MorningStar

If you are looking for the best assisted living   Des Moines and the surrounding area offers, we encourage you to consider MorningStar at Jordan Creek.   Starting from our spacious, private suites to our beautiful common areas, both inside and out, we have meticulously seen to it that every detail has been paid to ensure residents the most carefree retirement possible. For those unfamiliar with the concept of assisted living, it is built on a European social model, and offers a new paradigm in wellness and engagement for those seniors who need a little support with personal daily care activities.  At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, new residents and their family sit down with our Wellness Director to create a care plan designed around their special needs and safety.  The resident will have around-the-clock Care Managers as well the services of our full-time licensed nurses on call 24/7 and onsite 5–7 days/week.   Among our many services, we have a CPR-trained staff member o

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 complica

Regardless of your age it is important to have a nutrient-rich diet in order to stay as healthy as possible.  Even for people in their 70s, 80s and 90s , eating well can make a difference in how they feel; but unfortunately, many seniors do not always know what constitutes a healthy diet.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides some helpful tips for older adults to follow to ensure they eat well.  One of the first things they say is to make sure to stay hydrated because as we age, we lose some of our sense of thirst.  They recommend drinking plenty of water and avoiding beverages with lots of added sugars. Seniors’ diets should include fruits and vegetables in a variety of different colors, lentils and beans, nuts and seeds, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy, and lean protein.  While vegetables and fruits are a good source of fiber, full of vitamins, and low-calorie, they can be difficult to chew for some elderly people with dental problems.  If that is

Are you in the process of looking at assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs for yourself or a loved one?  MorningStar at Mountain Shadows recognizes that moving to assisted living can be a difficult step for families, which is why we strive to provide all the details regarding our community beforehand so seniors and their family can make an informed decision.  On our website, we have a lot of information about our Mountain Shadows community as well as resources from MorningStar Senior Living regarding particulars on the company and our many services and programs.   One good source of information is to take a look at the FAQs.  Here you will likely discover answers to your questions (if not, please email or give us a call) and much more.  We start by providing families with a little bit of history on MorningStar such as the fact that we were founded in Denver in 2003 on the principal that it is a “privilege to serve, and our pleasure to love all beneath our roof.” 

Who can forget the nostalgic sights, sounds, and smells of their first trip to a state fair?  As an article in the Saturday Evening Post explains, “The American state fair is a conceptual curiosity, a celebration of agriculture that is at once a fantastic departure from the discipline and labor of the farming life.”   Even from the earliest fairs, agricultural displays and discussions competed for space and attention with a wide range of irresistible attractions, carnivals, and shows.   For many of us, going to our county or state fairs is an annual tradition and includes taking along the younger members of the household to introduce them to this very American institution.      Historians credit a wealthy New England farmer and businessman, Elkanah Watson with initially starting the idea of a state fair after he displayed his sheep in the public square of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1807.  However, it took another thirty-four years for the first official state fair to be hel

Along with our 45 assisted living suites , MorningStar at Mountain Shadows has 19 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Regardless of whether your loved one is at the onset of the disease or well into the more advanced stages, we can care for them.    MorningStar’s approach to memory care starts with the utmost professionalism and respect for the individual and works toward replacing medications with alternative natural therapies including patience, attention and love whenever possible.  Our specially-trained care managers use gentle, resident-directed methods to calm and awaken memories and to support each resident’s capabilities.  Common techniques include using multi-sensory cues such as aromatherapy as well as a range of meaningful and purposeful activities that incorporate art, music, and life skills.   Our personalized approach to memory care also means we

It is important to schedule routine doctor appointments for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease .  The Mayo Clinic explains that checkups ensure health and behavioral issues are regularly addressed and provide tips for caregivers accompanying the person to help them get the most out of the limited time spent with the doctor.  Also they suggest that while your loved one is still able, to have them sign a privacy release form at the doctor’s so their medical condition can be freely shared with you.   You should try to schedule appointments during the person’s best time of day, and if you can, coordinate it with the doctor’s least busy time.  You should bring along snacks and water as well as an activity you can do together. If your loved one has been uncooperative about going to the doctor’s in the past, wait and let them know about the appointment that day. The Mayo Clinic says the caregiver should prepare a list of things they wish to discuss with the doctor including medicat

If you are confused with what the term assisted living means, you are not alone.  Relatively a new concept, assisted living is based on the European model and is not a nursing home.  Assisted living is designed for seniors who require a little assistance with their daily personal care such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, etc.  Furthermore, rather than taking away a person’s independence, assisted living provides the services seniors need to maintain an independent lifestyle.  At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, our assisted living offers five levels of care.  Your level of care will be determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with you and your extended family.  Also regardless of your level of care, we provide all residents with around-the-clock Care Managers (at least one team member is CPR trained on each shift) to meet needs and ensure your comfort and safety.       On the MorningStar website, we list the many clinical se

Once you decide to move into a senior living community like MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, you may be faced with downsizing decades’ worth of personal items and a houseful of furnishings.  It is no wonder it feels like an overwhelming task.  Organizing experts have several tips to help you get started such as beginning with an inventory of your possessions.  After that, create a list of the things you do not want to part with and another list of items you would like to give away to family and friends.        Now measure the size of your new suite and create a floor plan that gives you a realistic idea of how your furnishings will fit in your new place.  If the unit is a studio or a smaller, one bedroom, you do not want to be so crowded you cannot safely move around.  It may even turn out that you need to buy some things like a smaller couch or coffee table.  Your next step should be to evaluate the things you want to keep to determine if you will have the room.  The

We are committed to provide the best senior living Littleton has to offer, which includes exemplary service to our residents to ensure their utmost comfort, wellbeing and safety.  To achieve this, we recognize it could not be done without the help of our team members who we consider to be the very heartbeat of the MorningStar of Littleton community.  MorningStar of Littleton’s team consists of a unique group of individuals who have a felt calling to serve.  They are the kind of people who do the right thing even when no one is watching, and have perfected the art of anticipating needs and going the extra mile.  Our team members see seniors as heroes and feel privileged to have a rewarding career that offers both professional as well as personal growth.  To guide us in our service, all team members, including the management team, are guided by Radiance, our exclusive brand standard of Service Excellence.  The program’s precepts are introduced to every team members upon being hi

At MorningStar of Jordan Creek, we understand the devastation families feel when they get a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.  We know the path going forward is unplanned for, and we consider it our privilege – our calling to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their family on their unexpected journey.  Our goal is to provide the best assisted living Des Moines and the surrounding area has to offer, which includes compassionate memory care for those in the early onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia right through to the most advanced stages.  In addition to our assisted living suites , the Reflections Neighborhood consists of 29 secure memory care suites.  The area is specifically designed to allow residents the freedom to move safely about their spacious surroundings.  Also given the nature of dementia, residents pay one price for their suite and their care regardless of the level of memory loss.  As dementia care experts, our unique approach and philosophy to caring

A step above ordinary assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs , MorningStar at Mountain Shadows is very proud of our senior living community and each one of our team feels honored to serve seniors.  Our community was named 2018 “Best Of” Assisted Living by SeniorAdvisor.com. This designation is awarded to the top 1% of senior living providers in the US and Canada, based on consistently high ratings and positive reviews from residents, families and visitors to SeniorAdvisor.com. While our website has extensive information and lots of pictures of our beautiful community, we still encourage interested families to set up a tour to see firsthand what we are all about.  Right on our website’s home page, we have a link to help you request a tour.  Once you have filled out the form, one of our staff will get back to you and set up a day and time that is convenient.  We ask that you allow at least 45 minutes for a tour as we are excited to show you around.  If you have ce

After making the move into assisted living , many residents are surprised at how full their lives become.  And despite their fears about losing their independence by moving into an assisted living community, most are pleased to discover that by getting the assistance they need, they are more ready than ever to lead productive lives.   Along with supplying built-in companionship, assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Jordan Creek strive to enrich the lives of residents with a range of activities that engage the mind, body, and spirit.  In addition, many elderly adults who live alone find meal prep to be difficult and often resort to frozen meals or fast food. When living at our beautiful community , you can sit back and enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors while you are served beautifully prepared meals restaurant-style.  Moreover, if you are a senior who no longer drives, we take care of that also with scheduled transportation to area shopping as well as

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that “around 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at an increased risk for osteoporosis.” Research also indicates that approximately one in every two women and up to one in four men age 50 years and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis.  These injuries often lead to serious complications, and in fact, twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year of surgery and many others require long-term care. The Mayo Clinic reports that osteoporosis-related fractures occur most commonly in the hip, wrist or spine.  They explain that our bones are made up of living tissue that is “constantly being broken down and replaced.”  The disease occurs when the creation of new bone is not keeping up with the removal of old bone.  As we age, bone replacement slows down and our overall bone mass is reduced faster than we can recreate it.   The bones of people suffering from the disease become in