Pacific Grove, 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.

 

Skipping Breakfast Is Not A Healthy Idea

A plate of food with eggs, bacon and tomatoes.


A hot trend seems to be skipping breakfast in order to lose weight.  However, it’s not a good idea.  According to a study which was published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, those who ate more than 25 grams of fiber per day had a 21 percent lower risk of all causes of death than people who skipped breakfast.  Another study found that those who skip breakfast had a higher risk of diabetes.

How Technology Can Reduce Doctor Visits

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


Technology is advancing at an incredibly rapid rate and there are now numerous devices that you can buy which will monitor various aspects of your health which may be able to help you reduce doctor visits.  Medical technology placed in the home can allow patients and caregivers to run tests, such as blood pressure and glucose-level readings and ever do kidney dialysis and take X-rays.  In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement that “more than 60 different acute conditions such as asthma, congestive heart failure, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can be treated appropriately and safely in home settings with proper monitoring and treatment protocols.â€Â  More and more seniors are taking advantage of this.  The number of U.S. telehealth visits in 2020 was 63x higher than in 2019, according to a study by the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Monterey, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Arts & Crafts

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


With Beverly Fabrics closing in Seaside and the closest store way up in Soquel, many seniors are looking for supplies online.  Beware of one of the many current scams that are taking place, this one revolving around sewing machines, of all things.  Crooks are advertising online and in social media brand-name models of sewing machines for under $100.  If it sounds too good to be true, it is.  This so-called e-commerce close out sales are typically fake and you will send in your money and never get the product.  There is yet another arts and craft scam going on right now where scammers are putting on virtual arts and crafts fairs.  When you order something from a booth at one of these online fairs, they will take your money but won’t send you anything.

Widows And Widowers Beware Of Rolling Over Your Deceased Spouse’s 401K Into Your Own

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


After losing your husband or wife, it’s tempting to simplify all of your financial assets and consolidate them.  However, it’s ill-advised to do this if you are younger than 59.5 years old.  IRS rules allow you to make withdrawals from your late husband’s retirement accounts with no penalty (although you will have to pay income taxes on the withdrawal).  You can also file your taxes as married filing jointly in the year that he or she died and get a better tax rate than filing as single.

A man and woman are doing exercises together.


In a 2021 review of 16 studies, researchers found that just 30 to 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening or “resistance†exercise increased life expectancy by 10-17%.  These activities range from calisthenics, to Pilates or yoga and can even include carrying the groceries or your grandchild!  Eating protein can also help strengthen your muscles.  Women 50 and older need at least 25 grams of protein per day (30 grams for men).  Studies have shown that seniors combining this style of eating with resistance exercise, their bodies responded like they were in their 20’s.

 

 

Mount Hermon, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours : $2 Per Hour More On Weekends

A woman sitting next to an older person.


Mount Hermon, CA  Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours : $2 Per Hour More On Weekends (Aptos, Ben Lomond,  Boulder Creek, Capitola, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, Mount Hermon, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel & Watsonville)

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

Family inHome Caregiving 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.

https://tsc221.ersp.biz/index.cfm?event=Apply.index

Ready To Travel Again? Get Great Road Trip Advice From AARP : By Derek Baine

A group of people doing different exercises together.


There are so many national parks and other  beautiful places in America that you can visit for little to no cost (ignoring the outrageous cost of gas now, of course).  For ideas on taking a road trip, turn to the AARP who just posted a great video on this topic at www.aarp.org/roadtrips.

Feel Like You Are Becoming A Hoarder : Decluttering Tips From AARP Live : By Derek Baine

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


Sentimentality plays a large part in all of our daily lives, and sometimes it’s hard to let things go, even if you rarely look at them.  However, it can become unhealthy and unsafe if you have too much clutter strewn about your house.  If you feel that you may be carrying around too much junk in your life, check out AARP’s decluttering video online at www.aarp.org/aarplive

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

A group of people sitting around a table.


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 The 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.