End Of Life Planning Must Be Addressed In This Pandemic

At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have a nutritional diet, get enough exercise and do estate planning like setting up a living trust, signing a POLST and power of attorneys for both medical and financial.  However, getting exercise in this coronavirus environment is difficult and you would be surprised how many people have not set up end-of-life paperwork.  Kate De Bartolo, director of the Conversation Project, believes that end-of-life-care planning is something that more and more Americans will embrace dearly in light of the pandemic, even younger people.  Traffic and downloads of end-of-life planning material have surged this year, she noted.  One thing that has been  highlighted in the pandemic has been that many people may change their mind about asking for all available life saving methods in their POLST and medical power of attorney.  Given that COVID-19 victims are isolated and can’t see their family and friends before they pass away may make living pointless under those lockdown conditions.

https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationProject/posts/end-of-life-care-planning-is-something-many-put-off-says-kate-debartolo-director/3651234638270719/

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A caregiver showing documents to the senior

There were 388 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County yesterday, with one new death.  Dr. Ed Moreno said this week that the current stay at home order wasn’t working because the public wasn’t complying with it.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by 226K to 18.948 million.  Deaths rose by 2,270 to 332,606.  In California, cases rose by 79,919 to 2.144 million, while there were 267 deaths bringing the cume total to 24,231.

Lifespan of Americans Expected To Decline Due To COVID-19

A man covering his mouth and nose with N95 Mask

The average lifespan of an American who is the age of 65 this year is expected to decline by a full year due to the number of seniors dying from coronavirus, according to research from Princeton University and the University of Southern California.  In addition to the myriad deaths of seniors, the pandemic is undermining the ability of seniors to engage in activities associated with better health and longer lives, including socializing, exercising and helping others.  These variables are important at all stages of life and particularly for those in midlife and older, Dr. Philip Pizzo, former dean of Stanford University’s Medical School told The Wall Street Journal.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

There were 275 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County yesterday, bringing the total to 25,131.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by 91K to 18.722 million.  Deaths rose by 2,343 to 330,336.  In California, cases rose by 45,902 to 2.065 million, while there were 296 deaths bringing the cume total to 23,964.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : Monterey Outlook Is Not Good

There were 225 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County yesterday, bringing the total to 23,827.  One person was released from the hospital and there were two new deaths.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by over 200K to 18.201 million.  Deaths rose by 2,885 to 321,631.  In California, the numbers were also dire.  Cases rose by 35,721 to 1.946 million, while there were 203 deaths bringing the cume total to 23,023.

COVID-19 Is Now The Leading Cause Of Death In America

COVID-19has surpassed heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death in America, according to a report which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  “It’s been a long time since an infectious disease was the leading cause of death for the whole country, Dr. Steven Woolf, lead author of the paper, told USA Today.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/17/covid-update-david-bernhardt-california-pfizer-vaccine/3929500001/

Monterey, CA Nursing Homes Hit Hard In Coronavirus Pandemic

A caregiver showing documents to the senior

Almost all nursing homes in Monterey County have reported coronavirus outbreaks, and this may signal a paradigm shift where more people decide to live out their final years at home.  The U.S. currently has the largest number of nursing home residents in the world and accounts for the largest number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., a total of 115K.  Occupancy in nursing homes is down by 15%, due both to deaths and a decrease in admissions.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-spurs-families-to-shun-nursing-homes-a-shift-that-appears-long-lasting-11608565170

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : Monterey Outlook Is Sad

There were more than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County yesterday, bringing the total to 23,582.  There were five new hospitalizations, and one new death.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by 179,803 to 17.999 million while deaths rose by 1,626 to 318,746.  In California, the number of new cases rose by 40,995 to 1.910 million while deaths rose by 167 to 22,820.  These numbers are not looking great, please stay at home as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : Monterey Outlook Is Not Good

There were 228 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County yesterday, bringing the total to 222,483.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by almost 200K to 17.819 million while deaths rose by 2,063 to 317,120.  In California, the number of new cases rose by 41,590 to 1.869 million while deaths rose by 144 to 22,653.  These numbers are not looking well, please stay at home as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : California Outlook Is Terrible

There were 316 new cases reported yesterday, bringing the total to 22,571 cases.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by 251,477 to 17.626 million while deaths rose by 2,484 to 315,057.  In California, the number of new cases rose by 44,175 to 1.828 million while deaths rose by 288 to 22,509.  These numbers are not good, please stay at home as much as possible.

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