Monterey Bay Aquarium Lets Natividad Store COVID-19 Vaccine In Freezers

A vial of influenza vaccine next to two syringes.


Thanks to Monterey Bay Aquarium for allowing the use of their extra cold freezers to store incoming COVID-19 vaccine.  The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored in industrial freezers, and now the Monterey Bay area has access to one of these freezers.  “We have started to see the vaccines arrive and we really see that as really our only pathway out of the pandemic,†said Andrea Rosenberg, Natividad Hospital Operations & Support Services and Assistant Administrator.  “So, there’s a lot of hope and excitement at the hospital with the arrival of these vaccines,†she continued.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/31/monterey-bay-aquarium-loans-natividad-hospital-ultra-cold-freezer-for-covid-19-vaccine/

Monterey, CA Last Day To Have Alzheimer’s Association Donation Quadrupled

A purple background with the alzheimer 's association logo.


Tomorrow is the last day to have your donation to the Alzheimer’s Association quadrupled!  A generous donor has agreed to quadruple donations of up to $150,000 through year-end.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had this terrible disease when they died.  Please take advantage of this generous offer and speak to the kind people at the Monterey Office of Alzheimer’s Association if you have any questions at (831) 647-9890.

https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=47423&mfc_pref=T&47423.donation=form1&WT.mc_id=enews2020_12_30&utm_source=enews-aff-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2020-12-30&utm_content=homeoffice&utm_term=Story2

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

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


There were a hefty 537 cases of coronavirus reported yesterday in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 27,289.  There were 12 new hospitalizations, and local hospitals are being overwhelmed.  The number of COVID-19 cases in the four Monterey County hospitals has grown from 12 on December 13 to 191 today, with the number of ICU patients growing from 13 to 36 during the same time frame.  There are only 14 ICU beds available in the four hospitals.  Nationwide, there were over 200K cases, bringing the total to 19.590 million, with deaths rising by 4,110 to 340,353.  In California, there were 31,454 new cases, bringing the total up to 2.242 million, while deaths rose by 419 to 24,963.  Please stay home as much as possible, this coronavirus is spreading fast.

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

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


Gonzales,  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, Greenfield, 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 Get Your Flu Shot! Influenza And COVID-19 Could Be A Deadly Combination!

A vial of influenza vaccine next to two syringes.


Each year’s vaccine introduces three to four inactive strains of influenza, which spur your body to create antibodies against the actual virus.  In a four-year study from New Zealand, flu shots reduced influenza admissions by 82%!  Unfortunately, the vaccine is less effective in older people, so if you are 65 or older make sure that you ask your doctor about a Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which is four times stronger.  Ordway on Alvarado Street, CVS, Rite Aid or even Safeway pharmacy has plenty of doses—and hopefully the coronavirus vaccine is coming soon as well.

Monterey, CA Diabetes Tip : Eat An Early Dinner

A farmers market with fresh vegetables and fruits.


An early dinner could help you better manage your weight and your blood glucose.  A recent study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that, of people chosen to randomly eat dinner at either 6:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., eating early was better.  The late-night diners burned 10% less fat overnight than those who ate at 6:00 p.m.  And their glucose rose 18% more and remained higher for four hours.  Eat dinner early!  For more information on living a healthy life with Diabetes, talk to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, which has an extensive program.

https://www.chomp.org/services/diabetes/#.X-0Z1thKjcs

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

Centenarian Kane Tanaka Turns 118 On Saturday


The world’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, will turn 118 on Saturday.  She was born on January 2, 1903 and lives in a nursing home in Japan.  She wakes up at 6:00 a.m. and plays board games to keep busy.  She says that her key to longevity is eating good food and practicing math.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/oldest-person-world-turns-117-180973930/

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver


After sending out a bulletin yesterday from Monterey County saying there were no new cases here the day before yesterday, todays report says there were only 29 new cases reported yesterday.  The numbers seem unlikely, but the total now stands at 26,752 which appears to be a restatement. Another 1,204 cases appear to be added back into the numbers since their last report.  Nationwide, there were 189,444 new cases, for a cume total of 19.389 million while deaths rose by 2,513 to 336,443.  In California, there were 29,452 new cases for a total of 2.211 million.  Deaths rose by 213 to 24,544.Please stay home and stay safe as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver

A close up of an orange and blue piece of art


There is a lack of information coming out of Monterey County, which sent out a bulletin saying there were no new cases here yesterday.  That seems unlikely, given that there were 151,102 new cases across the country yesterday bringing the total to 19.2 million.  The U.S. now has 20% of the world’s deaths from COVID-19, but has only 4% of the population.  Yesterday, deaths rose by 1,524 for a cume total of 334,130.  In California, there were almost 37K new cases, up 2%, for a total of 2.181 million, while deaths rose by 100 to 24,331.  Stay tuned, and don’t trust the statistics for Monterey County.