MorningStar

It was not that long ago that seniors moving into an assisted living community had to leave behind an important companion, their pet.   Today however, more and more retirement communities are recognizing the benefits of pets to the elderly, and many such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows , allow residents to bring their pets with them.      There has been a lot of research that validates the benefits of pets in seniors’ lives.   In fact, A Place for Mom website reports on a study that shows, “just 15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. The result: heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels immediately drop.”   They go on to say that interactions between pets and humans can “lower cholesterol levels, fight depression and may even help protect against heart disease and stroke.” Another reason pets can be good for

At MorningStar at Jordan Creek our mission is to provide residents an environment that promotes wellness of the mind, body and spirit.   Our signature Wellness Program offers a range of activities that are not only good for seniors entertaining as well.   Residents are also served meals made largely from scratch that are both delicious and nutritional.   Furthermore, we recognize the value of socialization and have designed our community to be a true home with comfortable, inviting common areas both inside and out that encourage residents to sit and enjoy a cozy chat.         As our expertise is serving seniors, we were interested in a recent article from U.S. News & World Report that discussed factors other than diet and exercise that appear to promote longevity.   While recognizing the importance of a healthy diet, physical exercise, and getting enough sleep, the new study examines several habits that may also influence how you age.   The study examined the personal

Searching for an assisted living community for yourself or a parent can feel like an overwhelming task.   We know you want to make the best choice and there are a couple of things you may want to consider before you take such an important step.      First, you will want to research the various options in your preferred area.   The Internet is an efficient and easy way to discover what is out there, and you will find several websites that offer a search directory of facilities.   Also, you can check with your health care provider for any recommendations they may have.      Once you have narrowed down your list to several communities in your target location, give them a call to set up a tour.   While on the phone, have a list of questions handy such as are there immediate openings available, and if not, how long is the wait, the price range and what will you see on the tour as well as how much time it will take.     A community tour is your best opportunity to get a rea

It is estimated that 7 to 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson’s disease.   In the U.S. alone, a million people are living with the disease and as many as 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.   While there is not a cure for the disease, there is treatment; however anyone with symptoms needs to have a medical diagnosis in order to rule out other causes.    The Mayo Clinic’s website provides a list of some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s.   The first sign can be a tremor that affects one hand and a person may frequently exhibit a back-and-forth rubbing motion of the thumb and forefinger known as a pill-rolling tremor.   Tremors usually occur while the individual is at rest, and can affect the hands, limbs, and posture.   Another common sign of the disease is slowed movement known as bradykinesia. This can worsen over time and eventually affect a person’s ability to walk well or have trouble getting up out of a chair.   In some cases one foot may drag, m

A cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eye causing blurred or tinted vision, seeing double, impaired night vision, and extra sensitivity to light.   The vision loss from cataracts happens slowly over time and cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses or with corneal refractive surgery such as Lasik.   Cataracts are typically an age-related disease, and according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 75, approximately half of all Americans have cataracts.”    The surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, and while cataract surgery may sound scary, most people get excellent results.   During surgery, the affected lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).   The procedure has been improved over the last several years by the use of a high-frequency ultrasound device, which has resulted in faster healing times and less com

The shorter days of winter can be especially tough on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who suffer from the condition known as sundowner’s syndrome says author Rick Phelps who is afflicted with the condition.   He explains that when we lose daylight and are faced with the often dreary, dark cloudy days of winter, those with sundowner’s can get further confused.    The Mayo Clinic describes sundowner’s syndrome as “a state of confusion at the end of the day and into the night.”   They explain that it is not an actual disease but rather a symptom of Alzheimer's and typically peaks in the middle stage of the disease.   In fact the Alzheimer’s Association says that, “As many as 20 percent of persons with Alzheimer's will experience increased confusion, anxiety and agitation beginning late in the day. Others may experience changes in their sleep schedule and restlessness during the night.”   Researchers do not understand the exact cause of sundowning but it appears t

At MorningStar at Jordan Creek , we feel honored to serve seniors and to help make their lives a little easier.   We explain our chosen calling in one of our mission statements which states, “ Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals — a commitment to creating a community that promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle, while providing security and independence.”   The way we deliver our exceptional service is through our Radiance program, which is taught to all new team members and reiterated every day at our Stand-up.   Much more than just a customer service program, Radiance embodies the guiding principles for how we dispense our services – with depth of purpose and warmth.   The program emanates from an authentic, sincere place and celebrates an attitude of selflessness that resembles a beam of light.   We use the program to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others.   It distinguishes our compassion and care as well as our service pr

  At MorningStar of Wheatridge , memory care takes place within our Reflections Neighborhood.   We offer 19 secure suites devoted to the personalized care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and can accommodate those in the onset of the disease right through to the more advanced stages. The philosophy motivating our care is based on one of MorningStar’s mission statements that says, “To value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals.” From this principle comes our attentiveness to the unique voice, the rights and preferences, of each resident.   We have a deep understanding of the different forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s that helps us to compassionately care for our m emory impaired residents and to find the best ways to interact and communicate with them.   MorningStar’s specially trained staff uses an array of multi-sensory activities including art, dance, music, aromatherapy, life skills, exercise and animals to

At MorningStar of Littleton , we understand that our senior community’s success lies with our caregivers. This is why one of our founding principles is to invest generously in our team members, including providing the necessary development and training required to create leaders with the ability to provide the best life possible for our residents.      We are proud of the fact that our team is comprised of people who champion our mission and have a sense of calling to serve seniors.   They are a group of unique individuals who do the right thing when no one is watching and work diligently to perfect the art of anticipating the needs of our residents.   In addition they not only believe that Senior Living , at its best, is love in action but do it every day.      As a part of our commitment to bringing together an exceptional staff, we offer generous compensation and benefit packages to each employee in an effort to recognize caregiving as a respected career choice.  

MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ philosophy and approach to memory care includes our guiding principle that: whatever the extent of the memory loss, whatever the form of dementia, a person’s essence remains.   We feel it our calling as well as our privilege to find ways to connect with and nurture that essence.   Our individualized care starts by meeting with the senior and their family members to learn all we can about the person’s background including their vocation, talents and preferences.   Taking this information, we put together a daily routine that will be used to stimulate or calm the resident in response to their mood or the surrounding circumstances.   Throughout the senior’s stay with us, we also engage the family members as we know our services are as much for them as for the residing senior.   MorningStar’s memory care provides an atmosphere of safety and well-being, while at the same time, encourages and supports choice and independence whenever possible.  

MorningStar at Jordan Creek assisted living and memory care community is eagerly awaiting our Grand Opening in March.   Our whole team is working hard to make sure that from day one our residents feel comfortable and pleased to make their new home with us.       One of the things we know that is sure to be a hit is our excellent food.   Each resident is provided with three daily meals that are meticulously prepared by our own Executive Chef.   Our meals are prepared largely from scratch and are modified to accommodate low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low-fat diets along with seasonal menus.      MorningStar also makes it a priority to use BrainWise ingredients in our meals.   BrainWise super foods include those that have been recognized by the medical community to support brain health and have a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.    Many of the common items we incorporate into our meals include it

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Mountain Shadows, we offer 45 beautiful, all-inclusive private suites for assisted living in a choice of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations.   Our monthly rental fee is based on square footage as well as the location within the building and view, and is designed for seniors 62 years and older.      If you are worrying about getting the level of care that you need in our community, don’t.   Before you even move in, you will sit down with our Wellness Director, who is also a licensed nurse, to discuss your current health and review your medical history to determine the type of care you need.   We offer five l evels of care that provide assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) as well as various auxiliary services, both medical and non-medical that are priced a la carte.        During our assessment, we will discuss your personal preferences and normal routines so we can put together a care pl

MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers loads of amenities and services for our residents including our signature Wellness Program.   Committed to the idea that there is always a reason to start the day confident in the promise it holds, our program strives to engage the mind, body and spirit.    We recognize it is important for seniors to continue learning and contributing.    MorningStar’s Wellness Program is designed to enhance health and wellness, stimulate your brain and encourage connection through a range of physical, intellectual, spiritual and social activities.   Each day our Life Enrichment team will present creative ways to help residents keep active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory.      By offering such a wide span of activities and programs, we are certain our residents will find something that peaks their interest.   For example at another MorningStar community, their monthly calendar list the following activities offered on one day: Our Daily Brea