Old Boots & Poppy

For Seniors Only





Somebody, somewhere, came up with the amazing idea that seniors may not want to support the inflated prices of current times, but may be attracted to reduced prices on everything from groceries to movie fares. Even the tax collector took into account the enormous revenue each individual donates to the system over a lifetime, and thought it fitting to reduce or excuse seniors from further obligations where deemed possible and appropriate. Well, that’s a good thing. I don't think any senior would deny the virtue of such programs and enticements considering a possible reduced income after retirement. That social security, and maybe a 401K you have been trickling income to, has probably been inadequately funded due to inflation, appropriations and the cost of everything over this last inflated century. In particular, the real challenges are the cost of energy, food, and of course keeping up with technologies. Soooo, we want to share what we have learned about such opportunities. If you know something that would help others, please drop us a line so that we can add to our list.  

(Some local savings are mentioned that do not have age restrictions)


[ TAXES ]:

[65+] Senior Citizens 65years of age or older in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, up to $150,000 assessed value reduction on residence

See Excerpt below from  Exemption FACTS.pdf.  Download the full pdf document from the Fairbanks North Stare Borough web site.

What is it?

A tax break mandated by the State offered to property owners. Assuming full eligibility, you can receive a reduction of up to $150,000 of your assessed value. For details on the program and additional information on eligibility requirements, please see the Exemption Facts for Senior Citizen Widow/Widower document available on our web page and in our office. 


Do I Qualify?

1. You must be an owner of record (have your name on title) as of January 1 of the calendar year you are seeking the exemption. Property cannot be in a business name (LLC, partnership or corporation etc.)

2. You must own and occupy the property as your primary residence and permanent place of abode on or before January 1 of the calendar year you are seeking the exemption. 3. You must be at least 65 prior to January 1 of the tax year you are seeking the exemption. 


How do I apply? 

You must apply in person with the Assessing Department. The process takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. The deadline to apply is March 31st. Once on the program, you do not have to re-apply if there isn’t a change in title & the parcel description remains the same. 

Documentation needed to apply: Driver’s License, State ID, Military ID OR Passport. Trust Document (if applicable)

Owner-occupied residential exemption, $50,000 possible assessed value reduction on your residence

See Excerpt below from  Exemption FACTS.pdf.  Download the full pdf document from the Fairbanks North Stare Borough web site.

What is it?

A tax break offered by the Borough to property owners. If you are eligible and do not owe property tax on your residence you can receive a reduction in your assessed value equal to $50,000 of the assessed value for non-area wide property & City of North Pole Assessments, except that a maximum of $10,000 is applied to service area assessments. Qualified homeowners in the City of Fairbanks can receive an exemption equal to 20% of the assessed value, up to a maximum of $20,000, with a maximum of $10,000 applied to service area assessments. 

Do I qualify?

1. You must be an owner of record (have your name on title) as of January 1 of the calendar year you are seeking the exemption. Property cannot be in a business name (LLC, partnership or corporation etc.)

2. You must reside on that parcel as your primary residence on or before January 1 of the tax year you are seeking the exemption.

How do I apply?

The application for the Residential Exemption is attached to the bottom of your Assessment Notice. The Assessment Notice is mailed annually, at the end of January. In order to apply you must sign, date the application and return it to the Assessing Department by March 31st. You can drop off the application in person at our office or mail it to the Assessing Department postmarked before the deadline date. WE cannot accept applications via fax or email. Once on the program, you do not have to re-apply if there isn’t a change in title & the parcel description remains the same.  

Documentation needed to apply:

Trust Document (if applicable) 

[ NATIONAL & STATE PARKS ]:

(More than 2,000 federal recreation sites) This pass is for U.S. citizens or permanent residents and is a lifetime pass at just $10. This pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. A pass covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free. In addition to being available online and at outlets, you can receive them by mail. There is a $10 processing fee to receive either pass by the mail. All Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.

[ STORES, CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ]:

[50+] AARP

(Everywhere) Anyone 50 or over may get all the great benefits of membership in AARP for only $16 a year. And membership includes your spouse or partner, free! Joining online is fast and secure. You become a member right away and receive your membership number online.

[ MORE INFORMATION AND SERVICES ]:

In recent history oldbootsandpoppy.com has been receiving quite a few requests to add links for web sites that offer services and/or information to help seniors be more successful in growing older. Oldbootsandpoppy.com has visited these sites and has made every effort to browse and familiarize ourselves with the sites we have linked to below. We are mainly looking to prevent scams and sites that are not helpful. We are excited to publish these links for our readers because they offer some great ideas, products, and information. So far, so good, but we welcome any feedback you, the reader, may provide.


Please Note: For you wonderful folks that have link suggestions for our list, thank you for reaching out to us.  

RESOURCE SITE MANAGERS - ATTENTION PLEASE:  UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE UNABLE TO REVIEW AND ADD ANY ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCE SUGGESTIONS AT THIS TIME.  WE WILL NOTIFY YOU RIGHT HERE WHEN OUR STATUS CHANGES.  THANK YOU AND PLEASE COME BACK...

So that you understand how we work with your suggestions, we will briefly explain our process. Before we add the link to our web site, we feel that we can help by having a quick look at the web site your link is taking us to. We are looking for obvious URL tweaks and/or programming that may attempt to route us to a fake or deceptive site.  We will look for ‘too good to be true’ scenarios, deceptive or confusing language, and any other indications of possible criminal and scam activity. We understand (and you should too) that we are not responsible for bad sites that we may mistakenly link to, AND that we cannot catch everything (but we try). In addition, we will not judge the quality or extent of usefulness for a seemingly legitimate site that has some good things to offer. However, we do believe that we should make an assertive attempt to avoid bad outcomes for trusting and vulnerable viewers. If any viewer finds that a site that we have added a link for is not on the up and up, we would like to know of it immediately please. We will take appropriate measures to ensure that link and web site are no longer a part of our web site. In addition, we need you to understand that we are just a couple of folks that are living life and maintain this web site for our own enjoyment and for yours. We are not always very timely in adding your links to our site, and for that, we really apologize in advance. We do want to thank you for your suggestions, your caring spirit, for taking the time to reach out, and for your understanding.

As you may be aware, mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused from asbestos exposure. Due to the long latency period of mesothelioma, approximately 20-50 years, about 80% of those who are diagnosed with this terrible disease are seniors. Our organization works 1-on-1 with these individuals to help them find local doctors, treatment centers and support groups... 

At Mesothelioma Lawyer Center our mission is to put people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families in touch with a highly experienced mesothelioma attorney in their area so they have access to their best possible financial compensation. . 

Creating a safe and comfortable home is a common goal, and safety can be a crucial issue for older adults and disabled individuals. Many seniors wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible, maintaining their independence... 

A group of medical professionals that wish to help seniors everywhere...


This organization creates and publishes comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources. They have been featured on the Parkinson’s Foundation, US Department of Health and Human Services - Health Finder, Global Health span Policy Institute, and is referenced by many governmental agencies and organizations across the web. 


We got an email from Cassie at Allconnect.com asking us to put a link to their technology guide for both seniors and their families. They publish this guide about technology that helps seniors live on their own more independently. Their guide is easily accessible, compatible with screen reader technology, and equipped with larger font making it very reader friendly. Their optimized guide also lists all the latest and greatest technology for seniors who wish to age in place.


For so many people, the final months of the year signify a time for togetherness, a time when we reach out to and spend time with loved ones near and far. And while my family is fortunate enough to be able to spend a lot of time with our senior loved ones, I know there are many seniors who feel like they’ve been left behind by family members who are too far away to visit them this holiday season.

So, as part of Elder Action’s mission, I’d like to show my support of seniors near and far by sharing some information that I think will benefit our elders. Below are some articles and other resources I think oldbootsandpoppy.com audience will find useful.



Another way I like to show support to the senior community is to write brand new research-based articles for sites like yours. If you’d like me to write one for you (no charge!), please let me know! 

Thank you Caroline...

Usage of smart, internet-connected devices is becoming the norm among people of all ages—even seniors. For the elderly, advanced technology and high-tech devices make daily tasks easier and can enhance quality of life. With technology, seniors have the tools and assistance to be more independent. See more with our link above.

When I visited this site, I was extremely impressed with all the helpful information, as well as the ease of understanding, and the all-important hard data that I found distributed throughout. Worth a solid read, especially if you are in a position of needing housing of any type and facing limited resources to live on. In fact, there is plenty of great information that beckons any senior citizen for study…

I found this site to be very informative and packed with helpful information, as well as the ease of understanding, and provides the researcher with some ball park cost information that could be very important in making future decisions. Again, worth a solid read, especially if you are in a position of needing assisted living of any type. 

Caring.com is a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses and other loved ones. They have been featured by AARP, the Administration for Community Living, The National Legal Resource Center, and Forbes, as well as referenced by many governmental agencies and organizations across the Internet.

In a 2017 study, AARP found that 95 percent of people ages 65 and older preferred to stay in their own homes as they aged. It’s a process known as aging in place – in which older homeowners retrofit their homes to accommodate growing older. It’s a popular alternative to relocation.

We're hoping that someone with a physical disability or someone living with someone who is limited can read this piece and make the appropriate modifications to ensure their home is safer and more comfortable for everyone.

Just a note: Being a home improvement information type of guy, I really love this site. Well done, interesting, simple, and great information about common problems. I suggest looking at the Site Map page for more information. Old Boots

Drug Dangers provides information on a range of medications and medical devices that have serious complications. Protect yourself from dangerous drugs and devices. Thousands of Americans turn to medical attention to help improve their quality of life and relieve them of pain and suffering. Medications and implant surgeries, such as hip or knee replacement, can change and even save lives. However, pharmaceutical companies often cut corners.

We help consumers advocate for their health by providing them with learning guides and products that make lab testing accessible, convenient and affordable...


Hundreds of easy-to-read lab testing guides. Confidential, secure and convenient online lab test ordering poweered by trusted physician networks. Compassionate customer service support. We combine expert-reviewed lab test information with access to hundreds of in-lab and at-home tests.


Right now, people are more isolated than normal, which adds another layer of complexity for those struggling with anxiety and depression. Social frameworks that usually exist to provide a supportive presence are greatly impacted, and COVID-19 related life changes and stresses are compounding, likely leading to or furthering mental health issues.

In order to provide support during these challenging times, we put together a resource so that Americans who are isolated access professional care.  

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 85 percent of older adults suffer from oral disease and 55 percent suffer from conditions that develop into periodontal disease. If left untreated, many of these conditions often result in tooth loss. 

 

'New Mouth' was created to keep the public educated about current dental care practices, oral health basics, and how to find the best treatment possible. Our team of medical writers and dentists provide the most up-to-date dental information in every aspect of dentistry. Our goal is to be a one-stop-shop for all of your dental and oral health needs! 


I want to add a personal observation that I made while reviewing this site. I feel this site offers the reader all said information and services described above, with many important details about dentistry in general, dentists, dental services, personal care and more. I found the following links a very interesting read as well...


NVision Recently published an eye care guide for seniors. This free resource highlights the importance of eye care for aging sdults, treatment options for age-related vision problems, and more...


The body and mind go through a lot of changes as we age, and the eyes are no exception. Vision issues are directly related to a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, accidents and falls, and chronic medical conditions. Taking care of your eyes also means taking care of your body and your mental health. 

Seniors make up two-thirds of the legally blind population in the United States who lost their vision due to an age-related eye disease. Many of these conditions are treatable, manageable, and even preventable with regular care. 

Nearly 3 million older Americans are impacted by vision impairment. Eye care that addresses eye diseases and refractive errors can help to fix close to half of these issues. 

Many families with aging adults are unaware of the several available memory care options and programs in their area that can help them support a high quality of life. So we created a free resource guide that highlights the best memory care facilities in Alaska. Check out our Memory Care Guide here: 


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