Articles from the July 1, 2025 edition


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  • Chorus unites caregivers and loved ones in song

    Jeanne Bussey, For Senior Voice|Jul 1, 2025

    The Forget-Me-Not-Chorus is a musical gathering of people with dementia. They performed at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center June 6. This testimonial is from Jeanne Bussey, who is the caregiver for her partner, Ken Cassity. It was provided by Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska. I'm here today, accompanied by Ken, my forever partner, and Elaine, our good friend. Today I'm going to talk about the wonders of music. Ken and I were both lucky to grow up in families enriched by music, so we learned...

  • The legal documents all seniors should have

    Jim Miller, Savvy Senior|Jul 1, 2025

    Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of legal documents do I need to help my family take care of me in my elder years? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help. - Approaching 80 Dear Approaching, All adults, especially an older adult like yourself, should have at least five legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family...

  • Scammers abound on peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps

    Teresa Holt and Ellie Kennedy, AARP Alaska|Jul 1, 2025

    With the rising popularity of peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, it's crucial to protect yourself from fraud on these platforms. While these apps make transferring funds from one person to another quick and easy, they also increase the risk of scams. According to Forbes, P2P fraud losses reached an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022, and that number has only risen since. Transactions are instantaneous and usually irreversible, so knowing...

  • Understanding influence: empowering older adults to make informed choices

    Karen Casanovas, For Senior Voice|Jul 1, 2025

    Q: Why do I feel like TV or online ads are trying to trick me into a certain way of thinking? A: Media has a significant and often subtle influence on our unconscious thoughts and actions, shaping our perceptions of reality, social norms and self-identity. Our unconscious mind holds a vast reservoir of thoughts, memories, emotions, and instincts that function outside our conscious awareness, continuously affecting our behavior. While the unconscious mind serves as the foundation, the conscious...

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    Alaska 211: What it is and how it can help you

    Sue Brogan, United Way|Jul 1, 2025

    What is Alaska 211? Alaska 211 is United Way's statewide help line for information, referrals and assistance finding vital, available health and human services, community resources, government, and tribal assistance in the callers' communities. How did 211 come about? The first 211 in the United States launched in 1997, a joint effort of United Way Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems, or AIRS, in Atlanta. Three years later, the...

  • Artificial intelligence and you

    Assistive Technology of Alaska|Jul 1, 2025

    With the Seeing AI app, users can hold their phone up to an individual, and it will audibly describe what the person looks like, including their hair color, estimated age, and emotional state. By pointing the phone towards a product, users will receive a description of the product, its expiration date, and other relevant details. The app can also read documents and recognize various structural elements, including paragraphs, headings, and lists. The Ava app transcribes spoken words into text,...

  • Primary and secondary insurance explained

    Sean McPhilamy, Alaska Medicare Information Office|Jul 1, 2025

    When you have Medicare and another source of health care insurance coverage, you may at some point wonder, “Who pays first?” If you are like me, my first thought goes to the classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine, “Who’s on first?” and that is a much funnier topic. But with Medicare and other coverage, such as that offered by your employer, knowing which coverage is considered primary (and which then is secondary) can help to fully understand your covered insurance claims. Point 1: The di...