Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 2084
Marjorie Kortkamp has a flower clipped to her soft gray curls, but she confessed it hasn't been the easiest morning, "I had a seizure!" she said matter-of-factly. But as she settled into her room at the Anchorage Pioneer Home, Marge (as most people call her), relaxed into a spirited retelling of her long life, from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to the Last Frontier. Her eldest daughter, Diana, was there to help her with her morning routine and to fill in any gaps in the narrative. A late-in-life...
Donna Gail Shaw trots across the street to give treats to a neighbor's dog as she heads out for a hike. She calls out to another one "Neptune! Neptunee!" on the way back. In between, she checks on the 10 wildlife cameras she has installed in an area of Anchorage known as Far North Bicentennial Park. In actuality, the wildlife she encounters can be anywhere near or even in the housing development where she lives, which abuts Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. It's something of a highway for urban...
One day years ago a fine fellow I worked with at the time came up to me and, in the course of water-cooler conversation, mentioned he had been chatting with, well, we will call him Dr. "X." My colleague reported to me that after a few minutes of chit-chat with Dr. X, my name came up. Without seeming too insistent I encouraged him to tell me about the conversation. Yes, I was fishing for compliments but trying to be oh so nonchalant about it. My coworker recounted that he told Dr. X that I had a...
Q: As I age, I've noticed that certain situations make me feel unsettled, while feeling more sure of myself in others. What could be causing these feelings? A: Fear responses naturally shift as we age. Many adults experience a mix of apprehension in certain situations, while feeling confident in others. These feelings can stem from a mix of physical, mental, and social changes. Let’s explore these factors to better understand our fear responses and discover effective coping strategies. P...
Many Alaskan seniors age from physically demanding jobs that took them to remote parts of the state, from the fishing industry, to mining and oil production, as well as tourism activities like mountain guiding and heliskiing. But modern medicine offers relief through joint replacement. While invasive and painful depending on your pain tolerance an operation will give you years of pain-free mobility. It's a life changer. The damage to my left knee after being catapulted off a freight sled on the...
Summer in Alaska has a way of bringing people together. Family members travel long distances to visit, grandchildren are out of school, and community gatherings fill calendars across the state. Whether it is a backyard barbecue in Fairbanks, time spent at fish camp, a fishing trip on the Kenai, or a family reunion in Anchorage, these moments create opportunities for something that often matters more than we realize: sharing our stories. Stories are one of the most valuable gifts we can pass...
Medicare and Medicaid are sometimes hard to understand, especially if you are eligible for both insurance programs. This month’s article will discuss how the two programs work together and how to apply for both. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the agency which provides regulatory oversight over both programs. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. People younger than age 65 with certain disabilities, permanent kidney failure, or a...
Sitting in a circle holding hands and praying may have some hidden health benefits, even for non-believers. A randomized controlled trial conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found that a five-minute session of proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) significantly reduced pain and anxiety in primary care patients compared to a music control group. The PIP approach involves an in-person prayer offered by a trained volunteer. The findings, published in The Annals of Family...
June is peak road race season, and two of the events raise money for cancer research and bring community together to fight their respective diseases. The Alaska Run for Women, held on the first Saturday in June every year, had a big turnout thanks to good weather. "This was our thirty-fourth annual run," said Alaska Run for Women board member Nance Larsen, a public relations professional. "It definitely exceeded expectations." The 2026 run had 5,175 registered entrants; 1,100 participated...
I don’t know if other types of attorneys have to spend as much time explaining why it’s a bad deal to have to go through a court case. It’s probably obvious to the clients of criminal defense lawyers that it would be bad if they got caught and had to go to court. Likewise with divorce lawyers and personal injury lawyers. Businesspeople don’t generally need to be told that they should try to avoid going to court. And usually, I’m explaining why you should want to avoid probate court. But today...
After shopping at either Palmer Fred Meyer or Carrs/Safeway, while still in the parking lot, I sometimes look to the east and check out the weather conditions at the top of Lazy Mountain. It gives me a thrill to recall sitting at the top, thanks to my daughter Erin's help. It was a dream that I'd given up on, so the accomplishment was extra special. I'd told her that because of approaching the big 70, I was evaluating my life and thinking about dreams I would have to let go and consider...
It wouldn’t be July in Alaska unless people were readying to run up Mount Marathon in blazing fashion and then come cascading down. The July 4 event is a must-watch at least once, even if your knees beg you not to attempt it. https://mountmarathon.com/ It’s of course too late to register anyway, but it’s definitely possible to watch legends—David Norris and Allie Ostrander are registered—from the comfort of your lawn chair. Plan ahead and get to Seward the day before….You can also catch a parade in any number of larger and smaller communities...
Established in 1968, OPAG is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving services, developing programs, educating, promoting and implementing changes to help Alaska seniors live healthy, productive lives. Current programs: - publish the monthly Senior Voice newspaper - publish and distribute the Directory for Older Alaskans senior resource directory - provide information and referral services for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Health Care Act and other senior issues - organize monthly Providers' Breakfast...
When most people think of eating disorders, they picture teenagers or young adults. But eating disorders don't disappear with age. For many Alaskans, they can quietly begin, intensify, or resurface as they age. Eating disorders are complex, serious physical and mental illnesses affecting an estimated 65,000 Alaskans. They affect people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. Like many health conditions, physical impacts...
We have a lot of official state things in Alaska. I know, "things" is a little vague, but I'll give you some examples. We have an official state bird, the willow ptarmigan. We have an official state gem, jade. We even have an official state insect, the four-spot skimmer dragonfly (Did anyone tell mosquitoes about this?) But, and this is the curious part, we have no official state word. We Alaskans are a literate people, and, in my humble opinion, I think we need an official state word. As you...
Q: How can I encourage my friends to shift our conversations away from the negatives of aging or feeling overlooked, and start discussing the positive aspects? A: As we age, conversations among peers often gravitate toward the challenges of growing older. While feelings of invisibility or worthlessness among older individuals are very real, dwelling on these sentiments creates a narrow, negative narrative that overshadows the richness of our current lives. Why focus on negatives? This trend is...
A major component of both physical and psychological well-being is to have a happy, functioning digestive system. This means your appetite is good and you stop eating when about 80% full, to not over-eat, which prematurely ages our bodies over time. Also, you have a bowel movement every day (nothing better than pooping before having to get out the door!), and nothing hurts after eating. One component of having a happy belly (thus setting yourself up for living your best life) is to eat...
The average Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace deductible saw the steepest increase in history-growing by 37% or more than $1,000, from $2,759 in 2025 to $3,786 in 2026 as enhanced premium tax credits expired, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization which also runs a health-related news service. The full analysis is available here. Between 2021 and 2025, Americans searching for healthcare coverage in the ACA Marketplace 2010 benefited from premium tax...
Medicare’s telehealth coverage has been expanded across Alaska to allow more people to access care at home. Let’s learn about what you can expect now and into the future with Medicare’s telehealth coverage. What is telehealth? Telehealth includes certain services that you receive from a healthcare provider outside of an in-person office visit. A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider using telephone or video technology that allows for both audio and video communication. It is diffe...
If you're like me and walk more than drive, consider solidly built walking shoes to be your best to avoiding any injury or sores and blisters. You've seen the ads all over touting slip-on sneakers and shoes, but this seems counter-intuitive. If sustaining flexibility is a goal for later years, what does lifting your foot onto a chair to lace them do to you instead of bending over and lacing them? Makes you less flexible. Also, walking shoes or sneakers that must be laced add an additional solid...
New tools for combatting breast cancer Immunotherapy has become a standard of care in treating high-risk, early-stage breast cancers, yet it has had limited success in shrinking tumors, so new biomarkers that can improve outcomes for patients are urgently needed. Now, researchers at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, have found that repeated blood sampling (liquid biopsy) can assess and predict the evolving antitumor immune response to therapy. This minimally invasive...
Living in Alaska means sharing our beautiful state with wildlife and the pets we love at home. Dogs and cats bring comfort and joy, but even gentle animals can cause accidental injuries. Knowing how to respond can prevent serious problems, especially when medical help may be far away. Animal bites and scratches happen more often than people think. A dog might nip during play. A cat might scratch while jumping off a lap. These injuries can lead to infection if they are not treated quickly and...
For two days in May, the arena of the Carlson Center in Fairbanks was alive with seniors. On May 7, more than 400 seniors attended the Senior Recognition Day luncheon hosted by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks & Recreation Department and the Senior Citizen Advisory Commission. On May 8, hundreds of seniors took part in the Healthy Living Summit, strolling from one vendor to another, gathering information about topics like safe, affordable housing; transportation and walkability; social...
June 1 Nationwide National Cancer Survivors Day. June 1-30 Nationwide Gun Violence Awareness Month. June 1-30 Nationwide Men's Health Month. Anchorage has a Men's Run on June 13, which proceeds going toward prostate and testicular cancer research and awareness. There is also a virtual option. June 14 National Flag Day June 19 Nationwide Juneteenth. Commemorates the day in 1865 that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. It is celebrated as a day of freedom, resilience,...
