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Older Persons Action Group, Inc. will hold its annual membership meeting Nov. 30 in Anchorage, in the conference room at Access Alaska, 1217 E. 10th Ave. The board business meeting starts at 11 a.m., followed immediately by the membership meeting. Refreshments will be served, RSVP requested. Call 276-1059 or 1-800-478-1059 to RSVP or for more information. Senior Voice wins awards Senior Voice has been recognized again for excellence, winning five awards recently in the annual contest sponsored by the North American Mature Publishers...
Alaska AARP Foundation Tax-Aide needs new volunteers for the up-coming tax season. Tax volunteers must complete 40 hours of tax preparation classes that are taught by IRS-certified instructors. Lack of experience should not stop anyone from volunteering. You will learn where to input the information in the program and the software program does the rest. Materials for the course are provided by the IRS and AARP Foundation. Beginning classes will start in December for Anchorage, and in the Mat-Su Valley they will be held Saturdays, Jan. 6-27....
To author Studs Terkel, World War II was The Good War. And to Tom Brokaw, those who lived through it were The Greatest Generation. Sacrifice was the order of the day. And, as Betty Curtis and Carmen Suter can tell you, everyone made sacrifices every day. "I wouldn't go through it again for anything, but it created an interesting generation of people," said Curtis, who was 13 and living in Delphos, Kansas, about 60 miles north of Salina, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. On t...
The Trump administration is planning to end another Obama-era regulation involving nursing homes, which was designed to shield the elderly from unscrupulous, abusive or bad nursing home practices. At the end of the Obama administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules that would’ve made it easier for nursing home residents or their families to take facilities to court over alleged abuse, neglect or sexual assault. Now, Trump is proposing to replace that rule with one that could make it almost impossible for n...
In 1935 the National Association of Manufacturers testified before Congress that Social Security would represent “ultimate socialist control of life and industry.” Other opponents argued that the initial Social Security registration process was like social engineering used in Nazi Germany. These critics predicted that American workers would be forced to wear metal Social Security tags on chains around their necks. Earlier in the decade industrial production had fallen 46 percent, foreign trade had plummeted by 70 percent, and unemployment had...
This is an article in an ongoing series by the Diverse Elders Coalition, focusing on different ethnic and demographic senior groups. Last month, I was in New York City to celebrate reaching another decade with four of my friends. Three of these friends I have known since high school, and we were roommates at one time or another in college. My son, Aiden, calls them his "aunties," because they have loved him through his transition and love him the same today. We decided on New York, because it...
Dear Savvy Senior: For the last six months or so, I’ve been having problems with my hips and legs cramping when I walk, although they feel better once I stop. I thought it was just because I’m getting old, but my friend was telling me about a leg vein disease called PAD and thinks I may have it. What can you tell me about this condition? Limping at 60 Dear Limping: The health condition your friend is telling you about is known as “peripheral arterial disease” (or PAD), which is an under the radar disease that affects up to 12 million America...
There was a new study published last August (2017) in Journal of Clinical Oncology regarding B vitamins and it’s produced some uneasiness. B complex is thought to boost energy reserve, support metabolism and adrenal function and protect your nerves from fraying. The study suggests that two B vitamins from the whole “B complex” family are potentially harmful; it infers that taking B vitamins can increase the risk of lung cancer. But let’s take a closer look before we hang B6 and B12: 1. The study was conducted in men who smoke. These scary f...
Have you reviewed your prescription drug coverage for 2018? The Open Enrollment Period for Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans is in full swing. Beginning Oct. 15 and continuing until Dec. 7, Medicare beneficiaries have to opportunity to review their coverage, determine the most appropriate plan for 2018 and enroll. There are no public Medicare Advantage plans being offered in Alaska however, there will be 19 Medicare prescription drug plans offered. Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to reme...
We are nearing the end of Alaska Health Fair’s fall 2017 health fair season, so check out one of the November 2017 events. They offer free health screenings, health and safety education, plus 11 affordable blood tests and other services. These tests can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. For a complete roster of our affordable, comprehensive and private tests check out www.alaskahealthfair.org. For more information, call 907-278-0234 (...
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska is pleased to announce the expansion of our Care Coordination Program to include individuals of any age with a disability. Moving forward, our program Care Coordination Resource of Alaska (CCRA) will continue to be the intermediary and a safety net for seniors across the state. We will continue to assist individuals with dementia and frail elders 60 and over to access services and get the right kind of assistance when they need it. As we age, it can be difficult knowing what services are available and how to a...
In recognition of how difficult it is for people to think about and discuss health care decisions, Hospice of Anchorage is distributing free copies of the nation’s most popular advance care planning resource, “Five Wishes”. Five Wishes allows individuals and families to make important decisions in terms that are meaningful and understandable to them, and helps patients and families to more effectively communicate their decisions to health care providers. In addition to important medical issues, Five Wishes addresses matters of the heart and s...
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was the most unrecognized disorder for returning Vietnam veterans as well as for the veterans of all previous wars. Not reacting to this disorder cost thousands of lives due to suicide, mental illness and chronic health issues aggregated by PTSD. The outlook started to change in the early 1980s when the VA finally recognized PTSD and started treating it. Gulf War Syndrome was another illness where the medical community was late to address its long-term...
Gene therapy may help reverse blindness Researchers are moving closer toward a novel gene therapy approach to restore vision to the blind. British researchers in a laboratory study have demonstrated how it might be possible to reverse blindness using gene therapy to reprogram cells at the back of the eye to become light sensitive. Most causes of untreatable blindness occur due to loss of the millions of light sensitive photoreceptor cells that line the retina. However, the remaining retinal...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in November. This month’s meeting topic: “The Art of Caregiving, Part Two,” with demonstrations on effective approaches to bathing, eating, dressing, transfers and how to respond to certain types of behaviors. Nov. 7, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Nov. 14, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. Nov. 15, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior Center, hosted by Paula Koch, 3 p.m. Nov....
For many of their dedicated fans, identical twins Julie and Miki Collins are frozen in time. After all, they have been writing books and weekly newspaper columns about their subsistence lifestyle for more than 30 years. But they are aging just like everyone else. The sisters are 58 years old now. The lifestyle they cherish is hard work and they can feel a few aches and pains that didn't used to be there. But they have no plans to change their day-to-day lives. "We're pretty well set up," said...
Soldotna Senior Center Fall Bazaar and Art Show, Nov. 3-4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Peruse arts and crafts from various vendors and enjoy refreshments for purchase from our kitchen. Call 262-2322 for more information. Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center Holiday Bazaar, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring 40+ vendor booths, food and drinks, the Latte Fun Espresso Stand, CERSC Gift Shop and more. Free entry. 688-2674 Anchorage Holiday Food & Gift Festival, Nov. 4-5 at the Dena’ina Center. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Around 100 v...
While growing up in Glennallen, I was involved in 4-H and took several classes including basic sewing. The year I turned eleven (1966), I decided to make cloth placemats and napkins for our family of six to use for Christmas. Mom paid for the fabric I picked out at our local grocery/department store, owned by the Martin family. I cut out the placemats and napkins according to the 4-H pattern, which called for all four edges of the napkins to be fringed as well as two edges of the placemats. I...
Interested in learning more about businesses and agencies providing senior services in the Anchorage area? Want to get the word out about your own service? The monthly Interagency Breakfast, sponsored by Older Persons Action Group, is an opportunity for all the above. Informal, early and free, with breakfast provided. The November meeting is Nov. 8, hosted by Providence Hospice. Begins at 8 a.m. RSVP by calling Older Persons Action Group, Inc. for more information on these events or to be added to our e-mail reminder list, 2...
Honor Veterans Day at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center with “Celebrate Senior Veterans Week,” a week filled with information, recreation, companionship and remembrance. Here is the schedule, Monday, Nov. 6 through Friday, Nov. 9: Nov. 6 Information Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring booths from Last Frontier Honor Flight, Alaska Veterans Museums, Senior Care Providers, VA Health Care Systems and many more. Nov. 7 Presentations, 10 a.m. Featuring guest speakers and social hour. Nov. 8 Tournaments beginning at 10 a.m. Pool (10 a.m.) and pok...
Homer residents turned to Betty Crocker when they needed a firetruck in the late 1960s after learning about a promotion offered by General Mills. The nationally known company offered a program where people could turn in their coupons for large househlold items. An $800 piano could be purchased with 160,000 coupons redeemed at one-half penny each, according to a Homer Tribune article, titled "Bringing home 'Betty," by Naomi Klouda. How many coupons did it take to get a fire truck? Five million,...
Off-screen, Valerie Harper has been an inspiration to many following her optimistic defiance to a well-publicized life-threatening medical diagnosis in 2013. The star of the hit 70s TV series "Rhoda" now brings her indomitable spirit to the big screen to hearten families dealing with Alzheimer's. Harper, Liz Torres, and Harmony Santana star in Susie Singer Carter's short film, "My Mom and the Girl." Based on Singer Carter's own mother's battle with Alzheimer's, the writer, director and...
Last year’s holiday shopping season brought about 57 percent of shoppers to their computers and smartphones to find deals. The convenience and cost savings of shopping online are enticing to us… and irresistible to the criminals who see this as their heyday. More shoppers looking to avoid the crowds means more opportunity for thieves. That’s why Consumer Reports provided some steps to enhance the security of your online shopping. Here’s what they say, based on advice from Raymond Pucci, of the Mercator Advisory Group consulting firm. Find ou...
I really wish they hadn’t called it an IRA. Back in 1997, a senator named William Roth pushed through a law which allowed for a different type of retirement account. Up until then, if you wanted to save for retirement in a way that was tax-advantaged, your only option was a traditional IRA, or one of its close cousins like a 401(k) or SEP. There were minor differences, but these IRA-type accounts pretty much worked the same. There was a tax deduction when you put the money in, but you had to p...
Q. What do you think of using a service like Airbnb or HomeAway instead of a hotel? A. My family has used various websites to find daily rental lodging for over 10 years. When everything goes according to plan, they are fantastic. But a bad experience can ruin your vacation. We have experienced both kinds, on multiple occasions. There is a huge inventory of rooms, apartments and houses available for rent online. They are offered by different types of businesses – everything from individuals with a spare room to property management companies t...
