Carmel, CA Alzheimer’s Research Called Into Question

A man in white lab coat and tie.


A report in Science Magazine stated that an influential 2006 study relied on fabricated images to support its conclusion, which resulted in misdirected Alzheimer’s research for the past 16 years.  Dr. Karen Ashe, a senior University of Minnesota scientist, has admitted that a junior colleague appears to have manipulated two images.  However, she claims those actions did not affect the study’s wording and conclusion.  And the first researcher to state that Alzheimer’s disease is triggered by amyloid beta plaques in the brain now concedes that after years of developing amyloid-targeting drugs that have failed, a new approach must begin.  He says a multi-drug approach will likely be more affected.  I’m confident we will gradually push back on Alzheimer’s disease in the same way that we’ve pushed back on cancer and so on,†Dr. John Hardy told USA Today.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  If you need information or just someone to talk to, there are some wonderful people at the Monterey branch of the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.

 

Monterey, CA Medicare Equipment Rules

A woman and an older person sitting on the couch


If you have recently been released by CHOMP, or Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, you may be wondering what equipment Medicare will pay for.  It really comes down to what is essential versus what is a convenience.  For instance, Medicare will pay for a motorized scooter if that’s the only way that you can get around your house, but they won’t pay if it’s mostly for longer outdoor excursions.  Check with your Medicare Advantage plan.  Some have benefits like home improvements such as wheelchair ramps.  To find out for sure, call the Medicare hotline at 1-800-633-4227 or go to www.medicare.gov.

Carmel Valley, 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 woman sitting on the couch with an older man.


Carmel Valley, 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 (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Castroville, Corral-de-tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, 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.

Medicare Can Not Ding You For Having Pre-Existing Health Conditions

A building with the capitol in the background.


Some worry that when they sign up for Medicare, they will pay more if they have pre-existing health conditions.  That’s not true for Medicare or Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D prescription plans.  This also holds true for supplemental policies (Medigap) only if you sign up for it during your six-month Medigap open enrollment period.  If you want it later, an insurance company can charge you more or refuse to sell you a policy because of your health status.

Source AARP Bulletin, June 2022.

Monterey, CA AARP Issues Elder Abuse Scam Alerts

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline issued an alert regarding a number of scams which are hitting seniors in wealthy pockets of Monterey County like Carmel and Pebble Beach.  Here are some examples of phone call scams you don’t want to fall for:

  1. Your doctor reached out to us because he is concerned with the cancer that runs in your family and would like you to take a DNA swab test.  This test is covered by Medicare, and we just need your Medicare number to process and ship out the order.
  2. This is Apple Inc. We’ve detected Malware on your computer and need you to download AnyDesk onto your phone so we can help you.
  3. This is Agent McMurphy from the IRS and I am calling to tell you that you have a federal arrest warrant for not paying your taxes.
  4. Nana, it’s me, Henry. I was away for spring break and got arrested because my friend was driving while drunk, and we hit a pregnant woman!  Please don’t tell Mom and Dad.  I need your help.
  5. This is Amazon Security calling to inform you that there’s been an attempt to order items on your account. Don’t worry, we can help with the refund, I just need a few pieces of information from you to get this started.
  6. This is PG&E and we are notifying you we are going to shut off your electricity today if you don’t pay your past due bill immediately over the phone.
  7. This is the Social Security Administration and your Social Security check has been frozen due to fraudulent activity. Please press 1 to take care of this matter.

Hear these words?  Hang up!

Source: AARP Bulletin

Carmel-by-the-sea, 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 nurse is helping an elderly woman read.


Carmel-by-the-sea, 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 (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, 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.

Sleep Extremely Important For Staying In Good Health

A person holding hands with another person in bed.


As we get older, we often sleep less than we did when we were younger.  However, that may not be a good thing.  The American Heart Association recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night.  Just last month they added sleep to its list of factors critical to heart health, a list that includes seven others such as diet, physical activity and blood pressure.  Their report jibes with a widening scientific consensus on the role sleep plays in helping prevent heart disease.  “The more we learn, the more we know how instrumental sleep is to heart health,†Marie-Pierre St-Onge, associate professor of nutritional medicine and director of the Sleep Center of Excellence at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told The Wall Street Journal.

Pandemic Accelerated Senior’s Use Of Cell Phones And Other Technology

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


The pandemic has caused many older Americans to become obsessive with cell phones and other technology which can connect them with friends and family.  A recent report from AARP found that Americans ages 65 and older are using smartphones and tablets more often for reading news and playing games as well as broadening their social-media use and doing more shopping online.  Another report from Nielsen found that Americans over the age of 50 are fueling growth in video-streaming services like Hulu, Netflix and YouTube.  The pandemic also forced many older Americans to learn how to make Facetime and Zoom calls to connect with friends and family, and to use streaming services to get entertainment online.

 

Amazon Continues It’s Expansion Into HealthCare

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


Amazon.com is buying an operator of primary-care clinics called 1Life Healthcare Inc. in a $3.9 billion deal.  It operates an array of primary-care practices under the name One Medical.  This is the first major acquisition during the tenure of CEO Andy Jassy, who has stated a key objective of the company is to expand more into health care.  Once the deal closes, Amazon will operate 180 medical offices in 25 U.S. markets and work with more than 8,000 companies to provide employees with both in-person and virtual care.

Many Hospitals Not Sticking To Required Patient Safety Standards

A person holding hands with another person in bed.


A new study by Northwestern University found that many hospitals don’t follow patient safety standards.   This creates the possibility of wastage in hospital resources and poses risks of adverse patient outcomes.  The study found that only 30% of hospitals had evidence of adhering to patient safety standards, another 30% had partially supported evidence while 40% had no evidence at a