Pacific Grove, CA New Hope For Seniors With COPD

A woman with glasses and a tie dye shirt smoking.


Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be extremely difficult.  A new medical device called Zephyr, which is working miracles in some people.  The tiny lung valve needs to be  implanted in the lungs via a bronchoscope.  The one-way valve blocks air from invading the damaged part of the lungs, where it can get trapped and hinder breathing.  “The instant I woke up from anesthesia, I felt the difference,†said one woman who had the device implanted.  Cardio Pulmonary Associates on Garden Road in Monterey would have more information on the non-surgical device which 20K people have already been treated with.

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/lung-disease-breakthrough.html

Monterey, CA Online Latino Caregiver Support Group

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


Please join Lory Carriedo, Julia Cruz-Moreno and Maria Quiroz on the second Monday every month from 5:30 to 7:30 for a caregiver support group sponsored by Natividad Medical Center.  It can be lonely and depressing during the COVID-19 lockdown so all are encouraged to join in.  Call 1-800-624-8304 for more details.

AARP Tele-Town Halls : Listen To The Experts

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AARP has lined up a number of expert speakers for its town halls.  Hear directly from health experts  on important health, financial health, emotional well-being and how to care for an infirm parent.  “Our intention is to host these events on a regular basis to respond to changing needs during this pandemic,†AARP Senior Vice President Jean Setfand, told AARP The Magazine (August/September Issue, page 76).  An average event attracts between 75K and 100K people.  For a schedule of upcoming tele-town halls, including topics, speakers, and instruction on how to log in, go to www.aarp.org/townhall where you can also listen to past events.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A blue background with some type of virus


There were 303 new cases of COVID-19 announced for Monterey Count, for a cume total of 36,126.  There were five new deaths.  Nationwide, there were 1,972 new cases for a total of 400,810.  This is almost as many (409K) Americans who died in 2019 from Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, the flu, pneumonia and strokes combined.  In California, there were 28K new cases for a total of 3.050 million, while deaths rose by 303 to 33,945.  These numbers are heart wrenching, please stay home and stay safe.

Monterey, CA Retinal Implants To Restore Sight In Macular Degeneration Patients Shows Promise

A woman and an older man sitting next to each other.


A treatment where surgeons implant a tiny device in the retinas of patients which contain stem cells looks extremely promising for those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  Although it has only been done with 15 patients, many participants have passed the one-year mark with improving vision.  One woman who had the treatment said, “Shortly after the surgery, I turned to my husband while we were watching TV and said, ‘I can see all of their faces!’â€Â  Doctors say FDA approval is about five years away.  To see local specialists in macular degeneration, see links below.

https://news.usc.edu/trojan-family/stem-cell-therapy-macular-degeneration-usc-clinical-trial/

https://www.montereyeye.com/our-services/retinal-care
https://www.peninsulaeyecarecenters.com/low-vision.htm

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

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There were no new cases of COVID-19 announced for Monterey County, which may be due to the holiday.  There were eight more people in the hospital and no new deaths.  Nationwide, there were 169,641 new cases for a total of 24.071 million, while deaths rose by 2,247 to 398,838.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast that another 90,000 Americans could die of coronavirus over the next three weeks.  That could bring the total close to half a million people in the U.S.  In California, there were 45,648 new cases for a cume total of 3.022 million, while deaths rose by 249 to 33,642.  These numbers are sad, please stay home and stay safe.

Carmel, CA Seniors Need A Solid Exercise Routine

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At Family inHome Caregiving we emphasize to our clients the importance of a healthy diet, the proper amount of social interaction—difficult during the pandemic—and the right amount of exercise.  Most seniors put walking into their routine but experts say they need to add strength training.  As you age, loss of muscle strength and power leads to declining activity, increased frailty and functional dependence, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.  Resistance training is an easy way to add strength training to a daily regimen.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that seniors participate in activities at least two weeks that strengthen muscles along with a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking.

 

Pacific Grove, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available


Pacific Grove, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gilroy, Gonzalez, Greenfield, Hollister, King City, Marina, Monterey, Morgan Hill, Pacific Grove, Paicines, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, San Juan Bautista, Seaside, Soledad and Tres Pinos

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey is seeking compassionate, mature and dependable caregivers who want to improve the lives of our elderly Clients by providing in-home, non-medical care.  Our services include:

Caring companionship

Meal preparation

Incidental transportation

Running errands

Light housekeeping

Medication reminders

Monitoring of safety while bathing

Information and referral services

Other services that improve the safety, security and quality of life of seniors.

If you believe you would make an exceptional Home Care Aide, we would love to hear from you!  We prefer those with experience helping the elderly, disabled and others with mobility problems.  Having cared for those with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s is a plus.  To work for us, you must have excellent references, a clear criminal record, a good driving record, and an insured reliable vehicle.  To apply, please visit our website www.fhcofm.com, click on home care aides, then careers where you can fill out an application online.  We have immediate openings all over Monterey County.

Monterey, CA Online Caregiver Support Group

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


Please join Lory Carriedo, Julia Cruz-Moreno and Maria Quiroz on the second Monday every month from 5:30 to 7:30 for a caregiver support group sponsored by Natividad Medical Center.  It can be lonely and depressing during the COVID-19 lockdown so all are encouraged to join in.  Call 1-800-624-8304 for more details.

Monterey, CA Artificial Intelligence Reshaping Healthcare

A person holding a stethoscope in their hand.


Artificial Intelligence could completely reshape how medical care is given to seniors in many different ways.  For instance, Michael Recht, chair of radiology at NYU Langone, is spearheading a partnership between NYU Langone and Facebook’s AI’s research group with a goal of reducing the time it takes to conduct an MRI by a factor of 10.  The project, dubbed FastMRI, could enable MRIs to replace x-rays, avoiding radiation exposure.  Imagine going into CHOMP for a quickie MRI.  On the prescription drug side, Michael Frank, director of R&D strategy within Pfizer’s Worldwide R&D group is hoping to leverage machine learning to accelerate drug discovery.  On average, it takes 14 years and $1.6 billion to develop a new drug!