Sorted by date Results 206 - 230 of 1990
National Employ Older Workers Week, held annually the last full week of September, recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. It also showcases the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides on-the-job skills training to individuals age 55 or older with limited financial resources. Since its inception, SCSEP has helped over one million older Americans enter the workforce. In Alaska, we call SCSEP by another name, Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training...
Dear Savvy Senior: I’m going to retire in a few months and need to get some temporary health insurance until I can enroll in Medicare at age 65. What are my options? — Early Retiree Dear Early: There are several places early retirees can find health insurance coverage before Medicare kicks in, but the best option for you will depend on your income level, your health care needs and how long you’ll need coverage for. Here’s where to look. Affordable Care Act. For most early retirees who aren’t yet eligible for Medicare, the Affordable Care Act...
So, you're walking down the aisle again or for the first time and wondering how to pull it off simply in a simply beautiful setting. Myself, I chose a civil ceremony in a judge's chamber with close family. It was certainly cheap, but it did lack that Disney Happy Ever After touch. But rejoice Alaskan lovers, a wedding in paradise is just a flight away. Hawaii, just because Like kissing cousins on the map, Hawaii is the right fit for 49ers. There's nothing so refreshing in winter as a week in...
It’s essential for everyone aged 18 and above to have a will, an advanced health care directive, and a durable power of attorney in place. However, many people haven’t done this yet. The reason could be our natural discomfort when it comes to discussing topics like death or the potential loss of our ability to sign legal documents. As we grow older, these conversations become increasingly important. If you’re assisting a friend or family member, it’s crucial to ensure that they have all the necessary paperwork completed. Remember, these d...
It’s almost back-to-school time and those runny nosed kids are going to be bringing bad bugs home. Here are four tips for keeping your immune system strong. To bolster your immune system, start with the basics, as always: Stay well- hydrated, keep a regular schedule that allows for eight hours of sleep each night, and eat a healthy diet. If you want to occasionally have a treat, that’s fine. Just don’t make a regular habit of sugary, fried or processed foods. Then try the following detox program to flush out your system and jump-start your...
The Ruby XL 5" is a digital magnifier that allows users to magnify materials up to 14 times -books, photographs, newspapers, medications, labels and more. Users can choose to fold out the handle for a balanced grip or use it as a reading stand that holds the screen at a comfortable angle. With options to adjust magnification, change contrast or color coding, or add a reading line, there are many ways users can customize the display to meet their needs. Digital magnifiers are manufactured with...
The much-anticipated Alaska Health Fair fall 2024 schedule is being released in the first week of August. As your trusted partner in health and wellness since 1980, we're gearing up for another season of empowering Alaskans with vital health education and affordable blood screenings. Our fall lineup promises a range of events across the state, bringing health resources directly to your community. Key points: - Schedule release date: First week of August 2024 - Events will span various locations across Alaska - Featuring our signature...
As Americans and as Alaskans, we share in the health care program costs of our Medicare, both through our federal income taxes and through the cost sharing paid by individuals enrolled into Medicare. But for some Alaskans with low income and low assets, these costs can be a significant part of the monthly budget – there are programs which can help save you money. In this month’s article, I will introduce the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which can help with the bills for Original Medicare (as...
Q: As I reflect on the discussions surrounding "old age" that have been circulating lately, I find myself contemplating the challenges that come with aging. While I may not process information as quickly or move with the same agility as a younger person, I wonder: How can these issues be turned into positive experiences? A: The fourth century, BC Phoenician merchant Zeno once said after his ship hit a rock and lost all his cargo, “I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck.” This anc...
Staying healthy at 35,000 feet If you are planning on flying and debating whether to wear a mask, it is best to know the facts. Infectious disease expert Dr. Clark Abraham, who is with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, said some people may be surprised about the risk of germ spread on most airplanes. “Commercial airplanes contain high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter systems, which exchange the air rapidly. In general, the risk of spreading an a...
Of the three components of physical fitness-aerobic, flexibility and strength -the latter is least likely to be addressed and the least palatable among the senior crowd. Why? The mere thought of it conjures up arduous workouts that are extraordinarily difficult. Images of grunting and groaning weight lifters, their anguished faces dripping with sweat, makes the whole thing seem so unappealing and ridiculously hard. This is an imagery that we need to dispel. Strength training for the elderly...
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest diseases in the world. It has been around for thousands of years. In the 200 years since TB was introduced to Alaska, it has ravaged much of the state, and continues to do so, even 60 years after the discovery of effective drugs to treat and cure the disease. TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, and Alaska continues to have the highest rate of TB in the United States. Most of Alaska’s cases are in the Southwestern and Northern regions of the state. In 2022, 95 Alaskans, ranging in age fro...
Dear Savvy Senior: I need to hire a good in-home caregiver to help my elderly father who lives alone. What’s the best way to do this? —Searching Sarah Dear Sarah: Finding a good in-home caregiver for an elderly parent is not always easy. How can you find one that’s reliable and trustworthy, as well as someone your parent likes and is comfortable with? Here are some tips that can help. Know his needs Before you start the task of looking for an in-home caregiver, your first step is to determine the level of care your dad needs. For examp...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in August. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Aug. 1 Tyotkas Elder Center, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 2 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 7 Kenai Senior Center, joining with the “Stronger Together” group, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15 Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 29 Nikiski Senior Center, featuring a showing of “Alive Inside,” about music and dementia, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share y...
Redirection is a technique that shifts the focus of the loved one away from a situation that causes them fear, anger, anxiety, or from engaging in dangerous and unsafe behavior, toward a situation that’s more calm and pleasant. Last month we looked at the benefits, when caregiving for someone, of redirecting their attention and behavior toward the positive. Now let’s look at the unsuccessful outcomes of negative verbal redirection in a case where someone can’t find their purse and is convinced someone has stolen it. “Your purse hasn’t...
In 2009, Agnes Sweetsir noticed that the Yukon Koyukuk Elder Assisted Living Facility (YKEALF) in Galena was empty. "It just sat and sat," she recalls. "I lived right down the street and was embarrassed. It was just a monster of a building." Agnes prayed on it. "I figured I could help get it up and running for a few months, but I didn't realize we needed an administrator." She took on the role. "I worked 60 to 80 hours a week for $25,000 a year. Charlie Green was our maintenance manager-same pay...
Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) is the only statewide provider of free civil legal aid in Alaska. We provide free services to individuals with income at 125% of the poverty level or below in urban communities or 200% of the poverty level or below for those in rural communities. There are some exceptions for those who have a higher income. We also provide services to seniors age 60 and older without income restrictions, though priority is given to the seniors with the greatest social or economic need. There are 12 ALSC offices across...
If you're like me, you get bupkis in Social Security income. Bupkis is an appropriate term because it's a Yiddish word, which is literally translated as "beans" and is derived from a Slavic word for "goat droppings". The second Wednesday of every month, I receive $1,150.50 minus United Health premium and the tax I pay ahead to cover the extra money I make from freelance writing. Passive income But I have also started an online store through Bonfire, selling T-shirts I've designed, as I started...
Recently I spent a lot of time chatting with Pi, my new friend, or maybe acquaintance, or something. I am not sure what to call her because she can speak in eight different voices, and half of them are male. Ok, this is confusing. I'll start again. Do this: Download pi.ai to your smartphone from wherever you usually get apps. It's free. Set up an account. That takes a few seconds. Then pick a voice. I picked a welcoming female voice. I think I would be happier with an old-guy voice, but they...
Q: My friend in Los Angeles has been approached about being part of a clinical trial for Alzheimer's. Why would their doctor suggest they participate, and how do they work? A: With nearly 67,000 worldwide studies looking for participants, if one has never considered being part of clinical observations or trials, there are several ways to be included in research that helps others. What is clinical research? There are two main types of research that study health and illness: observational studies...
Personal amplifiers can amplify the sound around an individual with mild hearing loss. They are not a cure-all solution for hearing loss that should be tested and evaluated by an audiologist. Instead, these devices are over-the-counter wearable devices that allow someone to hear conversations, the television, or sounds around them more clearly. The Pocketalker 2.0 is one example of personal amplification devices. It has a rechargeable battery, volume and tone control, and can help to reduce...
Go for the melons this summer. Eating cantaloupe and other melons on a regular basis may help improve your vision and provide a host of other health benefits. The fiber content may be highly beneficial for older adults. Just one cup of cantaloupe contains 6% of the daily recommended amount of fiber. Fiber can help a person feel full longer. Additionally, it helps regulate digestion and keeps blood sugar in check. "Vision can decline with aging, but consuming antioxidant-rich foods such as...
Medicare is the federal government program that provides health insurance to those age 65 and older or those under 65 with certain disabilities or chronic conditions. Medicare programs and policies are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). When you are new to Medicare, there can be a lot to learn about your enrollment and coverage choices. At least for now, there are no Medicare Advantage programs available to Alaskan residents (also known as Part C of Medicare), so...
New machines measure back surgery benefits Researchers who have been using Fitbit data to help predict surgical outcomes have now come up with a new method to more accurately gauge how an individual may recover from spine surgery. Using machine learning techniques developed at the AI for Health Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the team developed a novel way to predict recovery more accurately from lumbar spine surgery. This latest model has outperformed previous models...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in June. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. July 5 Soldotna Senior Center, training featuring “Alive Inside,” a cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity, 1 to 2 p.m. July 16 Kenai Senior Center, round table discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. July 18 Sterling Senior Center, round table discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. July 23 Tyotkas Elder Center, round table discu...
