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COVID-somnia is taking its toll A new survey commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has found that more than half of Americans (56%) say they have experienced “COVID-somnia,” an increase in sleep disturbances, since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the reported sleep disturbances, most common was trouble falling or staying asleep (57%). Additional disturbances included sleeping less (46%), experiencing worse quality sleep (45%) and having more disturbing dreams (36%). “COVID-somnia can be brought on by multiple stres...
Your Medicare costs and coverage can change every year; this year is no exception. Here is an overview of changes and opportunities to consider. Medicare Part A Part A inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, home health care and hospice are covered by Medicare Part A. Most people do not owe a premium for Part A. If you have less than 10 years of Social Security work credits, you may owe a monthly premium, depending on the number of years worked. If you are admitted to...
Each household in the U.S. can now have four free COVID-19 at-home tests shipped directly to their home at no cost. All you need to do is visit COVIDtests.gov and enter your contact information and mailing address. The tests are rapid antigen “at-home” or “self” tests — not PCR tests, which require a lab drop-off. The “at-home” or “self” tests can be taken anywhere and give results within 30 minutes. Guard against scammers trying to steal your personal information. When ordering tests, use the official, secure government website: https://...
The last few years have been extra difficult for so many people in Alaska. These years have been hard for human beings all over the world due to the Pandemic. The reality of experiencing, or dread of experiencing, COVID-19 or one of its ensuing strains has been increasing the normal stresses of day-to-day life. Many of our friends and loved ones may also have a serious life-limiting illness. As you read this, you may be dealing with one yourself. Saint Valentine is known as the patron saint of beekeeping and epilepsy. This saint has had people...
Promising advance in treating Parkinson’s disease Researchers have solved a decade-long mystery about a critical protein linked to Parkinson’s disease that could help to fast-track treatments for the incurable disease. The researchers have developed a “live action” view of a protein called PINK1 in exquisite molecular detail. The discovery explains how the protein is activated in the cell and leads to the development of Parkinson’s disease. When this protein is not working correctly, it kills...
Alaska Health Fair’s Spring 2022 schedule is now online, with most events already posted on our website at www.alaskahealthfair.org. Check back frequently, as the new season is fluid. We continue to add new dates as they come available and rarely postpone one. The blood draw dates are at our office settings, plus a few February community events, as our busy schedule ramps up for spring. Our February schedule, which includes mask wearing requirements while attending, currently includes: Anchorage, Feb. 5 First Christian Church, 3031 Latouche S...
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 or email kpfcsp@soldotnaseniors.com. The program will hold caregiver support group meetings in February at the locations below. Training is from 1 to 2 p.m., with support group meetings following, 2 to 3 p.m. This month’s training features a “Fun with Meal Planning” presentation with certified food systems manager Cindi Irwin. Feb. 3, Sterling Senior Cente...
Are you a family caregiver? You may not think of yourself that way, but if you spend time tending to the needs or concerns of a person with an ongoing illness, injury or disability, you are considered a caregiver. Approximately 85% of people with dementia and chronic illness are cared for exclusively in their own homes. On average, their loved ones provide 12 hours of assistance a day. That can be difficult to juggle with work and other responsibilities, and often takes an economic and physical toll. As a result, caregivers often report signifi...
Q: Seniors in Alaska have a higher mortality rate due to behavioral health conditions. What are some of the leading causes of death among seniors in Alaska, and how we can work to improve behavioral health outcomes for this population? A: Correct, as Alaskan seniors struggle with behavioral health conditions, their mortality rates increase. Let’s examine more about the impact of these conditions and what resources are available. In February 2019 the Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services r...
A diagnosis of dementia is one of the most difficult hardships a patient and their loved ones can face. The months and years after diagnosis are often filled with trying to learn more about the disease, wondering what the future holds, becoming a caregiver with no formal training, and experiencing loss. These challenges can be overwhelming for anyone to overcome. A support system is crucial to managing the new territory a dementia diagnosis brings, and one important member of that team is an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy is the...
Join friends, create a work of art and learn about ways to improve heart health at the Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. (WASI) "Paint Your Heart Out" event Feb. 19. Cost is $25 and all supplies and snacks are provided. You bring your painting clothes. Register in advance on the WASI Facebook page, at the WASI office or online at our at www.wasillaseniors.com/events/paint-your-heart-out/. Registration the day of the event begins at 9:30 a.m. The party is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 907-206-8792 for...
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Fairbanks will offer a mix of distance-delivered (via Zoom) and in-person classes for its spring classes this year. Classes are offered to adults age 50 and older and topics cover art, computers, current events, health, history, literature, music, philosophy, science as well as exercise and hobbies. The format may be lecture, discussion group, or hands-on. There are no tests or grades. Classes are taught by current and retired faculty of UAF and by others with specialized expertise....
AARP Alaska’s Juneau Community Action Team, the Juneau Sustainability Commission and several other Juneau groups have partnered to develop a five-part series on reducing our carbon footprint. The sessions meet via Zoom every other Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., beginning March 9. Each session will be moderated by a local expert. Following a brief introductory presentation, a series of panelists will share practical information and tips on carbon footprint reduction in Juneau and beyond. The series will end with a look at the connection between...
Dear Savvy Senior: What is the IRS standard tax deduction for 2021? I didn’t file a tax return last tax year (2020) because I lost my job and my income in March due to COVID. But I got a part-time job in 2021 and am wondering if I made enough money that requires me to file this year. - Part-Time Retiree Dear Retiree: Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year (in 2021), but also the source of that income, as well as your age and your filing status. Here’s a r...
The Alaska Commission on Aging met with partners December 8 for a day long summit to discuss priorities for the upcoming year. Denali Daniels facilitated the meeting with Jordan Marshall providing support as well as his expertise about the ‘lay of the land’ for the upcoming legislative session. The morning session was dedicated to hearing from partners, but the main theme was consistent: Older Alaskans do better when they are able to remain in their homes and communities, but Alaska’s infrastructure to support seniors is lacking. The need...
Kaiser Health News editor Elisabeth Rosenthal, in a recent opinion column, argues that two of America’s toughest problems can be tempered with one solution. Older people, many isolated, are ill-equipped to meet people or even have their health monitored at their homes. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service, has gone $160 billion into debt, in part, as digital communications have replaced old-school mail. Rosenthal suggests having letter carriers spend less time delivering mail, much of which these days involves fliers and unwanted s...
“Age Smart – Let’s Talk”, the series of forums sponsored by AARP Alaska, Older Persons Action Group and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, returns Jan. 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Events are currently held virtually on the internet, using Zoom. This month’s presentation is “Let’s Talk the Benefits of Yoga.” Do you have a new year’s resolution to work toward improving your overall health and fitness? This one-hour presentation will help you learn how yoga can improve the mind, body and overall wellness using simple techniques. The ...
Help Wanted signs have sprouted up all over. Without enough workers, businesses can’t stay open. The day after Thanksgiving – the day when all chain stores start clamoring for everyone’s gift-buying dough – I stopped at the nearest dollar store for some paper towels. The store was closed. On the day after Thanksgiving. Why? The sign on the door vaguely cited “staffing shortages.” A supervisor later explained to me a lot of workers had been out sick. Seems nowadays “staffing shortages” can mean a lot of workers are out sick but the store doesn’t...
Q: What threats do older adults face, and what increases people's exposure to threats? How can I help? A: The concept of vulnerability first emerged in the environmental sciences, specifically in the study of natural disasters such as flood, fire, earthquake, drought, or hurricanes. But, in the wake of those disasters, not everyone suffers equally. Vulnerability in disaster studies was initially defined as the 'potential for disruption or harm', and the type of hazard, severity of damage...
Most Americans over age 60 are fearful of age-related health decline and disease. According to one survey, the fears of dementia and Alzheimer's disease top the list. These fears are not without cause - the most recent statistics estimate that 6.2 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer's dementia which accounts for 60 to 70% of dementia cases. Dementia is a general term for cognitive problems that interfere with daily living. It can result from or with other conditions such as...
I am 25 pounds lighter than I was just a few months ago, and my blood pressure is far lower. A better diet and generous amounts of exercise were key ingredients, but the tool that helped me most was fitness related technology. Fitness is a multi-billion dollar industry, and I do not have the space to cover even a fraction of its landscape. Nevertheless, in my quest for a healthy lifestyle I explored many different products. Accurate measurements are vital. They create a feedback loop over time...
You could say swimming pools in Alaska in the time of COVID are doing swimmingly. Keeping healthy with a safe workout through water aerobics or lap swimming does more than build muscles, it keeps many older adults connected during the dark winter months. This year there will be many swimming options all across the state. "Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise that an older adult can participate in," said Larry Parker, chief executive officer at YMCA of Alaska. "Aquatic activity works...
Medicare may include coverage of diagnostic-level genetic testing for patients when the test is ordered by a physician, as long as certain requirements are met. Genetic tests of this sort are performed in order to help identify medical traits which may be cancer-related. The development and availability of genetic tests continues to evolve, especially in the diagnosis and early treatment of many diseases. Tests of this sort may be able to confirm or eliminate an appropriate diagnosis, far...
Hello! I have been a primary care provider in Juneau Alaska for nearly 30 years, as well as a health writer, yoga enthusiast and instructor, musician, and lover of the great outdoors. My professional focus is on wellness. I particularly enjoy helping patients achieve good health, with minimal or no medication if possible. “Anything that can be healed by judicious diet and lifestyle should not be treated any other way” is a wise maxim attributed to Hippocrates (460-370 BC, Greek). This new column will serve as an introduction to the principles o...
We wouldn’t have achieved this milestone without the support of many Alaskans who use our affordable blood draw services, those who come to us to access free health screenings or to generously donate their time or money. We can’t thank you enough for your loyalty and support, especially through these recent, difficult years. We hope that your new year is all that you are wishing for with health, happiness and personal goals part of your overall achievements. We are continuing with our modified version of health fairs in Spring 2022. Our new...
