Articles from the October 1, 2021 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Free Medicare assistance
Get help through the Medicare maze from experts at the Alaska Medicare Information Office. Call to learn more about their “Medicare Monday” and other online trainings in October, which can be attended by phone or by webinar or Zoom. Call 907...
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Straight-talking Alaska pharmacist on COVID and seniors
Coleman Cutchins is a clinical pharmacist with Department of Health and Social Services. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is board certified in pharmacotherapy, the treatment of disease with...
Protesters rally for state campaign finance reform
On Sept. 17, a group met outside the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Anchorage with Senator Bill Wielechowski to protest a recent decision by the 9th District Federal Court that would strike...
Forum looks at Anchorage health care access
“Age Smart – Let’s Talk”, the series of forums sponsored by AARP Alaska, Older Persons Action Group and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, returns Oct. 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Events are currently held virtually on the internet, using Zoom. T...
Disability and Aging summit returns online, Oct. 5-7
=The Alaska Disability and Aging Coalition will host the 7th Annual Disability and Aging Summit, October 5-7, 2021. The summit will be held virtually and include presentations on Aging Well in Alaska. Topics include a keynote presentation on...
Analysis: Big benefits for seniors in 'human infrastructure' proposals
Making omelets for a group of people is often a messy process, inevitably breaking a lot of eggshells. Ingredients can be changed hundreds of ways to experiment and adjust flavors. Ultimately, if it’s done well, the result is a delicious omelet c...
Recruiting help when you're the 'designated' caregiver
Q: Why am I always the one everyone expects to take care of Uncle Joe? Just because I don’t have a family, it doesn’t mean there aren’t work or personal demands on my time. A: Demands of careg...
Supportive staff, programs at Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
When my mother lost her sight at the age of 85, it seemed sudden but in fact it was a gradual loss with providers ignoring her complaints of floaters, flashes and jaw pain. A rare autoimmune disease,...
Time to review and compare your Medicare drug plan
The end of another summer is fast approaching and one thing that means is Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP) will be happening soon. Each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, you can make changes t...
Fall health fair events are here with the weather
October is one of our busiest months for health fairs. We continue to provide pre-scheduled, appointment-based services to communities and worksites, and at our Fairbanks office. October community events include Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks,...
New health clinic opens in Shishmaref
A new 5,400-square-foot clinic is open and operating in Shishmaref after about 16 months of construction amidst a pandemic. On Sept. 10, Norton Sound Health Corporation hosted a ribbon cutting...
Understanding Social Security spouses' benefits
Did you know your spouse’s benefit amount could be up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement age benefit amount? If you qualify for a retirement benefit from your own work history and a spouse’s record, we always pay your own benefit first. You c...
The effects of exercise and where you live on longevity
It’s never too late to get active A study in more than 30,000 heart patients shows that becoming active later in life can be nearly as beneficial to survival as continued activity. “These enc...
Protect yourself against abdominal aortic aneurysms
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you tell me about stomach aneurysms? My father died from one about 10 years ago and I’m wondering if that can increase my risk of developing one myself. - Almost 60 Dear Almost: While you don’t hear much about them, sto...
Free training, support for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program has moved into a new office located at 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 205 (located in the 4D Professional Building). You can call them at 907-262-1280 or email kpfcsp@soldotnaseniors.com....
Steampunk powers his imagination
Weddings usually change the couple that decide to unite their lives and set themselves off on new lives and adventures. For Anchorage DJ Ron Stein, aka Rockin' Ron, his cousin's wedding gave him a...
Adjusting to life with commercial power
Late one evening in early October 2005, I stood at the top of the stairs in my home in Slana, unsure of what to do. Having just finished working on one of my quilts, I had switched off the lamp...
Past and present: Alaska Zoo stays true to its roots
In August of 1969, the Alaska Children's Zoo opened its doors with a baby Asian elephant, a seal, black bear, fox, goats and a few other animals. At the time, zoo founder Sammye Seawell envisioned a...
Networking for Anchorage, Mat-Su area providers
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, sponsored by Older Persons Action Group,...
All phone calls to require the area code
Starting on Oct. 24, 2021, the FCC has mandated all phone calls will require dialing the full 10-digit phone number, including area code. This means all Alaskans, regardless of their service provider, will need to dial 907 before seven-digit phone...
Immigrant puts the right foot forward
One of Anchorage's now-closed department stores can trace its roots to the Gold Rush days of the Klondike when a young Swede hunkered down with pick and ax and chipped out a small fortune. John W....
Mumy and Cartwright launch new 'Lost in Space' book
If you were a child growing up during the 1960s and a fan of sci-fi television of the day, the nostalgic value of shows like "Lost in Space" can't be overstated. Cast members Bill Mumy and Angela...
Facts and fallacies about stock dividends
Some folks think stock dividends are a measurement for how well or poorly a company is doing. That is false. Some folks think all companies pay dividends. That is false. Some folks think dividends are not taxable. That is usually false. Still, divide...
Advance directive: Gotta do it, like it or not
I used to do a lot of litigation – trial lawyer work – and I still read the decisions the Alaska Supreme Court sends out each week. There was one this spring which had me shaking my head in ama...
