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Dear Savvy Senior: I have heard that the VA has a benefit that can help veterans and spouses with long-term care costs. We recently had to move my 86-year-old father – who served in the army nearly 60 years ago – into an assisted living facility, and my mom isn’t far behind. Can the VA help? -- Seeking Aid Dear Seeking: The Veterans Administration does indeed have a little-known, underutilized benefit that can help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay for a variety of long-term care costs. This benefit, called “Aid and Attenda...
When we talk about the costs of Medicare, the discussion can include premiums, deductibles, co-insurances and copays. Another cost to Medicare beneficiaries that may come as a surprise is the Income Related Monthly Adjustment, or IRMAA. The IRMAA is an increased amount that individuals who have a higher income pay. This can affect you if your earnings are high or you receive an unexpected windfall such as an inheritance. The IRMAA can affect both your Medicare Part B (Medical) premium and your...
Alaska Health Fairs will be held at the following locations and times during May. For more information, call 907-278-0234 (Anchorage) or 907-374-6853 (Fairbanks); or just visit www.alaskahealthfair.org for the remaining Spring 2019 community schedule, a complete roster of our blood tests, occasional updates, monthly announcements, great articles on health related topics and our monthly newsletters. All events offer free entry and are open to the public. May 4, Cooper Landing Community Health Fair at Cooper Landing School, 19030 Bean Creek...
Concern over a potential misuse of new depression medication The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March approved Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant medicines but failed to improve. These patients have what is called treatment-resistant depression. While this new approach to depression may prove lifesaving in some cases, there is a very serious concern about misuse and...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in May. This month’s topic is Caregiving and Depression. During Mental Health Month, discussion will focus on how caregiving puts people at risk for depression. Please join to share your experiences as a caregiver or to support someone who is a caregiver. May 7, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. May 14, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. May 21, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1...
We are so attached to our food and drink that it pains me when I have to take something away from you. But this is an old story for me. I have never ever recommended artificially sweetened sodas or “diet” anything. To me, that whole industry is a multi-billion dollar campaign effort to get you to drink and eat things that aren’t, by definition, food anymore. The entire industry depends on the illusion of you thinking that diet drinks are healthy. The latest research is frightening. It’s based upon data collected over 12 years and suggests that...
Dear Savvy Senior: What’s the best, environmentally safe way to dispose of old and unused medications? My mother has a medicine cabinet chocked-full of pills, some of which haven’t been touched in 25 years, and I’d like to clean it out for her. - Protective Daughter Dear Protective: Cleaning out the medicine cabinet is a chore that most people don’t think about, but it’s an important task that can help prevent medication problems, and protect children who may have access to these old, unused drugs. Here’s how you can clean out your mother’s me...
Save the date for Hospice of Anchorage’s 17th Annual Heroes of Healthcare Awards Black Tie Event and Auction at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel on Saturday, April 20. Heroes of Healthcare is a way to recognize significant contributions and service to the community. This event is also an annual fundraiser for Hospice of Anchorage. Individuals have the opportunity to sponsor a table and bring eight guests to attend the event as well as participate in the silent and live auction. There are different levels of sponsorship starting at partner level of...
Alaska Health Fair events offer free health screenings, health and safety education, plus 11 affordable blood tests and so much more. These tests and screenings can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. Alaska Health Fairs will be held at the following locations and times in April (and early May). Everyone is welcome at these events. For more information, call 907-278-0234 (Anchorage) or 907-374-6853 (Fairbanks); or just visit http://www....
Mushrooms may have hidden brain benefit Researchers are reporting that older adults who consume more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly may have 50 percent reduced odds of having mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A six-year study, led by Assistant Professor Lei Feng from the National University of Singapore, found that seniors who ate more than 300 grams of cooked mushrooms a week were half as likely to have MCI. A portion was defined as three quarters of a cup of cooked mushrooms...
Although a cure for rosacea has yet to be discovered, advances in medical therapy have made it increasingly possible for those who suffer from this chronic disorder to achieve clear skin. At the same time, recent surveys have shown just how important this attainable goal is to patients’ physical and mental well-being. The National Rosacea Society has designated April as Rosacea Awareness Month to educate the public on the current understanding of this often life-disruptive condition estimate to affect more than 16 million Americans and 415 m...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in April. This month’s topic is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and meetings will include discussion centered around age related issues and driving. April 2, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. April 9, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. April 16, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m. April 23, Open house at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in Blazy M...
Dear Savvy Senior: I will be enrolling in Medicare in a few months, and would like to know how Medicare covers vision services? I currently have vision insurance through my employer but will lose it when I retire. - Looking Ahead Dear Looking: Many people approaching 65 are unclear on what Medicare does and doesn't cover when it comes to vision services. The good news is that original Medicare covers most medical issues like cataract surgery, treatment of eye diseases and medical emergencies....
Alaska Health Fair events offer free health screenings, health and safety education, plus 11 affordable blood tests and so much more. These tests and screenings can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. Alaska Health Fairs will be held at the following locations and times during March. Everyone is welcome at these events. For more information, call 907-278-0234 (Anchorage) or 907-374-6853 (Fairbanks); or just visit http://www.alaskahealth...
The Alaska Training Cooperative and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska will present “Dementia Care Workshop,” April 17 at the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska office in Fairbanks, 1 to 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the workshop is to build a foundation of knowledge that will enable learners to integrate new care strategies into their professional practice, ultimately using these strategies to increase the quality of life for people with dementia. The workshop teaches the fundamentals of dementia, as well as practical skills such as communication techniq...
We sat waiting in yet another medical exam room, my mother perched on the exam table, legs dangling. A nurse came in wheeling a device. She began circling my mom’s forearm with the blood pressure cuff. My blood pressure rose: “Her feet have to be supported and her arm should be chest high,” I said, my strained voice betraying the stress of telling a nurse her business. “That’s true with a manual cuff,” she said. “I have the IVAC automated device here.” Later, I checked with two doctors. The protocol for taking blood pressure is the same, manua...
Self-powered knee implants Researchers at State University of New York are now developing self-powered knee implants that could reduce the number of knee replacement surgeries. They are working on implants that can provide physicians with regular activity updates and are powered by the patient’s movement. Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement procedure, with the number of surgeries increasing every year. Many of these surgeries are done to replace an older implant or o...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in March. This month’s training topic is “The Power of Music in Caring for People with Dementia.” Come, learn more about the therapeutic effects of music such as connection, remembering happier times, comfort, sense of belonging, lifting of spirits, and relieving boredom. March 5, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. This meeting will acknowledge Sleep Awareness Month, with a discussion on sundowners and restful sleep. March...
Alaska Health Fair’s Spring 2019 health fair season is starting, so check out their earliest fairs, listed below. Make it to one of the spring events in your local community before the end of the season and you’ll find a variety of resources to help meet your family’s health needs and take time to enjoy some great community gatherings. These events offer great rewards for your highly prized and limited free time, with free health screenings, health and safety education, plus many affordable blood tests and other services. These tests can help...
Dear Savvy Senior: What are the warning signs for glaucoma? My 65-year-old brother lost some of his vision because of it but never had a clue anything was wrong. Could I be at risk too? - Concerned Sister Dear Concerned: It’s called the “silent thief of sight” for a reason. With no early warning signs or pain, most people that have glaucoma don’t realize it until their vision begins to deteriorate. Here’s what you should know. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss and blindness if it’s not...
While slipping on ice may be a common affair during the slick, wintry months of the new year, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in Alaska, according to the Alaska Brain Injury Network (ABIN). “Falls that result in a TBI occur across all age groups, but we definitely see a lot of this in the older population,” said Julie Davies, resource coordinator and executive director of ABIN. “With the ice and weather, a lot of people slip and fall, banging their head. Most think that if you don’t lose consciousness, you don’t n...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in February. This month’s training features part two of a DVD presentation with Teepa Snow, “Progression of Dementia: Seeing Gems, Not Loss.” Teepa Snow explains the appropriate levels of care needed during different stages of dementia, which types of behaviors to expect, appropriate activity and much more. Feb. 5, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Feb. 12, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m....
There is some good news in the fight against heart disease. In the last decade, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is down almost 30 percent. Through intense efforts at educating the public, agencies like the American Heart Association with programs like Go Red for Women, have made great strides in spreading the word. Studies show that this education is effective in actually reducing the incidence of heart disease. Even so, certain segments of the population are not getting the message. Heart disease remains an enormous problem for women in general,...
Dancing your way to a better life Grab your dancing shoes and put them on daily. A new study published in The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports examined the potential effects of 16 different exercise types for reducing disability for activities of daily living (ADL) in older women and found that dancing may be just the right ticket. The prospective study enrolled 1,003 women without ADL disability. All participants were asked in person whether they performed any of 16...
Perhaps I have been reading too much Sherlock Holmes (again!), but I couldn't resist thinking about this article as "The Case of the Ignorant Caregiver." It could also be titled "How I Discovered Access Alaska," a wonderful non-profit with several offices around the state. Here's what happened. A few years ago my wife, Christy, was told that she would eventually need surgery to correct several problems affecting her right foot. That day finally arrived and she had surgery mid-December, 2018....
