Carmel, CA Ward Off Alzheimer’s And Dementia By Going To Bed Early

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


One of the easiest ways to try and ward off Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia is by going to bed early, according to Sara Mednick,  professor of cognitive science at the University of California Irvine.  She tells AARP Th Magazine (April/May 2022, page 38) that we should all be in bed by 10:00 p.m.  “The earlier you get to sleep, the more slow-wave sleep you’ll get,†says professor Mednick, the author of The Power of the Down State.  Slow-wave Sleep connections between areas of the brain to create stronger memories.  However, SWS goes by the circadian clock and peters out at about 1:00 a.m.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my grandmother and my father had this terrible disease when they passed away.  There is a great group of people at the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch who are there to help you.  They also have a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.

Sneaky Sigs You May Have Heart Disease

A stethoscope and heart on the table.


AARP The Magazine (February/March 2022, page 22) had an interesting article entitled “10 Sneaky Signs You May Have Heart Disease†and many of them are completely unexpected.  Things like bad breath and hip pain can actually be signs of heart disease.  Check out the Top 10 signs from AARP:

  1. You struggle to breathe when lying flat : This can indicate fluid in the lungs, which is associated with heart failure;
  2. You have leg or hip pain while walking (or both). This could signal circulation problems in the legs, a potential sign of peripheral artery disease;
  3. You can’t rise to the occasion : This could signal a blood-flow problem, potentially caused by heart disease;
  4. Or get your juices flowing : Blood-flow issues aren’t just for men. A study found that 84% of men and 87% of women with heart failure reported some degree of sexual disfunction;
  5. You’re fatigued for no reason : This could be a sign of an obstructed coronary artery;
  6. You get up to pee in the middle of the night : A weak heart pumps less blood to the kidneys, which can cause fluid buildup and swollen ankles and leg. At bedtime, gravity drains fluid back to the heart, and the kidneys have more fluid to filter;
  7. Your breath could kill houseplants : Bad breath is caused by bacteria which can enter your bloodstream through bleeding or diseased gums, which is linked to inflammation, clogged arteries and stroke;
  8. You spot fatty growths : Known as xanthomas, these lesions feel like calcium deposits in the tendons, and they can indicate sky-high cholesterol;
  9. Your ankles are swollen : When the heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently, fluid can swell both legs; and
  10. You’re feeling nauseous : Unexplained queasiness could be a sign of heart failure.

Check with your doctor if you have any of these issues, particularly if it has been going on for some time.

 

Survey Shows People Feel Better As They Age

A man and woman are doing exercises together.


Surprisingly, a recent AARP/Interloq study of people ages 50 to 79 found that as people age, they feel better about both their physical and mental health.  Of those surveyed in the 50-59 year old age group that rated their health as good, very good or excellent, the results were 71% in physical health and 79% for mental health.  This rose to 77% and 88%, respectively, for those in the 60-69 year old group and up to 81% and 94% for those in the 70-79 age bracket.  “As people get older, their attitudes about aging become more positive because they realize, ‘It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,†said Manfred Diehl, a researcher in the psychology and attitudes about aging as a professor at Colorado State University.  The biggest fear of those in the survey was losing their mental or physical faculties, becoming a burden to their families and having to give up their independence.  Ironically, most people were more concerned about physical discomfort than life-threatening diseases.  High on the list of concerns was weight gain, joint pain, loss of mobility and high blood pressure.

Americans Don’t Eat Enough Fiber


The average American east about 15 grams of fiber, about half of what they need.  To put this in perspective, the following portions contain 15 grams of fiber:

  • One cup of black beans;
  • Two cups of bran flakes;
  • Three oat bran muffins;
  • Five bananas;
  • 10 carrots; or
  • 13 cups of popcorn.

One study looked at the dietary habits of middle aged women; when the researchers followed up 20 months later, they found that every additional gram of fiber the subjects ate correlated with a half-pound less in total body weight and a quarter percent less fat (AARP The Magazine, March/April 2022 Issue, page 36).

Salinas, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA Or HHA Designation A Plus

A man in a wheelchair being assisted by two women.


Salinas, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA Or HHA Designation A Plus (Service Areas Are Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside & Soledad

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade and have recently expanded into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz 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 Exercise, Good Nutrition And Social Interaction Key For Seniors

A group of people doing different exercises together.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress the fact that exercise, social interaction and a good diet are keys to longevity for our senior clients, most of which are in their 90’s or even 100’s.  The most difficult of the three in the current COVID-19 environment is social interaction, but this doesn’t have to be in person.  Keep in touch with your friends and family with a zoom or facetime call.  A good diet isn’t hard to do either.  Do a google search on the Mediterranean diet—it is delicious.  There are a number of quick and healthy ways to cook salmon, which is very good for you.  Paired up with some vegetables and a nice salad and you will enjoy it.  Exercise is not that hard to keep up with either.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week which means taking a brisk walk of 20-30 minutes per day.  Some physicians suggest that you mix it up so that you don’t get bored and you use different muscle groups.  That means doing a bit of biking, swimming or yoga.

Colorful Fruits And Vegetables Can Ward Off Obesity And Even Dementia

A person measuring their belly with a tape measure.


Each day should include at least one helping—a small side salad or a half-cup serving of cooked green vegetables–in order to ensure you get enough B vitamin folate.  Folate plays a crucial role in battling hearing loss and depression in mature adults.  In a study of postmenopausal women, those who were overweight averaged 12 percent less folate in their blood than normal-weight women; those who were obese had 22% less (AARP The Magazine, March/April 2022 Issue, page 36).

Monterey, CA Caregiver Costs Rising : It’s Expensive To Stay In Your Own Home And Independent

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


A recent article in AARP Bulletin said that nearly 70% of senior citizens will require help from others to get through their day.  Women will need it for an average of 3.7 years and men 2.2 years.  However, having owned Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz for more than 12 years, I think these numbers can be low—some people require help for more than a decade.  Seniors are living longer, and if you live to be over 100 and need care starting at age 80, that can be two decades of monthly caregiving bills if you don’t have a relative willing to step in.  Unfortunately, Long Term Care or LTC Insurance is the only type of insurance which pays for having a caregiver come to your home, and few people have it.  I always urge the children of clients that we care for to get it while they can.  It’s very expensive and the younger you get a policy and the healthier you are the better rate you will get.  Some companies also give discounts if both a husband and wife buy a policy at the same time.

 

Pebble Beach, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Classic Car Part Scam

A silver bmw is parked on the street


With car week coming up in August, many Monterey County residents and car aficionados from around the country are sprucing up their classic cars to show off.  But beware if you are in need of a rare car part—make sure that you get it from a reputable dealer.  Scammers have been scouring craigslist and other ads looking for parts.  They will then tell you they have that exact part but after you send them the money you will never get the part.

Prunedale, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA Or HHA Designation A Plus

A man and woman sitting in a wheelchair.


Prunedale, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA Or HHA Designation A Plus (Service Areas Are Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside & Soledad

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade and have recently expanded into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz 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.