Medicare Advantage Plans Add More Perks

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Choosing a Medicare Advantage program that is right for you can be difficult due to the wide range of things that they cover—or don’t.  Plans are expanding benefits in 35 out of 41 categories this year, according to a study done by actuarial consultant Milliman.  Vision coverage still ranks as the most common supplemental benefit, with 97% of Advantage plans offering it in 2022, followed closely by hearing (94%), fitness (94%) and dental care (91%).  However, less common benefits like acupuncture and coverage for bathroom safety devices with the number of plans featuring these increasing by 70% and 32%, respectively (Kiplinger’s Retirement Report May 2022, page 15).

Super Foods Can Stave Off Dementia


A number of studies have been performed on the relationship between various foods and the onset of dementia.  One showed that walnuts can improve cognitive function.  Another that blueberries can boost memory.  And fish oil supplements can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.  The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet—both of which encourage you to eat lots of fresh produce, legumes, nuts, fish, whole grains and olive oil have been shown in multiple studies to provide protection against cognitive declines.  And they can be delicious if prepared with lots of fresh spices.

 

Seniors Should Get Regular Checkups, Even If They Feel Good

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AARP The Magazine just had an interesting article (April/May Issue, page 33) about how some seniors don’t go to the doctor regularly because they feel great.  As we have seen with COVID-19, many diseases and viruses are symptomless but if left untreated can turn into something very serious.  Researchers have been studying this phenomenon which they call future-time perspective.  The more time we perceive that we have, the more we’re able to ignore the fact that we’re overweight, have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, and other serious health problems.  Make sure you see your doctor at least once per year.

Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Facilities Closing : Seniors Forced To Relocate

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A number of nursing homes across the country are shutting their doors, a combination of COVID-19 costs, difficulty finding employees, and costs rising faster than payments from Medicare and Medicaid/MediCal.  One home told USA Today that they were losing more than $100 a day for every resident covered by Medicaid, which represented 95% of its residents, and they were forced to close.  Sadly, this is forcing many seniors to relocate and if you are on MediCal, it will be tough to find an open spot.  “It’s a result of the values of our society—we just don’t value taking care of old, poor people,†said Danny Williams, the owner of the home that was forced to close.  According to an analysis of federal data by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, more than 300 homes have closed or are in the process of winding down.

 

Traffic Signs, Ironically, Are Killing People

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A new study which was published on science.org found that electronic signs which are meant to alert people to dangers on the road actually cause an increase in car wrecks as distracted drivers stare at the sign.  The researchers studied traffic around areas that had signs displaying year-to-date road fatalities and found that the number of vehicle crashes increased, on average, by 4.5% in the 6.2 miles following the fatality-statistic message.  Researchers believe that the signs put excessive demands on drivers’ attention and information processing abilities in what is known as cognitive load.

Inflation Driving Seniors Back Into The Workforce

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


Inflation in the U.S. hit a 40 year high of 7.9%, which is causing financial problems for many seniors.  Economists say that this is forcing many retirees back into the workforce.  Thankfully, this may ease staffing shortages which has hit a number of industries.  “We’re beginning to see the migration of the older cohort who expected to live on fixed income in a low interest-rate and low-inflation environment, Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US LLP, told The Wall Street Journal.  “Really what you’re dealing with is an inflationary shock that has elicited a change in behavior,†he said.   The share of people over 55 either working or looking for a job rose to 38.9% in March from 38.4% in October.  That translates to more than 480K people in that age group entering the labor force during the last six months.

Castroville, 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

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Castroville, 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 Valley, Corral-de-tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, 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.

New Alzheimer’s Drug Could Hit The Market In 2024

A doctor and patient in a room with a laptop.


Biotech company Alzheon Inc. just raised $50 million in venture capital to complete clinical trials of an oral medication which will be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.  The drug will be tested in a late-stage Phase 3 clinical trial with 300 people.  If the study is successful, Alzheon expects to seek FDA approval for the drug in 2024.  Sadly, another recent drug to hit the market called Aduhelm by Biogen is not available for widespread use after Medicare said last week it would only cover the cost of the drug for patients enrolled in a clinical trial.

Monterey, CA Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities To Face Minimum Staffing Standards

Two people in a hospital room with masks on


The White House, some members of Congress and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are all pushing hard to pass nursing home reform legislation targeting “profiteering, cold-hearted†corporations who left many seniors vulnerable against COVID-19.  Many of them died.

“It is up to Congress…to shine a bright light on the current practice, to reign them in, and strictly enforce high standards for performance,†U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) wrote to the chair of the House Oversight Committee.  “It is Congress’s job to stand in-between greedy corporations and those who are the most defenseless,†he said.

Help appears to be on the way.  The White House is reportedly getting ready to use executive authority to tighten industry regulations.  The proposals include setting the first nationwide minimum staffing requirements and expanding regulatory authority to crack down on corporate owners with a poor track record.

Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Hit With COVID-19 Lawsuits

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


Now that the pandemic seems to be calming down, a flurry of class action and individual lawsuits accusing nursing homes of not properly protecting its residents from COVID-19 have been filed.  The wrongful-death lawsuits have been spurred by a repeal of liability protections and statutory deadlines to file the suits.  Many nursing homes are claiming that the virus was beyond their control, with staffing shortages, inadequate testing supplies and a lack of masks and other personal protective equipment all contributing to the problem.  “It’s going to be a knock-down-drag-out battle,†said Steven Levin, a partner in Levin & Perconti and one of the many lawyers seeking damages for the families of those who died of COVID-19 while in a facility.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nursing-homes-face-growing-number-of-lawsuits-from-covid-19-fallout-11649507400