Sorted by date Results 983 - 1007 of 2084
Alaska Health Fair is closed for its traditional summer break from July 3 through July 12. The new Fall 2020 health schedule will be published shortly after that timeframe. Check out our website at www.alaskahealthfair.org for the dates being offered in your area of the state. The website will be updated as communities and worksites firm up fall events. You can also find our health newsletters, complete test roster descriptions and other announcements on the same site. In-office and, now, on-the-road appointments We have offered blood draw...
Having trouble signing up for Medicare Part B, Medical Insurance, in the midst of these trying times? The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the agency that handles the Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment and as you may know, SSA, like so many other agencies affected by the COVID-19 virus pandemic, has not been open to the public for face-to-face assistance. This has been particularly challenging to people who need to sign up for Medicare Part B, but prefer to do business in person...
Usually, I would start my article off by saying something like, “I hope you are doing well.” It’s not that I don’t hope you are doing well, but these days, hoping you are well doesn’t feel sufficient. There are some of you who are struggling financially due to COVID-19 and the loss of your job. Some of you are lonely and isolated. Some of you are disgusted at the racial injustice our country continues to face. I can speak for the entire staff at Hospice of Anchorage when I say that we are here for you during these times of unrest. Our offic...
Editor’s note: This schedule may change, due to coronavirus safety measures. Be sure to confirm with the host agency prior to visiting. With senior centers still closed, the Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold all peer support meetings in July at its new office location, 44539 Sterling Highway, Suite 202 in the Blazy Mall in Soldotna, and online via Zoom. Social distancing will be respected, and masks will be worn at the office meetings. This month’s discussion topic will be “Caregiver Wellness: How to Combat Isola...
We’ve all heard or even been told that getting old is something we have to live with and getting sick, feeble and diseased just comes with the territory. Well, I for one am going to fight it every step of the way and I am not going to settle for aging as an inevitability. Dr. Frank Shallenberger shares my philosophy or, maybe better said, I share his -- he’s more famous than me even though I might be a few years his senior. A pioneer in alternative and anti-aging medicine, Dr. Shallenberger claims that you don’t have to grow old biolo...
New identification of genetic basis of COVID-19 susceptibility will aid treatment Italian researchers are reporting that they have been able to identify the genetic basis of susceptibility to Covid-19 infection. This has important implications for treatment and drug development. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 varies from patient to patient and understanding individual genetic susceptibility to the disease is therefore vital to prognosis, prevention, and the development of new treatments....
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska will present a free online webinar for caregivers and professionals, “Engaging People Living with Dementia,” on July 14 from noon to 1 p.m. The webinar will explore ways to create meaningful engagement for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Continuing nursing credit available. Register online at https://bit.ly/3etS7xY or contact Amber Smith, 907-586-6044 or asmith@alzalaska.orgasmith@alzalaska.org....
Reassembling a dozen cast members from a popular 90s TV sitcom could pose a challenge for any network, much less an individual. But it was a task Fran Drescher relished. As the nasal-voiced star of the hit CBS series "The Nanny," Drescher co-created and co-produced the show along with then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. "Peter came up with the reunion idea for fans stuck at home during isolation and I said right away let's do it if everyone in the cast is available," said Drescher from her home in...
Q. How do I disinfect a smartphone or tablet? A. Manufacturers usually publish guidelines for their products, and you should follow them. The most common advice is to avoid using too much liquid by applying it first to a clean, lint-free cloth. Use a disinfectant solution that contains at least 70% alcohol. Never use bleach or similar strong chemicals. Products intended for cleaning screens do not disinfect, even if they contain alcohol. I usually use a pre-moistened alcohol hand wipe and wait a couple of minutes for any liquid to evaporate,...
Since the end of March, Alaska has been under a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone entering the state. Under that regulation, titled “Health Mandate 10.1 - International and Interstate Travel - Order for Self Quarantine,” individuals arriving in Alaska from domestic or international communities were required to isolate away from the general public for 14 days. Inbound travelers were also supposed to fill out a Traveler Declaration Form provided by the state upon arrival, outlining quarantine plans, and listing a contact number during tha...
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there have been over 20,300 COVID-19 complaints carrying an estimated $15.6 million in losses since the start of 2020. U.S. service members and veterans should take particular notice because these fraudsters have tailored their fake pitches to mix the pandemic with top concerns of those who’ve worn a military uniform. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and Operation Protect Veterans initiative have received reports of COVID-19 treatment scams, fake charity pitches claiming to help veteran and mil...
Despite the current COVID-19 Pandemic, the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program will be offered this summer. On May 12, 2020, The Alaska Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) updated its website with the announcement that low-income seniors with coupons will be able to exchange them for fresh Alaska-grown fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut herbs and honey at farmers’ markets, and authorized farms and roadside stands. Each eligible older adult will receive six $5 coupons and they can be...
Dear Savvy Senior: I manage a large doctor’s clinic that treats hundreds of seniors each month. We are moving to more telehealth visits to help keep our patients safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic, but this new way of seeing a doctor is befuddling to many of our elder patients. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for a telehealth appointment? - Regular Reader Dear Reader: I’d be happy to help. To help keep patients safe and at home during the coronavirus crisis, more and more doctors and other health care provi...
Alaska Health Fair is not able to put on health fairs in your community at the current time. We hope to return to this important service as soon as possible. Over the past three years, we have offered office draw appointments several days each month. This popular service is now very vital to Alaskans that are looking for a way to still get their blood tests done, without being able to attend a fair. Office tests are the same price as at a health fair, and we add a $10 office fee. Get everything done in less than 30 minutes, with no standing in...
One of the most challenging areas of communication our society still faces today is communication at the end of life. Some of the most important decisions and opportunities are found to have come from end of life conversations. However, many still seem to be missing out on the opportunity. Studies show that end of life communication provides an opportunity for an individual who is dying to have their voice heard and their needs met. In addition, studies show that effective end of life conversations lead to better quality end of life and much...
Editor’s note: This schedule may change, due to coronavirus safety measures. Be sure to confirm with the host agency prior to visiting. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in June. This month’s discussion topic will be “Caregiver Wellness.” If COVID-19 restrictions have not been lifted, meetings will be conducted on Zoom via computer or smartphone. June 2, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. June 9, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center,...
I can't see clearly out of my right eye, I have a headache and in spite of blinking, the eye is uncomfortable. I have extreme dry eye. I went to an ophthalmologist who plugged the tear ducts into which the tears drain. Didn't help. He gave me a sample prescription of Xiidra which would have cost $600 a month if it worked. It did not. In fact, I awoke feeling as though I'd dipped my entire eyeball into sand. A second ophthalmologist prescribed prednisone drops which helped the irritation but not...
COVID-19 may affect men differently than women The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to perplex researchers and is leaving millions of people struggling. It is still not clear why some individuals are more severely affected by the virus than others. So far, adults age 60 and older and those with certain pre-existing conditions appear to be at greater risk. However, a new study in the journal Frontiers in Public Health suggests that men are significantly more likely to suffer severe effects of the...
Dear Savvy Senior: Are people with high blood pressure at increased risk of getting coronavirus? - Hypertensive Helen Dear Helen: If you have high blood pressure, you definitely need to take extra care to protect yourself during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Research shows that people with hypertension are more susceptible to getting COVID-19, are more likely to develop severe symptoms if they do get sick, and are more likely to die from the infection, especially if they’re older. High risk links A weaker immune system is the key r...
If you’re out somewhere — getting groceries, for example — don’t sneeze. If you do, you might be taking your life into your hands. That happened to me last month when I sneezed (into my arm) in a grocery store parking lot – and then heard myself explaining to the stranger eyeing me like she wanted to strangle me, “Hey don’t worry, I’m not sick! I have snatiation!” She rolled her eyes. I realized she had no idea what I was talking about and probably thought I was being sarcastic to her. I just learned about snatiation a few years ago, but I...
Be part of Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc.’s virtual Miles for Meals 5K fundraising event. Miles for Meals is WASI’s largest fundraising event of the year, supporting Meals on Wheels of the Mat-Su Valley. Using the proceeds, WASI strives to end senior hunger and malnutrition in the Mat-Su by delivering meals to seniors in their homes and ensuring they are safe. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, this year’s event will be virtual, meaning participants won’t gather together on race day as they’ve done in the past. Instead, they can run,...
You’ve planted a victory garden, cleaned the garage, and caught up with old (and older) friends. If you’re lucky, you’ve stayed healthy and are still employed (or retired). COVID-19 has affected each of us differently, but there’s no doubt it’s been a game changer for those of us at or near retirement. What effect might the pandemic have on your financial life? I like to believe every problem comes packaged with its own solutions. Maybe it’s not a welcome solution, and maybe it doesn’t present itself as quickly as we’d like, but patience an...
Covid-19 is some scary stuff. It’s even more so if medical procedures make you nervous. By now we’ve all seen videos of people having long swabs stuck far up their noses, or a tube stuck down their throats, or lying in a hospital bed gasping for air through an oxygen mask. So if you don’t like thinking about medical traumas … tough noogies. Read this anyway. The prospect of a looming medical crisis has a lot of people thinking about what kind of treatment they would want, if their circums...
Normally by mid-May I've come and gone several times from my home in Anchorage, sometimes unpacking and re-packing in the same day. It usually feels both frenetic and satisfying to finally be on the road, in the air, or upon the water after a long winter of wishing I was traveling. But nothing is usual, this year. Statewide mandates, while easing for most Alaska cities, are still in place, including a 14-day quarantine for incoming travelers from Outside. But truth be told, many Alaskans, like...
In an effort to protect the health and safety of passengers and crew, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has announced a revised procedure for coronavirus mitigation, effective immediately. These protocols will be visible in all AMHS facilities and aboard all vessels, and will include: • Reminders to passengers and AMHS employees to practice good hygiene and follow social and physical distancing guidelines. The wearing of face coverings is strongly recommended, as per the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. • Passenger capacity on eac...
