Articles from the May 1, 2020 edition
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Anchorage mayor proclaims Older Americans Month
Whereas, older Americans contribute to the fabric of our community and are keepers of our rich, cultural history; and Whereas, the Municipality of Anchorage acknowledges that the meaning of “to age” has changed for the better; and Whereas, the Mun...
OPAG and Senior Voice are here to serve
Older Persons Action Group (OPAG) was founded more than 50 years ago as a grassroots nonprofit with the goal to improve services and develop programs that foster self-determination of older Alaskans. OPAG provides statewide advocacy on older...
Social distancing shouldn't lead to social isolation
Even in the best of times, social isolation is a significant problem. In Alaska, 42,898 people over the age of 50 live alone and are at higher risk of social isolation, which is now magnified by the “social distancing” requirements across the cou...
The doctor is in on your nearest screen, hopefully.
With social distancing, depression, isolation and loneliness hitting the nation’s seniors particularly hard as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has made big changes to Medicare to help doctors reach patients easier without...
Improving Alzheimer's awareness with innovative research on Arab Americans
The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer's Disease (MCCFAD) is a newly formed Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, housed at the University of Michigan and funded by the...
Shopping during a pandemic has history
I am going to talk about safe grocery shopping during our very own pandemic, but first, a most interesting digression. Recently I was reading "A Journal of the Plague Year" by Daniel Defoe, a...
Four tips for COVID-19 shopping
Alaskans may be good at maintaining distance from each other, but if you’re a caregiver (and even if you’re not), eventually you’ll have to leave the house to get groceries, replenish medications, or gather other supplies. If you usually stock up on...
Do pneumonia vaccines protect seniors from coronavirus?
Dear Savvy Senior: Do currently offered vaccines against pneumonia provide seniors any protection against the coronavirus disease? I’ve always been bad about getting vaccinated, but this coronavirus pandemic is causing me to change my thinking. - Pro...
Medicare and authorized advocates and representatives
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a prudent idea to discuss the benefits of having a patient advocate and an authorized representative in the event that you are unable to represent...
Health fairs through May have been canceled
Alaska Health Fair has canceled all March through May 2020 health fairs, due to state or national mandates. We’ve continued to do our important work for Alaska at our local offices and hope to return to business “as close to usual as possible” in la...
Is your loved one in a nursing home? Questions you need to ask.
If you have a spouse, sibling, parent, or other loved one in a nursing home, you may be worried about their safety and well-being because of the coronavirus pandemic. AARP has consulted with leading nursing home experts to provide you with some key...
Caregiver guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic
Older adults are at elevated risk for complications from COVID-19 and are dying at higher rates than younger patients. In light of these concerns, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine...
Free training, support for family caregivers
Editor’s note: This schedule may change, due to coronavirus safety measures. Be sure to confirm with the host agency prior to visiting. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in May. This i...
Have a pet care plan in place in case of COVID-19
In our last article, we talked about having an emergency plan for your pets in case of natural disasters. The current COVID-19 public health crisis is a reminder that we need pet care plans not just...
Spring crane sightings prompt reminiscing
"Look! Look! Look!" I excitedly exclaimed to my almost 16-year old son as I pointed to the field on our left. We were driving past one of the many grain fields in the Matanuska Valley where we live....
Time to get gardening
Join Julie Riley, Tanana District Extension horticulturist on Fridays and Tuesdays for free, informal discussions on gardening in Interior Alaska, via Zoom web videoconferencing using your computer, smartphone, iPad or tablet. No internet service or...
Container gardening may be your answer
Container gardens are a viable and popular cultivation option, especially for those who have limited sun-exposed spaces or are looking to start small and learn the basics of gardening. "Containers,...
Mary Shields receives Ron Hammett Award
Mary Shields is the 2020 recipient of the distinguished Ron Hammett Award from the Municipality of Anchorage's Senior Citizens Advisory Commission. Annually, the award recognizes an individual who dem...
Celebration 2020 will be a "virtual" event
"Celebration," the enormous biennial Native American cultural event originally scheduled to take place this year in Juneau, is being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place this year,...
Alaska Commission on Aging meets May 18
The Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA) will hold their quarterly meeting on Monday, May 18 from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Subjects that will be covered include senior housing, updates on health and social services, AgeNet, AARP, Office of the Long-Term...
AARP offers grants for coronavirus projects
Communities may apply for coronavirus-related funding in support of older adults through AARP’s Community Challenge grant program. Challenge grants will support quick-action projects that spark change and help improve communities for people of all a...
The last dog sled mail service
The establishment of airplane competition didn't stop Chester Noongwook of St. Lawrence Island from continuing his dog sled mail service run until 1963. His was the last mail delivery of its kind in...
Paul Petersen remembers TV mom, Donna Reed
While most of us will be remembering mothers on May 10 this year, entertainers who worked as child actors in television sitcoms may also have special memories of their 'TV mom.' For Paul Petersen,...
How the coronavirus relief law helps retirement savers and retirees
Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about the retirement account changes that Congress recently passed in response to the coronavirus crisis? - Seeking Answers Dear Seeking: Tucked into the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or...
Investing for retirement and beyond
Part two of two Last month we discussed retirement planning for the decade before retirement. This month, we continue with planning for retirement and post-retirement. Retirement Many boomers experiment with a trial retirement before we pull the...
