Pacific Grove, CA Retiring? Think About Decluttering

A woman helping an older person with papers


The November 2020 issue of the Kiplinger Retirement Report had an article on retiring and getting rid of all of that extra junk that you have lying around—while making a profit!  For instance, called Decluttr (available on both the Apple iPhone and Google Android) where all you have to do when selling electronics (as well as accessories like video games, DVDs and CDs) is input the make and model.  They will email you a price quote that is good for four weeks and a shipping label for mailing the item.  No need to send in photos or any information, just wipe all personal data clean and send the equipment in.  Another interesting app is The RealReal which will buy designer clothes.  You just bag them up and mail them in and they apparently give a decent price for used clothes. If you have things to give away, I recommend the Church Mouse, which is owned by the First United Methodist Church in PG.  They have always been kind to us and god bless them!

https://butterflychurchpg.wixsite.com/butterflychurch/ministries

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver


There were just 53 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 42,628 cases, with one new death reported.  Moderna announced today that the first children have been vaccinated in their KidCOVE study, which is testing the effectiveness of the vaccine on children from 6 months of age to 11 years old.  Moderna is running a separate trial on children 12-17.  Currently, the drug company only allows the vaccine to be given to people 18 and older.  Nationally, the numbers are not looking that good.  There were 57,083 new cases, significantly higher than the 38,034 reported the day prior.  That brings the grand total to 29.486 million and deaths rose by 1.114 to 535,997. In California, there were 2,554 new cases for a total of 3.626 million, while deaths rose by 75 to 55,621.  The number of cases are still significant so please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

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

A woman helping an older person with a blue object.


If you have a senior loved one who you are struggling to find a Christmas present for, 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!

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

A red heart with the words i love caregivers written underneath it.


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.

Carmel, CA Get Help Dealing With Long Term Care LTC Companies

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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.

Carmel, CA Alzheimer’s Disease Can Be Kept At Bay By Having An Active Lifestyle

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


At Family inHome Caregiving we believe it’s important for our senior clients to have a healthy diet, social interaction and the proper amount of exercise.  That can be a challenge with COVID-19, particularly social interaction.  Teach your loved ones how to use zoom or skype.  A telephone call now and again is fine, but it’s not enough.  Seniors need face-to-face interaction with their family.  The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about this issue, and pointed to a study where researchers compared the cognitive performance of mice who lived alone in empty cages with those who lived in large houses equipped with colorful Lego blocks for mental stimulation, running wheels for exercise and other mice for social engagement.  When mice lived in rich environments, their brains underwent physical changes: More neurons were generated in the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus, and strong synaptic activity supported learning.  Even mice that had their genomes altered to develop the equivalent of Alzheimer’s disease experienced enhanced brain activity and performed better in maze tests that they had previously flunked.  Other studies in humans have showed similar results.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-an-active-lifestyle-help-ward-off-alzheimers-11614264941

 

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s Sufferers Get New Hope

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


According to a study which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Eli Lilly and Company’s experimental drug could slow the cognitive decline of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  The downside, however, is that the drug is intravenous, not in a pill form.  An early clinical trial studied 257 with early signs of Alzheimer’s.  Of those, 131 received the drug and 126 received a placebo.  Researchers found that those who got the drug showed a slowing of cognitive decline and the ability to perform daily functions by 32% after 76 weeks, compared to those who received a placebo.   The study also looked at the build up of amyloid beta plaque and tau proteins, both of which are signs of Alzheimer’s disease.  At the 52-week mark in the Phase 2 Clinical Trial, almost 60% of participants who received the drug were amyloid-negative.  At week 76, amyloid plaque levels decreased by 85% in those taking the drug versus those who received the placebo.  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.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of many viruses on a red background


There were only 24 new coronavirus cases reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 42,575 cases, with three new deaths reported.  Nationally, the numbers are not looking that good.  There were 64,177 new cases, the fourth day that new cases rose.  That brings the grand total to 29.341 million and deaths rose by 960 to 532,466. In California, there were 1,248 new cases for a total of 3.617 million, while deaths rose by 95 to 55,336.  The number of cases are still significant so please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A blue background with some type of virus


There were just 28 new coronavirus cases reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 42,551 cases, with no new deaths reported.  Governor Newsome has lowered the restrictions for reopening, and Monterey County is expected to move to the “red level†by Wednesday.  That means restaurants will be open to indoor dining at 25% capacity, gyms and fitness centers at 10%, and retail at 50%.  Movie theaters, museums, zoos and the aquarium can reopen at 25% capacity.  Nationally, the number of cases were up by 62,689 for a total of 29.3 million and deaths rose by 1,844 to 531,506. In California, there were 3,557 new cases for a total of 3.616 million, while deaths rose by 247 to 55,241.  The number of cases are still significant so please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s Association Has Touching Blog

An older woman holding a pink string in her hand.


The Alzheimer’s Association has a touching blog where family members can share cherished items and moments spent with loved ones suffering from dementia.  The blogs share touching moments via video, and it is really heart breaking to watch some of them, although clearly there are lessons to be learned.   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://www.alz.org/blog/alz/march-2021-(1)/these-things-people-affected-by-alzheimers-share-c?WT.mc_id=enews2021_03_12&utm_source=enews-aff-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2021-03-12&utm_content=homeoffice&utm_term=Story2