Monterey, CA Nursing Homes Hit Hardest By COVID-19

A man wearing a mask with yellow warning tape around his mouth.


I recently wrote about the fact that although the number of cases of coronavirus in nursing homes is low as a percentage of all cases, they account for a full 40% of deaths from COVID-19.  California’s Department of Public Health has listed 21 skilled nursing and assisted-living facilities that have reported COVID-19 cases.  The worst by far is Windsor Monterey Care Center at 78, followed by Pacific Coast Post Acute at 72, and Windsor The Ridge Rehab Center which has had 67 patient cases and 62 staff members carrying the virus.  Cypress Ridge Care Center has had 49 patients with coronavirus and 40 staff members, while Windsor Skyline Care Center has had 47 patients and 14 staff members with the virus.

This data shows why local hospitals are discharging many patients to their homes rather than have them go to a rehab center prior to going home.

https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/monterey-county/

https://familyinhomecaregiving.com/long-term-care-facilities-account-for-40-of-covid-19-deaths/

Long Term Care Facilities Account For 40% Of COVID-19 Deaths

A woman helping an older person with papers


published a story about how the fear of catching the disease has caused many patients to have gone weeks without a shower or having their teeth brushed, while residents with dementia have suffered from lack of human contact.  This often leads to depression, loss of weight, mobility and speech.  Sharon Wallace, a senior whose multiple sclerosis caused her to go into a nursing home, told the NYT, “I feel like my health is going downhill.”  This has made Aging In Place a more popular option as Assisted Living Facilities become hotbeds for disease.  “Nursing homes are really little hospitals, yet they’re not staffed like it.  If you asked an I.C.U. nurse to take care of 15 people, she’d laugh at you, but that’s essentially what we have,” Chris Laxton, the executive director of AMDA, the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine said.

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

A heart shaped word cloud with words related to caregiving.


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

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.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


There were 287 more coronavirus cases reported yesterday in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 28,351 with three new deaths, nine new hospitalizations and no new deaths.  Nationwide, the number of cases were up 244,228 to 20.197 million, while deaths jumped by 6,257 to 348,992.  In California, new cases were up 10,995 to 2.375 million, while deaths rose by 243 to 26,390.  Please stay home and stay safe!

Salinas, CA Natividad Medical Center Rolls Out Technology To Help Spinal Cord Victims In Hospital


Natividad Medical Center recently purchased a mechanical exoskeleton that helps people with spinal cord injuries and survivors of strokes to stand up and walk on their own.  It even works for people whose legs are paralyzed.  The FDA-approved model looks like a set of full-length braces, going all the way to the ankles from the waist.  Controlled by a smartphone app, it uses hydraulics to mechanically propel you into a standing position, from which you can begin walking with the device’s assistance.  “It’s amazing.  It gives so much hope,†said Sudha Shorian, one of the physical therapists trained on the device.

http://pineconearchive.com/200828PCA.pdf

AARP The Magazine Encourages Us To Eat More Cheese!

A piece of cheese sitting on top of a table.


A recent article in AARP The Magazine (August/September 20, 48) warned about the risks of osteoporosis and said a recent study of adults over 50 years of age who recently had fractured bones found that 43% were deficient in both Vitamin D and calcium.  Women should aim to consume 1,200 mg a day of calcium, with men needing 1,000 mg.  They encourage you to add two slices of cheese to your sandwich (300 mg.), some yogurt (200 mg. in a 6-ounce cup) or low-fat cottage cheese (250 mg. per cup).  Eating leafy greens, broccoli, bens and almonds will also help.

Monterey, CA Social Security Payments Rise Slightly This Year

A blue and white logo of the social security administration.


Social Security participants are likely to get an ever-so-slightly increase this year (+1.3%) according to the numbers looking at the index that cost of living adjustments (COLA) are based on.  Of the 68 million people on Social Security and Disability, the average payment will go up by $19.70 to $1,537.  “It makes people have to take more out of savings,†Mary Johnson, a policy analyst for the Senior Citizen League, said.  That’s due to the fact that many people believe the index doesn’t adequately account for inflation.  “Other people who don’t have savings will go into debt.  Many people may go into poverty,†she said.  Still, the cost of living in Monterey is so high this is not going to make much of a dent for local seniors.

Greenfield, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available

A woman sitting next to an older person.


Greenfield,  CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gilroy, Gonzalez, Hollister, King City, Marina, Monterey, Morgan Hill, 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.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of the word coronavirus with an image of a virus


There were 205 more coronavirus cases reported yesterday in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 28,064 with three new deaths.  Hospitals are overwhelmed, with Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital reporting its ICU is now full.  CHOMP is close to being full.  â€Our staff has been caring for COVID-19 patients for 10 months, and some of our ICU nurses who have been at our hospital for 30 years-plus have seen more deaths this past year than at any time in their careers,” Pete Delgado, CEO of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, told the Carmel Pine Cone. Nationwide, the number of cases jumped past 20 million.  It took 292 days to hit 10 million cases and just 54 days for that number to double.  Deaths rose by almost 3K to 347,248.  In California, the outlook is bleak.  New cases were up 2% (+43,526) while deaths rose 2% (+536) to 25,979.  Please stay home and stay safe!

Monterey, CA California Seniors 70 And Older Allowed To Skip DMV visits


The Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing seniors to skip a visit to the DMV and renew their license online due to the widespread coronavirus.   Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order which will remain in effect for the duration of California’s state of emergency or until modified, according to the DMV.  The order is the latest by Newsom to protect seniors from being exposed to COVID-19.  California drivers 69 and under are already eligible to renew their licenses online or by snail mail, despite confusing notices sent out that they must be done in person, according to the DMV.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-drivers-70-and-older-allowed-to-skip-15687107.php