Salinas, CA Exercise Is Critical For Those With Early Onset Alzheimer’s

An older woman holding a pink string in her hand.


We have written repeatedly on our blog about the importance of proper nutrition, social interaction and exercise is key to keeping the mind and body healthy for seniors.  A new study from Arizona State University Edison College of Nursing and Health Innovation had participants either ride a stationary bike or do stretching exercise for six months.  Those who took part in the regular exercise program had significantly less memory loss than those who don’t follow a particular exercise regimen.  The results were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease. Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  There are wonderful people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.

Monterey, CA Dealing With A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Disease Is Always A Struggle : Try The Montessori Method

A woman in a wheelchair with two men.


Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  There are wonderful people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch.  It is always a struggle figuring out how to deal with a loved one, as the symptoms can seem to change from day to day.  And unlike most other chronic diseases, there is little that can be done in the way of treatment.  One relatively new method has been used for more than a century on special needs children and is being tried out on those with dementia.  It’s called the Montessori method for memory care, and it involves teaching a “new†skillset to someone.  Just as children need to know how to dress themselves, go to the bathroom, and communicate their needs, so do those with dementia who eventually may completely forget these skills which you and I take for advantage.  Using the Montessori Method you will find that it:

  • Respects a person’s dignity, personhood and lived experience;
  • Allows freedom within your provided structure (essentially allowing a senior to be an improvisational artists of sorts);
  • Changes the environment to suit the individual and not the other way around; and
  • Takes into account that an individual benefits by serving their community.

Source: HomeCare Magazine, 03/21 P.40

And when all else fails, don’t forget that the Alzheimer’s Association has a 24-hour hotline.  If you need some additional support you can reach them at 800-272-3900.

https://www.alzheimers.net/montessori-method-dementia

Ben Lomond, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours

A woman sitting next to an older person.


Ben Lomond, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours (Also Aptos, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Capitola, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, Mount Hermon, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel& Watsonville)

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade, and we are now expanding into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

 

Family inHome Caregiving 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.

https://tsc221.ersp.biz/index.cfm?event=Apply.index

Salinas, CA Elder Abuse Alert Related To Roku Devices

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


There was a story in USA Today about a woman who fell for the latest scam and lost $190.  While setting up her new Roku device, a message flashed on the TV screen telling her to call an 800 number to activate service.  When she called the 800 number, they offered her a lifetime full service plan for about $190, which she signed up for.  Months later, the person that she had spoke to on the 800 number called her and threatened her if she didn’t give another $190.  At this point she realized it was a scam.  How her smart TV was infiltrated with software having her call scammers remains a mystery.  However, scammers continue to target those on the Monterey Peninsula since areas like Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach have a much higher net worth than the average household.  Be on the lookout!

https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2021/03/31/roku-activation-setup-tech-support-scam/6996289002/

Aptos, CA Caregivers Looking For Relief For Clients With Arthritis Or Osteoporosis Might Want To Turn To Vibration Therapy Or Light Therapy

A doctor and patient looking at a book


With the opioid crisis, it has becoming increasingly difficult to get doctors to embrace any kind of pain medication therapy for those struggling with debilitating and painful diseases which impact the muscle and bone.  Amplitude Vibration Therapy is now getting a lot of buzz in the medical community, providing relief for a number of ailments without having to turn to prescription drugs.  It works by stimulating muscles and ligaments, which increases blood circulation and can reduce pain and inflammation, promote immune response and improve joint strength as well as more flexibility.  A recent study by the National Institutes of Health and researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa found that those living with rheumatoid arthritis showed improvements in functionality and decreased pain after using vibration therapy over three months, and an even better response after six months.

 

https://www.homecaremag.com/june-2021/buzz-vibration-therapy

 

Best of all, vibration therapy doesn’t bring the feeling of electric shock that is commonly associated with some other therapies.  Clinical studies suggest vibration therapy may offer benefits for patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and other ailments. It is also a trendy workout recovery option due to ease of use. A study completed earlier this year indicates that five minutes of low-level vibration therapy was as effective as a 15-minute massage at reducing muscle soreness and improving recovery time after strenuous exercise.

Potential Benefits of Vibration Therapy:

  • Increased blood and lymphatic circulation
  • Reduced pain and inflammation
  • A boosted immune response
  • Additional joint strength and flexibility
  • Increased healing of fractures, strains and sprains
  • Decreased stress and increased energy levels
  • Assistance in detoxification and removal of wastes from the body
  • Safe and effective

Source : www.brownmed.com

Locally, Sol Santa Cruz provides a number of different therapy programs for those in pain, including exercises like Pilates, Active Relief and Light Therapy.

https://solsantacruz.net/about-us/featured-services/a-perfect-light/

Commonly Treated Conditions

  • Back pain
  • Ligament injuries
  • Muscle strains
  • Contusions and bruising
  • Arthritis
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Chronic pain conditions
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Tendinitis

Source : Sol Santa Cruz

 

Experiment with these traditional and non-traditional treatments and see what is best for you.  You may be surprised at how your body reacts.  My chiropractor has evolved over the years to combining massage therapy, ultrasound, laser therapy and other services which are sued to relieve chronic pain along with traditional chiropractic treaments.  I’ve been very pleased with the results.

 

https://drbarkalow.com/services/

 

Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Certified Nursing Assistant CNA or HHA Designation A Plus

A woman and an old lady smiling at each other.


Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Certified Nursing Assistant CNA or HHA Designation A Plus (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Seaside, Soledad and Watsonville

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.

Pebble Beach, CA Many Nutritionists Recommending Vitamin B12 And Vitamin D3 For Seniors

A table with many different types of pills on it.


There have been debates over whether it is prudent to take just one multivitamin per day versus taking a variety of different vitamins.  Part of it depends on what your diet looks like.  Some believe supplements are not that effective.  “When you take things out of the food matrix and you put a single ingredient into a pill, it doesn’t have the same effect,†Katherine Tucker, director of the Center for Population Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell told AARP Bulletin (June 2021, page 32).  In regards to B12 and D3, experts say that you can’t get them from plants.  In addition, as we get older, we begin to develop difficulty absorbing them in their natural form.  Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in nerve function.  A shortfall has been associated with depression, dementia, decreased cognitive function and anemia.  If you don’t get out in the sun much, a D3 supplement can be helpful.  It’s needed to maintain a healthy immune system, bones and muscles while protecting us from cognitive decline.  If you have diabetes, with a doctors note you can enroll in diabetes nutrition classes here at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP):

https://www.montagehealth.org/locations/profile/diabetes-nutrition-therapy/

They also publish a monthly schedule in the Monterey Herald with classes on fitness, estate planning, cancer and other subjects.  Many of the classes are free.

Alzheimer’s Association Shares Learning From Annual Conference

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


Last week, nearly 12K people attended the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, both in-person and digital, and they shared the results from the world’s largest and most influential meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  There are wonderful people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.  The key issues discussed at the conference were:

What is the Long-Term Cognitive Impact of COVID-19?

Improved Air Quality May Decrease Dementia Risk

Transgender Adults Experience Higher Rates of Subjective Cognitive Decline

Global Prevalence of Alzheimer’s Predicted to Triple by 2050

Clinical Trial Diversity is Crucial

For a more detailed analysis of these issues, click here:

https://www.alz.org/blog/alz/august-2021/x?WT.mc_id=enews2021_08_05&utm_source=enews-aff-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2021-08-05&utm_content=homeoffice&utm_term=Story2

TRUST Act Working Its Way Through Congress Could Cut Medicare And Social Security

A building with the capitol in the background.


A very unpopular bill called The Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act is now working its way through Congress.  If passed, it would set up groups of a dozen lawmakers with the power to recommend cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  This would hit the most vulnerable.  Half of those covered by Medicare have incomes of less than $27K.  Social Security is the main source of income for more than 34 million older households.  Under the new law, if seven of the twelve committee members approve of changes, they would be fast tracked in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with no adequate debate among lawmakers and no amendments permitted on the floor of the House or the Senate.  To make sure that your senators and representative know you oppose the TRUST Act, please go to  https://action.aarp.org/trustact.

Soquel, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours

A woman and an older person smiling for the camera.


Soquel, CA  Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours (Aptos, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Capitola, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, Mount Hermon, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, & Watsonville)

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade, and we are now expanding into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

Family inHome Caregiving 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.

https://tsc221.ersp.biz/index.cfm?event=Apply.index