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After 17 temporary fixes over the past 11 years, Congress has approved legislation permanently blocking perennial cuts in physicians’ Medicare fees. In a rare show of genuine bipartisanship, the House and Senate both overwhelmingly passed the bill. It should become easier for doctors to make a living while taking Medicare patients and help seniors keep their doctors who accept Medicare. In a 1997 budget agreement, Congress set up a formula, known as the Sustainable Growth Rate, or the SGR, which called for annual cuts in Medicare physician p...
Health care and the ways we find health information have changed drastically over the years. New technologies in and out of the doctor's office have allowed us access to information like never before. It's incredibly easy to pull out your smartphone or tablet and search "diabetes symptoms" or "home treatments for the flu." But should we trust everything we read online? The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and Linda Shepard, registered health ministry and community outreach nurse at Providence...
About 90 percent of long-term, informal health care in the United States is provided by unpaid caregivers, typically women, who spend more than $5,000 annually in out-of-pocket expenses. A survey from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital seeks to better identify the strengths and needs of Alaska’s informal caregivers and to ultimately help them. “These unpaid caregivers are the backbone of our health-care system,” said Ellen Lopez, project leader and public health researcher at the University of Alaska Fairb...
As of this writing it is difficult to wrap-up the legislative session, as they are still in session (day 4 past the regular 90 day period). Legislators have not yet come to agreement on the state’s budget, which they must pass, according to the state constitution. Nevertheless, it has, to this point, been an interesting, if not altogether productive session. There are many reasons for this. This is the first year of the 29th Legislature, with many new faces in the House and Senate, as well as a new administration. After an election, there is a...
In the past few years, more than one older Alaskan has been in the news for a driving accident while medicated — with tragic or near-tragic consequences. An 82-year-old man was driving his 6-year-old grandson to school when he went through a red light, swerved onto a curb and almost hit a patrol car, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported. He faced charges of endangering the welfare of a child, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of several drugs, including Oxycodone and muscle r...
Comparing services using the Medicare website This month, I am going to use the Medicare website (which you too can easily use at www.Medicare.gov/home health care). The three homes I picked out to compare are the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the Hospice & Homecare of Juneau and the Mat-Su Regional Home Care. The first two are privately owned and the third is proprietary. All three of these institutions compare favorably as to Nursing Care, Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy, Medical...
Those of you (including this retired Army pilot) who have witnessed an aircraft accident first hand know the litany of emotional phases that one experiences. At first you deny the accident happened. “I know that crew and they are the best. They’re just lost, will fix the radio and call the center or the tower.” Next you become angry, saying , “Why did this crash have to happen? Someone could have prevented this from happening. Who is that person? Let’s find out.” The third stage of grief is a...
Senior centers around Alaska are beginning to offer the Tai Chi for Health Institute’s Tai Chi for Arthritis classes just in time for May’s Arthritis Awareness Month. Created by Dr. Paul Lam, the Tai Chi for Health Institute’s 12 week program provides knowledge and exercises that are perfect for home, work or anyplace you need relief from arthritis-related pain. “We’re very excited,” says Ali Young, certified Tai Chi for Arthritis instructor at Wasilla Senior Center. “We just got certified last month.” Arthritis is the number one cause of di...
Can eating eggs help prevent type-2 diabetes? Researchers in Finland are reporting that eating eggs may benefit blood sugar metabolism. In the past, egg consumption has either been associated with an elevated risk of diabetes or no association has been found. The findings from this new study suggest that some compound or combination of compounds in eggs may help combat diabetes through an anti-inflammatory effect. The researchers looked at the dietary habits of 2,332 men between the ages of...
An interactive workshop exploring the challenges faced by organizations and facilities in providing dementia care will be offered in King Cove and Wrangell this month. • May 12, King Cove Clinic conference room, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact: Kimberly Jung, 907-561-3313 or kjung@alzalaska.orgkjung@alzalaska.org. Online registration deadline: May 8 • May 21, Wrangell, at the Fire Dept. Training Hall, 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., or 4 to 8:15 p.m. Contact: Amber Smith, 907-586-6044 or asmith@alzalaska.orgasmith@alzalaska.org The workshops are designed for...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in May. This month’s theme is “Celebrate Your Age (It’s Older Americans Month”). May 5, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. May 12, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. May 14, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in the Blazy Mall, 5 p.m. May 19, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m. May 19, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior...
The Medicare Minute Program is making its debut in Alaska. Launched in the summer of 2014 by the Medicare Information Office, it is quickly becoming a popular tool for seniors to educate their peers about their Medicare benefits and to protect themselves from Medicare Fraud. The brainchild of the Medicare Rights Center, Medicare Minutes was created and launched in New York in 2001. Medicare Minutes are short, engaging presentations on timely Medicare topics that are presented at local sites on a monthly basis. Volunteers are provided with...
Alaska Health Fairs, Inc. concludes its spring series of health fairs this month, featuring free health screenings and education, low cost blood tests and more. The tests can help you learn about your health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. The test results give you and your health care provider important information about your physical condition and vital organ functions. A complete and comprehensive chemistry/hematology test is available for only $45 and panels 27...
Betty Berry settles into a friend's living room couch early on a grey April morning and opens up a journal, "Elberberry Tales," stories told by her father-in-law, Frank Olin Berry. His words had been captured and written down in the 1950s by a family friend. What Betty holds in her lap is a true treasure, a fascinating history of early Anchorage, its pages full of old black-and-white photos taken by her father-in-law, and stories previously kept within the Berry family. Frank's tales begin...
Diners had Navajo tacos as the first of a new monthly feature of ethnic and regional foods at Haines Senior Center lunches. Basic Navajo fry bread, interpreted in different forms around the country, becomes Indian fry bread in Haines. One diner, Marilyn Wilson, taught her daughter and granddaughter to make fry bread with yeast, but she liked the version made with baking powder, she said. Cindy Jackson, manager, said the April meal was to feature Indian dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, Curry Rice...
The Pioneers of Alaska Women’s Igloo #11 proudly presents “Let’s Tip our Hats to Fun and Fancy” Annual Salad Luncheon and Style Show featuring fashions from “Garden Gate of Palmer.” The event will take place Friday, May 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palmer Moose Lodge. Be prepared for great food, beautiful models, fabulous entertainment and terrific door prizes. Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance from any member of the Palmer Women’s Igloo #11. For more information, contact Pat Gersich at 376-1350 or Dee Brown at 745-3839....
Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (CVTC) celebrated construction of its new health and wellness building – Ahtnahwt’aene’ Nay’dini’aa den (Aht-nah Hwĭ-tănnă Nie-dĭnny-ah den) Gathering Place, meaning “Ahtna People Chickaloon Place,” – with a large group of elders, tribal leaders, community members, funders and partners at its groundbreaking early April in Sutton. The new 8,100 square foot facility will be located at 21117 E. Myers Avenue and will house an expanded C’eyiits’ Hwnax (kie-eetz haw-nah) Life House Community Health Center...
Although the frenzied gold seekers of the North lacked most of the luxuries, not to mention necessities, of civilized living, they did have theaters – even opera houses. There had been entertainment in California's gold rush of 1849, but never had there been such garish and colorful entertainers as in the days of '98. And many of them went on to fame and fortune. Sid Grauman, later owner of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre and high priest of Hollywood's cinematic palaces, started his career...
Only a handful of actresses danced in feature films with both Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. One was Leslie Caron. Although her last feature film was a decade ago, she hasn't been exactly idle since. "I won an Emmy in 2007 for a guest role on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' which was a grand moment for me," said Ms. Caron from London, where she moved in 2013 from her native France to be near family. Her autobiography, "Thank Heaven," was published in 2010, and in 2013 she appeared in an...
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 of the above. Informal, early and free, with breakfast provided for business and agency representatives. The May meeting is May 13 and will be hosted by the Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center. Begins at 8 a.m. Call Older Persons Action Group to RSVP and get directions to the...
Staff from Alaska’s Social Security office will be available for questions via videoconferencing at the following locations and times: Kodiak Job Center, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (May 12 and 26), 9 a.m. to noon. Kenai Senior Center, on the first and third Wednesday of each month (May 6 and 20), 9 a.m. to noon. Ketchikan Job Center, every Thursday (May 7, 14, 21 and 28), noon to 3 p.m. Social Security provides toll-free telephone service to all of Alaska. Residents in Alaska’s southeast communities can call the Juneau Soc...
Dear Jonathan: I recently updated my estate planning, which included a new will, as well as a revocable living trust. I decided to go with the trust because I want to make sure that my estate is not probated at my death. I recently read that if all of your assets avoid probate, you don’t need to have a will because the will only controls assets you have to probate. Is this true? If so, why did my attorney insist on me preparing a will along with my trust? Jonathan says: The article you read is correct in that a will only controls the d...
Q. I use my iPad during business meetings and the clicking sound it makes when I unlock it is distracting. Is there some way to silence that noise? A. Having invested years perfecting the art of stating the obvious, my best recommendation would be to unlock your iPad before the meeting begins. However, if the sound your iPad or iPhone makes when you lock or unlock it is ruining your life – or perh...
San Francisco, where the city's port ships out hundreds of thousands of tourists north to Alaska on cruise ships, has another Alaska connection nearby, a literary one – Jack London Square in Oakland just across the bay. Jack London was the author of such Klondike Gold Rush-era literary sensations, "Call of the Wild," "White Fang" and "The Sea-Wolf." The site has London's relocated Klondike cabin, and it's open all the time for people to visit. It will remind you of the first dry cabin you ever r...
