MorningStar

Most seniors say that they actually prefer living in a senior community to that of living alone.   In fact there are many reasons why senior living communities such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows have become such a popular option among aging adults.   One reason no doubt is that they specialize in providing seniors with a lifestyle designed around comfort, wellness, and community.    As senior age many feel good about relinquishing tasks such as yardwork and home maintenance.   Many no longer feel comfortable driving and may have given it up altogether.   This may mean it is not as easy for many older folks to get out and about as in the past and makes grocery shopping and meal preparation more difficult.   These problems are no longer an issue when you or a loved one moves into Mountain Shadows’ assisted living.    Older adults also report senior living communities make them feel safer and they no longer worry about home intrusions.   They also get peace of mind knowin

You may have already heard that MorningStar at Jordan Creek Senior Living opened its doors to resident in March.   Our community has 56 bright suites for assisted living including a range of floor plans starting with spacious studio and one-bedroom units all the way to large two-bedroom floor plans.   If a family member requires memory care, our Reflections Neighborhood offers 29 se cure suites devoted to the specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. We are proud to report our opening has been a huge success and our team has been delighted to welcome residents to their new home as well as working hard to ensure everyone get comfortably settled in.   Also now that residents are here, our activities and special events have gotten underway.   To get an idea of the community’s goings on, you can now view our monthly calendar posted on our website.   As you will see, residents have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities that a

The Mayo Clinic defines prediabetes as the condition where a person’s “blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.”   They go on to say that without intervention, a person is in danger of becoming diabetic in 10 years or less; however, there are steps you can take to help prevent this from happening.        While it is not known exactly what causes prediabetes, we do know that family history and genetics play a significant role.   The Mayo Clinic explains that the genetic link has been confirmed by research with the discovery of some insulin resistant genes.   In addition studies show that excess fat; especially abdominal fat as well as inactivity are “important factors in the development of prediabetes.”   The job of glucose (sugar) in our bodies is to fuel the cells that make up our muscles and other tissues.   We get glucose from any food we eat that has carbohydrates and not just from sweets.   As our food is di

Look no further!   MorningStar at Mountain Shadows is a beautiful, vibrant senior living community located just north of the Garden of the Gods Road on Centennial Street, tucked into the foot of the majestic Rockies.   Our community offers 45 graciously-appointed assisted living suites consisting of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 19 secure memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.      We want you to know there are several things that set our community apart from the others and that we strive to provide residents with the best of the best.   Whether it is our gorgeous interiors and exteriors, a host of wellness programs and activities, or most importantly a responsive staff that is honored to serve seniors, we feel Mountain Shadows offers unparalleled senior living.   Our goal is to provide residents with the care they need to lead m

Now that MorningStar at Jordan Creek is up and running, we are busy welcoming new residents and enjoying getting to know them.     We want to help make the transition to senior living a smooth one and our team is working to that end.   MorningStar understands that often the move to assisted living is done because of a life changing event so not only is the person adjusting to a new home but may be mourning the loss of their old life.   For some seniors, moving into assisted living can be stressful as they start to feel more and more of their independence is being taken away from them.   Our job is to be ready to help smooth over any rough patches.      Even before someone makes the move into assisted living there are some things families can do to help ease the coming change.   We recommend that you let your parent take part in making the decision as it gives them meaning and purpose.   Also while you may not want to put your loved one through taking tour after tour of assi

Research continues to show a strong correlation between pet ownership and a number of benefits to seniors.   Everything from helping the elderly to stay physically active , to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, providing companionship and making depression less likely are attributed to having a pet.   In fact, there are several studies that indicate that patients with heart problems do better when they are responsible for a pet.   Not only do pets offer lots of affection and unconditional love but they can also help seniors cope with the loss of a loved one.   In an article from AgingCare.com, a New Jersey psychotherapist, Dr. Jay P. Granat, discusses some of the other intangibles that pets offer to the elderly.   He states that, "Dogs—and other pets—live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. By having an animal with that sense of now, it tends to rub off on people."   At Mo

Many people mistakenly assume that “assisted living” is just another term for nursing homes.   In fact, nursing homes are intended for people that require long-term, around-the-clock medical care and supervision and should not be confused with assisted living, which provides residents support for daily care activities.   At an assisted living community , you will receive the care you need to live comfortably and safely while still retaining your privacy and as much independence as possible.      Assisted living is ideal for anyone who does not require 24-hour skilled medical care but rather just needs more personal care than they can get at home or at an independent living retirement community.   Meals and transportation are provided, and if needed, residents can get help with activities such as showering dressing, and etc.   For the family, they rest easy knowing that a trained, caring st aff is available to help whenever a loved one needs it.        Many assisted living c

You may have wondered why it is as you have gotten older; you seem to bruise more easily and find bruises that you do even remember getting.   There is a scientific explanation for why the problem occurs more commonly in the elderly , and generally bruises do not require treatment and are not serious.    However please keep in mind that significant bruising can be a sign of medical problems and should be discussed with your health care provider.        According to the Mayo Clinic, a bruise, know in medical terms as a contusion, occurs “when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin's surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury — often on the arms or legs.”     This impact causes blood to leak out of the vessels and look like the black-and-blue-mark we are all familiar with.   As we age , our skin becomes thinner and loses some of the fatty layer that protects our blood vessels from injury, thus making it easier to bruise.      While most bruises do not r

At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we compassionately and professionally provide memory care in 29 secure suites to seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.   Our Reflections Neighborhood is meticulously designed to accommodate the special needs of memory care residents.   As such, it means we can encourage and support independence as much as possible and let r esidents move freely about the facility.      MorningStar’s holistic approach to memory care involves treating each of our residents with the respect and dignity they deserve.   Even before a resident joins our community, we meet with them and their family to find out as much as we can about their background and interests as well as personal preferences.   From there, our Wellness Director creates an individualized care plan that takes all of this into consideration.   MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s memory care includes leveraging the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy and animals to

Adult children are often surprised to discover that a parent is not doing well and that they may require additional assistance to ensure their continued safety and comfort.   According to the experts, there are several sign to look for to help determine if assisted living is the right answer for your mom or dad.      The website Caring.com recommends that you consider assisted living if your elderly parent has recently experienced a fall or has had a medical emergency and did not receive the immediate help they required.   Also it may be time to think about it if they suffer from chronic health problems that are getting progressively worse such as COPD, congestive heart failure or dementia?   Furthermore, do they take a long time to recover from an illness?      Other indications that your loved one is not getting the care they need at home are signs of weight loss and a more frail appearance or if they are neglecting their personal hygiene and are not as well-groomed as t

While there is not a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other dementia-related diseases, it is important to provide the person with the proper level of care.   MorningStar Assistant Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows is committed do just that.   Our mission is to provide compassionate, professional care to our residents, and give families the peace of mind knowing their loved one is receiving the very best care available.    Our Reflections Neighborhood has 19 secure suites that are completely devoted to the individualized care of residents with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.   We are proud of our care team that is trained in progressive therapeutic approaches to palliate symptoms for our special residents.      One of the important aspects of our program is to provide plenty of recreational and purposeful activities such as music, life skills, art, entertainers and exercise.   To ensure our residents safety and well-being, services inc

MorningStar at Jordan Creek understands you may feel guilty about moving your spouse or parent into assisted living .   If you are the adult child of the senior, you may worry you have let them down by not having them move in with you even though you know your other commitments make it impractical.   Or you may already be the caregiver and realize the job is becoming too big to continue caring for your loved one properly at home.     If any of this sounds familiar, you need to know you are not alone.   At MorningStar of Jordan Creek, we understand the mixed-emotions that come with such a big lifestyle change.    However just as we are committed to caring for our residents, the MorningStar staff is there for the families of our residents.     Also when your parent makes their home with us, we are not replacing you in their life, but rather are providing the specialized care they need.   In fact, we think letting us handle all of the caregiver duties, frees you up to enjoy th

If you are looking for one of the best assisted living community in the Denver area, you will definitely want to take a look at MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Wheat Ridge. We offer seniors a choice of configurations in 45 private assisted living suites and devote 19 suites in our Reflection Neighborhood to the care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.       As a resident of our community, you will have a wide selection of meaningful wellness programs as well as creative and social activities to participate in.   Our programs include a variety of exercise options, Sunday worship, Catholic communion, arts and crafts, word games and puzzles, sing-alongs, trivia, Bingo, movie night and much, much more.      According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “being physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself,” and that “even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve

Assisted Living is a new paradigm in wellness and engagement and is built on a European social model.   It is designed for seniors who do not require 24-hour nursing care but rather just need a little assistance with daily living.   An assisted living community provides a secure and comfortable environment that lets you or your loved one age in place.   Furthermore, it gives family members peace of mind knowing that their elderly parent or relative is receiving the care they need.      Many communities offer a range of amenities that include private suites, libraries, theater, fitness centers as well as creative and wellness programs.   Some of the services typically provided by assisted living communities are daily meals, medication management, help with bathing and dressing and transportation.   With a home-like atmosphere, seniors have the opportunity for companionship and to develop new friendships and interests.    Assisted living can also provide a safer option for m

You can stop your search for the best assisted living community in Colorado Springs.   Once you learn about all we offer, we know you will agree that MorningStar at Mountain Shadows is right at the top of the field.   Our goal is to allow our residents to enjoy their retirement years as carefree as possible by offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community - all set in an atmosphere of love. Our beautiful private suites feature design-elements that meet the needs of even our most discriminating resident.   All of our stylish floor plans offer high ceilings and large windows to provide an open and airy environment.   With wall-to-wall carpeting, lots of built in lighting and mini-blinds, all you need to bring is your own personal furnishings and accessories, and in case you were wondering, we even allow pets!      Furthermore, all of our suites include fully handicapped-accessible bathrooms and are equipped with emergency call systems.   Also we recognize that eve