Articles from the August 1, 2020 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
Trump is still pushing for ACA repeal
Amid the sharp political divides over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing racial protests, the Trump administration continues its push to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through the courts – a move that could prove to be...
5 questions to ask before visiting a nursing facility or assisted living home
On June 30, 2020, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) issued guidance documents to nursing facilities and assisted living homes on the critical issue of how to re-establish in-person visitation for all residents living in...
Attention cancer patients: YMCA offers support
In our fifth month of hunkering down, many of us consider ourselves very fortunate to have comfortable living conditions, sufficient income to keep the wolves from the door, and good health to enjoy our days. It is not always easy to adapt, but we...
Virtual classes for older adults are here to stay
"I look forward to the calls each week." This comment was typical of the feedback that Peggy Schmidt received when she offered a virtual Aging Mastery "book club" to her rural constituents in...
Fall health fairs and testing by appointment
Update: Alaska Health Fair requested the article below be updated with new details that arrived after the August print edition deadline. Online appointment registration now available Do you have email access (to a desktop, laptop, I-pad or...
Medicare - who do I call?
Those who are approaching Medicare eligibility, or have Medicare, frequently have many questions - about how Medicare coverage works, enrollment options and costs, and many others. You may ask...
Guidelines for writing a loved one's obituary
Writing an obituary is one of the most intimate steps in beginning the grieving process. How can you sum up a loved one’s life in a few sentences? How would you sum up your own life in a few sentences? As you sit down to write your loved one’s...
Quit smoking! Medicare and other tools can help you kick the habit
Dear Savvy Senior: I understand that COVID-19 hits smokers a lot harder than nonsmokers but quitting at my age is very difficult. Does Medicare offer any coverage that helps beneficiaries quit smoking? - Must Quit Dear Must: It’s true. Smokers and...
COVID-19: New insights, monitoring device
New study reveals high infection rates among asymptomatic individuals A study of COVID-19 in the quarantined Italian town of Vò, where most of the population was tested, reveals the importance of asy...
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. With senior centers still closed, the Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold all peer...
Free webinar on driving and dementia
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska will present a free online presentation focusing on driving and dementia on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and again on Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Join for discussion about the effects of...
Alaska senior centers differ in approach to activities during pandemic
When the novel coronavirus COVID-19 reared its head in March, senior citizens were advised to take notice. This new illness was hard on those age 65 or older, people were told, and indeed, four months later, statistics bear this out: 80% of COVID-19...
Financial help for retirees affected by COVID-19
Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any financial assistance programs you can refer me to? The coronavirus pandemic has cost me my part-time retirement job and has shrunk my measly IRA account. - Needy Retiree Dear Needy: Absolutely. In addition to the...
Berries bring out the good in us
One morning in August 2012 I answered the ringing phone and heard "Hi, this is Kim. Gary and I have been picking blueberries in Hatcher Pass and we have more than we need. Could we bring you some?"...
Newspapers spread the word of Yukon gold
Glowing reports, like the following excerpt from the Aug. 8, 1897, edition of the New York World newspaper, helped fuel the stampede for gold along the Yukon River. "Mr. J. O. Hestwod, one of the...
'Tinker Bell' ties the knot at 90
What could convince a 90-year-old actress – once a model for Disney animators creating the Tinker Bell character of 1953's "Peter Pan" – to abandon her West Coast home of nine decades and fly off...
Stay home, the Post Office will come to you
The Post Office has been a fundamental United States institution since 1775. In my opinion it is vastly underappreciated. Most people do not know the scope of what it does for us – especially while we are hunkered down at home seeking safety from...
Putting away childish notions
You know how nice it is when you get a toy you have been wanting? If you don’t remember that far back, think about how a child’s eyes light up when it sees a toy under the Christmas tree. Or if...
TV slideshows, printer fix, beta software
Q. Is there a way to view personal photos on my television? A. A living room TV is a perfect venue to share your family photo collection, and there are choices to fit every budget. Many televisions built in the last decade can already display...
There's still time for summer adventures
Here it is at the end of the summer and travel and tourism are still at a standstill, adding to statewide unemployment and stalled revenue for large and small businesses across the state. This...
Talkeetna activities promote a 'together apart' state of mind
Just after Independence Day, I jumped in my car and for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, drove beyond the boundaries of Anchorage to the village of Talkeetna, two hours north. A...