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Women LISTEN is an Anchorage-based group of women dedicated to the mission of supporting women living with cancer by focusing on sharing information, offering emotional support and practical ideas while advocating for people with cancer, and connecting women in meaningful ways. Those who are new to the cancer journey, as well as longtime survivors, celebrate courage, give voice to fears, provide helpful tips and help smooth the path for women who have experienced the trauma of hearing the...
Alaska’s voter-approved mandate for paid sick leave has not yet gone into effect, but some lawmakers are already trying to reduce the number of workers who would benefit from it. A bill pending in the Alaska Legislature, House Bill 161, would exempt businesses with fewer than 50 employees, a change from the 15-employee threshold in the labor-rights initiative that voters approved in November. The bill would also drop seasonal workers from the mandate for accrued paid sick leave. The bill was introduced on March 28 by Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R...
A series of training videos specifically made for rural caregivers came out last month to a warm reception among service providers. "These are amazing! Wonderful for quick on-point training or a 6-month refresher," said Mary Beth Westland, chief operating officer for Mat-Su Senior Services in an email to other caregiving agencies. The project is the brainchild of Jennifer Garrison, who works in home- and community-based programs for Catholic Community Service in Juneau. While at a Title VI...
The Valdez Senior Center Inc. is offering tours through the Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruise company in May. The dates are May 19, May 23, May 27 and May 30. Seats are $41 for members of the senior center. The tour goes to the Columbia Glacier. “Each year, the company gives senior center members a discounted tour rate for select dates in the early season,” said Haden Bricker, activities coordinator and office assistant at the Valdez Senior Center. If people are interested in joining these tours they can contact the senior center off...
May is a special time as we celebrate Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is “Flip the Script on Aging,” focusing on how society perceives and approaches aging. The Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA) is highlighting senior issues throughout the month on our Facebook page. We invite you to follow us for daily updates on activities and issues affecting seniors across Alaska. Staying connected is easy: simply search for "Alaska Commission on Aging" on Facebook. Save the date! Monday, May 12 from noon to 1 p.m. the American Aging Assoc...
The Homer Senior Center is raising funds after accruing substantial debt. Late last year, the nonprofit center revealed that it had debt from unpaid payroll taxes and unpaid invoices, according to a report in the Homer News from Nov. 21, 2024. In mid-April, the IRS executed a one-time levy, removing more than $138,000 from the center’s accounts—leaving it unable to cover essential expenses like meals, medication, and care for seniors, according to a message on the donation site. The center’s Facebook page reads, “Homer Senior Citizens, Inc. ha...
Over the past year, I have received numerous text messages from my bank indicating issues with my account. Surprisingly, some of these messages were from banks where I do not even hold an account. When I checked my accounts, I realized these texts were bank impersonation scams. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that business and government impersonation scams accounted for nearly half the reported scams. The losses from these scams topped $1.1 billion last year, more than three times what consumers reported in 2020. In that...
This newest volume, titled “Pioneers From Alaska’s Past,” is filled with a cast of characters so colorful they may outshine the Northern Lights. This captivating collection of short stories and historical photographs follows in the footsteps of the five previous volumes as it brings to life many colorful personalities who helped shaped Alaska's history shortly before, during, and just after the gold-rush era. Stories include those of: Swiftwater Bill Gates: A master of outrageous spending and spectacular cons. This Klondike magnate could teach...
There is a funny scene in a British sitcom called “The IT Crowd,” in which woman is trying to explain to her nerdy, clueless co-workers — both men — that she is having her monthly menstrual cycle, by using the euphemism “Aunt Irma has come to visit.” They, of course, don’t get it, so she tries others, my favorite being “I’ve fallen to the Communists” (to which one co-worker grudgingly admits that “they do have some strong arguments”). As a biological male I have never had to experience that part...
The Social Security Administration has updated recently announced measures to verify the identities of recipients and applicants. In-person identity proofing for people unable to use their personal my Social Security account for certain services will be effective April 14. “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” said Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner in a media statement. “In addition to extend...
American women accumulate at least $1 million less than men over a typical 40-year work career, according to research conducted by the Investors Observer research team. Key findings of the study show that the average male worker in the United States accumulates $2.73 million in portfolio wealth, assuming average retirement contributions are invested in an S&P 400 index fund. By comparison, an average female worker investing her savings under the same conditions accumulates $1.75 million in portfolio wealth, resulting in a $1 million gap. This...
By the time you read this, Mount Spurr, an active volcano 80 miles from Anchorage, might have erupted. Then again, its rumblings might just be a preview of what's to come. In any case, now is the time to prepare for this possible emergency and take stock of your readiness to confront other emergencies, such as earthquakes and wildfires. Scientists say the volcano is showing signs that an eruption is likely. In mid-March, they announced that the chances for Mount Spurr to go off "within the next...
I’m struck by the number of men and women who show up at the YMCA Anchorage to lift, swim, bike, and sweat who are well beyond me in age. Many of my fellow morning gym-goers are well into their 60s, 70s, 80s, even 90s. There is even a well-known woman who swims regularly there. She is 102 and has a special parking place as close to the front door as possible. Another regular is there five days a week, walking on the treadmill at a steep incline and hanging out with her friends. She recently told me she felt her gym friends had helped bring h...
Retirement is not one-size-fits-all. It can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you have not applied for Social Security retirement benefits because you're still working or are delaying applying so you can get a higher benefit. If you’re age 70 or older, you should apply now for the benefits you’re owed. Your benefits will not increase if you continue to delay applying for them because you are 70 or older. Did you know that you can receive benefits even if you still work? Your earnings can increase your monthly benefit amo...
A friend of mine was recently scammed in downtown Anchorage. While parking in a downtown lot, he used the QR code on the sign in the lot to pay his fee. He was in a hurry, so he didn’t notice that the code took him to a fake website. Scammers had pasted an impostor QR code on top of the authentic parking authority sticker. I wasn’t even aware of QR code scams until I heard his story. My friend caught the scam but spent significant time contacting his bank and taking steps to protect his finances and his identity. QR (quick response) codes are...
Do you need help with a basic tax return? AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are IRS-certified to provide free tax help to low- to middle-income Alaskans of all ages at sites across the state. You do not need to be an AARP member. To locate the nearest Tax-Aide site, you can use the online AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator or call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service of United Way that helps Alaskans find the assistance they need. Everyone who requests tax help at a...
A recent study on estate planning asked people, specifically those who did not have anything in place, what would motivate them to get that done. A full 24% said that nothing would motivate them. They simply had no expectation of doing it, ever. The rest of them would probably move forward, if they had some reason to think they were in imminent danger of dying. I think back to when the pandemic started. The first few weeks I focused on figuring out how to get things done when I couldn’t have c...
Hawaii faces challenges as its population of Elders, or kūpuna, age 75 and older surges, consuming more resources than they bring in. This group of "super-aged" is the subject of a recent report that describes the situation and outlines what awaits the state. One in four Hawaii residents will be over 65 in 2035, and by then the state's super-aged population will number 219,000. The report, "Aging and Hawai'i's Generational Economy," examined how much every age group consumes in private and...
Alaska’s Pioneer Homes are a vital part of our state's commitment to providing quality care for our aging population, particularly those with dementia and cognitive changes. With six homes located across Alaska, these facilities offer assisted living services to seniors, including those facing cognitive challenges associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Related Diseases (ADRD). The dedicated staff at Alaska Pioneer Homes work tirelessly to ensure residents receive compassionate care, enabling them to maintain dignity and quality of life throug...
As someone with elderly parents who face mobility challenges, I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for them to access their favorite downtown spots. Whether it’s finding an open handicapped parking space or dealing with the cost and time restrictions of parking meters, these barriers often make trips to their favorite locations stressful. That’s why the newly passed disability parking ordinance is a meaningful change for my family and countless others in Anchorage. This ordinance, which started on Dec. 1, 2024, will help people with...
As we head into tax season, let's talk about a scam that's been making the rounds: the IRS Impostor Scam. Did you know that in 2023, impostor scams were the second most reported type of fraud? The Federal Trade Commission reported an astounding $2.69 billion lost to these scams, with over 850,000 incidents. Among these, government impostors were the most common, but scammers also pretended to be romantic interests, relatives needing help, or technical support providers. As you start collecting tax documents and readying to file, be on the...
The Alaska Radon Program is giving out free radon tests through the end of February. Radon is a colorless, odorless cancer-causing gas that is commonly found in Alaska. With homes zipped up tight for warmth, winter is a good time to test for the gas. Alaska residents may request a test kit at https://bit.ly/4aBXglx. Click “Request a kit” in the “Alaska Resources” panel on the right. Kits are mailed via USPS or people can pick up in Fairbanks or Anchorage. Details on pick-up locations and times are in the kit request page. For more informa...
Dear Savvy Senior: Is there a rule of thumb on how long someone should keep their old financial paperwork? I have file cabinets full of old receipts, bank and brokerage statements, tax returns and more that I would like to toss. - Recently Retired Dear Recently: It’s a great question. As we get older and our financial life gets more complicated, it’s difficult to know how long to keep old financial records and paperwork and when it’s safe to get rid of them. Some things you’ll need to hold on to for your whole life and others for just a month o...
Do you need help with a basic tax return? Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax help to low- to middle-income Alaskans of all ages at sites across the state. You do not need to be an AARP member. Last year, Tax-Aide volunteers helped with 4,655 tax returns in Alaska. To locate the nearest Tax-Aide site, you can use the online AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator or call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service of United Way that helps Alaskans find the assistance they need....
Megan Edge is ACLU Prison Project Director. Earlier in her career she worked at the Alaska Dept. of Corrections. This is part of a longer interview with Edge conducted by Lawrence D. Weiss. What are some of the key issues regarding seniors in the Alaska prison system? There's more than 400 people over the age of 60 that are incarcerated in our jails and prisons on any given day. They are one of the most vulnerable prison populations and also one of the most expensive populations. It is a...
