Need help? Call us today: 
831.275.0103
Home / Blog
Blog
There were 41 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 43,104 cases, with two new deaths reported.  Nationwide, cases rose for the second day in a row, with 81,320 new cases for a cume total of 31.033 million. Deaths rose by 977 to 560,427. In California, there were 3,195 new cases, for a total of 3.692 million while deaths rose by 133 to 60,190. Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.
After the death of a loved one, it can be difficult to deal with bills, insurance, and Social Security. Of the 5.7 million people awarded Social Security benefits in 2019, 886K were survivors of deceased workers. In total there were 3.9 million widows and widowers receiving benefits in 2019. You should report to the Monterey County Social Security office when a spouse dies. Their number is 1-800-772-1213. Unfortunately, you cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online. The calculation is that if your deceased spouse was taking Social Security, your benefit will be the greater of your benefit or your spouse’s benefit. If you are not yet collecting Social Security and you’re at least 60, the best way to maximize your benefits are to collect the survivors benefit at your current age and then switch to retirement benefits starting at age 70.
Everyone wants to keep their brains working in full order as long as possible, and the key can be healthy living, getting the proper amount of exercise and social interaction. The latter is easier said than done given the massive spreading of coronavirus. Although board games can be fun, with COVID-19 many seniors are turning to video games. According to an AARP survey, 44% of adults over the age of 50 played video games in 2019 versus 38% in 2016. That’s 10 million more older gamers! About a quarter of gamers play multiuser games, which can increase social interaction which will hopefully ward off early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away. There are great people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch. They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.
There were 6 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 43,063 cases, with two new deaths reported.  Nationwide, there were 73,200 cases (up from 65K yesterday), for a cume total of 30.951 million. Deaths rose by 935, for a total of 559,450. In California, there were 2,273 new cases, for a total of 3.689 million. Deaths rose by 131 to 60,057. Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.
The Monterey police are warning local residents of a phone scam where callers identify themselves as law enforcement and demand payment, threatening you with arrest if you don’t comply. Some identify themselves with the actual names of local or federal law enforcement. They will ask you to buy bitcoin or gift cards and then read the serial numbers off of the cards. Your caller ID may show the call is coming from a local law enforcement agency, the FBI or the IRS. If you receive a suspicious call, you can contact the Monterey Police Department at 646-3830 or 646-3914.
An investigative reporter unveiled an expose on a chain of nursing homes in California called Country Villa which has 18 nursing homes that have been unlicensed for years. Two of their facilities lost over a dozen of residents due to COVID-19.  The Staye of California requires that nursing home operators be licensed by the California Department of Public Health, which oversees nursing homes. But the Department has allowed the owner to operate with a “pending license†for years. The owner, Shlomo Rechnitz, has acquired 81 nursing homes with 9,000 beds, making him the largest operator in California. “I’m just a little speechless when it comes to this ownership nightmare in California and now it’s gotten to this point,†said Molly Davies, the Los Angeles County long-term care ombudsman. In Monterey, our ombudsman said that they have not had in-person access to assisted living facilities during the pandemic, a situation which is just making things worse.
Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, seems similar to Alzheimer’s disease but attacking the body rather the brain. There is no cure for either disease, and the ailment just continues to progress and leave you more and more debilitated. However, USA Today recently ran an article about three promising themes:
Many are hopeful that Amylyx’s AMX0035 which got a $2.2 million grant from the $111 million Ice Bucket Challenge, will be approved by the FDA.  Findings for AMX0035’s Phase 2 trial were so promising that the ALS community is pushing the FDA to fast track approval. They have gone so far as to ask the FDA to skip a Phase 3 trial, the only time in history that the ALS Association has asked the FDA to do so. However, it’s a long-shot. If you or a loved one are struggling with ALS, contact the Monterey Chapter of ALS here:
http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=14647&NONCE_TOKEN=D30086CF168CADF46857EB53C986C9EA
Carmel, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) CNA Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside and Soledad
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.
Researchers believe that a common chemical used in dry cleaning and household products such as shoe polish and carpet cleaning are causing the number of diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease to soar dramatically.  The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, estimates that about 250 million pounds of the chemical Trichloroethylene, or TCE, are used every year in the U.S. Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the author of “Ending Parkinson’s Disease†says, “We’re on the tip of a very, very large iceberg.â€Â He predicts an epidemic of Parkinson’s disease is on the horizon. The number of cases has risen by 35% over the last ten years. TCE has been banned in the EU and other places and hopefully they will do the same thing in the U.S.
There were 19 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 43,057 cases, with no new deaths reported.  Nationwide, there were 65,025 new cases, for a cume total of 30.878 million. Deaths rose by 907, for a total of 558,815. In California, there were 2,170 new cases, for a total of 3.687 million. Deaths rose by 100 to 59,926. Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.