Senior Voice Alaska

12/01/2025

Did you know these mini-grants are available? They do a world of good.

DEMENTIA MINI-GRANT: AVAILABLE ONCE A YEAR FOR ALASKANS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA OR THEIR CARE PARTNER | Did you know Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska offers a $2500 mini-grant to any Alaskan living with Alzheimer's Disease or Related Dementias (ADRD)? Every year, you or your family are eligible to apply to the mini-grant if you have a doctor's verification of your diagnosis. It's a simple application, and the deadline is rolling. Applications are reviewed monthly. Reach out to learn more: https://www.alzalaska.org/minigrants/ or call: 907-561-3313.

Thanks to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for their support, and you can check out their additional grants at: https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/about/grants/

offers free consultations, memory screenings over the phone, Zoom or in-person, and lots more services for Alaskans. Visit their website above to learn more.

12/01/2025

You're Invited: Alaska Commission on Aging Board Meeting December 2

Dec. 2 is the Alaska Commission on Aging's quarterly board meeting featuring legislative priority discussions pertinent to senior issues, special guest speakers on senior resources and programs, and more.

The Zoom Webinar link to join is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84908301142

Public comment is at 12:30pm.

Don't miss a special Lunch and Learn presentation from 12:10 - 12:30pm by Center for Safe Alaskans on their Car Fit Program for Older Alaskans!

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11/24/2025

Congratulations, Moses. Good, important work.

Kudos to Leadership Anchorage participant Moses Marr'aq Wiseman, the Alaska Native Languages Program Director at the Alaska Institute for Justice, on the release of a free new online glossary of Yup'ik words for behavioral health terms. The glossary will help Yup'ik interpreters and healthcare service providers bridge language and cultural barriers with clients.

Moses has already utilized the glossary while translating for people at the Anchorage shelters that hosted Western Alaska evacuees from Typhoon Halong. "When you're not of the Western culture, when you have a culture of your own that's not a part of American culture, it's a taboo thing to talk about behavioral health and mental health care," he said. "So having this available, when it was available, it's just an ease of mind I think."

Congratulations, Moses, on this incredible tool for Alaskans!

Read more from Alaska Public Media at https://tinyurl.com/zc5ufecy

11/16/2025

Nov. 21 you can attend a free all-day training for dementia care by the Alaska Training Cooperative.
The class is called "Dementia Care – Positive Approach to Care Skills®"
This registration fee for this training is covered by the Statewide Dementia Training Project. This training uses Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care ® method:
• Part 1 Introduces participants to dementia; how it affects the brain, sensory system, eyesight, & participants
will discuss normal vs not normal aging traits.
• Part 2 Participants will learn & practice Positive Physical Approach® interaction skills to navigate challenging
behaviors.
• Part 3 Participants will role play common caregiving situations and utilize their physical skills, including ways to
‘activate’ their care partner. Participants will learn Teepa’s 5 apologies for caregiving mistakes.
It will be held at 2702 Gambell Street in Anchorage. See the registration link:

11/13/2025

This Friday, you can get free training. The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, in partnership with the Alaska Mental Health Board, Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, and the Alaska Commission on Aging, is hosting the Super Advocate Advocacy Training on Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom. This session will teach participants how to share their personal stories and make effective advocacy asks that drive change.

The training will cover practical topics including how to follow the Legislature, advocate from home, prepare for meetings with policymakers, and give powerful public testimony. The event is part of the Joint Advocacy Action Network, serving Alaskans experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and traumatic brain injury.

For more information or to register, email [email protected] or visit www.alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/jointadvocacy.

11/10/2025

If you're a senior in Kodiak, here are some things to know for November:
Monday, Nov. 11 - Veteran’s Day Luncheon - Veterans eat for free. Enjoy smoked beef brisket, roasted red potatoes, glazed carrots and dessert.
Tuesday, Nov. 18 - Seniors Serving Seniors - Thanksgiving lunch and pumpkin pie served by Kodiak High School seniors.
Thursday, Nov. 20 is Senior Citizens of Kodiak, Inc. birthday luncheon and Bingo. Although a donation is still requested, November babies will get entered to win a free lunch ticket for another day.

11/04/2025

Food banks, churches that feed the needy and senior centers are some of the places that are seeing an increase in demand. The Fairbanks Senior Center has launched its end-of-the-year campaign for Meals on Wheels. fairbanksseniorcenter.org

11/03/2025

Our November issue is out now! There is valuable information about how to adjust menus so that the person you care for adapts with ease, a profile of a long-lived senior with an adventurous spirit, and an article about dipping your toe into the artificial intelligence waters.

Senior Voice

10/29/2025

The League of Women Voters of Anchorage is marking more than seven decades empowering voters with information to strengthen democracy. The event is 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 at O'Malley's On the Green, 3651 O'Malley Road.
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, a League history presentation, and a keynote address by Heather Flynn, the League’s longest continuously serving member.
General admission is $25, and all proceeds will help ensure Anchorage voters continue to get the accurate, nonpartisan election information they deserve.

10/24/2025

This is coming up next Tuesday. Mark your calendars.

SAVE THE DATE: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WEBINAR OCTOBER 28 | Social Security Administration Regional Public Affairs Specialist Nathan Cole (who covers Alaska) will be joining us for an exclusive conversation on "Social Security 101"with Q&A to follow. Join us on October 28th from 12pm - 1:30pm to learn all things Social Security and get your questions answered. Looking for help on a particular topic of SSA? Please email us your requests so we can share with the presenter: [email protected].

Zoom link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84369253624

10/24/2025

Mark your calendar for the Mizvah Mall, the annual way to "shop" for your charitable donations. It's at Congregation Beth Shalom in Anchorage Nov. 16.

Learn about the importance of charitable giving and join us at our holiday gift fair to make a difference in the world.

10/23/2025

Senior Voice Alaska earned second place in the North American Mature Publishers Association annual awards competition in general excellence! Thanks to our readers, contributors and advertisers for making this possible. We also earned first place in covering senior issues, first place in editorial/opinion for a column about a proposed sales tax in Anchorage, third place in the personal essay category, second place for an article about supplementing your income, second place in travel columns, third place in feature writing, second place in the topical story category, first place for a cover photo of northern pintails, and third place in overall design.