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AGEnet stands for Alaska Geriatric Exchange Network, primarily made up of private non-profit organizations founded in Alaska. AGEnet’s goal is to help older Alaskans age in place, supporting them to live safely in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and avoid costly institutional care, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Community grants help Alaska’s seniors to age in place. Not only do older Alaskans prefer to stay in their own homes, it is also the least costly type of care. Last year, 19,000 older Alaskans ben...
We want it to be spring, but Alaska will continue experiencing icy sidewalks and slick roads for weeks. However, you can still get excellent exercise by walking safely and making yourself more visible to drivers. Wearing items that make you more visible, such as reflective tape, helps drivers see you in the dark. Center for Safe Alaskans is giving out free reflective tape by mail. To request reflective tape, call 907-929-3939 or visit the center's website at https://safealaskans.org/reflectivetape/. A grant from the Alaska Highway Safety Office...
Nearly 20,500 Alaskans are all too familiar with the toll that Alzheimer’s takes on their loved ones every day. Although new drug trials show promise for treatment, this disease currently has no cure and new diagnoses are being made every day. While few are unfamiliar with this disease, many don’t know that the signs and symptoms go beyond just memory loss. Individuals may experience personality changes, behavioral changes, sleep cycle changes, and more. As many new treatments are only effective in the early stages of the disease, it’s impor...
We feature here selections from two interviews. The first is with Deborah Bear, Anchorage senior activist, who presents her experiences and views regarding access to primary health care as a senior with Medicare. The second is with Tamara Brown, chief executive for Providence Clinical Network, who explains how Providence is responding to the need. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Weiss: Deborah Bear, how did you get started as an activist about the issue of access to pri...
Prior to the close of 2022, AARP Alaska received great news when Juneau, Alaska, became the 734th city to be enrolled in the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities. Juneau joins Anchorage (the 678th city enrolled) to promote neighborhood unity and maximize opportunities for residents to be active and engaged with their neighbors, family and friends to develop a community that invites and supports the participation of older people. Age-friendly communities improve the health and well-being of everyone, from newborns to...
It is well known that the Hispanic population has the second highest obesity rates in the world: More than 60% of Hispanics are overweight or obese. Both conditions occur when there is an excessive accumulation of body fat, especially in adipose tissue, subsequently leading to increased body weight. These conditions can be clinically detected through the Body Mass Index (BMI), with simple and easily measurable parameters. When the BMI is over 25, one is considered overweight and when the indicator is over 30, one is considered obese. This is no...
I will admit to being an enthusiastic, nutrition-minded cook with a penchant for making twice as much as my household can eat and often neglecting many purchased fresh edibles until they appear fit only for compost. Just this week, my countertop fruit bowl with tomatoes, avocados, apples, oranges and limes, transformed from beautiful and welcoming to "oh, no, I've done it again," with a couple overripe avocados and a seriously deteriorating, bruised apple. Even though none of us likes to throw f...
Hybrid immunity may be the best protection Analyzing data from controlled studies throughout the world, researchers discovered people with hybrid immunity are the most protected against severe illness and reinfection. Hybrid immunity occurs when someone has had at least the full series of vaccines and has a prior infection, in any order. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, now is helping public policymakers understand the optimal timing of vaccinations. “The results reinforce the global imperative for vaccination,” said stu...
Enrollment into Medicare or choosing different Medicare coverage may only happen during specific times of the year. This month we will learn about these enrollment periods, so you can make the most of them. As a reminder, initial Medicare enrollment is processed through the Social Security Administration, whether in-person during an appointment, over the telephone, or by going online through Social Security’s website. Know when to sign up for Medicare for the first time You may be a...
Sometimes life isn’t easy. Dealing with the unexpected is difficult and can at times impact our ability to pay the bills. If you are an Anchorage resident, age 60 or older, residing between Girdwood and Chugiak, have a utility delinquent notice and are experiencing a financial hardship which threatens your household’s ability to pay your utility bill, the Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) may be able to help. Please contact us directly at 907-343-7770. Experienced specialists will help guide you to the resources that are the...
Q: My grandfather went in to get one tooth repaired and came away with several thousand dollars of dental work performed. Is there anything I can do? What actions can prevent this from happening again? A: Overtreatment is the term used to describe unnecessary or extensive therapies. A patient may refuse treatment as long as they can understand their decision, the implications of that decision, and can act in their own best interest. Advocacy on behalf of those harmed due to excessive procedures...
Preventing heart attacks in new ways After years of research, scientists have now developed a wearable cardiac ultrasound imager that can non-invasively capture real-time images of the human heart for an extended period of time. The patch, which is about the size of a postage stamp, is comparable to a commercial ultrasound device. Further, the imager can be worn during exercise and provide valuable cardiac information when the heart is under stress. “While existing wearable patches in d...
If you're a senior, family member of a senior or social worker, you know the frustration of trying to find availability in long term care. With long waitlists for senior housing across the state, Timber Creek Senior Living is welcome news not just for Fairbanks, but for the state as a whole. As the aging population continues to grow across the state, seniors and families sometimes feel left behind as senior services and care communities are not keeping up with the growing demand. Timber Creek...
March is National Kidney Month, and Alaska Health Fair, Inc. and the National Kidney Foundation are urging everyone to take healthy steps to protect their kidneys. An estimated 26 million American adults have kidney disease, though most don’t know it. To protect your kidneys, you should get tested for kidney disease, reduce the use of NSAIDs (over the counter pain medicines), cut down on processed foods, exercise regularly, and control your blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for developing k...
It is midnight, and hunger strikes. You creep down to the refrigerator to find something to eat. You pick up a container, peer inside, and decide there are better options in the cabinet. You decide on peanut butter and crackers. The glass jar of natural peanut butter has yet to be opened, so you struggle to break the seal and twist off the lid. Next, you select the best container to store the peanut butter in after stirring it. This scenario isn't unique to humans. Birds must also figure out...
For various reasons, I had not cleaned out my email inbox for almost a year. So, last October I spent a whole weekend purging and filing. Not surprisingly, the majority of emails were from my two friends, Linda and Janet. Hundreds of them. We three helped each other get through the Covid pandemic – what could have otherwise been a lonely time. We've known each other since the early 1980s when we all lived in Cooper Landing and were in our 20s and 30s. My husband, Gary, and I moved there in A...
Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) announces the opening of WASI Mid-Valley Adult Day Services at their Mid-Valley Senior Center location in Houston. WASI's mission is to enable seniors to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. In keeping with that mission, WASI continues to develop programs that help seniors stay independent and living at home. As the number of seniors continues to increase dramatically in the Mat-Su Valley, families are often faced with exploring how to...
Do you know someone whose outstanding service, dedication and leadership have had a significant impact on the quality of life for seniors in Anchorage? The Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission is seeking nominations for the Annual Ron Hammett Award for community service, to be presented during Older Americans Month in May. Nominees for this honor must meet the following criteria: •Nominees must be an Anchorage resident. •Nomination may be made by an individual or organization. •Nomination should include both the achievements and backg...
How to stay healthy in Interior Alaska for those age 50 and older is the focus of “Fairbanks 50+: The Art and Science of Aging,” a two-day summit April 7 and 8 at the Pioneer Park Civic Center. The event aims to inspire a healthy path to growing older, according to a press release from organizer Foundation Health Partners, a program of the Community Health Improvement Plan for Senior Care. “The better we understand what it takes to support our goals as we age, the more likely we are to enjoy wider choices and fewer surprises. We also reach out...
On March 30, 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl exchanged copies of the Treaty of Cession, whereby America agreed to pay Russia $7.2 million for the territory of Alaska. The formal transfer of the territory did not happen until several months later, but Seward had been wanting Alaska for years before he finally succeeded in obtaining it. "Standing here and looking far off into the northwest, I see the Russian as he busily...
This column is primarily for beginners who want to buy their first paddle, but don't know where to start. I recommend buying a less expensive paddle to get you going just to see if this game is for you. If you find it's not, you hurt yourself, or you want to upgrade to a better paddle, you can always donate that cheaper paddle to your local club or school. I started by buying a very basic lightweight paddle from Pickle-ball, Inc. (the company formed by the inventors of the game). It was a...
For those of us who lived through the 70s and 80s, the comedic impressionist Rich Little was everywhere on television. While he guest-starred in many classic TV shows, Little will always be remembered for his hilarious appearances on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast TV series in the 1970s and early 80s. "I look back on those Dean Martin Roasts – and I did 24 of them – with much affection," said Little from Las Vegas, where he has been a long-time resident. "Aside from Ruth Buzzi, I'm the only reg...
Many Alaskans age 65 and older who are eligible to receive Senior Benefits from the state, do not. In part, it is because they have never heard of this benefit and, in part, some are under the impression that this benefit has long been eliminated. There is also another group of seniors who know about the benefit, have been receiving it for years, but since the reapplication process, have not received it. This article is to address seniors in all of these categories. What is Senior Benefits and how to apply The State of Alaska Senior Benefits...
Taxes can really take a bite out of your estate. You worked hard, you saved some of what you made instead of spending it all, and from what’s left, Uncle Sam might just take nearly 40%. Forty percent. Yeah, almost that much. I’m not really talking about the estate tax here. Yes, the federal estate tax (call it “death tax” if you prefer) is a flat 40% rate. But it only applies if your estate is more than $13 million. Or if you are a married couple, if they handle it right, $26 million. With apolo...
Q. I received an Apple Watch as a gift. I love the Minnie Mouse watch face, but do not know what else to do with it. Please help. A. The small screen on an Apple Watch can be difficult without practice, but I hope to show you that working through challenges has a worthwhile payoff. I do not have the space to explore step-by-step instructions, but I can describe a small subset of what is possible. For more, check out the link in the Wander the Web section below. The Apple Watch is essentially an iPhone dashboard for your wrist. In that role it c...
