Hands to Help Seniors

It's no secret that the population of seniors is exploding.   At the same time, not surprisingly, the supply of senior housing is expanding at a rapid clip in many major metropolitan areas, raising concerns that builders are racing ahead of demand.   However, analysts said the building spree could lead to higher vacancy rates and lower rent increases for real-estate firms that own housing dedicated to seniors.  The wave of Americans born after World War II who will retire in coming years will expand the pool of potential clients, analysts and executives note.  The Social Security Administration estimates that 9,600 people a day will turn 65 in 2015, up from 7,800 a day in 2010.  However, the occupancy rate for all senior housing in 31 major markets fell this spring for the second consecutive quarter, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, concerning many.  In Monterey County, real estate prices continue to go up so senior home owners have watched their nest eggs appreciate.

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CHOMP has a number of upcoming events and classes this summer including a Diabetes Support Group at the Monterey Senior Center at Scoltze Park at Lighthouse Avenue and Dickman Avenue from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on August 13.  To register, or for more information, please call 1-888-452-4667 or go to www.chomp.org.

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Blood clots are extremely dangerous and, unfortunately, very common.  I was glad to read that hospitals are working on preventing more of theses as almost half of them occur when people are in the hospital or soon after discharge, making them among the most common causes of preventable deaths.  Guidelines for preventing clots are in place, yet studies show that 40% to 60% of patients who would benefit don't receive appropriate treatments. They aren’t given anticlotting drugs because hospitals don’t reliably administer them and patients sometimes refuse them.  Hospitals are starting to use electronic medical records to more precisely identify patients’ risk levels, holding refresher training sessions for nurses, and providing patients with educational materials on the dangers of blood clots.

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The Hospice Giving Foundation and the Alzheimer's Association present the Hospice Foundation of America's 2015 Living with Grief Program "The Longest Loss : Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia" on August 14 from noon to 3:30 p.m.   There will be a discussion at the Alzheimer's Association's Ryan Ranch Facility At 21 Lower Ragsdale Drive in Monterey with local experts including:

Dr. Leslie Foote, Family Medicine;

Helen Hempel; Elder Law Attorney;

Katya Kuska, MSW, VNA and Hospice; and

Bonnie Bollwinkel, LCSW, Alzheimer's Association.

CEUs are provided by Hospice Foundation for $15.00. 

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The Alzheimer's Association is having a caregivers support group on August 5 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Salinas at 1130 San Vicente Avenue.  This is a great place to meet with others who are going through the same experience that you are and get information from a great non-profit group.  The group meets monthly on the first Wednesday of the month.  For more information, call 1-800-272-3900.   Regular readers of my blog know that both my grandmother and my father had this terrible disease when they passed away, and I have been working diligently with the Monterey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to raise money to find a cure.  In addition to being the largest private funder of Alzheimer's research in the United States, they have support groups and a 24-hour hotline (800-272-3900) where a dedicated staff can help you if you are struggling with caring for a loved one with the disease.  Family inHome Caregiving will be attending the Monterey Memory Walk.  We are currently the number one fundraising team.  If you would like to walk with us, to join our team or to donate, please click here.

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