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Informal family caregivers can now get the COVID-19 vaccine, but in some cases, their loved ones with certain medical conditions cannot, even though the state expanded the list of who is eligible last week.
In a Feb. 2 health advisory update, county health officials clarified that both formal and informal caregivers to the elderly and those living with a disability are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
That group not only includes people who are paid to work in private residences, but also unpaid caregivers who provide daily care for their loved ones at home. In the case of informal caregivers, they do not need to live in the same home as the relative who they care for.
The coronavirus pandemic is unlike any infection-control situation that Alpine View Lodge owner and Administrator Linda Cioffi has experienced in the 42 years since she and her parents opened the East County memory care facility.
Due to an outbreak last month that sickened 30 out of 34 residents and 17 out of 28 staff, during which eight residents died from the virus, Cioffi has worked 41 days straight as of Friday without an end to her streak in sight.
Without negative pressure rooms in which to isolate residents, like those available in limited supply at hospitals, keeping residents safe has been especially challenging even though the majority of residents in her 38-bed capacity facility have complied with requests to remain in their rooms. Quickly accessing the vaccine will ensure the remainder of her staff and residents continue to be COVID-free.
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More than 84,000 San Diego County residents are living with Alzheimer s, while more than 200,000 residents care for someone with the disease. (Shutterstock / Tashatuvango)
SAN DIEGO, CA An alliance of local research institutions announced Wednesday the National Institute on Aging has awarded it $7.46 million in federal grants to advance research to combat Alzheimer s disease.
The funds are headed to Collaboration4Cure, an alliance of top research institutions brought together by San Diego County and Alzheimer s San Diego. C4C grew out of the work of The Alzheimer s Project, a regional effort to address a rise in local cases of dementia, the region s third-leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease.
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As 2020 winds down, so does the political career of Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who retires from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors next month after seven consecutive terms 28 years representing District 2.
In addition to many other efforts over the years, Jacob leaves her mark on the county’s community living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as the family caregivers who tend to their needs.
Jacob, who was born and raised in San Diego, attended Grant Elementary School in Mission Hills before moving to La Mesa, where she went to Rolando Elementary School, La Mesa Junior High and Helix High School. She went on to earn her degree in elementary education and a teaching credential at San Diego State University.