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Amplified phones help those with hearing loss to understand phone conversations better. Each amplified phone will have its own level of amplification, tone control options, caller ID settings, and more. The Panasonic KX-TGM450S can increase up to 50dB amplification, has an amplified answering machine, an extra loud ringer, a talking caller ID, and six levels of tone control. This is a cordless landline phone and can connect with up to six handsets; however, there are also corded amplified...
When we think about eating disorders, the image that often comes to mind is of a teenager or young adult struggling with body image who looks extraordinarily thin. However, eating disorders don’t discriminate by age or body size. In fact, research shows that approximately 13% of women over age 50 are living with an eating disorder. Yet, the misconception that these conditions are exclusive to adolescents contributes to stigma—leaving many older adults suffering in silence. The risks can be especially high at this time of year when many peo...
Medicare coverage is good, but it is not all-inclusive. There are many things that Medicare does not cover. For example, Medicare does not cover most dental, vision and hearing care, including hearing aids. Nor does it cover most non-emergency transportation or care outside of our country. Even when Medicare covers your care, there may be costs left to you, like copays and coinsurances—these costs can add up. An example, for an outpatient visit to a physician who accepts the assigned billing r...
Alaska Health Fair, Inc. (AHF) is excited to announce the return of our health fairs and affordable blood tests. The schedule will be published on www.alaskahealthfair.org around the first week of January. You are welcome to make your appointment online or walk in at any of our events. Please consider signing up for our electronic newsletter to be notified of important updates, resources, and more. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to prioritize your health in the new year. This season, we will add new blood tests to...
New approach to lower back pain Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common cause of lower back pain in a large number of older adults. Now, a study out of the University of Florida is showing that a minimally invasive procedure, known as mild®, provides pain relief and improved physical function for at least a year in adults suffering from lower back pain. The study followed 136 men and women between the ages of 16 and 89 who underwent the mild® procedure. It is designed to reduce pressure on the...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in January. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Jan. 2 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai) support meeting, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 3 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 Sterling Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 28 Nikiski Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a...
When we think about having good balance, it's often in terms of body stability, of being able to stand on tip-toe or on one foot without falling over. In fact, you may have heard about a recent study that associates the ability to balance on one foot for at least 10 seconds with improved odds for a longer life span. But having good balance isn't just about being able to stand on one leg; it's about being able to move better and finding a balance of activities that helps us do that. Here are...
Ever wonder how to get help with daily living tasks or skills through the Alaska Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver (HCBW) or Personal Care Services (PCS)? To get help from the Waiver program or Personal Care Services, first you need to have Medicaid. Medicaid is health insurance for people with low income. People get Medicaid by applying for it with the Division of Public Assistance. Medicaid pays for medical care. It can also pay for help with everyday living and activities, like a Personal Care Assistant (PCA). To get Medicaid, adults...
RurAL CAP's AmeriCorps Seniors Program includes the Elder Mentor and Senior Companion Programs, which provide volunteer opportunities for people age 55 and better. RurAL CAP, short for Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., partners with schools, Head Start, local governments, and health agencies to set up volunteer host sites. Volunteers get training, support and a small stipend as a thank-you for their time and dedication. This article features Evelyn, an Elder Mentor volunteer in...
This coming year, the Fairbanks Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer “Take Charge Tuesdays,” free monthly workshops on a variety of topics, starting with “Power of Attorney Documents: Who Needs One, Why They Matter, and What They Mean,” on Jan. 14. They will be held at the Fairbanks Senior Center, 1424 Moore Street, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Other topics in coming months will discuss advance care directives, assisted living, estate planning, behavioral health, hospice, how to manage benefits applications, and more. Organiz...
This year the spirit of Christmas in Alaska may be overwhelmed by the politics of the times and a tsunami of electronic gifts and doodads. But looking through Alaska newspaper clippings from 100 years ago, Christmas had more to do with turkey shoots and a kindly police chief ... Turkey Shoot at Kennecott A very successful turkey shoot was held at Kennecott on Christmas day starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 3:30 p.m. It was a decided financial success as well as being thoroughly enjoyed by bo...
The first snow has fallen across Alaska, transforming our landscape into a quiet wonderland. But December brings more than just crystalline beauty – it carries the profound warmth of human connection, wrapped in the age-old tradition of giving. Think back to the most meaningful gift you've ever received. Chances are, its value wasn't measured in dollars, but in the thought behind it. This season, we're reimagining gift-giving through a lens of wellness and intention. In a world increasingly dominated by screens, gifting items that encourage a...
Last year for the first time ever, the nation's top panel of preventive health experts, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, recommended that doctors routinely screen all adult patients under 65 for anxiety disorder. Evidence shows that anxiety screening can help those patients find peace of mind, as the USPSTF said in recommendations that were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June of 2023. The Task Force found for patients age 19 to 64 evidence is robust that screening leads to a reduction of...
Dear Savvy Senior: I’ve heard that people with heart problems need to be extra careful during the winter months because heart attacks are much more common. What can you tell me about this? – AFib Alan Dear Alan: Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but many don’t know that it’s also the prime season for heart attacks too, especially if you already have a heart condition or have suffered a previous heart attack. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself. In the U.S., the risk of having a heart att...
Card games are a great pastime and opportunity for socialization. If it is difficult to shuffle or hold cards, there are options to allow an individual to continue with this pastime. Place your card deck in an automatic card shuffler, press the switch, and watch as your deck is shuffled and collected in a tray for easy access. Once shuffled and dealt, use a card holder to keep track of the cards without causing pain or discomfort that can be found from grasping. This column is brought to you by...
In December after an active spring, summer and autumn of physical activity, you wonder how to keep it together as another Alaska winter sets in. You could winter over in Hawaii (see deals in the travel column), but you don't have to go that far; exercise is as close as your nearest shopping mall or recreation center. Anchorage Dimond Center Mall is open for free mall walking on the first and second levels of the building, Hours are Monday through Saturday, a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to...
Preventive care helps avoid illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy. A preventive medical service is conducted when you have no prior symptoms of disease. In contrast, diagnostic services address symptoms or conditions that you already have. In this month’s article I will describe how Medicare covers preventive care. Medicare covers preventive services Medicare’s Part B outpatient care covers many preventive services, such as screenings, vaccines, and counseling. To find out...
The holiday season is a time for joy, connection and creating memories. However, for families with loved ones experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, the holidays can also bring unique challenges. Balancing traditions with the changing needs of those we care for is essential, and small adjustments can make all the difference. Here are some ways to help make the holiday season more enjoyable and less stressful for both caregivers and their loved ones. Plan celebrations with simplicity in mind. Simplifying holiday plans can help re...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in December. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Dec. 4 Kenai Senior Center, “Stronger Together” support group, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai) support meeting, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 19 Sterling Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. For information or to offer sug...
Medication may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease Researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have found that when compared to seven other anti-diabetic drugs, semaglutide, a popular diabetes and weight-loss drug, may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) molecule that decreases hunger and helps regulate blood sugar, is also the active component in the diabetes and weight loss drugs Wegovy a...
Q: I have heard that as you get older there are more risks when undergoing anesthesia. What are they? A: As the new year approaches, many individuals are considering elective surgeries. This is an opportune time to reflect on your own health status. With aging, individuals often encounter medical issues related to cardiovascular, pulmonary or neurological conditions. It is important to discuss these issues with your healthcare provider before undergoing anesthesia for surgical procedures. A...
Winter has arrived in Alaska. For many kids, this brings joy and excitement about making snow angels, going sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. For some of us, however, the winter season brings fear – fear of slipping on the ice, falling and causing serious injury. Otherwise easy tasks such as taking out the trash or getting the mail become treacherous in snowy and icy conditions. Walking to the car or bringing grocery bags from the store to the house become high risk activities. Th...
The Alaska Commission on Aging with hold a quarterly meeting on Dec. 4, via Zoom and by teleconference, starting at 9 a.m., breaking for an hour at noon, and resuming from 1 to 4 p.m. At the meetings, commission members review policy and activities regarding senior housing, transportation, health care and other topics, with reports and input from representatives from agencies and organizations serving seniors and their families and caregivers. There will be a public comment period at 1:10 p.m., allowing for feedback from individuals and...
Veterans and their families in the Mat-Su Valley will have the opportunity to connect with valuable resources and support services at the third annual Mat-Su Veterans Resource Fair. Scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, the event will be held at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. The fair, which has grown to become an essential event for local veterans, will feature upward of 50 organizations offering information, resources and guidance across a wide range of topics. Attendees are invited to explore the fair, speak with...
Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military. Veterans Day is intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated and to underscore the fact that all those who served have protected the freedoms that we enjoy every day. There are more than 11 million adults age 60 and older alive today who have served in the military. Older veterans face a variety of challenges including health, financial and housing...
