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Family Caregiver Support Programs offer free support meetings to allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member or friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office is located at 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 205 (located in the 4D Professional Building). You can call them at 907-262-1280. Call with suggestions and...
Spring weather makes me think of summer's influx of visitors to our wonderful state and I am reminded of our years living in Slana running a bed and breakfast in our home. My husband Gary and I provided a home away from home for many people from 2001 through 2006. Each year was busier than the one before, until we stopped serving the public due to health reasons – first my dad's and then my own. I was surprised how disappointed I was to close our business when we did. I had doubts back in 2...
AGEnet stands for Alaska Geriatric Exchange Network, primarily made up of private non-profit organizations founded in Alaska. AGEnet’s goal is to help older Alaskans age in place, supporting them to live safely in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and avoid costly institutional care, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Community grants help Alaska’s seniors to age in place. Not only do older Alaskans prefer to stay in their own homes, it is also the least costly type of care. Last year, 19,000 older Alaskans ben...
Nearly 20,500 Alaskans are all too familiar with the toll that Alzheimer’s takes on their loved ones every day. Although new drug trials show promise for treatment, this disease currently has no cure and new diagnoses are being made every day. While few are unfamiliar with this disease, many don’t know that the signs and symptoms go beyond just memory loss. Individuals may experience personality changes, behavioral changes, sleep cycle changes, and more. As many new treatments are only effective in the early stages of the disease, it’s impor...
We feature here selections from two interviews. The first is with Deborah Bear, Anchorage senior activist, who presents her experiences and views regarding access to primary health care as a senior with Medicare. The second is with Tamara Brown, chief executive for Providence Clinical Network, who explains how Providence is responding to the need. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Weiss: Deborah Bear, how did you get started as an activist about the issue of access to pri...
Prior to the close of 2022, AARP Alaska received great news when Juneau, Alaska, became the 734th city to be enrolled in the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities. Juneau joins Anchorage (the 678th city enrolled) to promote neighborhood unity and maximize opportunities for residents to be active and engaged with their neighbors, family and friends to develop a community that invites and supports the participation of older people. Age-friendly communities improve the health and well-being of everyone, from newborns to...
It is well known that the Hispanic population has the second highest obesity rates in the world: More than 60% of Hispanics are overweight or obese. Both conditions occur when there is an excessive accumulation of body fat, especially in adipose tissue, subsequently leading to increased body weight. These conditions can be clinically detected through the Body Mass Index (BMI), with simple and easily measurable parameters. When the BMI is over 25, one is considered overweight and when the indicator is over 30, one is considered obese. This is no...
I will admit to being an enthusiastic, nutrition-minded cook with a penchant for making twice as much as my household can eat and often neglecting many purchased fresh edibles until they appear fit only for compost. Just this week, my countertop fruit bowl with tomatoes, avocados, apples, oranges and limes, transformed from beautiful and welcoming to "oh, no, I've done it again," with a couple overripe avocados and a seriously deteriorating, bruised apple. Even though none of us likes to throw f...
Hybrid immunity may be the best protection Analyzing data from controlled studies throughout the world, researchers discovered people with hybrid immunity are the most protected against severe illness and reinfection. Hybrid immunity occurs when someone has had at least the full series of vaccines and has a prior infection, in any order. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, now is helping public policymakers understand the optimal timing of vaccinations. “The results reinforce the global imperative for vaccination,” said stu...
Enrollment into Medicare or choosing different Medicare coverage may only happen during specific times of the year. This month we will learn about these enrollment periods, so you can make the most of them. As a reminder, initial Medicare enrollment is processed through the Social Security Administration, whether in-person during an appointment, over the telephone, or by going online through Social Security’s website. Know when to sign up for Medicare for the first time You may be a...
Q: My grandfather went in to get one tooth repaired and came away with several thousand dollars of dental work performed. Is there anything I can do? What actions can prevent this from happening again? A: Overtreatment is the term used to describe unnecessary or extensive therapies. A patient may refuse treatment as long as they can understand their decision, the implications of that decision, and can act in their own best interest. Advocacy on behalf of those harmed due to excessive procedures...
Preventing heart attacks in new ways After years of research, scientists have now developed a wearable cardiac ultrasound imager that can non-invasively capture real-time images of the human heart for an extended period of time. The patch, which is about the size of a postage stamp, is comparable to a commercial ultrasound device. Further, the imager can be worn during exercise and provide valuable cardiac information when the heart is under stress. “While existing wearable patches in d...
If you're a senior, family member of a senior or social worker, you know the frustration of trying to find availability in long term care. With long waitlists for senior housing across the state, Timber Creek Senior Living is welcome news not just for Fairbanks, but for the state as a whole. As the aging population continues to grow across the state, seniors and families sometimes feel left behind as senior services and care communities are not keeping up with the growing demand. Timber Creek...
March is National Kidney Month, and Alaska Health Fair, Inc. and the National Kidney Foundation are urging everyone to take healthy steps to protect their kidneys. An estimated 26 million American adults have kidney disease, though most don’t know it. To protect your kidneys, you should get tested for kidney disease, reduce the use of NSAIDs (over the counter pain medicines), cut down on processed foods, exercise regularly, and control your blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for developing k...
Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) announces the opening of WASI Mid-Valley Adult Day Services at their Mid-Valley Senior Center location in Houston. WASI's mission is to enable seniors to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. In keeping with that mission, WASI continues to develop programs that help seniors stay independent and living at home. As the number of seniors continues to increase dramatically in the Mat-Su Valley, families are often faced with exploring how to...
How to stay healthy in Interior Alaska for those age 50 and older is the focus of “Fairbanks 50+: The Art and Science of Aging,” a two-day summit April 7 and 8 at the Pioneer Park Civic Center. The event aims to inspire a healthy path to growing older, according to a press release from organizer Foundation Health Partners, a program of the Community Health Improvement Plan for Senior Care. “The better we understand what it takes to support our goals as we age, the more likely we are to enjoy wider choices and fewer surprises. We also reach out...
Alaska is getting older every day. We expect by 2030 that 30% of us will be 55 and older and still in the workforce, so Alaska has a different issue. We are trying to bring retirees back into the workforce. – Rita Gray, MASST I had a most interesting conversation in mid-January with Rita Gray, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training (MASST). I wanted to discuss ageism against seniors in the Alaskan workplace. Her response was not what I expected. Selections from the interview follow and have been edited f...
Q: As my health declines it is harder to have good days. How can I adapt to my changing life? A: The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress”. Successful aging is a process. Studies have shown that art can help people with depression, anxiety, and stress, and art has also been linked to improved memory, reasoning and resilience. There’s something quite beaut...
Music therapy now is moving into a new realm thanks to smartphones. A music app has been developed that provides therapy by consoling, relaxing and uplifting users. Music has the potential to change emotional states and can distract listeners from negative thoughts and pain. It has also been proven to help improve memory, performance and mood. Music and emotions, with an app Man Hei Law of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and his team have developed what they currently are calling...
If you wear glasses (or contacts) try to minimize their use to times when you are reading, driving or doing other precision work. But if you're just lounging around at home and can bathe, cook, garden, play a game, etc. without your glasses - do it. The more dependent you become on your glasses/contacts, the weaker your eyes become. Limiting your eyewear usage gives your eyes a chance to practice focusing unaided, thus strengthening them, and allowing for fewer prescription changes in the long...
Medicare coverage and costs normally change each year, so it is important to understand and review your benefits. Here is an overview of what’s new in 2023. Part A Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, home health care, and hospice. Most people do not owe a premium for Part A, but if neither you nor your spouse have 10 years of Social Security work credits, you may owe a monthly premium. If you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, you w...
Alaska Health Fair’s Spring 2023 schedule is now online, with most events already posted on our website at www.alaskahealthfair.org. Please check back frequently, as the new season is fluid. We continue to add new dates as they come available and rarely postpone one. We have provided services to Alaskans for 43 years and continued helping residents see to their needs over the past few difficult years. We offer a selection of draw dates from our offices to a handful of February community events as our busy schedule ramps up for a busy spring. W...
Poisoning is the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S., according to a report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). More than 2 million cases of human poison exposure in the U.S. were reported in 2021 alone. While less severe poison exposures have decreased in recent years, more serious exposures have been on the rise, according to the AAPCC annual report. Since 2000, serious cases have grown by 4.44% per year ranging from moderate severity to death. This alarming trend reveals the importance of greater...
Making exercise fun and easy Ongoing research is showing that there are significant cardiovascular benefits at 6,000 daily walking steps at any pace. The evidence-based health benefits of walking are continuing to accumulate, according to ongoing research by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Findings from the latest study led by Amanda Paluch, an assistant professor of kinesiology in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, show that older adults who walked between...
Family Caregiver Support Programs offer free support meetings to allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member or friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office is located at 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 205 (located in the 4D Professional Building). You can call them at 907-262-1280. Call with suggestions and id...
