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Current COVID-19 statistics from State of Alaska At the time of Thursday’s press briefing, the novel coronavirus had affected 157 Alaskans, with 11 new cases, 15 total hospitalizations, and no new deaths related to the disease. Governor Mike Dunleavy reported that 5,530 tests had been performed statewide, including at a drive-up testing site recently built in Bethel. Additionally, Alaska currently has 73,000 total masks; 26,000 N95-type masks for frontline medical personnel; and 4,700 gowns. The governor also reiterated a call for the public t...
Weekend brings additional COVID-19 cases to Alaska The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced on Sunday, April 5, one new death and 14 new cases of COVID-19 in four Alaska communities – Anchorage (4), Fairbanks (7), Juneau (2) and Seward (1). This brings the total case count in Alaska to 185. These new cases and the new death were reported from 12 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on April 4, and reflect data posted at noon Sunday on the state’s website, coronavirus.alaska.gov. The person who died is a 71-year-old Anchorage res...
State of Alaska coronavirus case count As of April 6, 2020, there are 191 Alaskans who have tested positive for COVID-19. Six new cases were identified during the evening press briefing, with two cases in Anchorage, one in Eagle River, one in Petersburg and one in Soldotna. New cases are reported between 12 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. the previous day, and are reflected on the State of Alaska COVID-19 response page each day at noon. (Editor's note: the count was updated at noon on April 7, with 22 new cases to 213 total. Breakdowns by age were not pr...
State of Alaska releases data hub for coronavirus tracking Governor Mike Dunleavy and the State Department of Health and Social Services released a comprehensive tool to help the public track cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). https://coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com/. Known as the “Data Dashboard,” the chart breaks down cases by region, borough or census area, and community, thus providing a more detailed account of the illness. The page also allows for information on case gender, testing and cumulative hospitalizations...
Alaska sport fish season still open The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced on Monday that sport and personal use fishing will remain open for the 2020 season, as long as individuals stay in compliance with State of Alaska public health mandates. In a media release, the department stated that “Although travel between communities is prohibited under issued health mandates, the public may still travel to fishing locations,” provided that ADF&G guidelines are followed: 1. Fishing activities should occur as close to home residences as pos...
Earlier this week, the Treasury Department launched a new web tool to allow registration for individuals seeking payment through the recently-passed CARES Act who do not normally file a federal income tax return. Qualified individuals who typically receive benefits from the Social Security Administration — particularly those with children under the age of 17 — should utilize the new web portal to ensure they receive the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment. People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability ins...
At a community briefing held late afternoon Monday, April 20, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gave the first indication Anchorage is on the verge of reopening some businesses. Citing a plan called “Safe Anchorage: A Roadmap To Reopening the Municipality of Anchorage,” Berkowitz and members of his administration waded into the when, where and how city goods and services will be managed in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The plan calls for four phases: Easing; Recovery; Maintenance; and New Normal. Each is bolstered by a listing of acceptable activities, pr...
My 95-year old mother lives in an independent living apartment community and no longer cooks for herself. Her walk down the hall to the dining room gives her a little exercise and the other residents who share her table provide companionship and support. With three out of the four at her table very hard of hearing, it isn't always easy to have great conversations, but they manage to keep up with each other's visiting children, health changes and travel plans. And, they help each other order...
Often times it can be confusing to Medicare beneficiaries just how much of their medical expenses will be covered and for how much they will be responsible. This, in part, can be due to not understanding their providers’ relationship with Medicare. Medical providers are categorized under three classifications in reference to Medicare. They are: providers who accept assignment, providers who do not accept assignment, and opted-out providers. Providers who accept assignment (also known as p...
The State Diabetes Prevention and Control Program partners with Leslie Shallcross at the UAF Cooperative Extension Service to offer training for lifestyle coaches interested in delivering the evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention Program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This program is designed to help people make lifestyle changes and lose weight to ultimately reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and have a better overall quality of life. This lifestyle coach training will be offered in...
Alaska Health Fair depends on dedicated professionals from various medical, social, health and safety fields who can take time to share their extensive knowledge, skills and abilities with health fair attendees. These individuals share their agency’s mission, vision and core purpose and what services they offer that can help event attendees achieve more balanced, overall and greatly improved physical, emotional, mental and social “health”. Come help educate and help people to connect with important services, perform free health scree...
Insulin patches for replacing shots UCLA bioengineers and colleagues at UNC School of Medicine and MIT are continuing to report success in the development of a smart insulin-delivery patch that could one day monitor and manage glucose levels in people with diabetes and deliver the necessary insulin dosage. The adhesive patch, about the size of a quarter, is simple to manufacture and intended for once-a-day use. Study investigator Zhen Gu, PhD, who is a professor of bioengineering at the UCLA...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in March. This month’s presentation and discussion will continue focus on a training DVD by Teepa Snow. March 3, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 10, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 17, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m. March 24, Open house at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in Blazy Mall, Soldotna, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out the lending lib...
Here are do's and don'ts if you fall ill during this coronavirus crisis, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Do not leave home. Stay home. You may leave to see the doctor, but do not go to the pharmacy, grocery store, or other public place before or after. Stay in touch with your doctor. Before going to the doctor, call his or her office and tell them your symptoms. IF you feel short of breath, call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room. Avoid public transportation. Monitor your...
Alaskans may be good at maintaining distance from each other, but if you’re a caregiver (and even if you’re not), eventually you’ll have to leave the house to get groceries, replenish medications, or gather other supplies. If you usually stock up on incontinence supplies, toilet paper, or other products for personal care via Amazon or some other bulk supplier, be aware that shipping to Alaska may be backlogged. It may be better to shop locally to be sure of supplies on hand. Here are four tips for your personal safety, and the safety of other...
The Denali Center, a 75-bed rehabilitation and senior center in Fairbanks, recently began testing its residents and staff after one confirmed case of COVID-19 was established on Saturday, March 28. The facility, run by Foundation Health Partners, currently has 135 staff members working a variety of shifts at the 19th Avenue location. It was determined the affected individual, a resident female, 80, was only “mildly symptomatic” and is quarantined in her apartment. All other residents are also confined to their rooms and wear masks to pre...
Current COVID-19 cases continue to increase across Alaska At the nightly press briefing on Tuesday, March 31, Dr. Anne Zink, of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced 14 new cases of COVID-19 in five Alaska communities – Anchorage (2), Eagle River (2), Fairbanks (5), Juneau (4) and Kenai (1). This brings the total case count in Alaska to 133. Two of the new cases are older adults (60+); 10 are adults aged 30-59; and two are younger adults aged 19-29. Five are female and nine are male. Five of the cases are c...
You have probably heard, read or seen on the news that there is an opioid abuse epidemic running rampant in the United States. According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Opioids killed more than 47,000 people in 2017. That is 130 people per day. Sadly, 36% of all opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid. It is estimated that three out of four people who used heroin misused prescription opioids first, and over two million people currently have an opioid use...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in February. This month’s discussion topic will focus on the Teepa Snow training DVD, “Progression of Dementia: Seeing Gems, Not Just Loss”. Snow explains the appropriate levels of care needed during different stages, which types of behaviors to expect, appropriate activity and much more. Feb. 4, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Feb. 11, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. Feb. 18, Careg...
Alaska Health Fair depends on volunteers from all walks of life (both medical and non-medical); and we consider these giving and supportive individuals to be the “blood that flows” through and gives our agency its life. Come help save a life and help people connect with important services, perform health screenings, educate at a health station, or provide much needed supportive services. As a 40-year old non-profit and member of three United Way agencies statewide, Alaska Health Fair, Inc. works with a limited budget. We depend on people who...
Do you know of anyone who needs some extra support this winter? Hospice of Anchorage is a volunteer hospice that provides help and support all over Anchorage free of charge. As a volunteer hospice, our only criteria is that an individual have some kind of life-limiting illness, rather than requiring individuals to stop curative treatment or have a prognosis of less than six months to live. We come alongside the client’s current medical team to provide additional help, without taking away any of the providers already involved. Our services i...
Alzheimer’s disease vaccine under investigation Some good news to report about Alzheimer’s disease and a potential vaccine. Researchers in California have teamed up with scientists in Australia and developed a new vaccine against Alzheimer’s disease that could be tested in humans within the next two years. After successful animal studies, investigators are hoping to produce a new vaccine to remove “brain plaque” and tau protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The successful...
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska will offer a free six-week online webinar for family caregivers, beginning in late February. The webinar classes meet via the online Zoom digital conferencing system for two hours each Saturday, Feb. 22 through March 28. The classes will focus on dementia care: Improving the practice of caregiving Tools for decision making Emotions caregivers may face How to deal effectively with family issues Classes are free, but pre-registration is required as space is limited. To register, contact Gay Wellman, 907-822-5620 o...
It’s silent. It’s sneaky. Suddenly, clutter is there. Clutter is all around us in our modern lives and is a growing problem. According to the National Self-Storage Association, one out of every 11 people in the United States rent storage space during a given year, including off-site units and storage pods stored in a homeowner’s yard, meaning not only can clutter invade your home, but can even outgrow it. Whether you’re looking to regain momentum on a New Year’s resolution, optimize and organize your living space, or bravely part ways with...
Editor's note: This story appears in the Senior Voice Health and Fitness section, Jan. 2020, however the text is incomplete, due to a layout error. We apologize for the error and here it is in its entirety. Tylenol with codeine makes my occasional migraines bearable. I use them sparingly, always cognizant of the dangers of opioids. More than that, I am beyond grateful that I don’t have to endure the chronic pain that can be a real problem for our age group. Which is worse, the pain or the cure? Opioids weren’t always reviled. The powerful cla...
