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In tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again in communities throughout Alaska as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other. In our state, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too. Each May, the Administration for Com...
Celebrate Older Americans Month with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation. This year's theme is "Communities of Strength". Due to lingering COVID safety concerns, the Senior Recognition Day event has been scaled back. Participants can visit the parking lot of the Big Dipper Arena during scheduled times and receive a goody-bag filled with a senior services resource guide, swag and treats. Pick-up will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following days: - Last Name A-L:...
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold its spring meeting at the Soldotna Senior Center, May 4 through May 6. The agenda and site visit schedule will be distributed through the Alaska Commission on Aging Listserv once it is confirmed. Day one of the meeting will be held at the Soldotna Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with an opportunity for public testimony from 4 to 4:30 p.m. On day two, commissioners will divide into groups and partner with local senior centers, tribal health centers and other groups to hold senior listening...
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...
In the fall of 2019, representative payees in Alaska were involved in a controversy with the Social Security Administration over the legality of charging a certain fee for representative payee services. A representative payee is a person or organization appointed by the Social Security Administration to receive the Social Security or Social Security Income (SSI) benefits for beneficiaries who can’t manage or direct the management of their benefits. Millions of Americans who receive monthly Social Security or SSI benefits need help managing t...
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...
While Latinos represent approximately 18% of the population in the United States, fewer than 5% participate in clinical trials or other forms of health research. Being left out of health research could have a significant negative impact on Latino communities, especially when it comes to understanding how new drugs, devices and therapies affect different people. Although Latinos are underrepresented in health research, that doesn’t mean that they don’t participate. NHCOA (National Hispanic Council on Aging) spoke with two Latinos from dif...
It is now possible to find out lots of details about what you are doing while you are sleeping at night. There are wrist sensors, rings and a host of other gadgets that measure how much sleep you are getting on a nightly basis. They are known as Consumer Sleep Technologies (CSTs) and there are dozens of options. These sleep trackers can give a person a better idea of whether they are getting enough quality sleep. Sleep trackers use sensors to detect things such as body movement and heart rate. Some wearable sleep trackers remain on the...
The latest studies show that a person who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can still become infected with the virus. However, there have been many questions about whether a fully vaccinated adult can transmit the virus. “It would be very rare. The best data we have are from long-term care facilities in a study from Denmark,” said Dr. Morgan Katz, who is an Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Denmark launched an immunization program against COVID-19 at the end of 20...
It’s that time of year again; the sun is warm, breakup is messy, and the snowbirds are migrating back to Alaska. It’s the time of year where the year-round residents and snowbirds alike are asking themselves, “Is this the year I finally move?” What does moving mean for your Medicare benefits? What is the process? Will your coverage change? Moving out of Alaska Medicare Parts A & B: The most important thing to do when moving is to update your address with the Social Security Administration. This will ensure you don’t miss important updates a...
Spring blood test date offerings continue through May for Southcentral and Southeast programs and mid-June for the Tanana Valley Northern Region Program. We continue to follow our appointment-based model, which works well and our clients are pleased with the service. Our traditional “morning draws” offer the ability to scoot in early and go enjoy a good lunch. Our late afternoon draws provide the chance to eat breakfast and skip lunch. Visit www.alaskahealthfair.org and check for various May “office draw dates” offered “by appointme...
Kay, tell us first about the mission of Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska? ARA's mission is to support Alaskans affected by Alzheimer's disease, related dementias and other disabilities to ensure quality of life. Aging is something that impacts everyone and brings its own challenges; however, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are not a part of 'normal' aging and the impact to all effected by ADRD is significant. Our goal at ARA is to provide support to all those impacted by ADRD,...
Wine drinking may help protect against cataracts People who consume alcohol moderately appear less likely to develop cataracts that require surgery. Wine consumption showed the strongest protective effect, suggesting that antioxidants which are abundant in red wine may play a role in cataract prevention. However, people who drank daily or nearly daily had about a 6% higher risk of cataract surgery compared with people who consumed alcohol moderately. The new research was published in...
Question: How do I find the right senior housing? Answer: In the search for aligning housing to individuality, maintaining dignity, and what's best for your needs, it's important to find a place that provides life enrichment. Safe and secure housing is coupled with focusing on all aspects of living: Social opportunities, mental enhancement and physical requirements. Greater than just an emotional location, your housing choice is unique to you when creating meaningful living. Community-based...
Like flowers in spring, senior centers across the state of Alaska are beginning to open up again. Most have been closed since March 2020, a time we collectively remember as the end of "normal" life. "Today, a woman came to the center that I had not seen in a year," Marlene Munsell, Assistant Executive Director of Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI), said in April. "As more people are vaccinated and feeling comfortable, we expect to see more people return to the center." Senior centers statewide...
One of the best music concerts I ever attended took place right here in downtown Palmer at Vagabond Blues, back in May of 2017. From Scotland, Dougie MacLean sang and played his guitar. He said he'd been a traveling minstrel for 44 years. About 25 years ago, my husband Gary and I attended one of Dougie's concerts at the Performing Arts Center, but this second one in 2017 was even better because I didn't have to drive to Anchorage. And I was so physically close to Dougie, I could see his strands...
Aging at Home Fairbanks, along with almost all other organizations, has learned a lot in the last year. Becoming familiar with Zoom and creating social and educational events in this flat format instead of in person has been challenging, but we've discovered the benefits also. Aging at Home Fairbanks is a membership organization associated with the North Star Council on Aging Senior Center in Fairbanks and the nationwide Village to Village Network. The goal of the organization is to assist...
When news reached Seattle of gold discoveries in Cook Inlet in 1896, every available vessel was pressed into service. With ships scarce, those heading north were filled to capacity with prospectors and their supplies. And Capt. Johnny O'Brien's steamship Utopia, which set out with100 passengers that spring, was no different. In early May, it arrived close to Kachemak Bay, but couldn't continue on up Turnagain Arm because of ice in Cook Inlet. Although this turn of events didn't really bother...
While some entertainers are renowned for their personal and professional demands while working, Ruta Lee never aspired to be a diva. Acting nonstop in film, TV and theater since the early 1950s, she tackled projects with professionalism. "There was no time to throw fits because you had to work quickly as you rapidly went from job to job," recalled Lee from Los Angeles. Off-screen tasks were also approached with her trademark zeal. In 1964, she called the office of the Soviet leader Nikita...
Interested in learning more about businesses and agencies providing senior services in the Anchorage and Mat-Su area? Want to get the word out about your own service? The monthly Service Providers Breakfast (formerly known as the Interagency Breakfast), sponsored by Older Persons Action Group, Inc., is an opportunity for all the above. Informal, early and free, the monthly event currently meets virtually online via Zoom. The May meeting is May 12, hosted by the Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Begins at 8 a.m. RSVP by...
AARP Alaska, Older Persons Action Group and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center continues its series of “Age Smart – Let’s Talk” forums on May 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Events are currently held virtually on the internet, using Zoom. Have you ever wondered about Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)? What do they do? How do you access one if a need arises? Join us May 11 to learn more about these valuable organizations. Alaska’s ADRCs connect seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers with long-term services and supports...
I’m an estate planning attorney, not a business attorney. Sure, some of my clients own businesses, but my focus is on how they transfer that business smoothly to their heirs on death, not about what kind of business entity they should use for other purposes. But once in a while I go a little bit beyond that, and talk to clients about LLCs. What is an LLC? It stands for “limited liability company”. Please note that it is not “limited liability corporation,” although people often refer to them t...
Q. My grandson accidentally sent my laptop crashing to the floor when his leg hooked around its power cord. Other than unplugging my new laptop when he visits, how do I tame the mess of cables that is lurking around my computer table? A. I am sorry that this turned into such an expensive lesson. The cords and wires that populate our lives seem pretty much invisible until something goes wrong. Product photography rarely shows wires of any kind. But in real life cables, cords and wires are everywhere. There is a wide variety of techniques for det...
Women chatting in Greek stroll by signs that identify the Spartan Gas Station and Alexander the Great Apartments. They pass restaurants where diners are feasting on pickled octopus, squid salad and gyro sandwiches. Nearby, a man wearing a diving suit emerges from a river and clambers into a boat, clutching a sponge he dredged up from the bottom. At this time of limited travel, it may be impossible to visit other countries that are on your bucket list. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy...
Caring for someone else can and will involve all the management skills you can muster. Depending on your loved one’s needs, you might be managing a variety of things from medications to bathing, to transportation. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to perform these tasks. Organization will give you a sense of control and help you to provide the best care possible. Here are some tips for managing the day-to-day tasks of caregiving: Write things down. Keep a small notebook where you can jot important information or ideas as they oc...
