Articles from the December 1, 2022 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 29
Winter wellness at Age Smart forum, Dec. 20
Update: Due to snow conditions, this event has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 20. “Age Smart – Let’s Talk,” the series of forums sponsored by AARP Alaska, Anchorage Senior Activity Center and Older Persons Action Group, Inc., returns Dec. 13, fro...
Strong showing for Alaska's ranked choice voting
Editor’s note: This press statement was received Nov. 23, 2022. Today, Alaska became the first state in the country to elect its state and federal officials using ranked choice voting, an election system that rewards candidates who build deep and b...
New findings about assisted living for Alaska seniors
One fine day in early November I grabbed Jim McCall, who manages the Senior Office of the Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation (AHFC), for a friendly Zoom chat. His subject: The just-released Anchorage Assisted Living Survey. The following...
Age Friendly: Sharing ideas at Anchorage listening session
On a chilly Tuesday evening, Nov. 1, the beautifully renovated Anchorage Senior Activity Center was abuzz with chatter and activity as residents of Anchorage shared input on Anchorage as an Age-Friendly Community. The Network of Age-Friendly States...
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...
What to do if your health prevents travel
Q: It’s the time of year when many people take trips to see their loved ones. What could I do over the holidays if I can’t travel to visit family because of my health? A: Health prevents travel for...
Sharon and Jerry: A caregiver's story
"When you love someone with dementia, the goal is not perfection... it's okay to be good enough." Years ago, when I was just starting my career as an intern principal in the Anchorage School...
Resolutions, opportunities for behavior change
Even though January first is just another day, many of us will invest some energy in reviewing our successes in the year flown by, and strategize for further personal gains in the precious time that remains ahead. This is an excellent exercise in sel...
Medicare offers benefits to military veterans
As a military veteran, this month’s topic resonates with me. Medicare can work with military-related healthcare, whether you are a military veteran or a military retiree. As a reminder, Original M...
Year-end greetings from Alaska Health Fair, Inc.
Our fall season has come to a close. Health fairs will resume in January 2023. Please sign up to our newsletter at www.alaskahealthfair.org, and we will notify you when the new schedule is published. We thank all of you – our clients, volunteers, a...
At-home clinical trials
There are many new clinical trials available to Alaskans that are conducted at home. Clinical trials are medical research studies designed to test the safety and effectiveness of new investigational drugs, devices or treatments in humans. These...
Was 'breakthrough' Alzheimer's drug oversold?
A lot of hype about an alleged breakthrough drug for Alzheimer’s disease may leave some families disappointed yet again. On Sept. 27, 2022, pharmaceutical company Eisai in Tokyo and biotechnology firm Biogen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, issued a p...
New research on almonds, UTIs and cancer
Almonds may pack important hidden health benefit Eating a handful of almonds a day can greatly benefit your tummy because almonds significantly increase the production of butyrate, a short-chain...
Different ways to connect and enjoy the holidays
Finding joy in small things, sharing our stories, and giving to others are powerful ways to connect with family and friends during the holiday season. The ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) team would like to share a few suggestions that...
5 ways over-the-counter hearing aids are different
Consumers can now buy hearing aids without a prescription, possibly saving thousands of dollars per pair. The new devices - designed for those with mild to moderate hearing loss - are expected to...
Free training, support for family caregivers
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in December. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family...
Driver safety reminders for winter conditions
Alaskan winters provide a great opportunity to contemplate our driving as we take our time navigating darkness and snow. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) observes Older Driver...
How Alaska's winter birds adapt to the cold
This time of year, many of us like to sit back with a warm cup of tea and watch the birds that come to our feeders. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and occasionally redpolls and pine grosbeaks par...
Winter registration for lifelong learner classes
Anchorage’s Opportunities for Lifelong Education program, OLÉ!, begins its winter term registration Dec. 15. Class descriptions and schedules will be posted to the OLÉ! website around Dec. 5, and classes for the term begin the third week of Jan...
By the chimney with care
** Update: This event was canceled. Our apologies for the error. A holiday tradition, Anchorage's historic Oscar Anderson House Museum will host its Swedish Christmas Open House two weekends in...
Loneliness and hardship for early trappers
Some adventurous souls who came to Alaska didn't search the creek beds and mountains for golden riches. Instead they chose to make their fortunes through trapping furs. From early in the fall to the c...
Christmas magic with Ilene Graff
Perhaps you remember her as TV mom Marsha Owens in ABC's popular 80s sitcom "Mr. Belvedere," starring alongside baseballer-turned-actor Bob Uecker and British actor Christopher Hewett in the title...
Fun math and money board games to play with grandkids
"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning." - Diane Ackerman Looking for some fun games as gifts or to play when grandkids come to visit that also serve a purpose? Math is one of kids'...
Alaska secures its largest judgment on elder fraud
Editor’s note: This press statement was received Nov. 28, 2022. On Nov. 13, 2022, the Alaska Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance won a $1.47 million judgment against defendants James Vernon and Carla Sigler, formerly of Yakutat, now living in B...
Top financial scams targeting seniors today
Dear Savvy Senior: What are the most common scams today that target elderly seniors? My 75-year-old mother has been swindled several times over the past year, so I’m being extra cautious. –Paranoid Patty Dear Patty: Great question. While many scams t...