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Never before have there been so many tools available to older adults in Alaska for improving the safety of their home. Alaska has one of the fastest aging populations per capita in the nation, and the majority of Alaskans want to age in place like the rest of the country. However, the challenges are different in Alaska and they can make growing old in a single-family home especially difficult, according to Karla Zervos, who is a volunteer coordinator for the North Star Council on Aging Fairbanks Senior Center’s Helping Hands Home Modifications...
Dear Savvy Senior: I’m interested in tracking down some old friends I’ve lost touch with over the years but could use some help. What websites can you recommend that can help me find them? - Tracking Tom Dear Tom: Thanks to the internet, tracking down long-lost friends from many years ago is relatively easy to do and, in most cases, it won’t cost you a cent. Here are some tips and online tools to help you get started. Remembering the details Before you begin your search, a good first step is to jot down any information you can remember or fi...
Veterans and active duty military can count on Social Security Every year on Veterans Day, we honor the people who risk their lives to protect our country. Our disability program is an important part of our obligation to wounded warriors and their families. Social Security is an important resource for military members who return home with injuries. If you know a wounded veteran, please let them know about our Wounded Warriors webpage. You can find it at www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors. The Wounded Warriors webpage answers many commonly asked...
If you can’t make your mortgage payment, there is help. Due to the 2020 Cares Act you can get a forbearance on your loan if your loan investor (not the bank or loan service company) is one of the following: FMCC (Freddie Mac) FNMA (Fannie Mae) VA (Veterans Administration) FHA (Federal Housing Authority) If you experience financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you have a right to request and obtain a forbearance for up to 180 days. You also have the right to request and obtain an extension for up to another 180 days (for a total o...
The Heating Assistance Program (HAP) is designed to promote the general welfare and safeguard the health and well-being of Alaska’s population by offsetting the cost of home heating for eligible Alaskan residents. The program assists households with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines, who have a minimum of $200 in out-of-pocket heating costs per year, and meet all other eligibility criteria. The benefit is a one-time payment to the household’s vendor, sent to the vendor, and applied to the customer’s account...
Alaskans will be able to apply for no-excuse absentee ballots online this year, as election officials have made it easier to vote safely from home amid the coronavirus pandemic: Older voters should have already received absentee ballot applications in the mail. Election officials in July sent absentee ballot applications to all registered voters 65 and older for the Aug. 18 primary and the Nov. 3 general election. Early voting for the general election will begin Oct. 19, helping voters to avoid longer lines on Election Day. Here’s what else y...
We are still here for you! The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (OLTCO) is mandated by the Older Americans Act and state law to provide resident-centered advocacy designed to protect the rights, health, safety and welfare of Alaskans living in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Homes. We work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about improvements to residents’ care and quality of life. While our work has shifted from in-person visitations to virtual visitations during COVID-19, we continue to respo...
Though most Americans − more than 160 million in all − have already received their Economic Impact Payments, the IRS reminds anyone with little or no income who is not required to file a tax return that they may be eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Available in both English and Spanish, the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov is designed for people with incomes typically below $24,400 for married couples, and $12,200 for singles. This includes couples and individuals who are ex periencing homelessness. People must enter their inf...
Wondering how to vote on the two ballot measures appearing in the General Election this November? Join Alaska Common Ground on Oct. 6 and Oct. 14 for online discussions on each of the initiatives. Both events will begin with an overview, followed by a panel discussion weighing the pros and cons. There will be time for attendees to ask questions. To join these free, virtual events, register at https://akcommonground.org/events-3/ The website includes background information on the panelists. Sponsored by Alaska Common Ground, League of Women...
Have you been counted? The more complete and accurate the 2020 U.S. census can be, the more it will ensure appropriate levels of funding for services and programs for Alaska’s seniors. Census sources report that, so far, Alaska census response has been among the lowest in the country. The census is conducted only once every 10 years, so results from the data collected this year will determine federal funding levels through 2030. Let’s be sure our population count is accurate and receives adequate funding for the next decade. Anyone can par...
Older Persons Action Group, Inc., earned honors for its monthly, statewide publication Senior Voice in the 29th annual National Mature Media Awards Program. The program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation’s finest marketing, communications, educational materials and programs designed and produced for older adults. OPAG and Senior Voice won four awards: Merit Award to Erin Kirkland for her articles in the monthly travel column, “Going Places” Merit Award to Macken...
Every day Christy and I take a walk around our quiet Anchorage neighborhood. We regularly bump into other older folks out for a stroll, gardening, maybe playing with pets or grandkids on the front lawn. A sense of wellbeing infuses the air. It’s nice. It’s comfortable. It’s our world, but it is not the rest of the world. Well then, what is it like for older people in the rest of the world? Enter stage left...the United Nations. The United Nations is the largest intergovernmental organization in the world. It was founded in October 1945. Its o...
Older workers play an increasingly important role in Alaska’s economy. The Alaska Department of Workforce Development in partnership with the Alaska Commission on Aging are launching “Strengthen Alaska Workforce by Employing the Older Worker” to raise awareness of the valuable resource older workers provide. Together with Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training (MASST), these agencies develop innovative strategies that assist seniors in obtaining employable skills and finding suitable work in today’s job market. Governor Dunleavy has proclai...
The uncertainty of the pandemic has brought to mind a name from my young adult years: Howard Ruff. Do you remember reading his 1978 sensation, “How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years”? It was a survival guide for personal and financial decisions. “How to Prosper…” advocated storing a year’s worth of food and water while eschewing stocks and bonds in favor of investments in precious commodities. My husband and I didn’t follow his advice to the letter, but the book greatly influenced our outlook as a young couple. Whenever we suffered roug...
If you would like to improve your computer skills or take an art class, now is the perfect time. In Alaska, never before has there been such an opportunity to learn online and expand your mind by signing up for educational courses. OLÉ! Anchorage In Anchorage, seniors can sign up for fall session classes offered by OLÉ! (Opportunities for Lifelong Education). Although there is no minimum age requirement, classes are geared to adults age 50 and older. Courses begin September 28 and they are a...
Learn to identify Social Security scams The most effective way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams. You should just hang up on any call you’re uncertain of and ignore suspicious emails. Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money and personal information by exploiting your fears. One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents and other law enforcement. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not comply with their instructions. J...
On June 30, 2020, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) issued guidance documents to nursing facilities and assisted living homes on the critical issue of how to re-establish in-person visitation for all residents living in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Given the devastating number of deaths COVID-19 has caused in other states, AARP Alaska is concerned about the 830 Alaskans living in nursing facilities and the 2,743 Alaskan seniors living in assisted living homes. AARP’s overarching goal is to ensure the safety and w...
In our fifth month of hunkering down, many of us consider ourselves very fortunate to have comfortable living conditions, sufficient income to keep the wolves from the door, and good health to enjoy our days. It is not always easy to adapt, but we’ll manage, and maybe even get a little bit used to some of the strangeness that came with the COVID virus. But, what if we had a cancer diagnosis during these months of quarantine, or what if we started receiving chemotherapy or radiation in the past five months? Many long-term survivors are still on...
Writing an obituary is one of the most intimate steps in beginning the grieving process. How can you sum up a loved one’s life in a few sentences? How would you sum up your own life in a few sentences? As you sit down to write your loved one’s obituary, or perhaps even your own, consider a few simple steps to begin with. List the basics first. Write down their name, age, spouse, children, parents, etc. and, if there will be a memorial service, the information can be shared here. Then consider the things that your loved one was passionate abo...
Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any financial assistance programs you can refer me to? The coronavirus pandemic has cost me my part-time retirement job and has shrunk my measly IRA account. - Needy Retiree Dear Needy: Absolutely. In addition to the $1,200 federal coronavirus stimulus check that was distributed in April and May, there are many other financial-assistance programs (both public and private) that can help struggling retirees, as well as give relief to family members who help provide financial support for their loved ones. To find out...
The Post Office has been a fundamental United States institution since 1775. In my opinion it is vastly underappreciated. Most people do not know the scope of what it does for us – especially while we are hunkered down at home seeking safety from the pandemic. Here’s a summary of some useful Post Office services. Informed Delivery. Despite the big-brotherish name of this service, it can be a huge convenience, even a personal safety factor in your life. Do you sometimes think, “Gosh, is there anything really worthwhile in my mail box or PO bo...
First, some good news. Do you feel the power, senior power? Well, OK, maybe we are a bit worn down at the moment from the stress of months of lockdown and fear of COVID-19, or maybe (speaking from personal experience) it’s nap time, but this might perk you right up: “With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, the American labor force is transforming. Out of the 11.4 million jobs expected to be added to the U.S. economy by 2026, 6.4 million will be filled by workers over 55. Moreover, all of the net increase in employment since 200...
What are the options for voting safely during this coronavirus pandemic? Join AARP Alaska for a telephone town hall with Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer and Director of Elections Gail Fenumiai to ask your questions about the upcoming election. What: A telephone town hall on voting safely, hosted by AARP Alaska When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 Who: Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer and Director of Elections Gail Fenumiai How to participate: Call 855-286-0294 toll-free a few minutes before 10:30, or register to be called at www.vekeo.com/AARPAlaska....
Important update to my Social Security’s Representative Payee portal Millions of Americans who get monthly Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits need help managing their money and may need a representative payee. A representative payee is a person or an organization we appoint to receive the Social Security or SSI benefits for beneficiaries who can’t manage or direct the management of their benefits. Representative payees must know the beneficiary’s needs to decide the best use of benefits for care and well-...
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you recommend some simple devices that can help tech-challenged seniors with video calls? My 80-year-old mother has been isolating herself for months now in fear of the coronavirus and I haven’t been able to see her face-to-face in quite a while. - Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned: Video chatting is a great way to stay connected and keep tabs on someone when you can’t be there, but it’s even more important now during this pandemic as many isolated seniors are also suffering from chronic loneliness. To help connect you a...
