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Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military. Veterans Day is intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated and to underscore the fact that all those who served have protected the freedoms that we enjoy every day. There are more than 11 million adults age 60 and older alive today who have served in the military. Older veterans face a variety of challenges including health, financial and housing...
Senior Voice was recently recognized for excellence, winning eight awards in the annual contest sponsored by the North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA), a nationwide network of publishers focusing on boomer and senior readers. Awards were announced Sept. 11, 2024, at the annual NAMPA conference, held virtually online this year. Entries were independently judged by a panel including journalists, proofreaders, librarians and geriatric professionals. Senior Voice entries competed in Division A, for circulations below 25,000. Senior...
I was talking with someone at a social gathering. A wonderful supplement was mentioned that would boost my energy. I didn’t write it down but it sounded like Sporkblot, or maybe Batspawn? Well, no matter. I’ll just wander over to the local drug store and find it. But I get there and I am faced with 30 feet of shelving overflowing with hundreds of supplements aggressively strutting their stuff. Yikes! What do I do? Ahhh. I am enveloped in a moment of focused calm. (Ok, I am not calm. It’s an apocryphal story.) I visualize the Office of Dieta...
As the holiday season kicks off, so does a wave of scams targeting those of us enjoying holiday activities. Here are some of the most prevalent scams to watch out for during this festive period. Online shopping scams As legitimate retailers launch their seasonal promotions, scammers are also intensifying their efforts to deceive bargain-hunting shoppers. These criminals create bogus websites and social media campaigns with amazing deals. If it is too good to be true, it is a scam. They impersonate major brands, using fake posts and...
Q: I recently started a job that involves interacting with older adults, many of whom have led fascinating lives. To learn more about them and deepen our conversations, what questions could help me get to know them better? A: Learning about an elderly person’s life can be a fulfilling experience for both parties involved. To facilitate meaningful conversations, it is important to create an environment that encourages openness. This includes using clear and direct communication, asking t...
New steps are underway to improve the detection and management of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. A $11.3 million dollar contract has been awarded to specifically train healthcare providers and support patients’ families in communities that have little access to such specialized care. The program will be led by Dr. Dedra Buchwald, a professor of neurological surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and it is funded by the Indian Health Service (IHS). She and...
For some individuals, time orientation can be a struggle and lead to frustration and anxiety. Digital calendar clocks clearly display the current time and part of the day, week, date and month without any abbreviations and in high contrast. Many of these devices can set daily alarms, customize reminders shown on the screen, change languages, and adjust brightness. This column is brought to you by ATLA (Assistive Technology of Alaska), a nonprofit, statewide resource. ATLA does not endorse this...
The long-held tradition of the family gathered around a table for a savory Thanksgiving feast carries fond memories for most. Yet, many will spend the day alone, either out of circumstance or by choice. Whatever the case, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday without family. So whether you go it alone or decide to hold a Friendsgiving, follow these tips to make the most of your holiday. Solitary celebrations The upside of spending Thanksgiving alone is that you can celebrate any way you...
Medicare can be confusing for anyone. It is easy to misunderstand Medicare eligibility or the best time to enroll in the various parts of Medicare. The factors around Medicare eligibility and enrollment choices can be even more complicated for older people who were born outside the U.S. Immigrants may not have as much work history in the U.S., may have a variety of immigration statuses, or may have limited English proficiency—all making a potentially confusing process even more difficult. N...
Dear Savvy Senior: I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been trying to use a CPAP device for the past six months but can’t tolerate it. Are there any alternative treatment options you can tell me about? – Sleepy Sam Dear Sam: I’m sorry to hear your CPAP mask is keeping you awake at night, but I’m happy to hear that you’re addressing your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) problem. Left untreated, OSA is linked to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension and stroke. For those who aren’t familiar, OSA...
November is Diabetes Awareness month. Thanks to our partnership with the State of Alaska Dept. of Health (DOH), Alaska Health Fair, Inc. is making it easier than ever to check your blood sugar levels and learn about diabetes and pre-diabetes at health fairs. Diabetes occurs when your body struggles with insulin production or usage, leading to high blood sugar levels and potential complications. Pre-diabetes is a warning sign that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet at diabetes levels. Early detection and intervention can prevent...
Goodness gracious, we are so blessed Showing gratitude may pack some important hidden long-term health benefits. A recent study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is suggesting that experiencing gratitude may help older adults live longer. “Prior research has shown an association between gratitude and lower risk of mental distress and greater emotional and social wellbeing. However, its association with physical health is less understood,” said lead author Ying Chen, a Harvard res...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in October. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Nov. 1 Soldotna Senior Center support meeting with presentation, “Holiday Dining with Dementia,” by Valerie Flake from Val’s Care Coordination, 1 to 2 p.m. Nov. 6 Kenai Senior Center, “Stronger Together” support group, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 7 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai) support meeting, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 21 Sterling Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m....
As we approach another long, dark winter, it's time to talk about something that affects many of us: Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short. Don't worry, we're not sad about talking about SAD! In fact, knowing more about it can help us stay happier and healthier during those chilly months. It affects more people than realize it, but not everyone recognizes the signs or knows how to combat it. SAD is a type of depression that shows up when the days get shorter and darker. Here in Alaska,...
A unique program is underway in Fairbanks in which local police officers are learning to make beaver hats from Native elders, while learning about Native traditions and cultures. Hosted by the Interior regional non-profit elder organization Denakkanaaga, the sewing sessions are held over several weeks, with the result being a warm hat the officers can wear while on duty in the winter. Four officers are paired with four elders to make the hats in each session. This is the second round of the prog...
As I walked down the hallway at the Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home Sept. 14, my heart grew heavy when I noticed two papers in the special glass memorial wall case which notifies the recent death of a resident. It grew even heavier when I saw Dave Brown's face looking back at me. Because my husband Gary has lived in the Pioneer Home for the last two and a half years, I know all the residents by face, if not name, and Dave was very special to us. Gary had been living in the Palmer Pioneer Home...
In a town not much different from the one where they both grew up, orthopedic surgeon and husband Henry Krull alongside his wife, entrepreneur and visionary Mary Krull, have embarked on a mission to bring fresh food, renewable energy and a unique experience to Soldotna, and all of Alaska. Including the talents of their adult children, the Krulls have turned Whistle Hill into a thriving hub for locals and visitors alike, with a combination of innovative farming, dining experiences, local art,...
Alaska Commission on Aging The Alaska Commission on Aging invites you to join our next teleconference on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon. This session will focus on senior centers in Alaska and the unique challenges they face across the state. The goal is to gather insights and develop evidence-based recommendations for the governor, legislature and advocacy groups. We are excited to feature presentations from Pat Branson and Darlene Supplee, followed by breakout sessions for regional discussions. Participants are encouraged to come...
While workers completed the last portion of the Alaska-Canada Highway at Beaver Creek on Oct. 25, 1942, the idea to connect Alaska to the rest of the world was born many years earlier. Donald MacDonald, a locating engineer with the Alaska Road Commission, had dreamed for years of an overland coastal route to Alaska. It would run north from Seattle across British Columbia through the Yukon Territory to Fairbanks. MacDonald and a group of Fairbanks residents formed the International Highway...
American television audiences developed a fondness for old British sitcoms in the 1980s when PBS began airing reruns of several popular shows. Loaded with oh-so-British double-meaning dialogue, a standout favorite was "Are You Being Served?", a BBC production that originally ran in the UK from 1972 to 1985. A 1992-93 spinoff series, "Are You Being Served? Again!" (also known as "Grace & Favour") reunited original cast members Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, John Inman, Wendy Richard, and...
The Social Security Administration continues to partner with locations throughout Alaska to offer secure video service, a convenient and no cost service option that allows people to talk directly to a Social Security employee through a secure computer link that includes two-way video and sound. The video service is available at these locations: In Nome, Norton Sound Health Corporation, 1000 Grek Kruschek. Video service is available for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis, on the second and fourth Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Kenai Senior Ce...
We are excited to share that most of our local offices now have new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant kiosks. These new kiosks are designed to enhance accessibility and ease of use for all visitors, particularly those who are blind or have low vision. They have several features and benefits to ensure a seamless check-in process, including: Standardized cabinetry (meeting specific height and width requirements). Audio headphone jack sockets. Integrated braille instructions for how to use the kiosk. Accessible keypads. Built-In...
Sometimes people think that the worst clients for lawyers to have must be other lawyers, since they would be second guessing them all the time. In my experience, though, academics are the worst clients. Some of them want to understand every single detail of how this works. That can be time-consuming and taxing. But most of the time, the opposite is true. Clients don’t ask enough questions. When I have a new client who previously used another attorney for their will or trust, one of the first t...
Q. My iPhone just automatically updated to iOS 17.7. How do I get the new features advertised in iOS 18? A. There are two kinds of system updates for iPhones, major and minor. Major releases that change once a year, and increase the first number. For example, from 17.0 to 18.0. Minor updates occur throughout the year, and increase the numbers after the decimal point. Your iPhone will automatically update itself with these “point updates” as long as it is plugged in and has a Wi-Fi connection. Each autumn Apple releases a major new update to the...
Sweepstakes to paradise Win a four-day, three-night luxury all-inclusive vacation at the Sandals resort of your choice. Airfare is not included. Sandals operates resorts in the Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent. Go to https://www.sandals.com/sweepstakes/ to enter. Alaska-Hawaiian airlines merger goes through There are so many questions about how this merger will affect the Alaskan traveler and their Alaska Airlines benefits. The good news is...
