Pressured By Medicare, Drug Companies Moderate Price Increases

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


Drug companies raised list prices of 983 prescription drugs by an average of 5.6% in January, lower than inflation and lower than it has raised them in prior years.  A report put out by 46brooklyn Research, a nonprofit drug-price analytics group, said that Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG and Eli Lilly & Company are among the companies that took the price increases.  After several years of taking double digit prices on many drugs, the companies have moderated price increases, in part due to pressure from the government.  “The industry doesn’t want to stick its neck out and make itself a target of politicians, particularly given the lessened support in the Republican Party for the industry compared to 5 or 10 years ago,†David Risinger, an SVB Securities analyst, told the Wall Street Journal.

Democrats Pushing Legislation For Paid Time Off For Caregiving

A nurse helping an elderly woman with her nails.


The Democrats are renewing their push for a national paid time-off policy for medical reasons and caregiving, although the odds are against them being able to pass it due to the Republicans, which oppose this measure, control the House of Representatives.  Former President Bill Clinton signed into law more than three decades ago the Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides 12 weeks of leave a year for medical and family reasons to workers at larger companies.  However, it’s unpaid leave and a group of Democrats is trying to get this changed to paid leave.  “The fact that we still stand on what is now a piece of legislation that has largely remained unaltered for the last three decades is pretty atrocious,†Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) told The Wall Street Journal.

Del Rey Oaks, 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

An older woman holding her hand out to someone


Del Rey Oaks, 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, 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.

1 Million Nursing Home Patients Drugged Excessively

A woman sitting on the couch with an older man.


80% of nursing home residents on Medicare were prescribed psychiatric drugs during a recent nine-year period, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (AARP Bulletin, January/February 2023, page 4).  It is well known that there is a labor shortage and nursing staffs are cut pretty slim, but unfortunately this often results in nursing home residents being overmedicated with anti-depressants and anti-psychotics so that they rarely get up and move around or socialize.  This is unfortunate as we have seen many of our clients put into nursing homes because of the high cost of home-care, and many of them pass away shortly thereafter.  I believe this is due to a number of factors including depression, lack of social interaction, and a desire to remain in their own home. Psychotropics have long been criticized by nursing home resident advocates as “chemical straitjackets†used to sedate unruly residents, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  I have seen this first hand and it is very unsettling.

Medicare Savings On Drugs And Immunizations Will Kick In During 2023

A cvs pharmacy store front with the door ajar.


A number of changes have been made to Medicare which hopefully will save you money!  For instance, as of January 1, the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles is free for those with a Part D prescription drug plan, a significant relief since it cost almost $200 last year.  If you are diabetic, your copay for a 30-day supply of insulin for Part D enrollees is capped at $35.  During the pandemic, the cost for a month’s supply was hundreds of dollars.  Public awareness of many of these changes are low because they were passed as part of a massive legislation.  However, you will definitely notice it at your pharmacy’s cash register!

Corral-de-Tierra, 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 woman sitting next to an older man on a couch.


Corral-de-Tierra, 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.

Pharmacies Reduce Hours Due To Pharmacist Shortage

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


My local Safeway pharmacy began closing for lunch between 1:00 and 2:00 every day more than a year ago.  I find this annoying as many times I have forgotten that they would be closed and have shown up at 1:00 just as they are closing.  Even more annoying is coming back at 2:00 as there is always a long line of people who have been waiting around since 1:00 or 1:30.  The Wall Street Journal reported today that this is a phenomenon all across the country as there is a shortage of pharmacists.  CVS has announced that starting in March it will cut or shift hours at about two-thirds of its 9,000 U.S. locations.  Walmart also announced it will close at 7:00 p.m. rather than 9:00 p.m. at most of its 4,600 stores starting in March.  Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. recently stated it was operating thousands of stores on reduced hours because of staffing shortages.  Some customers have complained that pharmacies are cutting hours sporadically.  An online community message board for Holliston, Massachusetts—a small town about 30 miles from Boston—was flooded with messages from frustrated customers of the Holliston CVS.  “I would go in and there was a note on the door saying, ‘Sorry, pharmacy closed,’†Audra Friend told The Wall Street Journal.  She said it would be better to have consistently shorter hours if that means fewer unexpected closures.  “At least that way we’re not just showing up at CVS to find out the pharmacist isn’t there.  “

Investing In Aging In Place Companies

A woman is helping an old man


Nobody wants to spend their final years in a nursing home, which is why I founded Family inHome Caregiving, which focuses on helping seniors remain in their own home safely and healthy.  The Wall Street Journal recently ran an interesting story about seniors wanting to invest in stocks which are focused on this growing market of providing goods and services to those aging in place.  Here are a few of your options:

Hartford Funds launched the Hartford Longevity Economy ETF (HLGE).  The ETF tracks the Hartford Longevity Economy Index, an index of companies that support aging in place, home modification, working longer, performance health, social connections, financial freedom, mobility, human enhancement and entertainment.  The fund has an expense ratio of 0.44%.

Global X Aging Population ETF (AGNG) invests in the services side of aging with positions in healthcare companies, pharmaceuticals, senior-living facilities and age-tech companies.  The fund has an expense ratio of 0.5%.

BlackRock’s iShares Aging Population UCITS ETF (AGED) offers a global play on the longevity theme.  The fund invests in developed and emerging markets companies focused on aging.  The fund’s expense ratio is 0.40%.

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

A woman sitting next to an older man on a couch.


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-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Corral-de-tierra, 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.

Take Online Classes with AARP Online Classes

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


AARP has partnered with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) to take advantage of the power of online learning.  Senior Planet has hundreds of online classes in multiple languages including English and Spanish which can help you broaden your horizons.  Among the classes are weekly fitness and health classes, all taught by a live instructor on Zoom and can be found at www.seniorplanet.org/fitness