October 2025 Edition

103-year-old Esteline Moe finds the good life in Alaska

Yasmin Radbod, Alaska Commission on Aging

Esteline "Estie" Moe, who has lived in Alaska since 1947, turned 103 this summer, celebrating her birthday with neighbors and family. When asked what the key to a long life is, she simply says, "You have to milk cows." Estie was raised on a farm in northern Minnesota, the eldest daughter in her family, and did chores alongside her father and two brothers. With 40 cows on the farm, she would milk ten cows every morning before breakfast and every night after school, shovel manure, and stack hay....

Norma Alderfer is looking forward to her 102nd birthday

Paola Banchero, Senior Voice

A visit to Norma Alderfer's home shows a woman who is meticulous-in her recollections, her style, her graciousness. She welcomed two visitors on a sunny day in July dressed in blue pants and a cream-colored sweater with a matching necklace, her red lipstick on and a neat stack of letters and mementos ready to share. From Kansas to Alaska At 101, Norma can tell you all about her childhood in Arkansas City, Kansas, the beloved only daughter of a couple who raised a daughter to be a doer. She...

Older Persons Action Group, Inc. Annual Meeting

Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 Online via Zoom https://alaska.zoom.us/j/82305144805?pwd=S0VIdzNCWE03Z2prMFk4V1ozWUwyZz09 The OPAG board of directors meets at 12:30 p.m., followed immediately by the annual...

Bike riding is a passion; fashion is secondary

Maraley McMichael, Senior Voice Correspondent

"How to look chic while riding a bike...denim culottes are perfect for riding since there is plenty of legroom and the 'Breton' top gives it a Parisian vibe." When I read those words several years ago in the caption under an internet photo news blurb, I almost laughed out loud. I'm an avid bike rider, but looking chic is not a priority while peddling through my Mat-Su Valley subdivision. One time, a neighbor laughed and commented that he was glad I wasn't a bandit wanting to rob his garage...

How ARA's Art Links boosts brain health and joy

Lisa Sauder, For Senior Voice

Growing older doesn't mean slowing down creatively-and for those living with Alzheimer's and related dementias, the creative arts, and specifically the Art Links program offered by Alzheimer's Resource Alaska (ARA), can be a lifeline for memory, connection, and joy. Research consistently shows that engaging in creative activities can significantly improve health outcomes for older adults, while also supporting cognitive function in people at risk for or living with memory loss. A landmark 2006...

Keeping yourself safe while online shopping

Michelle Tabler, AARP Alaska Volunteer Fraud Education Expert

Everyone is doing more shopping online. But Alaskans especially increasingly rely on online platforms to find products not available locally. Sometimes we crave shopping in stores, touching the merchandise, trying on clothes, but you can’t beat the convenience of going online any time of day or night and ordering exactly what you want for delivery to your front doorstep. Scammers know this and are targeting shoppers to obtain credit card and personal information. Watch for these red flags:...

Calendar of Events

Oct. 1-31 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National ADHD Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National Filipino American History Month. Alaska officially recognizes October as Filipino American History Month following the passage of legislation signed into law in 2023. To learn more about the contributions of Filipino Americans to the state, check out Mana Alaska, a digital storytelling project dedicated to this community. https://www.manaalaska.com/ Oct. 4 National Golf Lover’s Day...

Haunting stories swirl around Kennecott Copper Mine

Laurel Downing Bill, Senior Voice Correspondent

Do the spirits of miners who once called the Kennecott Copper Mine home still linger in the crumbling structures and rusting machinery? Some say the remote and isolated mining town, nestled in the rugged Wrangell Mountains and abandoned decades ago, has been a hotbed of paranormal activity over the years. The story of one of the richest copper mines in the world began in 1900 when prospectors Clarence Warner and "Tarantula Jack" Smith stumbled upon bright green cliffs on the slopes of the...

Adak is best explained through vignettes

Lawrence D. Weiss, For Senior Voice

One day last June I got a rather curious call from a friend. He said that he and 10 other people he knew, mostly Alaskan artists of various types, had put together an expedition to Adak in August. They had rented both halves of a duplex and three rugged trucks. They were short one person to share expenses. Would I like to go? I could tell he expected me to decline the unusual offer. I thought, "I am nearly 80 years old. If not now, then never." I said "Yes!" At the time I knew absolutely...

Alzheimer's Resource Alaska updates its logo

Senior Voice Staff

Alzheimer's Resource Alaska, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, unveiled an updated logo in late August. The new logo, which now features the iconic forget-me-not flower, the official state flower of Alaska, embodies remembrance, community, and Alaska roots and is a symbol of memory, love, and care. This reflects Alzheimer's Resource's mission of serving all Alaskans facing the challenges of...

Health care impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Matthew Schmitz, For Senior Voice

The Anchorage Pioneer Home is located in downtown Anchorage. It's one of a number of assisted living homes operated by the State of Alaska. Brian Studstill, the communications director for the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, said in an email that of the 164 residents in Anchorage Pioneer Home, 49 of them are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid helps pay for services not covered by Medicare, including long-term care. According to the Alaska Department of Health, the state paid...

Honoring Elders and protecting legacies

Lea McKenna, For Senior Voice

This October, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention will once again shine a light on the wisdom and contributions of Alaska Native Elders. Two free special events-the Elizabeth Peratrovich Legal Clinic on Oct.16, and the Elder Appreciation & Wills Clinic on Oct. 17-will take place at the AFN Convention at the Dena'ina Convention Center, Second Floor, Room 5 in Anchorage, offering a blend of celebration of Elders and legal help for Alaskans. All are welcome at these free events and...

  • How to be your own best friend

    Dr. Emily Kane, For Senior Voice

    I have just retired after enjoying 32 years as a primary care provider. My clinical focus has been on creating wellness, rather than managing disease, primarily through good nutrition and positive self-care. I have observed that women, especially those born before the early days of legally bolstered equal rights, have often been made to feel that their role is to serve men. We are unfortunately seeing a persistence or revival of sexism at personal, community, state, and national levels. It is...

  • Open enrollment period starts Oct. 15

    Sean McPhilamy, Alaska Medicare Information Office

    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. Certified Medicare counselors across Alaska can help you as part of the Medicare Information Office’s network of program Ambassadors, including through your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Give us a call, we would be glad to answer your questions, guide you through the process,...

  • Health Fairs

    Health Fairs, Alaska Health Fair, Inc.

    Alaska Health Fair events offer a chance to learn about important health topics topics in an informal setting. Attendees can receive free basic screenings, obtain information and resources, and have their questions answered by health, wellness and safety professionals. Health fairs are also a great way to connect with local health resources. Most importantly, events feature comprehensive, affordable blood tests. Obtaining blood screenings at health fairs is a great way to get quick, accurate results at a fraction of the cost. Alaska Health...

  • Preventing cancer through a multipronged approach

    John Schieszer, Medical Minutes

    Current research is showing that a healthy plant-based diet, along with regular physical activity, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body weight, can reduce breast cancer risk. Further, engineering combined with digital health may unlock a much better way to detect breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that one in eight women born in the U.S. today will develop breast cancer. Studies have consistently demonstrated that consumption of vegetables, fruits, and soy...

  • Take a hike to Crater Lake in Oregon

    Nick Thomas, For Senior Voice

    Viewing Oregon's Crater Lake for the first time caught me off guard-a massive impossibly blue expanse of water trapped within the shattered rim of an ancient volcano. There was no hint of what lay ahead driving scenic Highway 62 toward the Crater Lake National Park western entrance, some 60 miles northeast of Medford. Even after pulling into the car park, along with hundreds of other cars, the lake remained largely hidden until we walked to the edge of the parking lot. And there it was-huge,...

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