Articles from the January 1, 2024 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
Access Alaska seeks peer mentors for new program
My name is Desiree Rodriguez, and I am the peer mentor advocate at Access Alaska. I happen to be in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury from cancer when I was age three. Although I grew up disabled, I have been fighting for my independence s...
Alaska attorneys provide free legal services on 2024 MLK Day
Editor's note: This press release was received on Jan. 9, 2024. On Monday, Jan. 15, the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Court System and Alaska Legal Services Corporation will host their fifteenth annual MLK Day free legal services event in...
Social Security and scam awareness
Social Security impostor scams continue to be widespread across the United States. Scammers use targeted, sophisticated tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. If you receive a suspicious letter, text, email, or call,...
The nurse who fell in love with Copper River Basin
Gay Wellman, how did you end up living in the Copper River Basin? I came up with my second husband to Alaska in '78. I just fell in love with the whole area. I was happy to live out here with my...
Age-Friendly Anchorage: Moving forward in 2024
Since Anchorage became a member of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in June 2021, AARP volunteers have been collecting feedback from Anchorage residents regarding what can be done to make Anchorage a more age-friendly place to l...
Planning for memorable vacations when faced with health issues
Q: My son has asked me to accompany his family on a vacation. They’ve requested I choose a destination suitable for my chronic illness. This seems like an unsettling task. A: Living with a chronic c...
Mindful grieving and recovery through yoga
Perhaps the most consistent element of the loss and grief process is its absolute in-consistency. Anyone who has lost a loved one to death, divorce, illness or separation knows firsthand the ebb and...
Keep your Alaska winter going swimmingly
In the dark winter months, swimming can be enjoyable and an outstanding full-body workout. Further, it can be an effective way of building and maintaining muscle strength. The water provides a...
Denied Medicare Part D coverage? You can appeal
While I am writing this month’s article, we are in the last few days of the annual Open Enrollment Period, when you may sign up to change your enrollment in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. T...
Simple self-care ideas for your mental health
Let’s take a moment to shed some light on this often misunderstood and overlooked aspect of our wellbeing. Mental health isn’t just about whether you’re feeling happy or sad at any given moment - it’s a complex tapestry that weaves itself through...
Free radon test kits available
The Alaska Radon Program will give out free radon tests for National Radon Action Month in January. Radon is a colorless, odorless cancer-causing gas that is commonly found in Alaska. With homes closed up during the winter, January is a good time to...
Drone AED deliveries and digestible sleep sensors
Drones equipped with defibrillators may help save lives Researchers have evaluated the possibility of alerting drones equipped with automated external defibrillators (AED) to patients with suspected...
Are you in danger of developing glaucoma?
Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about the eye disease glaucoma? My older brother was recently diagnosed with it and lost some of his vision, but never had a clue anything was wrong. Could I be at risk too? – Stressed Sibling Dear Stressed: Y...
Free support, resources for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following support group meetings in January: Jan. 2, Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai), 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 5, Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 16, Kenai Senior Center, 1 to 2...
Pickleball mobility: Your best moves happen before your game
Pickleball, a funny name for the fastest growing sport for several years now. My office at The Alaska Club East is near the area where we have our pickup pickleball games. The sounds are iconic – t...
AARP and United Way launch 211 program for Alaska caregivers
AARP Alaska has partnered with United Way to provide a new resource for Alaska’s 94,000 family caregivers. AARP Alaska and United Way Worldwide are using the 211 helpline to connect residents with trained, compassionate navigators and available l...
A checklist for preventing winter falls
The ice, snow and cold of wintertime are hazards, but with caution and preparation, people can stay safe and enjoy the winter season with a decreased risk of falls and injuries. This is vitally...
Kwethluk's Grandma Luula brings wisdom, joy to the classroom
My name is Lola Evan. I am from Hooper Bay, and I was born in 1947. As I was growing up there weren't many houses, only a few. It was a real beautiful small village with smiling friendly people....
The history of the Klondike Gold Rush never gets old
Somewhere in the wilds of Homer is Brian George Smith, a self-proclaimed "male action figure of the opposite of a crazy cat lady." He has 13 older, special needs cats who keep him company while he wri...
Sharing a love of sewing across generations
My daughter Erin called from her home in Colorado and left a voice message, "Call me when convenient. I want to talk about quilt batting." Erin had recently resumed work on the corduroy quilt she...
Woody Island's lucrative Alaska export: Ice
A little "two-by-four" island, a couple of miles off the city of Kodiak, has several Alaska firsts. The first horses in Alaska were brought here, the first road constructed, the Territory's first...
Joyce Bulifant's ups and downs of marriage and career
For those who keep track of Hollywood nuptials, the title of Joyce Bulifant's 2017 autobiography may not represent a marital world record, but it's certainly an attention grabber. The actress, who...
Video assistance with Social Security questions
The Social Security Administration partners with locations throughout Alaska to offer a secure video service option. Video service is a convenient and no-cost way for people to talk directly to a Social Security employee through a secure computer lin...
Free legal assistance for landlords, tenants
Alaska Legal Services will operate a free landlord/tenant helpline in January, Monday through Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. The helpline is staffed by volunteer attorneys who will answer rental-related questions from landlords and tenants alike on...
The big executor question: Who to pick?
When you were a kid, there was a standard protocol for choosing sides in a pickup game. The two best players—and everybody knew who they were—did some little contest to see who would pick first. If...