Researchers Studying Why Alzheimer’s Cases Are Clustered In Certain Counties

A woman looking out of the window at her home.


Several studies have found that there is a correlation between where you live and the likelihood that you will get Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.  U.S. researchers are now turning to see what, if any, common risk factors are involved.  The data shows that the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is higher in the Southeast and Gulf States (including Florida and Texas), compared with Western states like Arizona and Colorado.  Studies released this year have found higher rates of Alzheimer’s in poor neighborhoods and in rural Appalachia compared with non-Appalachian rural counties.  Another study from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and the Urban Institute identified 25 counties with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease for Blacks, Latinos and Whites based on Medicare data.    These studies are important as we need to identify where the hot spots are so we can devote more financial resources to combatting this terrible disease.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/alzheimers-research-looks-at-hot-spots-across-the-u-s-11605558173

Monterey, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Social Security Scam


You read about the latest scams in the paper on almost a daily basis, but I just got a call myself on my cell phone with a robot saying, “Your Social Security number was used fraudulently in a transaction in Laredo, Texas.  Please press 1 to speak to an officer.â€Â  I typically screen my calls, but since this was coming from an 831 area code I was curious and picked up the phone.  I hung up without pressing 1 and when I googled the telephone number it was a cell phone, so surely it was not the Social Security Administration.  Be careful, these scams seem to increase around holiday time.

 

Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

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There were 130 new cases in Monterey County, for a total of 13,410. There were eight new hospitalizations, and no new deaths reported.  Nationwide, cases were up by 120,900 to 11.696 million.  Deaths rose by 1,019 to 251,100.  In California, there were 8,595 new cases bringing the cume total to 1.072 million while deaths rose by 61 to 18,473.

Pebble Beach, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Medicare Scam

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


Senior citizens are complaining to AARP that they are getting calls from Medicare claiming that because of the coronavirus, they were issuing plastic cards now and asking people to verify their Social Security number.  These are not representatives of Medicare, these are scammers trying to get your personal information so that they can commit identity theft.  Beware!

Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available


Carmel-by-the-sea,  CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, CA  Del Rey Oaks, Gilroy, Gonzales, Greenfield, Hollister, King City, Marina, Monterey, Morgan Hill,  Moss Landing, Pacific Grove, Pacific Grove, Paicines, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, San Juan Bautista, Seaside, Soledad and Tres Pinos)

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.

Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : California Cases Surge

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There were 91 new cases in Monterey County, for a total of 13,280. There were eight new hospitalizations, and no new deaths reported.  Nationwide, cases were up by 2%, adding 186,900 to the tally of 11,574,600.  Deaths at 2,143 were at near record levels.  In California, cases rose significantly.  They were up by 11,111 to 1.064 million, while deaths rose by 95 (more than double the day before) to 18,412.  Hospital beds are becoming full in many communities and health officials are alarmed at how quickly this second wave is spreading.  Getting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could literally be the kiss of death.

Amazon.com Comes Out With New Elder Care System For Alexa

A black and blue echo dot on top of a white table.


Amazon.com is moving into the older adult market with a big splash, an extension of Alexa called “Care Hub†while also adding tools for Alexa for Hospitality.  The app allows remote connections and monitoring between older adults and their loved one.  Care Hub also offers customizable alerts.  For instance, alerting a loved one the first time the elderly person uses Alexa each day, as well as giving an alert if the senior is inactive for a certain period of time.  It also comes with features like “Alexa, call for help†which will notify a family member immediately.  This is great that Amazon.com is building its presence in this growing market after its acquisition of PillPack.

https://seniorhousingnews.com/2020/11/16/amazon-effect-on-senior-living-grows-with-care-hub-launch-alexa-for-hospitality-tools/

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alert For Baby Boomers

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


A new study found that boomers may be seeing a declining level of cognitive functioning compared with previous generations, which could put them at greater risk of dementia than their parents and grandparents.  We have all seen the number of Alzheimer’s cases skyrocket in recent years, a very sad phenomenon.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandfather died of the disease and for years I was a big fundraiser for the local Monterey chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  The new study, which was published in the Journals of Gerontology, studied over 30,000 people in the University of Michigan’s “Health and Retirement Study†which followed people from 1996 to 2014.  It found that many baby boomers started to show lower cognitive functioning as early as ages 50 to 54.  Lower household wealth, less likelihood of marriage, higher levels of loneliness, depression and psychiatric problems and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes were major factors.

Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : California Cases Surge

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There were 79 new cases in Monterey County, a fraction of the whopping 265 new cases reported yesterday, for a total of 13,189. There were six new hospitalizations, and one new death reported.  Nationwide, cases were up by 2%, adding 187,300 to the tally of 11,387,700.  Deaths at 1,517 were more than double the 644 reported the day prior.  In California, cases rose rapidly.  They were up by 11,908 to 1.053 million, while deaths rose by 40 to 18,317.

Monterey, CA Hospitals, Nursing Homes Struggle With COVID-19

A large fountain in the middle of an indoor area.


COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents are surging and hospitals are overwhelmed with new coronavirus cases which is causing staff shortages, particularly in rural hospitals.  Believe it or not, Monterey County is considered rural, with much of the South County spread out and this is where the majority of COVID-19 cases are occurring.  We have had nursing home outbreaks in Carmel, Monterey, Salinas and Watsonville.  “Nursing homes are not isolated from what happens in the community,†Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, told The Wall Street Journal. Facilities in rural counties reported 18% of nursing home COVID-19 deaths in the week ended November 1, although they housed only 10% of the overall population.  Please, please, take this season off and call off Thanksgiving with friends and family.  Many health officials are extremely concerned that this holiday season is going to cause a new surge in cases.