Monterey, CA If Seniors Are Feeling Lazy, Try Giving Them Resistance Bands For Exercise

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


If you have a senior loved one who you are struggling to help with exercise, try resistance bands.  They are great to give them some exercise while watching TV or just sitting around.  You can find them on amazon.com and other web sites in the $10-$20 range.  An easy exercise is to put the resistance band under both of your feet and hold the handles at your sides with the palms facing up.  Then slowly curl your hands to your shoulders, keeping your elbows at your sides.  Then slowly lower to the starting position, repeating as many times as it feels comfortable. Although it may seem inadvisable to go to Carmel Beach or Ocean Avenue for some fresh air and exercise because of the coronavirus, at least take them for a walk around the neighborhood once in a while.  It’s good to get out of the house once in awhile!

Pebble Beach, CA Get Help Dealing With Long Term Care LTC Companies

A stethoscope laying on top of papers.


There was an article in the November 2020 Kiplinger’s Retirement Report (page 18) about the difficulties that many people are having getting their LTC provider to pay up.  At Family inHome Caregiving we have dealt with a lot of LTC providers, and each one is different.  We assist our clients by filling out the proper paperwork and giving the LTC provider the reports that they need in order to process the paperwork quickly.  We have found that typically, it takes a couple of claims to figure out exactly what the LTC provider is looking for.  However, once you get the kinks worked out, it is smooth sailing.  We have multiple clients in Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove and can help you through the LTC red tape.

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s Association Partners With AARP on Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia Webinar

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


Join Alzheimer’s Association and AARP on March 30 at 3:00 p.m. for a webinar on Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  They will give you a great framework to guide both you and a loved one through this difficult process.  To register, click on this link:

https://action.alz.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Events/ALZ/MeetingRegistration.aspx?productId=73583196

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.

https://action.alz.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Default.aspx?TabID=1356&productId=73583196

Family Caregivers Could Benefit Under Biden Administration

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


President Biden is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would allocate $450 billion over 10 years to enable Medicaid recipients to choose to be cared for at home or in the community rather than be placed in a residential facility.  Family caregivers would receive a tax credit of $5,000 per year.  Let’s hope it passes!

Pebble Beach, CA Tips For Seniors With Balance Issues—Particularly If You Have Diabetes

A group of people doing different exercises together.


An article in Diabetes Forecast (September/October 2020, page 40), had a top for seniors who have balance issues—brush your teeth on one leg.  You would be surprised how a series of very short, but powerful exercises throughout the day can help your balance, tight muscles, and soothe aches and pains.  The article says this is particularly important if you have type 2 Diabetes.  To get more information on diabetes, visit Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP’s, Diabetes and Nutrition website.  You will find useful information about support groups, classes and more.

https://www.chomp.org/locations/location-profile/diabetes-and-nutrition-therapy/#.X9F3p9hKjcs

Retirement May Be Easier In A Life After COVID-19 World

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


Some experts are saying that figuring out what to do in retirement might actually be easier after having had to stay at home most of the time due to the coronavirus.  Working from home can provide a sense for “what retirement might look like,†said Dr. Pinchas Cohen, dean of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.  People are reflecting and reevaluating what important and changing plans accordingly.  George Kinder, founder of the Kinder Institute of Life Planning asks his clients three questions to clarify their goals : What would you do if you had all of the time and money in the world?  How would you live if you knew you had only five to ten years left?  And what would you most regret if you died tomorrow?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-will-change-aging-and-retirement-11605452401

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

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


There were 24 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 42,868 cases, with one new death reported.  On the good news front, America set a new record yesterday, administering 3.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in one day.  That’s great!  Nationwide, there were 69,559 new cases, bringing the cume total up to 30.174 million.  Deaths rose by 1,626 to more than 547K to date.  In California, there were 2,952 new cases reported, for a total of more than 3.655 million cases.  Deaths rose by 348 to 58,512. Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

More Lung Cancer Screenings Available

A doctor and patient looking at a book


The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded recommendations for lung cancer screening from the age of 55 down to the age of 50, while smoking intensity has been reduced from 30 to 20 pack year history (meaning one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years).  The new criteria is expected to increase eligibility from 6.4 million adults to 14.5 million, according to an editorial by University of North Carolina School of Medicine professors which was published in the journal JAMA.  “There’s a huge need to diagnosing patients early,†Dr. David Carbone, an oncologist and lung cancer specialist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told USA Today.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/03/09/lung-cancer-screening-guidelines-double-number-people-eligible/4641108001/

End Of Life Planning Must Be Addressed In This Pandemic

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


At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have a nutritional diet, get enough exercise and do estate planning like setting up a living trust, signing a POLST and power of attorneys for both medical and financial.  However, getting exercise in this coronavirus environment is difficult and you would be surprised how many people have not set up end-of-life paperwork.  Kate De Bartolo, director of the Conversation Project, believes that end-of-life-care planning is something that more and more Americans will embrace dearly in light of the pandemic, even younger people.  Traffic and downloads of end-of-life planning material have surged this year, she noted.  One thing that has been highlighted in the pandemic has been that many people may change their mind about asking for all available life saving methods in their POLST and medical power of attorney.  Given that COVID-19 victims are isolated and can’t see their family and friends before they pass away may make living pointless under those lockdown conditions.

https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationProject/posts/end-of-life-care-planning-is-something-many-put-off-says-kate-debartolo-director/3651234638270719/

Pacific Grove, CA Tip For Diabetics : Exercise Frequently

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


If your job requires you to do a lot of sitting, make sure you take frequent breaks especially if you are diabetic.  The ADA’s 2020 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes recommends doing a light activity for every 30 minutes of uninterrupted sitting.  Sitting increases insulin resistance, and it also increases blood pressure and impedes blood flow.  I know that this is tough to do now that the entire state of California has been put on lockdown.  We can’t go to Point Lobos or the beach, but try taking a walk around the block!