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Tom Class, the dedicated rural outreach coordinator for the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, has had a very busy year. Traveling extensively across the state, Tom has been conducting low-vision clinics in various remote locations, including Nome, Juneau, Kotzebue and several other communities. Tom's tireless efforts are making a significant impact, bringing much-needed vision care to those in Alaska's far-flung regions. His work ensures that even the most isolated residents...
Bump Dots are adhesive dots that provide tactile marking of everyday items such as a microwave, oven, keyboard, calculators, light switches and more. The dots allow an individual who has vision loss to easily navigate and utilize the appliance or device. Bump Dots come in many different sizes, shapes, heights and colors to help with distinguishing between each dot. This column is brought to you by ATLA (Assistive Technology of Alaska), a nonprofit, statewide resource. ATLA does not endorse this...
The 10th Annual Alaska Disability and Aging Summit, themed “Inclusive Aging in Alaska: Thriving and Growing Together,” will be held on October 8 and 9 in Anchorage. Organized by the Alaska Disability and Aging Coalition, the event will be hybrid, allowing participants to attend both in person at the Special Olympics Alaska Jim Balamaci Training Center and online via Zoom. The summit's goal is to unite Alaskans to discuss national and state trends related to aging, specifically focusing on individuals with intellectual and developmental dis...
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign to increase awareness about this prevalent disease. Breast cancer affects millions worldwide, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases diagnosed each year. Early detection, often through screening, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and can save lives. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. While it can affect both men and women, it's far more common in women. Regular self-examinations and routine screenings play a crucial...
At-home detection of heart failure Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide and now researchers hope to combat it in a whole new way. They have developed a point-of-care electrochemical biosensor that can measure levels of two biomarkers for heart failure in as little as 15 minutes from just a drop of saliva. “Our device would be ideal for people, who are at high risk for heart failure but have limited access to a hospital or a centralized lab,” said developer Trey Pittman, who is...
Alaska’s Medicare Information Office holds a webinar on the second Monday of each month, “Medicare Monday,” to discuss and answer questions related to Medicare. The October session is on Oct. 14, from noon to 1 p.m., and the topic will be Part D prescription drug plan open enrollment. After a brief presentation, the meeting is open for Q&A. Anyone can attend via Zoom or phone call (must dial in using Zoom number). Registration is required, upon which the Zoom address is sent. To register, visit http://alaska.gov/go/7V6X. For more infor...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in October. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Oct. 2. Kenai Senior Center, “Stronger Together” support group with Rachael Craig, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai) support meeting, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4 Soldotna Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 Sterling Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 29 Nikiski Senior Center, Cindy Harris from Alzheimer’s Assoc...
Over the course of my career working with family caregivers, I have noticed a subtle change in the makeup of who is providing the care. In 2009, men comprised 34 percent of family caregivers of adults. In 2020, according to a report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (“Caregiving in the U.S. 2020”), roughly 40 percent of informal caregivers in the U.S. were men. And that number is likely to increase, according to a 2019 NIH study, due to a shrinking family caregiver pool and shifting policies that provide better support for all...
Aging is not for the weak. Tasks we once took for granted become more difficult to complete. New challenges pop up frequently such as sore knees, stiff back or not sleeping well. That list just keeps on growing, right? However, aging is a gift and one we can value and maximize every day. To be our best selves at our current age and forward, we need to invest in our health and well-being. The benefits of strength training for aging are well documented. The good news is this doesn't have to be a b...
As the Alaskan population ages, the mental health of our seniors has become an increasingly important issue to our state. With many older adults facing challenges such as loneliness, chronic illness, and loss of independence, mental health concerns among seniors are more prevalent than ever. In response, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has emerged as a critical resource, offering immediate support for individuals in distress or just looking for more information on how to combat loneliness or depression. Understanding the 988 Lifeline The...
Alerting systems provide notifications of a variety of alerts around your home. There are many different brands of alerting systems available, however, each system has unique transmitters that communicate with the main receiver to provide notifications to the user. There are many transmitters, such as phone calls, doorbells, fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, baby cry sensors, and more. When a notification comes through, the alerting system's receiver will provide flashing and vibrating alerts...
Grapes often get a bad rap as being too sweet or sugary, but they are a nutrient-dense fruit and pack a host of health benefits. Eating grapes can help support brain and heart health. Further, the vitamins and minerals in grapes may provide an immunity boost and more. There are so many health benefits from eating grapes that they are now classified as a "functional food." Grapes are a rich source of bioactive molecules, which contribute to the health benefits. Grape consumption is linked to...
As the frequency and intensity of wildfires continue to rise globally, including in places like Alaska, Washington and Canada, so does the threat posed by the smoke they produce. For many, the immediate concerns of wildfires are the destruction of homes, the loss of natural habitats, and the harmful effects on respiratory health. However, recent research highlights an equally alarming risk: the impact of wildfire smoke on brain health, particularly the heightened risk of dementia. At the...
September is an active month for Alaska Health Fair with numerous opportunities to participate in health education and affordable blood and health screenings. We invite you to join our staff at any of these community-based events across various regions of the state, whether you attend to receive services, volunteer to help us serve the public or share a mission by exhibiting. To learn more about these free events and to see the schedule for later this fall, visit our website at www.alaskahealthfair.org. Southcentral Sept. 7 Anchorage St. Johns...
Watches commonly monitor ‘heart rate variability’ Wearable clothing can measure several aspects of health, including heart rate variability. So, what does it mean if your heart rate variability is high or low? Cardiologist Dr. Elijah Behr with Mayo Clinic Health in London said that oftentimes your watch or wearable device is measuring the balance of nerve activity in the body and the way it relates to your heart rate and blood pressure. The nerve system that heart rate variability relates to...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in September. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Sept. 6 Soldotna Senior Center, joining with the Alzheimer’s Association for presentation, “Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors,” 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 4 Kenai Senior Center, joining with the “Stronger Together” group, 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 19 Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 24 Nikiski Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai). F...
Caregivers provide for a full scope of tasks throughout the lives of their loved ones. Today we are looking at the challenges of providing safe transportation when caregiving. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (nadtc.org) offers tips for planning and providing safe and reliable transport for people with disability challenges and Alzheimer’s or dementia related disorders. Whether you are transporting a loved one to an appointment or scheduling rides with a senior center or public transport, here are some important things t...
The Ruby XL 5" is a digital magnifier that allows users to magnify materials up to 14 times -books, photographs, newspapers, medications, labels and more. Users can choose to fold out the handle for a balanced grip or use it as a reading stand that holds the screen at a comfortable angle. With options to adjust magnification, change contrast or color coding, or add a reading line, there are many ways users can customize the display to meet their needs. Digital magnifiers are manufactured with...
The much-anticipated Alaska Health Fair fall 2024 schedule is being released in the first week of August. As your trusted partner in health and wellness since 1980, we're gearing up for another season of empowering Alaskans with vital health education and affordable blood screenings. Our fall lineup promises a range of events across the state, bringing health resources directly to your community. Key points: - Schedule release date: First week of August 2024 - Events will span various locations across Alaska - Featuring our signature...
Of the three components of physical fitness-aerobic, flexibility and strength -the latter is least likely to be addressed and the least palatable among the senior crowd. Why? The mere thought of it conjures up arduous workouts that are extraordinarily difficult. Images of grunting and groaning weight lifters, their anguished faces dripping with sweat, makes the whole thing seem so unappealing and ridiculously hard. This is an imagery that we need to dispel. Strength training for the elderly...
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest diseases in the world. It has been around for thousands of years. In the 200 years since TB was introduced to Alaska, it has ravaged much of the state, and continues to do so, even 60 years after the discovery of effective drugs to treat and cure the disease. TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, and Alaska continues to have the highest rate of TB in the United States. Most of Alaska’s cases are in the Southwestern and Northern regions of the state. In 2022, 95 Alaskans, ranging in age fro...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in August. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Aug. 1 Tyotkas Elder Center, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 2 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 7 Kenai Senior Center, joining with the “Stronger Together” group, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15 Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 29 Nikiski Senior Center, featuring a showing of “Alive Inside,” about music and dementia, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share y...
Redirection is a technique that shifts the focus of the loved one away from a situation that causes them fear, anger, anxiety, or from engaging in dangerous and unsafe behavior, toward a situation that’s more calm and pleasant. Last month we looked at the benefits, when caregiving for someone, of redirecting their attention and behavior toward the positive. Now let’s look at the unsuccessful outcomes of negative verbal redirection in a case where someone can’t find their purse and is convinced someone has stolen it. “Your purse hasn’t...
Personal amplifiers can amplify the sound around an individual with mild hearing loss. They are not a cure-all solution for hearing loss that should be tested and evaluated by an audiologist. Instead, these devices are over-the-counter wearable devices that allow someone to hear conversations, the television, or sounds around them more clearly. The Pocketalker 2.0 is one example of personal amplification devices. It has a rechargeable battery, volume and tone control, and can help to reduce...
Go for the melons this summer. Eating cantaloupe and other melons on a regular basis may help improve your vision and provide a host of other health benefits. The fiber content may be highly beneficial for older adults. Just one cup of cantaloupe contains 6% of the daily recommended amount of fiber. Fiber can help a person feel full longer. Additionally, it helps regulate digestion and keeps blood sugar in check. "Vision can decline with aging, but consuming antioxidant-rich foods such as...
