Face Masks Are Getting A High Tech Upgrade : By Derek Baine

A man wearing a mask with yellow warning tape around his mouth.


Although those of us that are vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in California in most places, the medical community is working on a high-tech upgrade to masks to cope with `diagnostics, sensors and even the ability to kill viruses.  Although they have yet to be approved by the Food & Drug Administration or FDA, different models are being developed for the medical community and to be marketed to individuals.  Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT, has developed a mask that actually kills the virus.  “Filtering has its place, but so does just destroying the virus,†said Professor Strano.  It also comes with a thermoelectric cooler that ensures hot air that you are breathing in is comfortable.  “You actually breathe medically sterilized air,†said Stano.  The masks are reusable and will cost just a few dollars more than typical masks.  What great progress we are making on the mask front.  I hope to not be wearing one anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that the next pandemic will go more smoothly than this one.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/high-tech-face-masks-aim-to-step-up-the-fight-against-covid-19-11616846402

More Nursing Home Residents Moving Back Home Due To COVID-19

A woman with glasses and a tie dye shirt smoking.


We have seen a noticeable uptick in people asking for 24-7 service due to the fact that children are increasingly moving their parents out of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and back home.  Although the COVID-19 numbers have continued to taper off and nursing home resident have been vaccinated, a shockingly high number of workers refuse to be vaccinated.  This increases the risk to seniors that they are working for, particularly as new strains of the virus work their way across the globe.  The New York Times recently noted the problem, citing statistics from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care which showed that the occupancy rate in nursing homes had fallen from 86% in the first quarter of 2020 to 75% in the fourth quarter of 2020.By 2034, 34% of households will be headed by someone over 65, up from 26% in 2018, according to the Harvard center.  The share of households age 80 and over will grow even more rapidly.  It’s clear that we must address the issue of allowing people to age at home because there’s no doubt that coronavirus will be around for a long time and no one knows what other deadly virus is lurking around the corner.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/business/nursing-homes-covid-retirement.html

Pebble Beach, CA Artificial Intelligence Reshaping Healthcare

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Artificial Intelligence could completely reshape how medical care is given to seniors in many different ways.  For instance, Michael Recht, chair of radiology at NYU Langone, is spearheading a partnership between NYU Langone and Facebook’s AI’s research group with a goal of reducing the time it takes to conduct an MRI by a factor of 10.  The project, dubbed FastMRI, could enable MRIs to replace x-rays, avoiding radiation exposure.  Imagine going into CHOMP for a quickie MRI.  On the prescription drug side, Michael Frank, director of R&D strategy within Pfizer’s Worldwide R&D group is hoping to leverage machine learning to accelerate drug discovery.  On average, it takes 14 years and $1.6 billion to develop a new drug!

Monterey County Elder Justice Summit Will Be Held On June 30

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Don’t miss out on this year’s Elder Justice Summit which will be held on Wednesday, June 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The Keynote Speaker is Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Click on the link below to register for this event which is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging, amongst others.

https://montereycty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Qhst8E2gS6yM-evmOl6pnw

 

Pacific Grove, CA How Seniors Can Avoid Elder Abuse Scams

A man and woman sitting back to back.


Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach are habitual hotspots for financial elder abuse because residents tend to be high-income.  AARP The Magazine recently had a great article which talked about how to avoid these scams.  Studies have shown that each of us lies several times a day.  They are mostly innocuous—“I’m on my way†is the most common lie that people tell when they are actually watching TV or cleaning the house.  Every scam requires us to believe in a lie—whatever that may be.  The reporter interviews a retired investment advisor who had lost $900,000 to investment scams over five years.  How can this be?  He said that he had spent his entire professional life working with honest folks who routinely told the truth, as he did.  He just assumed everyone was like him and his colleagues and couldn’t imagine there were people who could look you straight in the eye and lie.  How sad, but there are many people out there like that.

COVID-19 Pandemic Has Marketers Chasing Seniors Staying At Home : By Derek Baine

A close up of many viruses on a red background


Retired baby boomers are at a high risk of COVID-19, and marketers are using this as an opportunity to market more to older people who want to stay at home.  Companies like Nestle SA, Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Danone SA are launching new products aimed at consumers who are increasingly saying they are interested in aging well, but staying at home.  “We clearly see healthy aging, even more now with the COVID world, as a huge trend,†Danone CEO Emmanuel Faber said.  The Activia yogurt maker recently launched a whey-protein product that they say aids muscles, joints and bones.  Nestle launched a powdered milk aimed at older adults that it claims enhances mobility.  Increasingly, the company has shifted its focus from making food and drink to aid the recovery of people in hospitals to helping people from being admitted in the first place.  What a great mission.

Carmel, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class

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Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

 

Monterey, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available

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Monterey, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, 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.

Pebble Beach, CA Check Out CHOMP’s Diabetes Self-Management Series

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a great Diabetes Self-Management Series and the cost of the sessions may be covered by Medicare if you have a referral from a physician.  Learn more about your diabetes and the day-to-day skills needed to live a healthy life and prevent complications.  Registered dieticians and nurses will hold one-on-one sessions with you and talk about monitoring your blood sugar levels, the best diet, medication and non-medication options to keep you healthy.  Call 649-7220 for more information.

Aegism And Hostility Towards Seniors Most Prevalent In Southeast, But California Also Is High On The List

A man and woman standing next to each other.


A recent study from all 50 states found that implicit bias—a subconscious negative attitude—against older people was most prevalent in the country’s southeastern states, including New Jersey, the Carolinas and Florida.  The findings were based on responses of 803K people ages 15-94 who completed a test involving photos of young and old people and words associated with those images.  Unfortunately, California didn’t score well, scoring two out of five on a 1-5 scale where 1 is the most biased. Authors of another study which was published in November found that survey respondents who were more hostile toward older people and considered them to be a drain on the economy and health-care system washed their hands less and didn’t believe in social distancing.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/worried-about-ageism-where-you-live-matters-11612198542