Articles from the December 1, 2014 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
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Huge backlog result of broken Social Security bureaucracy
Last spring the nation was outraged when the enormous backlog of claims at the Veterans Administration was revealed. The number of claims stuck in processing for more than 125 days at that time was...
Alaska enthusiasts flock to annual Christmas Bird Count
"There's a lot of senior volunteer power behind the annual Anchorage-area Christmas Bird Count." That testimonial to senior volunteerism comes from Louann Feldmann. She's education chair of the...
Chalk it up to experience, opportunity and effort
I have been harvesting moose for over 40 years. When I first began moose hunting my technique was simple-I would sit in a field and wait. In time I learned how to call and when to be in the field....
Do you have a passion for helping seniors?
If you love visiting with seniors and want to speak up for them, join the dedicated volunteer advocates of the Alaska Long Term Care Ombudsman program. Volunteer Ombudsmen are needed to advocate for seniors living in assisted living homes and...
Anchorage Elder and Senior Listening Forum, Dec. 11
What will it take to live well to be age 100 and older in Anchorage? Do we have in place what you need to remain active and independent in your home as you ‘age in place’? Join in this most important conversation at the upcoming Elder and Senior Lis...
Alaska's new Silver Alert system goes live
The long-awaited Silver Alert rapid response and notification system is now live at silveralert.alaska.gov. The network’s protections are especially important to senior citizens with dementia, adults with developmental disabilities, veterans s...
Business-to-business networking for Anchorage senior service providers
Interested in learning more about businesses and agencies providing senior services in the Anchorage area? Want to get the word out about your own service? The monthly Interagency Breakfast, sponsored by Older Persons Action Group, is an opportunity...
Keep your meds away from visiting grandkids
If you’re like most of us, you detest those darn child-proof caps that come on every medication. In fact, you may have tossed the troublesome lids. And you may be in the habit of keeping your medications on bedside tables or other easily reachable p...
Holidays are a good time to share an ethical will
An ethical will is a document which expresses your wishes, hopes and maybe blessings. It’s something you share with family members while you are still alive. Sound unimportant? Think about it. You could look at it as a way to impart wisdom to t...
Ensure your medicine first does no harm
Medicine helps us tremendously, but occasionally we experience negative side effects, allergic reactions or other problems. Sometimes they’re quite serious. It’s important to be aware of pot...
Drugs are expensive and so are the plans
My friends, I always regret it when I have to report not so good news to you. The Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans for 2015 are the unpalatable ones that I always knew they would be since the...
Guest columnist raises questions about Alaska Guard
This month I am foregoing my monthly Veteran Healthcare Report to allow the following story to run. The article is the sole opinion of the author and does not constitute an endorsement by the Senior...
New recommendations on nutrition; controlling sugar intake; irritable bowel syndrome
Healthy Christmas party choices This Christmas season the nutritionists say think red wine, dark chocolate and berries for heart health. New studies show you need to watch for the calorie counts and...
Medicare changes could limit ALS patients' coverage
Last summer’s viral “ice bucket challenge” focused attention and helped raise money for ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a disease that impairs motor function so people often can’t talk or even move. But while public attention focused peo...
Free training, support for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in December. This month’s meetings will focus on fall prevention. Dec. 2, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Dec. 9, Caregiver...
Online classes look at dementia, other aging-related topics
A series of online trainings will be available beginning in January, sponsored by the Area Health Education Center (AHEC), UAA Office of Health Programs Development, and the Trust Training Cooperative. The series is a partnership with the Northwest...
Home modification workshop in Anchorage, Dec. 8
Energy specialist Art Nash from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension will lead a workshop on adapting homes for older Alaskans and the disabled at the Anchorage Extension Office on Dec. 8. The presentation will focus on...
Senior centers produce calendars with whimsy, fun
Picking out a new calendar is one of the best treats of the New Year. It doesn't matter whether it's a gift for family or friends or one to use yourself. Some people have calendars in every room....
A centennial celebration at Anchorage Pioneer Home
The City of Anchorage was founded in 1915. It was what has become known as a "Tent City." One hundred years later we will celebrate her centennial with an amazing skyline. Alaska Artist Byron...
Alaska Commission on Aging meets in Anchorage, Dec. 10-11
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold its quarterly meeting Dec. 10 and 11 in Anchorage at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. Public attendance is encouraged. Commissioners will hear presentations from and about senior service programs and...
Mollie Walsh, Angel of the Klondike Trail
Mollie Walsh made a name for herself among the prospectors who flooded north during the Klondike Gold Rush. Her "grub tent" was a welcome sight to many miners who climbed the White Pass Trail in the...
And the Oscar went to ... Maureen O'Hara
Food, family and fun are usually part of Christmas Day celebrations for many families. The festivity may also include watching old Christmas movies, with the 1947 version of "Miracle on 34th Street"...
Report highlights needs of Juneau seniors
The Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) has released the Juneau Senior Housing and Senior Services Demand Study, completed by AgnewBeck Consulting and Northern Economics. The report estimates current gaps and forecasts the demand for housing a...
The crucial basics of getting down to business about your business
Dear Jonathan: I am a widower and 50 percent owner of a small business which employs two of my children. I am at retirement age now however I am not ready to stop working quite yet. I am thinking that I should probably update my estate planning becau...
Gmail settings, Excel calendar dates, other advice
Q. How can I explore the various settings in Gmail without messing up what I currently have? Is there any place I can see demonstrations of what the various Gmail features and options do? A. Any changes you make to Gmail through its user settings...
