Good Genes : Three Sisters, All Centenarians

A group of people sitting around a table.


Frances Kompus recently celebrated her 100th birthday, one of three sisters who are all centenarians. Her sister Julia Kopriva turned 104 in November, and Lucy Pochop turned 102 in June.  With no brothers, the three girls would work on the farm to help their parents, butchering hogs, driving tractors, pulling a one-way disc plow or a rod weeder. “It was good on the farm,†Frances told USA Today.  “I had a few geese to play with and even had some roosters I made pets.â€Â  She credits eating well as one of her secrets to longevity.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/05/three-kansas-sisters-100-and-older/8836356002/

High Heart Rate May Signal High Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease Or Dementia

A man in a wheelchair with a woman wearing gloves.


A new study out of Sweden found that checking a senior’s resting heart rate may help identify those who are more likely to experience a decline in mental function. On average, those with a resting heart rate of 80 beats or more per minute had an average 55% higher risk of dementia than those with a heart rate of 60 to 69 beats per minute. “We believe it would be valuable to explore if resting heart rate could identify patients with high dementia risk,†said Dr. Yume Imahori, lead author of the study from the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. He believes that early intervention may help delay the onset of dementia which can have a substantial impact on their quality of life.

https://consumer.healthday.com/b-12-6-high-heart-rate-linked-to-dementia-risk-2655910490.html?WT.mc_id=enews2021_12_08&utm_source=enews-aff-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2021-12-08&utm_content=homeoffice&utm_term=Story2

 

Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Alzheimer’s & Dementia Experience A Plus : Set Your Own Hours : $2 Per Hour Extra On Weekends


Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Alzheimer’s & Dementia Experience A Plus : Set Your Own Hours : $2 Per Hour Extra On Weekends (Also Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Highlands, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad & Watsonville)

Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available

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 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.

Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Can Devastate The Whole Family

A doctor and patient looking at a book


The Alzheimer’s Association has been running a number of interesting stories in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month.  A recent story featured a 56-year-old woman named Ricci Sanchez who was chief operating office of a large hospital when she realized she was coming down with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She was relying on sticky notes just to get through the day.  She was referred to the Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center where she enrolled in the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LEADS) study.  Her husband of 36 years, Andy, is now his caregiver—he previously was a caregiver for both of his parents.  His father, who passed away in 2017, had dementia, while his mother, who passed away in 2020, had Parkinson’s disease. What a sad way to end what are supposed to be your golden years.

 

https://www.alz.org/blog/alz/november-2021-(2)/my-care-partner-my-life-partner-navigating-alzheim?WT.mc_id=enews2021_12_08&utm_source=enews-aff-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2021-12-08&utm_content=homeoffice&utm_term=Story1

Monterey, CA Family inHome Caregiver Blog : Elder Abuse Series Article 5 : Abandonment

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


As an owner of a Home Care Organization serving senior citizens, I hate to see them being taken advantage of and abused.  Unfortunately, on the Monterey Peninsula this is all too common. 

What You Should Know About Senior Abuse
There are, unfortunately, myriad ways that seniors can be abused.  It’s often at the hands of a trusted friend or family member, or even a professional or family caregiver.  I will be exploring all 7 types of abuse over several blogs, the first of which appeared here:

https://familyinhomecaregiving.com/monterey-ca-family-inhome-caregiver-blog-elder-abuse-series-article-6-0-financial-elder-abuse/

The 7 types of elder abuse are: Financial, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional or Psychological Abuse, Neglect, Abandonment, and Self-neglect. In this second blog on Abuse we will discuss sexual abuse.

Why Elderly Abandonment Is an Issue and How to Avoid It
Elder abandonment is a serious problem in our society and many thousands of people every year suffer from the consequences of this issue. Whether it’s neglect, irresponsibility or malicious action, it’s an issue that has to be addressed, as it can threaten any family who has the responsibility of caring for a senior. Understand why elderly abandonment is an issue, how you can avoid it, and how a solid estate planning attorney can be of help in this area.

What Is Elderly Abandonment?
Elderly abandonment occurs when someone responsible for the care of an elderly person deserts or otherwise fails to provide the necessary care. In Ohio, neglect is essentially defined as failing to provide the goods and services necessary to avoid the risk of physical or mental harm or illness, and abuse refers to the act of inflicting or otherwise knowingly or recklessly causing harm, anguish or pain to another person.
Abandoning an elderly person would qualify as abuse by neglect under state statutes. Usually elderly abandonment can be defined as deliberate desertion of a senior in need of care, be it by dropping them off at a care facility or leaving them in a public place. Note that just because someone leaves an elderly relative at a care facility, that doesn’t mean they haven’t abandoned them, especially if they just drop them off and leave them there.

Effects of Abandoning a Senior Loved One
The effects of abandonment can be devastating. If the senior is afflicted with dementia, Alzheimer’s or another cognitive impairment, they could forget who they are, where they belong, or even what they need to do, to seek treatment for their condition. Even if they aren’t suffering from a cognitive issue, the effects of abandonment can lead them to depression, illness, and even death. It’s every bit as bad as any other form of neglect.

Causes of Elder Abandonment
There are a number of contributing factors to elder abandonment. The person in charge of providing care could feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with the responsibility. They might be unreasonably resentful to the point where they can’t deal with the situation anymore. In the worst cases, they are vindictive in their actions.
In some cases the abandonment occurs because the responsibility falls into someone’s lap because it hasn’t been properly defined or shared. These cases, unfortunately, are all too common and can result from poor estate or end of life planning. It’s important for loved ones of elderly people to understand how responsibilities will be split and shared among the family.

How an Estate Planning Attorney Can Help
Estate planning attorneys do far more than just help to file wills. They can work with the family to establish a clear delineation of responsibilities should a senior loved one fall under the need for care. Rather than placing all of the responsibility on one person, everyone can agree to take on a part, thus spreading the responsibility around and making it far easier to deal with.

Take Care and Stay Healthy
Richard

 

Senior Obesity A Big Problem For Seniors

A person measuring their belly with a tape measure.


Obesity is a big problem in America, with 74% of the population overweight.  As you grow older, you likely will become more sedentary which can result in senior obesity.  This can create a domino effect of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a high risk of stroke.  Lisa Young, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the author of “Finally Full, Finally Slim†recently gave a speech at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo has a number of tips to help you keep the weight off.  One of the more helpful ones is “Mindful eating is a tool to help with weight loss.  It helps you focus on your hunger and fullness levels, so you are eating because you are hungry, and you want that food – not because a big portion is in front of you.â€Â  Mindful or Intuitive eating can also help you ask yourself, “Do I like this food†or “Am I really hungry?’  This ultimately helps you eat a smaller portion and can lead to weight loss.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/health/lose-weight-healthfully-mindful-eating-wellness/index.html

Exercise Is Extremely Important For Seniors

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have good nutrition, plenty of social interaction and exercise to help them live a healthier and longer life..  Everyone is different, and not all seniors can tolerate a lot of exercise, but try the best that you can.  One simple way is just walking more.  There are all kinds of devices that can track how many steps you take each day, with 10,000 a goal.  But start easy by walking around the block and you can work your way up to this.  Walking at a constantly brisk rate can also get your heart rate up.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to estimate your maximum age-related heart rate, subtract your age from 220 and this is the maximum beats per minute.  The American College of Sports Medicine recommends for moderate-intensity physical activity at 64% to 76% of your maximum heart rate (Source CNN.com).

Gonzalez, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours : Alzheimer’s & Dementia Experience A Plus : $2 Per Hour More On Weekends

A woman is combing the hair of an older man.


Gonzalez, 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, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad & 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 have recently expanded into Santa Cruz 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.

Social Security Trust Fund Running Dry, Congress Should Act Sooner Rather Than Later : By Derek Baine

A woman looking out of the window at her home.


According to a Pew Research poll, roughly half of Americans younger than age 50 believe they won’t receive any Social Security benefits.  However, that’s unlikely to be the case.  It’s true, we haven’t had a surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund since 2010 and if nothing is done in the next couple of decades there would have to be cuts in Social Security benefits.  The current date for that is 2034.  However, this would be a big political fiasco for anyone in office at the time, so politicians are likely to act well before that happens.  Hopefully they will raise payroll taxes.  However, another option they have is to keeping raising the year in which you retire.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/how-to-save-social-security/?tid=newsletter-dailydozen&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailydozen&cdlcid=607e1442fe2c195e916f3bb4

10.9 Million Jobs Open, But Few Takers : Carmel Caregivers Or HCA In Short Supply

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


There are now nearly 11 million open jobs but companies in most industries are struggling to find workers (including ours, we have had a dearth of employee applications for caregivers this year).  In addition to getting higher wages, you may be able to negotiate a more flexible work schedule than you could find before the pandemic (we let our workers set their own hours and pay $2 an hour more on weekends).