Articles from the December 1, 2013 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
The adventure never ends for Dick Griffith
Sheer canyon walls rose vertically on either side of the Colorado River as we approached the churning white water. Dick Griffith and I knelt on the floor of the inflatable raft, a position where we...
Survey contrasts attitudes of centenarians vs. baby boomers
Only six percent of centenarians say they wished they had more money. This is indeed surprising because most people don’t expect to live to age 100, so many have run short of retirement savings before reaching this advanced age. This small proporti...
New faces and projects at OPAG, Senior Voice
Older Persons Action Group held its annual meeting on Nov. 15, conducting general business and board member elections. Existing board members were re-elected, and a new member was added. Welcome...
Give cautiously in wake of Typhoon Haiyan disaster
In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, email scams which solicit the wiring of money to stranded victims in the Philippines are surfacing. Better Business Bureau and the Alaska Attorney General warn willing donors to give cautiously over the next few...
AHFC introduces new public housing rental policies
As one of only 39 housing finance agencies across the country recognized by the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) as Moving to Work, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is announcing the first major overhaul of how public...
Sleep is even more important than we thought
More than once have my well-intentioned suggestions for maintaining health been dismissed as not worth the effort. Even my wonderful mother, at 89 years, will sometimes say, “I don’t care if I live longer so stop telling me to exercise and eat...
Subtle symptoms may indicate male menopause
Menopause, or change of life – as women become too old to bear children – can frequently be an agonizing and stressful time. But did you know there is male menopause? It’s one of the “most under-diagnosed” ailments among older men,...
News about Medicare, poverty guidelines and more
Time is running short December 7 is the last day you can change your plan for the Medicare drug program Part D, unless you are also on Medicaid or new to Medicare or need financial help. Some good...
'Last chance' help with Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment
If you need to sit down face-to-face with a certified Medicare counselor, there will be a “Last Chance Medicare Prescription Enrollment Clinic” at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, December 2 and 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The address is 3200...
Aphasia: when stroke robs you of your speech
Most people take for granted the ability to communicate through speech and gesture. From birth, much of our life is dedicated to first acquiring the ability to speak, and then improving it through continual use. The “Matthews Effect” explains...
Geriatric education series offers Internet training
SENIOR VOICE STAFF A series of online trainings will be available beginning in January, sponsored by the Area Health Education Center (AHEC), UAA Office of Health Programs Development, and the Trust Training Cooperative. The series is a partnership...
Good reasons to fill up on coffee and cranberries
Cranberries and chronic infections Go ahead and have an extra helping of cranberries over this holiday season. The latest studies show that cranberries pack a major nutritional punch and may help...
Training and support for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following meetings and trainings in December: Dec. 3, Caregiver training at Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m., “Living Old: Modern Realities of Aging”. Dec. 10, Peer support...
Someone you know could likely use your help
Imagine your family is far away. Strangers bathe and dress you, but you’ve had a stroke, so it is hard to explain that your roommate is stealing your things. You’re a senior in a long term care...
Rossman Peetook: A man playing many parts
Sitting in the Barrow Senior Center after lunch, Rossman Peetook of Wainwright looked back on his movie career with no trace of ego, something surely remarkable in an actor. "They were making movies...
Alaska Native code talkers receive Congressional medal
Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young recently honored members of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and 32 other tribes from across the...
Award-winning philanthropy
Jean Kaufman was named this year's Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska Chapter annual meeting Nov. 7 in Anchorage. Kaufman, 94, has...
Alaska Commission on Aging to meet in Anchorage
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold its quarterly meeting Dec. 11 and 12 in Anchorage. The first day will be an orientation for new commission members at the BP Energy Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Dec. 12, the meeting takes place at the...
Fairbanks started out with some rich banks
Felix Pedro joined the Klondike rush in 1898 from the Carbonado coalmines in Washington state. But his lucky number failed to come up, so he and Frank Costa, another Italian prospector, wandered over...
Rod Serling's personal 'zone' was not at all like his show
It's been called one of the most influential programs in the history of television drama. "The Twilight Zone," an anthology series that aired in the early 1960s, was created by Rod Serling (1924-1975)...
Get legal assistance when preparing for taxes on life insurance benefits
Dear Jonathan: Several years ago I purchased a 20-year term life insurance policy on my life with a death benefit of $3 million. The premiums were reasonable and since my wife and I had saved very little for retirement, I wanted to make sure that...
Youtube, iPhones and proper use of thumbdrives
Q. How can I upload a video from my iPhone or iPad to YouTube? Do I have to save it to my computer first and if so, in what format? A. If you create a video using your iPhone or iPad, you do not need to save it to a computer in order to place it on...
Great gifts for people on the go
With Christmas fast approaching, have you finished your gift list, checked it twice and finished your shopping? Or do you still have some presents to buy? If you need ideas for what to get for folks...
Budget ax hovers over Washington
Put the president’s health care law aside, at least for now. Temporarily forget that the nation just went through the government shutdown ordeal. Get ready for the next crisis. It’s already on its way. Democratic and Republican lawmakers on...