Sorted by date Results 801 - 825 of 887
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Senior and Disabilities Services Division has placed a six month moratorium on certifying new agencies which provide personal care assistant (PCA) services funded by Medicaid. Lynne Keilman-Cruiz, Director of Quality for the Division, emphasizes that the moratorium does not affect individuals seeking to enter the program for the first time as personal care assistants. Nor does it affect recipients – clients who are currently receiving PCA services from or through an established agency. Or w...
Gov. Sean Parnell has named nine Alaskans to serve on the Medicaid Reform Advisory Group, which was created by the governor to bring in stakeholders and craft a proposal for meaningful reforms to the state’s Medicaid program. Specifically, the group will engage stakeholders such as physicians, specialists, pharmacists, dentists, the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, community health centers and other non-profit health care providers, behavioral health providers, tribal health leaders, veterans affairs, insurers, and c...
The Alaska Kidney Patients Association will present their free 9th Annual Education Symposium on Saturday, May 31, 2013 at Changepoint Church in Anchorage. The Symposium consists of live speaker lectures from local kidney doctors and other professionals for individuals experiencing reduced kidney function, persons at risk for kidney failure or disease, dialysis patients, transplant recipients, and their families and caretakers. The workshops are targeted at improving the quality of life for people with kidney disease and providing information...
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold its quarterly meeting April 30 and May 2 at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center in Anchorage. The commission has provided the following draft agenda: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 8:30 a.m. Good Morning & Welcome All! Breakfast snacks will be provided. The public may call in to listen on April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on May 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public comment is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The toll-free number is 1-800-315...
Anchorage seniors who use the AnchorRIDES transportation program can expect new policies about hours of service and fares effective May 1. Weekday senior transportation service hours will be expanded for the core service area, with the earliest pickups available at 5:45 a.m. and the latest dropoffs at 11:30 p.m. This increases by over six hours the Monday through Friday availability in areas where the pickup and dropoff is within three-quarters of a mile of a bus route. The Municipal Department of Transportation, which administers AnchorRIDES,...
When do you fix a government program that’s not broken? That’s the question many in Washington are asking, after Medicare recently proposed a series of changes to its Part D prescription drug program – a program that, by most everyone’s view, is working very well. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed new rules recently that would fundamentally change the program's private insurance coverage for certain drugs, alter the pharmacy networks that some plans cover and limit the number of policies available to benefic...
Local non-profit Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska holds an annual walk every spring. This will be a special year though as they reach the ten year milestone. The walk began in 2005 with 146 walkers raising $30,000. Today, the walk has grown to as many as 289 walkers and has raised a combined total of over $500,000 to support Alaska’s seniors and those with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. The walk has taken various paths over the last decade, literally, with the first walk beginning at the Sourdough Mining Company restaurant and meand...
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS. We help taxpayers whose problems with the IRS are causing financial difficulties; who have tried but have not been able to resolve their problems with the IRS; and those who believe an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. Here are some things every taxpayer should know about TAS: TAS is your voice at the IRS. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS and helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the...
You are invited to the Power of Aging in Alaska Symposium on May 1, 2014, at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. This event is sponsored by the Alaska Commission on Aging, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services, ConocoPhillips, AARP Alaska, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, University of Alaska and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. The purpose of this conference is to provide Alaska’s seniors and those who care about them with the knowledge and tools to have a strong voice and empower seniors to s...
The Third Annual We Are All Elders-In-Training Summit takes place May 15 and 16 in Anchorage at the Anchorage Sheraton Hotel. Sponsored and organized by the Trust Training Cooperative, the event is a celebration of diverse community, with presentations by elders sharing their life experiences and strategies for aging and well-being. Each sharing will be followed by group discussions targeting issues around aging and mental health. The public is encouraged to join for group discussions, closing circles each day, and an opportunity to address...
The legislature’s clock is ticking. The last day of the 2014 Alaska legislative session falls on Easter Sunday, April 20. Top issues being discussed among legislators include increasing Alaska’s oil and gas production, meeting in-state energy needs, education reform, workforce development, preventing Fetal Alcohol Disorder, promoting healthy communities, among other issues. Responsible spending is this year’s theme for framing budget discussions, with an emphasis on funding programs that can demonstrate measurable outcomes. During our recen...
Many Alaskan Seniors are on a fixed income, which has less and less buying power over time. I watched how difficult it was for my grandmother to cope with balancing her basic needs over her last few years. I can only imagine the trouble posed for seniors without a family structure to support them. A small, additional income helps our neediest seniors make essential purchases like food, medicine and housing. Unfortunately, the Senior Benefits Program, which helps nearly 11,000 needy seniors, is set to expire June 30, 2015. This is why I...
This year, I have assumed the duties of the Democratic leader in the Senate. Senator Johnny Ellis passed the torch to me, and taking over from such a people’s champion is humbling. I want to take a moment to bring you up to date on what’s happening in Juneau. Last spring I wrote about oil tax reductions that had narrowly passed. I reported that as a result of that decision we had lost $4.5 billion to three of the richest corporations in the world, and I expressed my concern that this would lead to a loss of funds for vital services such as K-12...
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 March meeting is March 12, hosted by the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 3903 Taft Dr. Begins at 8 a.m. Call Older Persons Action Group for more information on...
Alaska's Elder Mentor/Foster Grandparent program is resuming service under new funding through the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP). Lower income elders and seniors who volunteer receive a small stipend for working at least 20 hours per week with children in schools, preschools, Head Start centers and other community-based programs. These volunteers mentor youth who need assistance in succeeding academically and in developing positive social skills. In circumstances where...
Every day, Alaska senior volunteers generously give their time and service to help others. Now here’s your chance to give back by nominating a deserving older adult in your community for his or her outstanding service through the Salute to Senior Service® program. Sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, Salute to Senior Service recognizes the invaluable contributions of adults age 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes. “Seniors have so mu...
This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 45th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention those 60 and older. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this free service. In 2013, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide’s 35,000 volunteers at nearly 6,000 sites provided 2.6 million people with free tax help. Taxpayers who use...
Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center is pleased to announce that membership is now available in the Anchorage Senior Friendly Project. This is the center’s newest program After five-plus years of planning, and with the assistance of the Older Persons Action Group and the Municipality of Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, the center launched the program on January 1. This exciting and worthwhile program will impact Anchorage’s growing senior community in amazing ways. The mission statement of the Anchorage Senior Friendly Project is “Bu...
Editor’s note: This press statement was received on Jan. 27, 2014. Alaska and Hawaii’s Congressional delegations today introduced legislation that would exempt residents of the two states – and communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized by the U.S. Department of Transportation – from the increase in air travel fees included in December’s budget deal. This exemption would protect interisland flights from increased air travel fees, which would more than double from $2.50 to $5.60. “This bill provides a much-needed reality che...
President Reagan's quote, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help," is often used to disparage the "help" offered by many bureaucrats; but it's a completely different feeling when you call or drop by Alaska's Medicare Information Office (MIO). First, you're greeted with a smile and a meaningful, "How can I help you?" You truly get the feeling they want to help. The office recently moved to 400 Gambell, with easy parking and private offices for confidentiality – a nice change after y...
Anchorage’s April 1 municipal election will include six assembly seats, two board seats and bond and ballot issues. Although April 1 may seem far away on the calendar, new voters need to register 30 days before the election, by Sunday, March 2. Those who are already registered do not need to re-register, but those who have moved should file a new registration form with the State of Alaska elections office, 522-8683. The state maintains the file of registered voters for the entire state. There are several ways to register including online at w...
Members of the Alaska Commission on Aging will gather in Juneau, Feb. 10-13, for the quarterly commission meeting and to hold a community forum at the Juneau Senior Center. The commission meeting will be held in the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Building (Goldbelt Building), Suite 302 in the Hugh Malone Conference Rm. Hours for the regular meeting sessions are: Feb. 10 from 3 to 5:15 p.m.; Feb. 11, 12:40 to 5 p.m.; and Feb. 13, 8:30 to 11 a.m. The commission will conduct a community forum at the Juneau Senior Center on the morning of Feb....
There are all kinds of advice out there about how to break bad habits or form good ones. Not to mention that we’re all adults and probably know what we need to do anyway. Habits are part of us. They make us the people we are, for better or worse. But at the beginning of each year many people grow a little introspective about the things we need to change. Whether or not you are a person who makes New Year’s resolutions, chances are there are at least a couple of things you’d like to do differently – quit smoking, lose weight, get in shape,...
Anchorage seniors ride the People Mover buses at half the cost of others on board. But all fares have been raised effective New Year's Day. The fare schedule has also been simplified so that regardless of whether one buys a pass or pays for each trip individually, the reduced fare is half the full fare. Seniors and others who qualify need to have one dollar in exact change, instead of 50 cents, when they board for one trip. They also need to show proof of eligibility which includes a picture ID...
The Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is offering a free “Brown Bag” educational series, with guest presentations from various senior-related agencies. The presentations take place on the second Tuesday of each month, noon to 1 p.m., at the Anchorage Dept. of Health and Human Services Bldg., 825 L Street, in the Jewel Jones Conference Room on the fourth floor. Bring a lunch and learn something new. The presentation schedule: Jan. 14, Alaska Legal Services Feb. 11, Medicare Fraud March 11, Alzheimer’s Resource of Alask...
