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If someone you love is suffering from Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, wouldn’t you do everything possible to help them? What about if the medicine you give them has questionable usefulness or potentially dangerous side effects and costs a fortune? That’s a question millions of people may face soon. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Aduhelm, also called aducanumab, in June, in one of its most contentious decisions. This came eight months after a harsh rejection of the treatment by an FDA advisory commi...
Seniors are known nationally for being “super voters”. But many voters find it challenging to understand and evaluate the issues and candidates. Hence this series has been created to dive into civic issues to help our Alaskan seniors, friends and families become more familiar with some issues that should be considered when casting a vote. In this series, we will start by focusing on campaign finance. In the next few columns, we will identify some of the problems that currently exist in our political system, provide history about how these probl...
New research from AARP shows that nearly 8 in 10 of those caring for an adult family member (78%) are facing regular out-of-pocket costs, with the highest burden falling on younger caregivers and those who are Hispanic/Latino or African American. The organization is launching a national campaign urging Congress to do more to support family caregivers. AARP tracked what caregivers pay for using their own money and found average annual spending totaled $7,242, and, on average, 26% of the caregiver’s income. Housing expenses like rent or m...
Caregiver burnout—also known as caregiver stress or caregiver syndrome—was first described by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974. The mental health professional worked in a clinic for drug addicts in New York and observed that most of the volunteers at the clinic had a progressive loss of energy, leading to exhaustion, symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as lack of motivation at work and aggressiveness with patients after a year of working. This is a disorder with serious implications both physically and psychologic...
Q: How can I maximize time with my neighbor who is living with cancer? A: I am so glad we are talking about this important topic. It must be incredibly difficult for you. You have taken the first step of support by being there for your neighbor. In moments of crises sometimes the best source of reassurance is a hug or your gift of time. Often you don’t need to say much, but just sit with them, offer to fix food (if they are willing or able to eat), without offering platitudes. Fear and stress a...
George Washington Carmack and his two inseparable friends, "Skookum" Jim Mason and Tagish Charlie, had wandered up and down the Yukon for several years before their gold discovery electrified the world in August 1896. Carmack traveled over glaciers, through marshes, among forests, lakes, rivers and mountains in search of his destiny. He seemed a misfit in a land where every man was looking for gold. He only wanted to live like the Natives among whom he'd made his home since coming north in...
Carla Malden credits her father, actor Karl Malden, for sowing the seeds of her writing career – first as a screenwriter then an author. "He used me and my sister to cue him quite often when he was learning a part," she recalled from her home in Los Angeles. "I think I learned a lot about writing as a result. If it was a heavily dialogued scene, he'd sometimes tell me to cross a line out of the script because he said 'I can act that.' It taught me the importance of seeing the actor's c...
I usually start thinking about my next column at least a month ahead of time. But then sometimes events derail my plans, and I have to write about something else. The 2018 earthquake, the recent pandemic, and more than a few surprise elections, judicial decisions, or Congressional acts have caused me to re-rack everything and start over. This time, my plans were hijacked by Britney Spears. For the benefit of those of my readers who have been living in a cave for the last 20 years – because o...
ANALYSIS As the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine has transformed how millions of Americans, particularly seniors, see their doctors. Now the Biden administration and Congress must decide whether video and audio appointments with doctors should continue as a routine part of health care and should get federal reimbursement. Telemedicine, also called telehealth, has been the most significant health care shift caused by the pandemic. Before coronavirus, lawmakers had tightly restricted the kind of video and audio visits...
Question: My granddaughter’s good friend is a young woman she used to work with. They spend a lot of time together and have come to visit me. It is apparent they are a couple. I’m not sure how to interact with them. Answer: This is a great question; while a grandparent may not be one of the first people a grandchild shares personal information with, how delightful she feels comfortable visiting you. It sounds like you two have a special relationship. Responding appropriately and uniquely to the...
Hair-raising experiences, hardships and back-breaking toil were common to the lives of those who struggled to take from Nature her wealth of precious minerals. Few emerged victorious, thousands failed. But the lure of gold continued to draw prospectors on to new fields in the 1930s. Prospectors did not work alone. Many relied on horses to help them mine claims along the rivers, beaches and mountains of the North, according to an article written by F.W. Gabler titled "Horse Power for Unuk Gold,"...
When British author Roald Dahl's beloved 1988 novel "Matilda" was transformed into a fantasy comedy movie a decade later, the film became hugely popular. It remains an enjoyable family movie to watch with children and grandchildren today, 25 years after its release in July of 1996. Filled with memorable characters, including a callous and dishonest family as well as a tyrannical school principal, Matilda was portrayed by adorable child actor Mara Wilson who battles and eventually overcomes...
One strategy you can use in estate planning is “lifetime gifts”. In other words, you sign things over to your heirs while you’re still alive, instead of making them wait until you’re gone. Due to some recent proposed legislation in Congress, this strategy is becoming more tempting. But be very careful here. There are three main reasons people are taking a hard look at gifting strategies. Let’s examine each one separately. Should I give away assets for estate tax purposes? For the vast majority...
Q. There is an app on my phone that I do not use. Can I save space by removing it? A. Not only will you save space, removing unneeded apps will make the phone much less cumbersome to use. When I set up my mom’s new iPhone, I removed all but the half-dozen apps she used. That worked out great for her. A word of caution: While you cannot damage a phone by deleting an unwanted app, you can lose data. Be sure the app is really never used before you remove it. If you delete an app by mistake, you should be able to re-install it, but data a...
President Joe Biden has laid out a long list of policy priorities - some more politically plausible than others. But what he left out of his sweeping infrastructure and family relief proposals – drug pricing reform, among other things – is as important as what he included. Biden, who served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years and as vice president for eight more, understood the politics of coronavirus and was able to successfully shepherd his pandemic relief bill through Congress, with only Democrat...
In the United States, more than 40% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, however, most approved COVID-19 vaccines require two doses to provide a level of adequate protection. Delaying a second dose of the vaccine could put people at risk for any of the new variants and "are dangerously vulnerable to infection with variants that weaken the effects of antibodies," according to recent statements by Dr. Anthony Faucci, chief epidemiologist. of the White House. Another...
Q: How do I get my aunt who stays with me to do some form of exercise? I know it will help her and I’ve even offered to exercise with her so she isn’t alone, but she is still resistant. A: Physical activity is an important part of healthy aging. Frequent, repetitive, and enjoyable exercise can be a challenge. Many individuals see exercise as a fun social gathering as they walk outdoors or in the mall, but others find it tough just to get started. Any change is created through small steps. Whi...
January 15, 1963: Dear Mrs. Ridener. It is cold up there. I do not want too go. But I'll have to. I love you Mrs. Ridener. I love the collass too. Your frend Maraley While going through boxes of family stuff in early June 2015, one of my sisters found this letter that I'd written to my second grade teacher. The fat, three-quarter-inch tall, penciled letters and misspelled words ('collass' instead of 'class') plainly showed I was happy with my life in Anchorage. But my dad accepted the position...
Long before the Matanuska Valley became one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation, Russians tried to establish agricultural settlements on its fertile soil. They taught the Dena'ina how to grow crops like potatoes, carrots, radishes and turnips. In 1844, Russians founded settlements at Matanuska and Knik, as well as Kachemak, Kasilof and Kenai. Russian Alexander Herzen wrote in 1859: "A handful of Cossacks and a few hundred homeless mujiks (peasants) crossed oceans of ice at their...
According to Diane McBain who turned 80 in May, it's never too late to begin a new chapter in your life. Along with co-author Michael Gregg Michaud, the 60s glamour gal published her autobiography "Famous Enough: A Hollywood Memoir" in 2014. (See www.facebook.com/michael.michaud.90 ) She also recently penned her first novel, "The Laughing Bear." "And I've got another ready to be published," said McBain from the retirement community in Woodland Hills, California, where she has lived for several...
In 33 years as a lawyer, I’ve had to deal with all kinds of government agencies. It comes with the territory. At various times I’ve wrestled with the IRS, child support enforcement, Social Security, the ABC board, various boards of professional licensing, and so many different state child protective agencies I can’t even count (that was when I did interstate adoptions). I’ve been involved with everything from the local Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals, up to the federal Benefits Review...
Q. A pro tech friend tells me that reset is no longer needed because of the way Microsoft does updates. Why do you feel it’s beneficial, given the downsides? A. If there is one universal truth in technology, it is the idea that people often disagree. I prefer to believe that this is a feature, not a bug. Compared to the centuries that people have been building tools, personal technology tools are very young. Tech changes faster than just about any other aspect of our lives. As a result, different people will have very different experiences. T...
While Latinos represent approximately 18% of the population in the United States, fewer than 5% participate in clinical trials or other forms of health research. Being left out of health research could have a significant negative impact on Latino communities, especially when it comes to understanding how new drugs, devices and therapies affect different people. Although Latinos are underrepresented in health research, that doesn’t mean that they don’t participate. NHCOA (National Hispanic Council on Aging) spoke with two Latinos from dif...
Question: How do I find the right senior housing? Answer: In the search for aligning housing to individuality, maintaining dignity, and what's best for your needs, it's important to find a place that provides life enrichment. Safe and secure housing is coupled with focusing on all aspects of living: Social opportunities, mental enhancement and physical requirements. Greater than just an emotional location, your housing choice is unique to you when creating meaningful living. Community-based...
