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The Senior Benefits program, administered by the Division of Public Assistance, provides a critical safety net for older Alaskans age 65 and older who live on small fixed incomes to help pay for food, fuel, housing, prescribed medications and other necessities. The Governor’s amended budget proposes a 25.4 percent reduction to the Senior Benefits program that will result in a 20 percent reduction in benefit amounts for seniors who qualify for the program with incomes between 75 and 175 percent federal poverty level. The proposed reduction w...
Anchorage is celebrating its centennial year, 2015, in many ways. One of the first events to come to life, reflecting the community's unique history, was a project of the Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Guild. A show called "10 Decades and Counting – the Story of Anchorage in Quilts," made its debut in September in the ConocoPhillips atrium. It's an intriguing, stunning display, not only of local quilting skills, but of the colorful history of Anchorage, told through the traditional medium of q...
For the second time in three years, the U.S. Supreme Court could determine the fate of the president’s health care law with a case coming up for oral arguments in March. While a limited number of seniors are covered under the health care law, a Court decision could have a big impact financially on your health care costs if the High Court rules the law unconstitutional. With President Obama controlling the veto pen over Congress, lawmakers and the White House will continue their health care legislative standoff. Two years ago, the Supreme Court...
Keep track of senior-related bills, budget decisions and other issues by attending the Alaska Commission on Aging Legislative Teleconferences. Hosted by local agencies statewide, the teleconferences provide a convenient forum for seniors and advocates across Alaska to share information about issues and specific bills of concern. Teleconferences are scheduled 9:30 to 11 a.m. every other Thursday and weekly during the last month of session. The remaining 2014 meeting dates are March 12 and 26; April 9, 16 and 23. To participate, visit a host...
Interested in learning more about businesses and agencies providing senior services in the Anchorage area? Want to get the word out about your own service? The monthly Interagency Breakfast, sponsored by Older Persons Action Group, is an opportunity for all of the above. Informal, early and free, with breakfast provided for business and agency representatives. The March meeting is March 11 and will be hosted by the Cook Inlet Housing. Begins at 8 a.m. Call Older Persons Action Group to RSVP and get directions to the event, or for more...
Our granddaughter Olive is undergoing an excellent indoctrination into some of the finer films and television shows of years past. No, it’s not the work of her doting grandparents. We’re too far away to have enough time to indulge her in a quality cinematic education. But her uncle, who has half of my genetic makeup and all of my name, has been standing in nicely. He’s introduced his niece to the classics, movies and shows that celebrate the best of Western culture. Like “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” which is available to stream through Netflix. I...
The National Sleep Foundation kicks off Sleep Awareness Week with the nationwide Sleep in America Poll and ends on Daylight Savings Time each year in early March. It's no coincidence that Sleep Awareness Week coincides with Daylight Savings Time, the annual spring forward that comes with a loss of an hour of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation chose to host the event in early March due to the increase in sleep deprived related accidents, says Kevin Asp, founder of Alaska Sleep Clinic. In 2003,...
Alaska Health Fairs, Inc. continues its spring series of health fairs this month, featuring free health screenings and education, low cost blood tests and more. The test results give you and your health care provider important information about your physical condition and vital organ functions. A complete and comprehensive chemistry/hematology test is available for only $45 and panels 27 different tests for conditions ranging from diabetes, kidney and liver function, thyroid, prostate, bone metabolism and more. There are also tests to check...
Reliably taking medications at the right time in the right way (with food, or an hour before eating, etc.) can be a serious chore. Here are a few common problems and tips. Remembering whether you took a prescription Finding a system that works for you to track whether you’ve taken each med is key. Some people like using pill dispensers, some people like a weekly paper chart with boxes they can check off. Once the meds are filled in, the chart can be photocopied and kept near where drugs are s...
Julius Caesar was told to beware of the “ides of March” and that used to be a warning to us, too, to get our taxes done by the 15th. But the great IRS decided to give us another month, and so we can now relax until the 15th of April. Most seniors, if their income is only from Social Security, will not have to file for taxes anyway. Since this is the 50th anniversary year for the Medicare program, I am reiterating the following information for people who are new to Medicare and/or for the peo...
While we know diabetes can lead to complications and terrible health conditions, we also know diabetes can be managed and quality of life improved. Getting control of diabetes involves the whole person. Though managing your diabetes may feel overwhelming, the key is to work on two or three actions that lead to positive change. A combination of education and support can set you up for success. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sponsors a program called “Everyone with Diabetes Counts.” This program helps families and people wit...
For veterans, seeing temporary politicians take a knife to the military budget is nothing new. For some elected officials, low hanging fruit like retirement pay and TRICARE health care insurance is an easy choice since it directly affects so few voters. For those of us who began their military career with a “Greeting from Uncle Sam” letter from the draft board, we assumed we had a contract with the federal government. That contract was that if we spend 20 years in the military, we would be rew...
My youngest cousin, age 50, is the daughter I never had. Now she is dying of liver disease. Laura was here for a visit a few months ago, along with her two brothers and her father — my brother, Douglas. It was a delightful family visit, although Laura spent considerable time resting in our basement bedroom, missing out on the guffaws and accompanying banter, along with accounts of our recollections of past happier years when we all lived in Washington. Laura was the youngest of Doug’s offspring – a little child in glasses. She grew up to be a...
UAA’s Dental Hygiene Clinic is providing reduced cost dental hygiene care to staff, students and community members. As part of the Dental Hygiene program, students see patients under the supervision of a dentist from the Anchorage community. The clinic is HIPAA compliant and maintains the highest level of infection control procedures for patient safety. Services offered consist of dental examinations, dental cleanings, x-rays and sealants. Costs are less than private dental practices, however, the time needed to complete each service takes l...
Holy guacamole! An avocado a day may keep the doctor away It is believed that eating avocados may provide many important health benefits, and now you can add lowering your cholesterol levels to the list. A new study has found that individuals on a moderate-fat diet who ate an avocado every day had lower bad cholesterol (LDL ) levels than those on a similar diet without an avocado a day or on a lower-fat diet. The study, which was just published in the Journal of the American Heart Association,...
Congratulations to the Alaska International Senior Games (AISG) for their award for "Excellence in Games Promotion" at the National Senior Games Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in January. "We're very excited about receiving this award for the fourth year in a row," Darnall said. "Our 100-volunteer staff works hard throughout the year to make the games a success for seniors 50-plus." The 2015 Alaska International Senior Games will be held in Fairbanks, August 7-16. More information...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in March. This month’s theme is National Brain Awareness Month. March 2, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 10, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 12, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in the Blazy Mall, 5 p.m. March 17, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 17, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior C...
Do you know an outstanding individual whose service, dedication and leadership have had a significant impact on the quality of life for seniors in Anchorage? May is Older Americans Month, and once again, the Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission will be presenting the Ron Hammett Award. Ron Hammett, a commissioner serving on the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission in 2004, was an extraordinary man who exemplified the spirit of outstanding service to seniors and their families. He worked tirelessly as an advocate for seniors in...
Among the memorials in the Anchorage Municipal Park Cemetery stands a small, pink marker adorned with a palette. It is the final resting place of Sydney Mortimer Laurence, one of Alaska's greatest artists. Known for his dramatic landscape paintings, Laurence was one of the first professionally trained artists to live in the territory. His works, which often feature Mt. McKinley, hang in the Musee du Louvre in Paris, the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. and many other locations worldwide....
Older Persons Action Group, Inc. and the Social Security Administration are teaming up to present an educational forum, “Social Security: Everything You Always Wanted to Ask,” on March 10, from 6 to 7 p.m. The event will take place in Anchorage but people who sign up can call to listen and ask questions from anywhere in the state, via an 800 number Robin Schmidt, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist for the State of Alaska (and frequent Senior Voice contributor) will address what Social Security can mean to you and your family’s finan...
If you have watched television since the 1950s, there's no avoiding William Schallert. His distinctive, mellow voice and comfortingly familiar face have appeared on series ranging from "Father Knows Best" to "Desperate Housewives" and everything in between (see www.william-schallert.com). "I've never added up the total, but I did work a lot," said Schallert, from his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The tally of his television appearances is close to 300, with another 100 feature films – the fi...
Staff from Alaska’s Social Security office will be available for questions via videoconferencing at the following locations and times: Kodiak Job Center, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (March 10 and 24), 9 a.m. to noon. Kenai Senior Center, on the first and third Wednesday of each month (March 4 and 18), 9 a.m. to noon. Ketchikan Job Center, every Thursday (March 5, 12, 19 and 26), noon to 3 p.m. Social Security provides toll-free telephone service to all of Alaska. Residents in Alaska’s southeast communities can call the Jun...
Dear Jonathan: I know that the annual gift tax exclusion for 2014 was $14,000. Is this amount being increased for 2015, or is it staying the same? Jonathan says: The annual gift tax exclusion for 2015 will remain at $14,000. Dear Jonathan: How much will a person be able to shelter from federal estate tax in 2015? Jonathan says: The federal estate tax exemption will increase in 2015 from 2014’s amount of $5.34 million to $5.43 million dollars for a single person. A husband and wife will be able to shelter $10.86 million dollars from federal e...
Q. I’m using high-speed Internet over a phone line. It works okay, but on occasion it goes so slow that most sites never finish downloading. Is this a provider problem? A. I would start your investigation with your Internet service provider, and initially determine what connection speed range you should have. Your provider’s website will have that information or you can call their customer service department. With that information in hand, run several speed tests using a site such as speedtest.net, bandwidthplace.com or cnet.com/internet-speed-...
Many Alaskans I know say that Chicago is a great city and they love to visit. Traveling there in April for my son's wedding, I had a hard time adjusting to the fact that this is a city with a capital "C." It's really big. Think of it this way: Anchorage has a little over 300,000 people. Chicago? Close to 3 million – more than the entire state of Alaska. Unlike New York, with its landmarks of Central Park and the Empire State Building, I grasped for a sense of direction, some guide post, some f...
