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Dear Savvy Senior, I had a living will/advance directive prepared about 10 years ago documenting my end-of-life medical wishes, but I’ve read that these documents are often ignored. What can you tell me about this? - Troubled Tina Dear Tina, Yes, unfortunately, that can happen. Living wills aren’t always followed in practice, most often because the document isn’t available when it’s needed or never reaches the right people in time. They can also fall short because they aren’t medical orders, and the language may be too vague to guide doctors i...
First, I have to tell you a true story about maps. It may seem a bit far afield from the main event, turning 80, but I promise this story will wham! bang! collide with turning 80. In 1969 I was a wild and crazy guy in my early 20s careening around Europe to see what I could see. I was running out of money and decided to head to London from France thinking the job opportunities there would be better. I am compelled to note here that the border crossing was, uh, kind of rough. The English border...
By KAREN CASANOVAS For Senior Voice Q: I spend hours playing word games and puzzles on my phone. Could I be addicted? A: To determine if your online habits are an addiction, ask yourself: 1. Interference: Do I game during conversations, meals, or while working? 2. Emotional dependency: Do I feel irritable, restless, or anxious when away from my phone and cannot finish my puzzles? 3. Tolerance: Do I extend play to feel accomplishment or to chase a high score? 4. Failed control: Have I tried to...
August lacks a major holiday, as July and September do. But there’s lots to do across the state. Salmonfest is July 31-Aug. 2 in Ninilchik at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds. It’s a weekend of live music, food, and family-friendly activities. One-day tickets are available..... The Alaska International Senior Games in Fairbanks is Aug. 7-16. https://www.alaskaisg.org/ …. Further south is the Sitka Blues Fest on Aug. 15.... The Blueberry Festival at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood is Aug. 15 and 16. There’s blueberry picking, crafts, music and foo...
Q. What are five simple tasks that everyone can and probably should do on a loved one’s smartphone? A. First, ask if your loved one has all their bank accounts accessible from their smartphone. If not, work with them to set up access. Most banking apps provide a place to name a beneficiary for the account. That simple task—adding beneficiaries to the account—allows you to pass ownership on funds quickly, which can help with final expenses. It may also make it easier for you to print bank statements and get a clear picture of their finan...
Most of us, or at least those of us who were old enough to watch grown-up TV in the 1970s, remember Rob Reiner as Michael Stivic, the liberal son-in-law of Archie Bunker on “All In The Family.” It’s easy to forget that after leaving the show he became a renowned movie director, with credits including “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and too many more to mention. But even after becoming such a prolific and well-respected director, people still mostly remembered...
As the predictable pace of summer settles in, we can all recharge and review our charitable goals before the fireweed fades. Last year’s comprehensive legislation introduced a few new tax considerations for tax-wise donors. To start, the 2026 standard deduction increased to $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for couples filing jointly. In addition, depending on income, some individuals over 65 may receive an additional deduction of up to $6,000. All to say, most of us will not itemize in 2026. For itemizers, charitable deductions must e...
Most people know they need a funeral director when someone dies. What many don't realize is how much a funeral director does behind the scenes to help families navigate one of life's most difficult experiences. When a death occurs, families are often overwhelmed with grief, paperwork, decisions, and deadlines. A funeral director serves as a guide through that process. They coordinate transportation of the deceased, obtain permits, help complete death certificates, communicate with cemeteries, clergy, veterans' organizations, florists, and...
One day years ago a fine fellow I worked with at the time came up to me and, in the course of water-cooler conversation, mentioned he had been chatting with, well, we will call him Dr. "X." My colleague reported to me that after a few minutes of chit-chat with Dr. X, my name came up. Without seeming too insistent I encouraged him to tell me about the conversation. Yes, I was fishing for compliments but trying to be oh so nonchalant about it. My coworker recounted that he told Dr. X that I had a...
Friends ask why I spend so much time volunteering with the League of Women Voters (LWV). Consider the mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. At no time in my 76 years has this work been more important. Voting is truly threatened. Our democracy is teetering, as a determined federal administration seizes power, ignores the rule of law, defies court rulings and dismantles institutions. They're not the first administration to attempt a power grab, and we're not the first generation of...
Q: As I age, I've noticed that certain situations make me feel unsettled, while feeling more sure of myself in others. What could be causing these feelings? A: Fear responses naturally shift as we age. Many adults experience a mix of apprehension in certain situations, while feeling confident in others. These feelings can stem from a mix of physical, mental, and social changes. Let’s explore these factors to better understand our fear responses and discover effective coping strategies. P...
Many Alaskan seniors age from physically demanding jobs that took them to remote parts of the state, from the fishing industry, to mining and oil production, as well as tourism activities like mountain guiding and heliskiing. But modern medicine offers relief through joint replacement. While invasive and painful depending on your pain tolerance an operation will give you years of pain-free mobility. It's a life changer. The damage to my left knee after being catapulted off a freight sled on the...
Summer in Alaska has a way of bringing people together. Family members travel long distances to visit, grandchildren are out of school, and community gatherings fill calendars across the state. Whether it is a backyard barbecue in Fairbanks, time spent at fish camp, a fishing trip on the Kenai, or a family reunion in Anchorage, these moments create opportunities for something that often matters more than we realize: sharing our stories. Stories are one of the most valuable gifts we can pass...
Electricity keeps our homes warm and bright, but it can also cause shocks and fires if we are not careful. For this reason, it is important to check our homes for electrical hazards. A few simple habits can help you stay safe and avoid a trip to the emergency room. Start by looking at the cords around your home. Frayed or cracked cords are dangerous. They can spark and start a fire before you even notice. If you see damage, stop using the item right away. Do not hide cords under rugs or behind...
I don’t know if other types of attorneys have to spend as much time explaining why it’s a bad deal to have to go through a court case. It’s probably obvious to the clients of criminal defense lawyers that it would be bad if they got caught and had to go to court. Likewise with divorce lawyers and personal injury lawyers. Businesspeople don’t generally need to be told that they should try to avoid going to court. And usually, I’m explaining why you should want to avoid probate court. But today...
Q. What exactly is an operating system? A. Every tech device has both a hardware component and a software component. The device is the hardware: the phone, tablet, or computer. The operating system is what orchestrates everything, from launching apps to providing network connectivity. The model and operating system version are vital bits of information when you have technical problem to solve. It would not be very useful to answer a question about Android when the person has an iPhone. Chances are the operating system is not part of your...
A few years before he became "the luckiest man on the Klondike," Clarence Berry was almost broke. He was a fruit farmer in California's Fresno Valley in the early 1890s, scraping by and struggling with the fallout from the Panic of 1893. He didn't have enough money to pay his room rent, let alone marry his sweetheart, Ethel Bush. When he heard wild stories of gold being discovered in the far North, he figured he had nothing to lose. Borrowing what little money he could, Clarence set off for...
When most people think of eating disorders, they picture teenagers or young adults. But eating disorders don't disappear with age. For many Alaskans, they can quietly begin, intensify, or resurface as they age. Eating disorders are complex, serious physical and mental illnesses affecting an estimated 65,000 Alaskans. They affect people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. Like many health conditions, physical impacts...
We have a lot of official state things in Alaska. I know, "things" is a little vague, but I'll give you some examples. We have an official state bird, the willow ptarmigan. We have an official state gem, jade. We even have an official state insect, the four-spot skimmer dragonfly (Did anyone tell mosquitoes about this?) But, and this is the curious part, we have no official state word. We Alaskans are a literate people, and, in my humble opinion, I think we need an official state word. As you...
Q: How can I encourage my friends to shift our conversations away from the negatives of aging or feeling overlooked, and start discussing the positive aspects? A: As we age, conversations among peers often gravitate toward the challenges of growing older. While feelings of invisibility or worthlessness among older individuals are very real, dwelling on these sentiments creates a narrow, negative narrative that overshadows the richness of our current lives. Why focus on negatives? This trend is...
Q. Can I screen incoming phone calls on my iPhone? A. The simple answer is yes. But nothing is simple in tech, because it depends on which model iPhone and operating system version is on your device. I’m going to first explain how to set this up on the newest models, and then I’m going to explain how anyone can search for info about their specific device. Call screening only requires one setting....
The Internet is a wonderful thing, with a lot of useful applications, but it does have a few downsides. One of them is that when information becomes outdated, it usually remains there on the Web, waiting to potentially mislead people. I was reminded of this recently, during a conversation with a young man who was doing some household repairs for me. He mentioned that he and his wife were thinking of selling their small home and buying a bigger place for their growing family. If they did that,...
The Union Jack flapped briskly in the damp Southeast Alaska wind on June 2, 1840, rising for the first time over the log palisades of Fort Dionysius. With ceremony, the British flag replaced the Russian tricolor and men of the Hudson's Bay Company, clad in wool and bearing the formal letter of authority from Saint Petersburg, stepped forward. In one flourish, Wrangell entered a new chapter. Its Russian name, St. Dionysius, was replaced with Fort Wrangell, in honor of Baron Ferdinand von...
Dear Savvy Senior, I want to leave something meaningful for my children and grandchildren, beyond just money or property. I’ve heard about “legacy letters,” but I don’t really know what they are or how to start one. Can you help? - Legacy Seeker Dear Seeker, You’re asking a wonderful question. A legacy letter – sometimes called an ethical will – is a personal note to your loved ones where you can share your values, life lessons, cherished memories, hopes, and guidance. Unlike a traditional will, which focuses on legal matters, a legacy letter...
Alaskans are being bombarded with a new impostor text scam that pretends to be from the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The message appears official, claims you missed a fine, lists a "ticket number," and warns that if you don't pay by midnight, your driver's license and registration could be put on hold. To make it even more convincing, there is a reference to an Alaska statute and a handy link to pay immediately to avoid enforcement actions. Pause! It's time for a quick scam reality...
