Ombudsman Office Unable To Enter Assisted Living Facilities, Making Some Lax

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


An investigative reporter unveiled an expose on a chain of nursing homes in California called Country Villa which has 18 nursing homes that have been unlicensed for years.  Two of their facilities lost over a dozen of residents due to COVID-19.   The Staye of California requires that nursing home operators be licensed by the California Department of Public Health, which oversees nursing homes.  But the Department has allowed the owner to operate with a “pending license†for years.  The owner, Shlomo Rechnitz, has acquired 81 nursing homes with 9,000 beds, making him the largest operator in California.  “I’m just a little speechless when it comes to this ownership nightmare in California and now it’s gotten to this point,†said Molly Davies, the Los Angeles County long-term care ombudsman.  In Monterey, our ombudsman said that they have not had in-person access to assisted living facilities during the pandemic, a situation which is just making things worse.

https://calmatters.org/projects/california-oversight-nursing-homes/?campaign_id=49&emc=edit_ca_20210407&instance_id=28956&nl=california-today&regi_id=52105769&segment_id=55031&te=1&user_id=7052b81671c57203c64c377c7522baa7

Carmel, CA Hope For Those With ALS, AKA Lou Gehrig’s Disease

A doctor and patient looking at a book


Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, seems similar to Alzheimer’s disease but attacking the body rather the brain.  There is no cure for either disease, and the ailment just continues to progress and leave you more and more debilitated.  However, USA Today recently ran an article about three promising themes:

  1. A new drug—developed in part with money from the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge—increased the average survival of patients in clinical trials by 7.5 months.
  2. A first-ever clinical trial is testing multiple ALS treatments at once; and
  3. Record levels of federal research funding are planned for this year.

Many are hopeful that Amylyx’s AMX0035 which got a $2.2 million grant from the $111 million Ice Bucket Challenge, will be approved by the FDA.  Findings for AMX0035’s Phase 2 trial were so promising that the ALS community is pushing the FDA to fast track approval.  They have gone so far as to ask the FDA to skip a Phase 3 trial, the only time in history that the ALS Association has asked the FDA to do so.  However, it’s a long-shot.  If you or a loved one are struggling with ALS, contact the Monterey Chapter of ALS here:

http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=14647&NONCE_TOKEN=D30086CF168CADF46857EB53C986C9EA

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

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


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

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.

The Number Of Cases Of Parkinson’s Disease Are Exploding : The Reason Is Frightening

A person holding a stethoscope in their hand.


Researchers believe that a common chemical used in dry cleaning and household products such as shoe polish and carpet cleaning are causing the number of diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease to soar dramatically.  The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, estimates that about 250 million pounds of the chemical Trichloroethylene, or TCE, are used every year in the U.S.  Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the author of “Ending Parkinson’s Disease†says, “We’re on the tip of a very, very large iceberg.â€Â  He predicts an epidemic of Parkinson’s disease is on the horizon.  The number of cases has risen by 35% over the last ten years.  TCE has been banned in the EU and other places and hopefully they will do the same thing in the U.S.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/07/rates-of-parkinsons-disease-are-exploding-a-common-chemical-may-be-to-blame

 

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

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


There were 19 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 43,057 cases, with no new deaths reported.  Nationwide, there were 65,025 new cases, for a cume total of 30.878 million.  Deaths rose by 907, for a total of 558,815.  In California, there were 2,170 new cases, for a total of 3.687 million.  Deaths rose by 100 to 59,926.  Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Telemedicine May Become The Norm Post Pandemic


Although many people have only used telemedicine, or virtual medicine, for the first time during the pandemic, this may become very popular going forward.  However, some worry that doctors appointments that are not done in person may not allow the physician to pick up on telltale physical clues which can be masked by the camera.  Body language can give a physician important clues to your health.  Despite the pro’s and con’s, I think that going forward most patients will feel a mix of physical and virtual appointments will be the best bet.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-telemedicine-changed-my-relationship-with-my-doctors-11616942876?mod=djemHL_t

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of an orange and blue piece of art


There were 36 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 43,038 cases, with no new deaths reported.  Nationwide, there were 76,624 new cases, for a cume total of 30.813 million.  Deaths rose by 530, for a total of 555,939.  In California, we now have the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the entire U.S.  There were 2,532 new cases, for a total of 3.685 million.  Deaths rose by 85 to 59,826.  Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Please visit us at www.familyinhomecaregiving.com

Monterey, CA Tips For Warding Off Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


Everyone wants to keep their brains working in full order as long as possible, and the key can be healthy living, getting the proper amount of exercise and social interaction.  The latter is easier said than done given the massive spreading of coronavirus.  Although board games can be fun, with COVID-19 many seniors are turning to video games.  According to an AARP survey, 44% of adults over the age of 50 played video games in 2019 versus 38% in 2016.  That’s 10 million more older gamers!  About a quarter of gamers play multiuser games, which can increase social interaction which will hopefully ward off early onset 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 great 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.

 

Carmel Elder Abuse Alert : Scammers Posing As The Police

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


The Monterey police are warning local residents of a phone scam where callers identify themselves as law enforcement and demand payment, threatening you with arrest if you don’t comply.  Some identify themselves with the actual names of local or federal law enforcement.  They will ask you to buy bitcoin or gift cards and then read the serial numbers off of the cards.  Your caller ID may show the call is coming from a local law enforcement agency, the FBI or the IRS.  If you receive a suspicious call, you can contact the Monterey Police Department at 646-3830 or 646-3914.

https://www.montereyherald.com/2021/02/26/monterey-police-warn-residents-of-phone-scams/?utm_email=7404B4F5358244C5647B14D271&g2i_eui=B5dv00xjia5jtX%2fZFTuOn45qYHnjNzVq&g2i_source=newsletter&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.montereyherald.com%2f2021%2f02%2f26%2fmonterey-police-warn-residents-of-phone-scams%2f&utm_campaign=norcal-monterey-morning-report&utm_content=automated

Carmel, CA Seniors Turning To Telehealth Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic


More and more seniors are turning to Telehealth programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “When you’re not feeling well, having to get up, get dressed and drive all the way to the hospital and then get in line and then possibly get sick from someone else is not all that appealing,†Marla Jo Fisher, a writer, told AARP Bulletin (November 2020, page 44).  Medicare is expanding coverage of telehealth visits during the pandemic, changes which hopefully will remain in place.  The Department of Health and Human Services recently reported that less than 1% of primary care visits in February were via Telehealth, a number which jumped to 43.5% in April.  California has a bill going into effect on January 1 requiring all insurers to pay for Telehealth visits.  If your doctor isn’t using Telehealth, talk to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, on suggestions.

https://www.chomp.org/find-a-doctor/doctor-search-results/?termId=a826e4db-730c-e611-9cf8-005056a462a1#.X9fgodhKjcs