Sorted by date Results 676 - 687 of 687
As of July 1, about 2,100 Heating Assistance Program (HAP) participants across the state no longer qualify for assistance. Although HAP uses the same application and process for both of its programs, the Alaska Affordable Heating program (AKAHP) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) are not the same, says HAP Coordinator Susan Marshall. “LIHEAP covers the lower income residents with incomes 150 percent or less than the federal poverty income level, and AKAHP covers higher income residents that are between 151 percent and 225 p...
Congratulations to Rita Hatch, who was announced in May as the winner of this year’s Ron Hammett Award for outstanding service to seniors in the Anchorage community. Rita was presented the award at the Older Americans Month kick-off event May 2 at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. Ron Hammett was a well-known advocate in Anchorage, having served on the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, was board chair for the Anchorage Senior Center, and volunteered for AARP. It is fitting Rita be honored...
ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and BP all did very well this legislative session. The rest of us? Not so great. We lost $4.5 billion to three of the richest corporations in the world, money that could have been used to educate our children, provide public safety, and support vital programs such as the Senior Benefits Program and Alaska’s Pioneer Homes. I don’t believe in sacrificing essential services for Alaskans in order to increase oil industry profits. SB 21, the Governor’s oil wealth giveaway, will cause the state to choose between runni...
Alaska Community Services, Inc. disclosed that it discontinued its Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs as of April 30, 2013. According to Executive Director Brenda Bogowith, the agency voluntarily relinquished their federal grants to operate the programs prior to their end date due to a monitoring site visit conducted in February 2012. The findings of that site visit resulted in programmatic and compliance issues which are currently under discussion with federal funding agency officials at the Corporation for National and...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following meetings and trainings this month: June 4, Caregiver Peer Support Meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. June 11, Caregiver Peer Support Meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m. June 17, Caregiver Training at Kenai Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m. Topic is “Mayo Clinic for Heart Health.” Understand your condition, eat well to feel well, and learn about soothing therapies. June 25, Caregiver Peer Support Meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m. There is...
Fairbanks Resource Agency offers a free Information Exchange workshop for caregivers on the first Tuesday of each month. The workshops are open to the public and held at the FRA administrative office, 805 Airport Way, from 1 to 3 p.m. Refreshments and door prizes are on hand, and each workshop focuses on a different topic, featuring guest speakers. The June 4 workshop is “Discovering our Personality Style to Better Communicate Through True Colors,” presented by Bob Parr, assistant professor at UAF. Learn to understand your personality sty...
May is Older Americans Month in Alaska, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of older Alaskans. This tradition is based on the Older Americans Month celebration that began with President Kennedy in 1963 to honor older Americans. Alaska’s senior advisory commissions, senior centers and other senior community organizations will be hosting special activities during the month of May to honor the value that older Alaskans continue to contribute to their families and communities. The theme for the 2013 Older A...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following meetings and trainings in May: May 3, Caregiver Peer Support meets at Nikiski Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Presentation: “Stress: Portrait of a Killer.” May 6, Caregiver Training at Tyotka’s Elder Center, 1 to 3 p.m. This will be the last caregiver training at Tyotka’s until September. May 7, Caregiver Peer Support Meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. With a viewing of “Sunset Story,” an award winning documentary telling the story of friendship among women...
Staff from Alaska’s Social Security office will be available for questions via videoconferencing at the following locations and times: Kodiak Job Center, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (May 14 and 28), 9 a.m. to noon. Kenai Senior Center, on the first and third Wednesday of each month (May 1 and 15), 9 a.m. to noon. Ketchikan Job Center, every Thursday (May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30), noon to 3 p.m. Social Security provides toll-free telephone service to all of Alaska. Residents in Alaska’s southeast communities can call the Jun...
A long-time Alaskan whose life was deeply affected by his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease has written a book to help other caregivers who might benefit from his experience. Bob Miller published late last year his memoir, “My Mom Inez: Our Alzheimer’s Journey,” which is the story of a son’s determination to protect and care for his mother as he struggles with the signs of her losing her mind to Alzheimer’s. “This book grew out of my effort to understand, accept and effectively deal with what was going on in my mother’s life, and how it affected a...
In the course of magazine editing, newspaper reporting, book authoring, freelance writing and Web site publishing for the past 60-plus years I’ve had the pleasure to visit and write about many a splendid local celebration. These have included locales that varied from Kansas on the plains in our nation’s mid-section to the mountains of Colorado, the islands of Hawaii, the shores of California, Jolly Old England and (drum roll please…) funfests that have provided enduring grand memories in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan. This month le...
Senior ladies are striking out on their own in a new Alaska trend – solo travel. Increasing numbers of older women are booking solo trips with travel agents and tour groups for adventure in Alaska and out. Many are widows, some divorced or married to men who don’t like to leave home. They’re headed for Dawson City and Quebec City, Branson and Iceland. Mexico and Hawaii. Holland and maybe Costa Rica. “We’re going all over the world,” said Barbara Gay, who organizes group tours for the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. “We’ve been to literal...
