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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...
New machines measure back surgery benefits Researchers who have been using Fitbit data to help predict surgical outcomes have now come up with a new method to more accurately gauge how an individual may recover from spine surgery. Using machine learning techniques developed at the AI for Health Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the team developed a novel way to predict recovery more accurately from lumbar spine surgery. This latest model has outperformed previous models...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in June. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. July 5 Soldotna Senior Center, training featuring “Alive Inside,” a cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity, 1 to 2 p.m. July 16 Kenai Senior Center, round table discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. July 18 Sterling Senior Center, round table discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. July 23 Tyotkas Elder Center, round table discu...
“I do not have to attend every argument I’m invited to.” These words can be kept in the back of your mind as you, the family caregiver, spend what can be some very frustrating days with your loved one. This month try to remember: When a loved one or close friend is upset or concerned about something, it’s part of our nature to listen, empathize, and possibly help them resolve the situation. As caring people, we do what we can to make those close to us feel valued and respected. However, when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease o...
Osteoporosis is more common in women than in men, so it is often thought of as a women’s disease. Subsequently, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated in men, especially men age 65 and older, who are at risk for developing osteoporosis. In addition, the number of fractures caused by fragile bones in men has increased in recent years. A fracture after age 50 is an important signal that a person may have osteoporosis. Unfortunately, men are less likely than women to be evaluated for osteoporosis after a fracture. Men also are less likely to get o...
Q: I work at a keyboard and my wrists get really sore. What can I do to prevent damaging my hands and wrists? I can't quit my job. A: Repetitive strain injury from computer work is a widespread problem in this age of electronic communication. You may touch keys up to 200,000 times a day -the equivalent of your fingers walking 10 miles. Holding your wrists, hands and back straight while keyboard walking is crucial to ongoing comfort and prevention of strains and pains. When you work with straight wrists and fingers, the nerves, muscles and...
Ott-Lite table and desk lamps are designed specifically to bring natural daylight lighting indoors to help the user see details clearly and colors accurately. Ott-Lites can benefit individuals who need assistance seeing books, recipes, prescription bottles, crafts, puzzles, electronics, jewelry and more. There are Ott-Lite lamps that can be placed on desks or on the floor with high contrast clocks on their face, USB ports for charging electronics, magnifiers attached, or adjustable device...
June is Men's Health Month, a time to raise awareness about the unique health issues men face and to encourage early detection, treatment and prevention. Alaska Health Fair offers a variety of blood screenings that can provide valuable information about your health. Take your blood test results to your doctor. Comprehensive Blood Chemistry panel. This test measures various components of your blood, providing insight into your kidney, liver, as well as glucose, electrolyte and lipid levels. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. Beginning at...
Preventing memory loss on a daily basis When it comes to your brain, use it or lose it. The harder your brain works at your job, the less likely you may be to have memory and thinking problems later in life, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology. The study does not prove that stimulating work prevents mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It only shows an association. “We examined the demands of various jobs and found that cognitive stimulation at work during different stages i...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in June. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. June 4, Tyotkas Elder Center, 10:30 a.m. June 7, Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. June 18, Kenai Senior Center, with guest speaker, Louise Heite from MA Speech Pathology, 1 to 2 p.m. June 20, Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. June 27, Nikiski Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a...
