Carmel, CA Aging At Home Is Now In Vogue : Assisted Living On The Outs


COVID-19 has made aging at home in vogue.  The Wall Street Journal recently wrote an article on how coronavirus is changing the way Americans face retirement by “accelerating developments already under way,†physician Bill Thomas said to the reporter.  “It’s going to make people rethink retirement altogether,†Laura Carstensen, director of Stanford University’s Center on Longevity said.  Most people will age at home, and remain independent, she said.  I believe that her view is true.  With roughly 40% of COVID-19 being staff and residents of nursing homes, nobody wants to go into a facility these days.  We have been getting a number of calls from fearful children who want to get their parents out of assisted living and back home, where they can reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure.  Although COVID-19 will eventually be wiped out, there will clearly be more devastating diseases in the future which makes these facilities dangerous.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-will-change-aging-and-retirement-11605452401

Pebble Beach, CA Senior Diabetics Take Note : Sleep Habits Can Alter Your Circadian Rhythms


Getting a good night’s rest is important to seniors, however, sleeping a consistent number of hours is important as well.  A review of studies which was published in Endocrine Review found that a sleep shift of even an hour was enough to decrease insulin sensitivity.  To get more helpful tips on diabetes, visit Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP’s, Diabetes and Nutrition website.  You will find useful information about support groups, classes and more.

https://www.chomp.org/locations/location-profile/diabetes-and-nutrition-therapy/#.X9F3p9hKjcs

Another useful resource is Community Health Innovations.  A full 45% of Monterey County residents s have Diabetes or pre-Diabetes!

https://communityhealthinnovations.org/what-we-do/diabetes-prevention-management/

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


There were 65 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 46.366 cases, with 16 new deaths reported for a total of 380. If you haven’t gotten your first dose of the vaccine yet, Montage Health in Marina (2920 2nd Avenue) are now doing walk-tin vaccinations.  The schedule is as follows: Monday April 26 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. for Pfizer, Tuesday, April 27 1:00 to 3:30 for Moderna, Wednesday, April 28 noon to 8:00 p.m. for Moderna, and Thursday April 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Pfizer.  If you want to make an appointment, go to www.myturn.ca.gov or call Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital at 771-3385.  Nationwide, cases rose by 61,931 for a cume total of 31.890 million.  Deaths rose by 1,744 to 569,875.  California has the lowest coronavirus case rate per capita in the nation now!  Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Salinas Senior Center Reopens

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


Active Seniors Inc., the senior center on Hawthorne Street has reopened!  “It’s wonderful people come in and they have the biggest smiles on their faces, it’s so good to see them and everybody wants to hug, we usually do that here so we’re fist bumping and elbow bumping, it feels wonderful to me to be here,†said Karen Towle, a member and volunteer.  The center serves more than 600 people with classes focusing on the mind and body.  Most of their classes have been sold out so call and make a reservation!

https://www.ksbw.com/article/senior-center-in-salinas-reopens-allows-seniors-to-return/36193274?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Coronavirus%20Newsletter%202021-04-22&utm_term=ksbw_coronavirus_COMBINED

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s Victims Fare Better When They Have A Close Circle Of Friends

A woman looking out of the window at her home.


The Wall Street Journal recently ran a heart breaking story about two women, Abbe Merling and Judy Roder, who have been close friends for 30 years and now have had to revamp their relationship after Judy was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago.  Since then, Abbe has been by her side, taking her on roadtrips, weekend retreats and events at their temple.  More than 6 million Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, and many have to watch as their friends abandon them, unable to cope with the change in behavior of the one diagnosed with this disease.  That’s sad, as a 2019 study found that those with Alzheimer’s disease that have a close circle of friends have better cognition.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  There are great people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-importance-of-friendship-for-alzheimers-patients-11618846255

Dementia Caused By Sleep Deprivation

A doctor and patient looking at a book


Middle-age adults who sleep six or fewer hours a night may be at higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study which was published in the journal Nature Communications.  The study looked at people between the ages of 50 and 60 who regularly slept six hours or less per night  and found that they were more likely to develop dementia than those receiving seven hours of sleep per day or more.  Even after controlling for cardiac, metabolic and mental health issues, the study found that 50-year-olds who were sleeping six hours or less a night had a 22% higher risk of developing later in life, while 60-year-olds were 37% more likely to develop dementia.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of the word coronavirus with an image of a virus


There were 41 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today over the last five days, bringing the total to 43,260 cases, with 12 new deaths reported for a total of 364. The agriculture industry remains hardest hit in our county. Globally, the number of deaths has surpassed 3 million for the first time, with 138 million cases in total. Nationwide, cases rose by 61,943 for a cume total of 31.823 million. Deaths rose by 768 to 568,131. Although senior citizens are the most vaccinated age group in America, about 20% have yet to get their shots. In California, there were 2,358 new cases, for a total of 3.723 million, while deaths rose by 82 to 61,083.  Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible

Carmel, CA Financial Elder Abuse Abounds Amidst Pandemic

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


AARP The Magazine recently ran an article about financial elder abuse, which, unfortunately, is often done by a family member.  Liz Loewy, former chief of the Elder Abuse Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and now chief operating officer of a financial-monitoring company EverSafe said these crimes are all too prevalent.  Sadly, many cases go unreported.  A study of New York residents found that only 1 in 44 elder abuse cases were reported to authorities.  “They may start out helping a parent, with good intentions, and then, after the parent exhibits signs of diminished capacity, start diverting funds,†Lowey said.  “It often starts small, then progresses into ‘I wrote a few checks to pay for Johnny’s college.  She always said she wanted to help with tuition.’  Or beyond that, home improvement or a new car,†she said.  If you believe that you are witnessing elder abuse, please call Adult Protective Services.   Unfortunately, with the wealth on the Monterey Peninsula residents of Carmel, PG and Pebble Beach are often targeted.

http://mcdss.co.monterey.ca.us/aging/

Pebble Beach, CA In Home Dialysis Expands Under Medicare

A woman and a nurse smiling for the camera.


Senior citizens with kidney problems will have an option of in-home dialysis care covered by Medicare.  About 1 in 3 Medicare patients that are struggling with end-stage renal disease will be enrolled in the new program.  In addition to being more convenient, it will reduce the risk of being exposed to people with COVID-19.  Medicare also announced that it will increase the amount it pays provider of home kidney treatments to help gain traction with the program.  About 92,000 Americans are currently on the kidney transplant list.  For more information, talk to one of our local dialysis centers in Monterey County which are listed here:

https://www.dialysisfinder.com/dialysis-centers/monterey/ca/100#.X9Kn79hKjcs

Pebble Beach, CA Hope For Those With ALS, AKA Lou Gehrig’s Disease

A doctor and patient looking at a book


Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, seems similar to Alzheimer’s disease but attacking the body rather than the brain.  There is no cure for either disease, and the ailment just continues to progress and leave you more and more debilitated.  However, USA Today recently ran an article about three promising themes:

  1. A new drug—developed in part with money from the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge—increased the average survival of patients in clinical trials by 7.5 months.
  2. A first-ever clinical trial is testing multiple ALS treatments at once; and
  3. Record levels of federal research funding are planned for this year.

Many are hopeful that Amylyx’s AMX0035 which got a $2.2 million grant from the $111 million Ice Bucket Challenge, will be approved by the FDA.  Findings for AMX0035’s Phase 2 trial were so promising that the ALS community is pushing the FDA to fast track approval.  They have gone so far as to ask the FDA to skip a Phase 3 trial, the only time in history that the ALS Association has asked the FDA to do so.  However, it’s a long-shot.  If you or a loved one are struggling with ALS, contact the Monterey Chapter of ALS here:

http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=14647&NONCE_TOKEN=D30086CF168CADF46857EB53C986C9EA