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To the dismay of many, the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly voted at its Sept. 20 meeting to severely curtail the city’s senior citizens sales tax exemption. The vote was 7 to 2. The sales tax exemption will no longer apply to purchases other than essentials – food, electricity, heating fuel and CBJ water and sewer utilities. For everything else, all citizens regardless of age or income are required to pay the 5 percent sales tax upon purchase. Citizens below the poverty line must pay the tax throughout the year and prove they are low...
Here is some Medicare bad news, disguised as good news. Congress has finally moved to change the laws about observation care, a problem that’s been vexing seniors for years because the laws are unclear. This has forced millions of seniors to face huge unexpected medical bills when they get home from short hospital stays. Congress has supposedly “fixed” the problem – with the House and Senate approving legislation, but the fix appears to be a step in the right direction, without fixing the actual problem. Under legislation that passed the Sen...
Older Persons Action Group, Inc. has hired James Bailey as its new executive director. Bailey has a long history in teaching and administration in Anchorage, going back to 1974. He first visited the city at the age of 12, visiting his father, who owned the Anchorage House of Music. He most recently was the principal for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary School in Anchorage. He has dedicated himself to community service and will start his work with OPAG Oct. 1. "I am looking forward to...
Older Persons Action Group, Inc., earned honors for its monthly, statewide publication “Senior Voice” in the 24th 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. Senior Voice received both Gold and Silver awards in the Local/State media division, Newsletter/Newspaper category. The entries were judged by a pan...
I am writing this article for three reasons. First, in response to a statement made by Jonathan J. David in his article, “Deed helps avoid costly trusts, probate” in the June 2015 Senior Voice, which states “However, in the event your daughter predeceases you, then the TOD (Transfer on Death) designations will fail you because there will not be a beneficiary alive to receive those assets.” In fact, under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, which Alaska adopted in 2014, one can designate more than one primary beneficiary (all of...
Earlier this year, I wrote a blog on lottery scams and the vulnerability of seniors to this type of scheme – whether by phone, mail, or email. Since then, I have received more reports from victims. Community partners throughout the state have all mentioned an uptick in cases of lottery scams. Just last month, I spoke with the daughter of a 91-year old woman who contacted Better Business Bureau with her mom’s story. It’s a heartbreaking story. She told me that her mom has sent a total of $20,000 to scammers. It all began with the scam artis...
What’s new for Medicare Prescription Drug coverage for 2016? There will be 19 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available (versus 24 in 2015). No Medicare Advantage Plans will be available; 54 percent of Alaskans are eligible for Extra Help but not all have taken advantage of the great savings it affords. The lowest monthly premium for a prescription drug plan will be $18.40. The highest will be $89.20. People who reach the “donut hole” in the drug benefit will save 55 percent on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drug...
Tylenol is popular. It is known generically as “acetaminophen” or “paracetamol,” and is one of the leading pain relievers in the entire world. It’s probably in every medicine cabinet (including mine), right next to my ibuprofen. Most people know ibuprofen can hurt the gut, whereas acetaminophen can hurt the liver. Today I want to focus on protecting you if you like to take acetaminophen. Many years ago, probably in 2001, I warned you all to take a certain supplement called “NAC”, in order to protect your liver and restore glutathione l...
Kids love Halloween, but adults… maybe not. Seniors who live alone may feel vulnerable opening their doors to strangers. And if you choose not to spend a small fortune on treats, will your house get egged? Then again, some adults like to decorate their front porches and enjoy seeing the costumes and talking to the children. You might even walk the neighborhood with your grandkids. Depending on where you live, Halloween can be scary and stressful for seniors, especially those who live alone. If you have mobility problems, getting up and down t...
Fall is here and we are expecting another mild winter; happy days for me – the less snow we get the fewer times I have to have my roof shoveled. I haven’t heard from any readers about the “filial responsibility laws” I last wrote about, which is probably good news, since it means that seniors are taking care of their children and children are happily taking care of their parents. After my own 14-day stay in the hospital, which cost over $100,000, I am curious as to what Caitlyn Jenner had to...
Alaska Health Fair, Inc. continues their fall series of health fairs around the state this month, featuring free health screenings and education, low cost blood tests and more. These 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...
I was pretty hard on the well intending elected officials who are trying to expand Medicaid to the uninsured in the in my article last month. My objections were based on my concern for the cost to the state in a time when future revenues are going to be limited and uncertain. Having been taken to the woodshed more than once in my life, this time I have finally have seen the light. I am not sure if it was a blinding light or a burning bush, but my religious epiphany occurred just the same. I had...
The 23rd annual Stand Down for Veterans in Need will be held on Friday, October 23, at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, North Terminal. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to officials, “Stand Down is an annual program to provide ‘Veterans in Need’ with various types of assistance to include but not limited to medical, dental and vision screening, housing assistance, employment assistance, and financial assistance.” “We’ll have more than 50 social service agencies, including federal organizations, State of Al...
No more reading glasses? It may now be possible to get rid of your reading glasses permanently. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now approved a new inlay procedure that can correct presbyopia. This is a condition that develops around age 40 and involves the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. Until now, you had to wear reading glasses, bifocals or undergo surgical procedures. The problem with the surgical procedures were that they could compromise a person’s d...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in October. This month’s topic is “Proper Body Mechanics and Back Safety.” Oct. 6, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Oct. 13, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. Oct. 15, Caregiver support meeting at Caregiver Support Program in the Blazy Mall in Soldotna, 5 p.m. Oct. 20, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m. Oct. 20, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior Cente...
Long-time Anchorage fitness expert and frequent Senior Voice contributor Bonnie Murphy has released her book, "Young Longer: Functional Fitness to Renew Your Strength, Balance, and Energy for Your Best Years Yet." Murphy, a certified Functional Aging Specialist from the Functional Aging Institute, says she wrote and published the book in partnership with the Institute to help seniors learn about the benefits of "functional" training and learn how to do the workouts themselves, in their homes. Fu...
Sit three people together who have long-term relationships with the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, and stories begin to flow, randomly, bouncing off one another. That's what happened recently on a grey September morning. One of those gathered around the table in the Zoo's small coffee shop was Bob Pate. His association with the Zoo goes back to its very beginnings and includes over 20 years as a Zoo board member. Then there was Susie Voke, daughter of Sammye Seawell. Sammye started the Zoo, with its...
A Juneau resident and his brother have made a significant donation to Sealaska Heritage Institute that includes letters and essays penned by the late Native rights leader William L. Paul, Sr., for whom the institute's archives is named. The donation by Ray Peck of Juneau and Cy Peck, Jr., a former longtime Juneau resident who now lives in Hawaii, includes letters, papers, newspapers, newsletters and more than 200 color and black-and-white images collected by their father, the late Cyrus E....
Homer Senior Citizens, Inc. presents the Second Annual Southern Peninsula Senior Summit, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Homer Senior Center. This year the event focuses on Alzheimer’s disease education, with presentations by leading professionals from private and government agencies. The format includes brief presentations followed by question-answer sessions. The list of speakers and agenda will be posted to www.homerseniors.com. Or call 235-7655 for information....
Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center and Services in Anchorage is expanding its DEAP program to seniors in the Mat-Su Valley, thanks to a grant from United Way. The program provides small grants, up to $900, for dental emergency care for seniors age 55 and older who do not have insurance coverage for dental work. Applicants must meet maximum income guidelines, but do not have to be members of the Mabel T. Caverly program. Payments are made to the service providers. The program used to also cover eyeglasses, hearing aids and prescriptions, but...
One of the last ships scheduled to leave Southeast Alaska in the fall of 1918 met with disaster only a few days into her voyage. On October 23, Canadian Pacific Railway steamship Princess Sophia pulled out of the port at Skagway around 10 p.m. and headed into the Lynn Canal bound for Vancouver. The 245-foot Scottish-built ship was filled with 350 Klondikers, families and others heading south for the winter. The steamship company, in an effort to hold more passengers for the voyage, had...
From "I Love Lucy" and "All in the Family" to "Married with Children" and "Seinfeld," structuring a sitcom around four lead characters often proved a successful formula. "It was the perfect format for 'The Honeymooners,'" said Joyce Randolph, who starred as Trixie in the popular 1950s series based on two tenement-dwelling couples – the Kramdens and the Nortons. As the sole surviving member of the original series cast – which included Jackie Gleason, Art Carney and Audrey Meadows – Rando...
In 2013, RurAL CAP weatherized the home of Lucky and Amy Ivey in Anchorage. They received a new furnace, hot water heater, a sump pump, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, vent for their kitchen stove. Their attic, doors, windows and pipes were re-insulated. Their gutters were repaired, they received more energy efficient light bulbs. The Iveys estimate they saved about $140 per month on heating and electricity costs after their home was weatherized. Rhonda McBride of KTVA Channel 11 interviewe...
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 (Oct. 13 and 27), 9 a.m. to noon. Kenai Senior Center, on the first and third Wednesday of each month (Oct. 7 and 21), 9 a.m. to noon. Ketchikan Job Center, every Thursday (Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29), 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 Jun...
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. The October meeting is October 14, hosted by Providence Hospice. Begins at 8 a.m. RSVP by calling Older Persons Action Group for more information on these events or to be added to our e-mail reminder list, 2...
