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The American Rescue Plan (ARP) coronavirus stimulus package, which President Joe Biden signed into law in March, was designed to defeat the virus, get vaccines in the arms of Americans, checks in the pockets of those who need it, and jump-start the U.S. economy back to health, including safely re-opening schools. This bill is so large in scale – $1.9 trillion – that Republicans in both chambers opposed the legislation unanimously, characterizing it as bloated, crammed with what House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy called a “liberal wish list....
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, and available by toll-free call-in, the teleconferences provide a convenient forum for seniors and advocates across Alaska to share information about issues and specific bills of concern, including Medicaid, state budget and funding, senior assistance, retirement, Pioneer Homes and more. Zoom conferences are scheduled 9:30 to 11 a.m. every other Thursday and weekly...
As a retired Alaskan, I depend on quality health care from knowledgeable professionals. The health care workers I see regularly are people I know and have come to trust with my care. Alaska has a stringent set of standards when it comes to nurse licensing and robust continuing education requirements. It makes sense; we have a diverse population, both ethnically and geographically, and our aging population is growing as more and more people decide to make Alaska their retirement destination. Alaska depends on these highly trained professionals t...
AARP Alaska, Older Persons Action Group and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center continues its series of “Age Smart – Let’s Talk” forums on April 13, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Events are currently held virtually on the internet, using Zoom. The April topic is “Let’s Talk Theater: Bringing Positive Impacts,” with guest panelists David Block, Midnight Sun Theatre owner; Teresa Pond, Cyrano’s Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director, and Schatzie Schaefers, Cyrano’s General Manager. The “Age Smart – Let’s Talk” series is a monthly forum that focu...
The Alaska State Legislature is still working on the next steps for the Department of Administration’s (DOA) proposed closing of six rural DMV locations around the state of Alaska, including Delta Junction, Eagle River, Haines, Valdez, Tok and Homer for the FY2022 budget. On Mar. 18, Rep. Sara Vance, R-Homer, proposed HB 140 with the support of several constituents, including Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, a representative from one of the impacted DMV locations. HB 140 repeals the requirement for Alaskans – specifically for seniors age 69 and old...
No point being a member of the “Nice Club.” We seniors are important, and there are a lot of us. There are 139,000 seniors (age 60+) in the state. We represent 19% of the total Alaska population. According to the June 2019 issue of Alaska Economic Trends, Alaska seniors are growing faster than in any other state. We are one heck of a voting bloc, and we contribute billions of dollars to the state’s economy every year. Nevertheless, I resist beating my chest yelling, “We are invincible!” Because we are not. The pandemic hit us pretty hard and...
Over these last few weeks, the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) has joined Asian Americans across the country in grief and in alarm over the ongoing anti-Asian violence recently culminating in a nationwide series of separate attacks on our elders. Our hearts go out to the victims of these horrific acts and their families. This surge in anti-Asian hate against our communities has hit close to home, directly impacting our SEARAC family. Our Board Vice Chair, Kathy Duong, recently...
Smart watch detects COVID infection A new kind of smart watch may be able to tell if you become infected with COVID-19. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researchers are testing whether a wristwatch can capture real-time data and alert wearers of subtle physiological changes that may indicate they have become infected with COVID-19. The goal of the research is to prevent COVID-19 transmission in healthcare settings by letting wearers know that they may have been infected before clinical signs or symptoms of the virus start, accordin...
Hospice of Anchorage is pleased to announce an exciting expansion of our Resource Center. All resources will be available to the Anchorage community at no cost. This expansion helps fulfill our mission: to help individuals and families prepare for and live well with serious life-limiting illness, dying and grief. We work toward this mission through running the Resource Center for our community, and through our Lifeways Program that provides free nursing, social work, and volunteer support to anyone with a life-limiting illness. Equipment and...
What is home health care? What services are included in home health care? Who is eligible for these services? These are some common questions that people have about their Medicare benefits. Home health care includes a wide range of health and social services delivered in your home to treat illness or injury. Medicare covers skilled nursing services, such as injections and catheter changes. It covers home health aides, such as to help with bathing and dressing, and medical social services, such as counseling. It also covers skilled therapy servi...
April is a busy month for all Alaskans and the wonderful prospect of seeing more friends and family is right around the corner. Alaska Health Fair’s busy office and community draw schedule is updated occasionally, so check our website for the most recent event listings. We continue to follow our appointment model, which works extremely well, and our clients are pleased with the services. All dates are posted on our website, under specific Alaska regions, at www.alaskahealthfair.org Our Anchorage and Fairbanks offices hold blood draws in t...
As the old saying goes, “It’s not a matter of if, but when.” Unfortunately, for older adults and people living with dementia, a hospitalization is more often a matter of when. Do you have an emergency hospital plan in place? Being prepared can make the experience less overwhelming. Being in the hospital is stressful for most but especially for people living with dementia, who may exhibit anxiety, agitation, aggression and resistance to care. Medical tests, procedures and treatments can be overwhelming and frightening. A person with demen...
Boosting veggie intake may benefit the brain What you eat on a daily basis may be very important in terms of preventing dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes full-blown dementia. A new study shows that there may be hidden brain benefits from eating more vegetables. Postmenopausal women who ate high levels of plant protein had lower risks of premature death, cardiovascular disease and dementia-related death compared with women who ate less plant proteins,...
Question: My mom received both dosages of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and I recently traveled home to visit her. While there I noticed she was having trouble doing tasks she used to do with ease. Living so far away, how can I support her growing needs, yet be respectful of still wanting her independence? Answer: Seeing a parent getting older can be a new and emotional experience and understanding that our population is generally living longer puts into sharp focus the emerging needs of older...
The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP), through a grant provided by the Municipality of Anchorage, is pleased to announce our expanded 2021 Weatherization, Accessibility, Repair and Modifications (WARM) Home Program. The WARM Home program consists of three categories that emphasize health, safety and indoor air quality: Weatherization, mobile home repair and accessibility upgrades. Each service is available to eligible homes in Anchorage, Girdwood, Chugiak and Eagle River. WARM Home Program staff assess each eligible home...
"So, Mom, what do you want to be called when you become a grandma?" my daughter, Erin, asked in the weeks after we learned she was expecting our first grandchild. This question set off much discussion and research that would continue all through her pregnancy. I could never have guessed my name would become Grandma Aye-Yi. Short for Aye-Yi-Yi! Our two children were very fortunate to have two grandpas and two grandmas as they grew up. My husband, Gary, and I thought nothing of calling both sets...
The Mat-Su Health Foundation is working to develop a vibrant, mixed-use Community Health Campus on land it owns surrounding Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and is seeking input from the public about the project. Mat-Su residents are encouraged to complete the Mat-Su Community Health Campus Project Survey now through April 4, 2021, at www.matsucommunityhealthcampus.org. Surveys will be accepted after that date as well. Mat-Su Health Foundation contracted with HDR, Inc. to create a master plan that will help provide a long-range vision for how...
Six years before World War II broke out, Anthony J. Dimond, Alaska's delegate to Congress, started asking for military planes, airfields, army garrisons and a highway to link the Lower 48 to Alaska. When the war actually began in September 1939, rumors ran rampant around Anchorage that his pleas had been heard and military bases soon would be built to protect the northern front. Congress finally appropriated funds for Alaska in 1940, and the military started making plans for the construction of...
It's been 35 years since Paul Hogan unleashed the iconic character of rugged reptile-wrestling Mick Dundee onto the world in the 80s hit film "Crocodile Dundee" and two sequels. Hogan returned last December – via digital download in the U.S. – in "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee," released on Blu-ray/DVD February 16. The Aussie actor is quick to point out that "Mr. Dundee" is not another Dundee movie, but a self-parody where the quiet-living Hogan (starring as himself) falls afoul of a series of...
Sometimes when you spend all day, every day dealing with the complications of a particular area of law, the simplest question can surprise you. People ask me, on a fairly regular basis, whether they really need a living trust, or a power of attorney, or a transfer-on-death deed, or some other specific item. But once in a while, people ask me if they actually need a will. The person who asks that question might think they don’t have enough money to need one. Perhaps they assume that if they d...
Q. What is Clubhouse? A. Clubhouse is a new social network that connects people in audio chat rooms. It has become quite popular in the last couple of months and is by invitation only. If it continues to accelerate, it will only be a matter of time before someone invites you to join. But my advice is to tread cautiously. The Clubhouse app does a few things that old-time internet folks such as myself find distasteful. When you first sign on you are asked for permission to access your contact list. Say no and you are stopped cold. Say yes and Clu...
OK, so I haven't lived in Alaska since 2012, and we decided to return when real estate prices tripled in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and the streets of my mother's beloved working-class fishing hometown became crowded with Lexuses, BMWs, Mercedes and Jaguars. I even saw a Rolls. Plus, people were not behaving in the stores, especially the supermarkets where management had stuck arrows down to indicate the flow so people could keep a safe distance. Time after time, I'd point out to someone they...
