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Maybe you're like me and doomscroll reels on Facebook or memes playing to Alphaville song "I want to be Forever Young," and the young faces of famous people and movie stars morph into their present-day image. If they're dead, they have beautiful white wings, which is somewhat reassuring. Sometimes, the cause of death is listed and No. 1 seems to be pneumonia, but also heart problems and Lewy Body dementia. Pro-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers Personally, I have never seen a vaccine I didn't like. In...
Important changes to federal rules will affect some adults ages 19-64 who get Alaska Medicaid starting in January 2027. This means that some people with Medicaid must work, go to school, go to a training program, or volunteer to keep their coverage. For adults ages 50 to 64, one of the biggest changes is that most people covered through Medicaid will have their eligibility reviewed every six months instead of every 12 months beginning Jan. 1, 2027. If you get a form or letter, read it and reply...
The change of season is a time when our immune systems must adapt to a new environment and weather pattern. We are more vulnerable to contagious illness during these colder days and longer nights. Warm hats, scarves and gloves can help. Cold wind can literally drive pathogens into your system, so bundle up. In many parts of northern Asia, the preferred winter drink is hot water. Take your water warmer if you are feeling chilly. Warming herbs which can be added to hot water include ginger,...
From Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, I encourage you to review and, if needed, change your Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) under Medicare’s Part D coverage. Changes you elect will become effective on Jan. 1, 2027. Certified Medicare counselors across Alaska can help you as part of the Medicare Information Office’s network of program Ambassadors. Give us a call, we would be glad to answer your questions, guide you through the process, and even complete the review of your prescription drug plan with you...
Clearing the air to treat dry eye disease Anyone who has ever endured burning, itchy eyes or extra tearing knows that these symptoms are tough to ignore. They can impact your vision and make it harder to work, focus or sleep. They are also some of the most common signs of dry eye disease, a condition that impacts up to 30% of the population globally, without any real cure. Dry eye can result from insufficient tear production or poor tear quality and may cause eye discomfort, a burning sensation...
The plane touches down, your bag rounds the carousel, and you drive home feeling nothing worse than a little stiff. Then, ten days later, one of your calves is swollen, warm, and aching, and you can't for the life of you figure out why. That's the sneaky thing about a blood clot. When it shows up at all, that's often how it does it: quietly, days after the fact. And here's the part that surprises most people: about half of those with a deep vein thrombosis (doctors call it DVT) never feel a...
Getting up out of a chair, carrying groceries, or picking up your grandchild are regular activities that can become challenging as we age. But they don’t have to be—if you incorporate strength training into your routine. Why strength train? As we age, muscular strength decreases so it’s essential to train your muscles to keep being able to do the activities you need or want to do. Getting up out of a chair, getting up from the ground, reaching overhead, squatting, even keeping good posture—all of it can keep you going and prevent injury....
Recently, I accompanied a 75-year-old woman from my building to the emergency room. On a Friday, I was alerted by another resident that she looked "bad." Certainly, her sheet-white face indicated something was not right. I went downstairs to the lobby where she always hung out and asked if I could take her oxygen level -it was 85, a level that indicated she was beginning to have insufficient oxygen for her organs to function. She refused to go to the hospital, but would on Monday if it was...
For those of us enrolled into Original Medicare (Parts A & B), most of us have also enrolled into one of Medicare’s Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs). Each year, we may make changes to this prescription coverage during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, for changes which will then go into effect from Jan. 1 onward. Leading up to this open enrollment, you will start to receive notices with information relating to any changes in your plan for the coming...
Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices are significantly changing how older adults are receiving medical care. Doctors and nurses are finding that AI can save time, improve workflows, and support faster decisions. This may allow your health team to care for more patients on a daily basis. Adults 50 and older are part of this sea change in medicine. AI is reshaping how individuals prepare for and participate in their care. Researchers at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have...
Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital was recently reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International. This means its stroke specialty program and brain injury specialty program were recognized for their excellence in specialized rehabilitation services. Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital was also recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Alaska’s top rehabilitation hospital and among the top 50 nationally among the 1,131 rehabilitation hospitals evaluated. Alaska has one of the h...
If you're looking for ways to improve your brain health, it's important to pay attention to your diet. But how do you know which diet is best? "The MIND diet is one that I focus on because it has been shown in research studies to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Sandra Darling, a preventive medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The MIND diet emphasizes plant-based foods like berries, leafy greens, whole grains, beans and nuts. The diet also favors fish and poultry...
Independent living in Alaska brings beauty and adventure, but it also brings risks that can lead to injuries right in your own home. A simple fall or a cut in the kitchen can turn serious with a quickness. Knowing how to stop bleeding and when to call for help can save your life. First, let's talk about when bleeding needs emergency care. If blood is spurting or pouring out and does not slow down after a few minutes, call 911 right away. If you feel dizzy, weak, or confused while bleeding, that...
Fall prevention is key to retaining independence for older adults. Falls are a significant contributor to premature morbidity (lack of wellness) and mortality (death) in seniors. Loss of mobility, self-confidence and independence due to falls creates an enormous financial and emotional burden on seniors. Sobering statistics One-third of adults aged 65 years and older experience a fall each year and the risk increases proportionally with age. Non-fatal falls continue to pose a significant social...
There are almost too many things to remember when you change residences. This month’s article will help with how to manage your Medicare coverage before, during and after a move. The Medicare Information Office provides a checklist of items to complete, helping your move be free from additional aggravation and frustration. Moving into or out of Alaska If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you will not need to make changes to your Medicare when moving within the U.S. since Original M...
Domestic pets have gone through changes over the years from being a part of the family to actually being family. Now, ads on television and in print highlight dogs saying "Mom, I like this food best!" In a world in turmoil, especially dogs and cats, become our children who don't talk back or beg for expensive toys, and do provide companionship, love and exercise. Like human health insurance, pets now need insurance for routine visits and specialized treatment as they age-just like us. Common...
A new study has found that older adults entering skilled-nursing facilities may have a hidden health benefit from the shingles vaccine. Researchers found that those who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (RZV) had a lower risk of developing dementia over the following four years compared with those who were not vaccinated. Older adults admitted to skilled nursing facilities are at higher risk for both dementia and shingles. The findings, which were published in the Annals of Internal...
From icy walkways to long distances between towns, our state presents unique challenges. One of the most important tools for protecting yourself and your loved ones is a figurative jumper box for the heart. It is called an AED, which stands for automated external defibrillator. This small device can save a life during a heart emergency, and knowing how to use one could make you a hero in your community. An AED is a portable machine that helps a person whose heart has suddenly stopped beating cor...
Medicare and Medicaid are sometimes hard to understand, especially if you are eligible for both insurance programs. This month’s article will discuss how the two programs work together and how to apply for both. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the agency which provides regulatory oversight over both programs. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. People younger than age 65 with certain disabilities, permanent kidney failure, or a...
Sitting in a circle holding hands and praying may have some hidden health benefits, even for non-believers. A randomized controlled trial conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found that a five-minute session of proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) significantly reduced pain and anxiety in primary care patients compared to a music control group. The PIP approach involves an in-person prayer offered by a trained volunteer. The findings, published in The Annals of Family...
A major component of both physical and psychological well-being is to have a happy, functioning digestive system. This means your appetite is good and you stop eating when about 80% full, to not over-eat, which prematurely ages our bodies over time. Also, you have a bowel movement every day (nothing better than pooping before having to get out the door!), and nothing hurts after eating. One component of having a happy belly (thus setting yourself up for living your best life) is to eat...
The average Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace deductible saw the steepest increase in history-growing by 37% or more than $1,000, from $2,759 in 2025 to $3,786 in 2026 as enhanced premium tax credits expired, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization which also runs a health-related news service. The full analysis is available here. Between 2021 and 2025, Americans searching for healthcare coverage in the ACA Marketplace 2010 benefited from premium tax...
Medicare’s telehealth coverage has been expanded across Alaska to allow more people to access care at home. Let’s learn about what you can expect now and into the future with Medicare’s telehealth coverage. What is telehealth? Telehealth includes certain services that you receive from a healthcare provider outside of an in-person office visit. A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider using telephone or video technology that allows for both audio and video communication. It is diffe...
If you're like me and walk more than drive, consider solidly built walking shoes to be your best to avoiding any injury or sores and blisters. You've seen the ads all over touting slip-on sneakers and shoes, but this seems counter-intuitive. If sustaining flexibility is a goal for later years, what does lifting your foot onto a chair to lace them do to you instead of bending over and lacing them? Makes you less flexible. Also, walking shoes or sneakers that must be laced add an additional solid...
New tools for combatting breast cancer Immunotherapy has become a standard of care in treating high-risk, early-stage breast cancers, yet it has had limited success in shrinking tumors, so new biomarkers that can improve outcomes for patients are urgently needed. Now, researchers at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, have found that repeated blood sampling (liquid biopsy) can assess and predict the evolving antitumor immune response to therapy. This minimally invasive...
