Getting On Social Security Disability Getting More Challenging

A man helping an elderly person in a wheelchair get into the back of a car.


It has always been a struggle to get a full blown disability insurance claim approved.  However, in recent years it has gotten even more challenging due to a staffing shortage at the Social Security Administration.  According to an analysis done by the AARP’s government affairs staff, it can take more than 1.5 years go get in and have your disability claim heard.  This is the worst response rate of any government agency, according to the Government Accountability Offices, or GAO, 10K people each year die while waiting to hear back on their claim status from the GAO.

New Hope For Those With Heart Disease

A doctor and patient looking at a book


One issue facing cardiologists which are treating heart disease is the fact that they often find a hard calcium packed shell covering a soft and gooey plaque in blood vessel walls.  That makes it tough to insert a balloon to clear the artery walls.  However, there is a new technique called “Intravascular lithotripsey (or IVL)†which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in 2021 which uses shock waves to break up hardened deposits in the heart and even kidney stones.  “Coronary artery disease patients in their Late 60’s, 70’s  or 80’s and even older will generally have calcium in their blockages, so this is an important tool for treating heart disease in older persons, particularly the elderly,†cardiologist Dr. Quinn Capers told AARP Bulletin.

Carmel, 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

Two women are holding hands in a car.


Carmel, 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-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, 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.familyinhomecaregiving.com, click on careers where you can fill out an application online or go to https://tsc221.ersp.biz/index.cfm?event=Apply.index

We have immediate openings all over Monterey County

Dentists Are Making Remarkable Inroads In Alternatives To Dentures For Seniors

A dentist is examining the teeth of a patient.


Nearly 14% of Americans 65 or older have lost most of their teeth and many think the only alternative is getting full or partial dentures.  But that’s not true anymore!  For those who want something fixed or non-removable, the Allon-4 implant can be an option.  This gives people who are missing all of their teeth on at least one jaw the opportunity to get fitted with dental implants.   Another option is ceramic implants.  For years titanium implants were thought of by dentists to be a great option.  However, in recent years they have turned more to ceramic implants which can be a healthier option for your gums and are also more aesthetically pleasing.

Pacific Grove, CA Elder Abuse Alert

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, tracks a wide array of scams which target seniors in affluent areas of the country including Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach.  A typical approach is to call you and say they are from a government agency and say that you owe taxes or a fine.  They will typically ask you for a gift card, which is untraceable.  Don’t fall for this, a government agency would never ask for a gift card.  In my opinion, the best way to avoid most of these fraudulent schemes is to use caller ID and if you do not recognize the number don’t pick up the phone.  Scammers are getting more sophisticated so even if it is from an 831 area code this number may have been “spoofed†and the caller can be from anywhere.  For more information, visit the website www.ftc.gov/giftcards

Salinas, CA Seniors Should Check Out Alliance On Aging Dance Classes

A group of people doing different exercises together.


The Alliance on Aging has a lot of fun activities at their headquarters in Salinas called “The Hub†at 236 including a dance class which runs Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m through April 24 in the Harden Foundation Community Room.  Couples and singles are welcome; call to reserve your spot at 646-4931 or 646-5050.  Learn how to Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha-cha, swing and salsa.  Buses passes and taxi vouchers are available if transportation is an issue.

For more information go to www.allianceonaging.org/hub/

Homeless Senior Population Growing

A close up of an old person holding someone 's hands


The number of homeless seniors is growing at an alarming rate, according to a report by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Officer of the Inspector General.  Americans over the age of 55 years old who are homeless were counted at 580K, 18% of the total.  “There’s been a trend over the last several years where we’re seeing many more older adults,†who are homeless, Richard Cho, HUD’s senior advisor for housing and services, told AARP Bulletin.  From 2000 through 2017, the number of people 62 years and older who are homeless has doubled, he noted.  For the full report, go to www.aarp.org/homelessafter50

Pebble Beach, CA Elder Abuse Alert, Beware Of Fraudsters Asking You To Use CashApp, Venmo Or Zelle

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


AARP has been great about tracking the latest scams tracking senior citizens, but a surprising number of people continue to fall for scams, mostly pitched over the phone.  First, I have a practice of using caller ID and won’t pick up the phone if I don’t recognize the caller.  This can screen out a lot of the potential scammers.  AARP says that historically fraud operators have tried to get your money in one of four ways—gift cards, wire transfers, cyber currency or cash.  These are all untraceable once you send them.  However, AARP says a fifth form of payment is on the rise, peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer services like CashApp, Venmo or Zelle.  Beware of anyone asking you to send money using these apps.

Monterey, 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

A nurse is combing the hair of an older woman.


Monterey, 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-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, 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.familyinhomecaregiving.com, click on careers where you can fill out an application online or go to https://tsc221.ersp.biz/index.cfm?event=Apply.index

We have immediate openings all over Monterey County

Pebble Beach, CA Elder Abuse Alert

An older woman with a gray hair sitting in front of trees.


The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, tracks a wide array of scams which target seniors in affluent areas of the country including Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach.  A typical approach is to call you and say they are from a government agency and say that you owe taxes or a fine.  They will typically ask you for a gift card, which is untraceable.  Don’t fall for this, a government agency would never ask for a gift card.  In my opinion, the best way to avoid most of these fraudulent schemes is to use caller ID and if you do not recognize the number don’t pick up the phone.  Scammers are getting more sophisticated so even if it is from an 831 area code this number may have been “spoofed†and the caller can be from anywhere.  For more information, visit the website www.ftc.gov/giftcards