
Buffalo, where there's something for everyone
Buffalo, New York is a vibrant city filled with lots to do and discover for persons of all ages. At the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, you can see one of the world's most impressive collections of modern...
