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

Monterey, CA Nonprofit Opens To Provide Dental Care For Veterans At No Charge

A dentist is examining the teeth of a patient.


Dr. Hugo Ferlito saw over a year of work come to fruition as he opened his free dental clinic with services for veterans.  He will work with Dr. George Yellich, an oral surgeon affiliated with Montage Health, and several other volunteer dentists.  It’s not clear why the government doesn’t offer dental benefits to Veterans and Seniors have no coverage either under Medicare.  “Veterans Affairs has done a really good job with medical care but it’s crazy they don’t cover dentistry,†Dr. Ferlito told The Herald.  Letting oral health problems go unchecked can have severe negative consequences on your health.  The office is at the Montage Wellness Center on 2nd Avenue in Marina.  Funding has been provided by Monterey County Gives, Montage Health and local Rotary clubs.  Montage is allowing the dental office to use the office space free of charge, and also paid for construction improvements and is paying for utilities

Pacific Grove, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Customer Service Scams


AARP Bulletin had an elder abuse alert for our area.  The article profiled a 75-year old man who saw a charge on his credit card that he didn’t recognize for Amazon Prime.  He did a google search for Amazon’s phone number and called the number, which turned out to be fake.  They asked him to confirm his credit card number, as well as his Social Security number.  “Scammers will buy and place fake ads that often elude the filters for the online search engines,†Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told AARP Bulletin.  They also tricked him into buying gift cards.  “When people are searching for customer service numbers, they are in a hurry and quickly scan for the first phone number they see,†he said.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


There were 570 more coronavirus cases reported yesterday in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 27,859 with 11 new hospitalizations and three new deaths.  Nationwide, there were 229,349 new cases for a grand total of 19.819 million.  Deaths rose by 3,698 to 344,251, an increase of 1%.  In California, there were 36,828 new cases, up 2%, bringing the total up to 2.279 million, while deaths rose by 480 to 25,443.  Please stay home as much as possible, this coronavirus is spreading fast.

Monterey, CA Isolation Of Nursing Homes Can Cause Seniors To Give Up Hope

A woman looking out of the window at her home.


The San Francisco Chronicle recently wrote a sad story about Shirley Drexler who died two months into the coronavirus pandemic, “not from COVID-19.  She died of despair.â€Â  According to the article, she was called the “queen of Rhoda Goldman Plaza,†an assisted living facility in the Western Addition.  She joined in almost every activity, flitting from table to table during long lunch hours.  However, on March 17, Drexler and every other resident were abruptly shut in their rooms.  She stopped eating and didn’t want to get out of bed.  “It was like she lost the will to keep going,†Adrienne Fair, assistant executive director of the facility, told the San Francisco chronicle.  At Family inHome Caregiving, we find this story all too familiar.  When family members decide to institutionalize a senior, they often lose hope and quickly pass away.  Without the familiar faces of friends and family and their normal routine, they often lose the will to live.  At Family inHome Caregiving, we focus on giving our senior clients plenty of exercise, nutritious meals and plenty of social interaction.  We strive to allow seniors to remain in their own homes and independent for as long as possible and are seeing many families pull their loved ones out of local facilities to be brought back home so they don’t catch COVID-19.


https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-seniors-struggle-with-isolation-15673820.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headlines&utm_campaign=sfc_morningfix&sid=5936af7424c17c09a38000c4