MorningStar

Do you have questions about assisted living for yourself or a loved one? At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we understand the concerns families have and provide answers to FAQs on our website as a good way to get you started.  For example, one question we get asked often is our age requirement and the answer is you must be at least 62 years old.  We also get asked if couples can live together.  Of course!  Couples can live together in their own suite, surrounded by their own treasured possessions, or suites can be shared by friends of the same sex who simply enjoy one another’s company. Another question we are frequently asked is, “do we offer short-term stays.”  Yes, it is based on availability and we do ask that you commit to at least a week’s stay or a full month.  This gives you the chance to sample a life free from cooking and household chores, and to participate in a bustling calendar of activities and enjoy the instant companionship.  ...

At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows, we provide our residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  Our gorgeous home is a step above ordinary assisted living facilities , offering resort-style amenities, a wide range of care services and enrichment programs to enhance residents’ health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection.    Headed up by an enthusiastic Life Enrichment Team, each day MorningStar presents creative ways for our residents to stay active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory. Our activities will engage residents physically, mentally, spiritually and socially and help them to tap into their unique talents and experiences.  We also take to the road with outings and field trips to local parks, museums, shopping, and other areas of interest.  To get an idea of some of the activities we offer, please visit our website and look at “Life Around our House” and “More Sc...

We are committed to provide the best assisted living Des Moines or West Des Moines has to offer, which includes exemplary service to our residents to e nsure 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 at Jordan Creek community.   MorningStar at Jordan Creek’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 pr...

A step above ordinary assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs , MorningStar at Mountain Shadows is not a “facility” but a true home.  Our beautiful senior community offers the area assisted living as well as memory care.  Our exceptional team is experienced in serving seniors and understands what it needed to provide our residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  In fact, all facets of our community were designed from the ground up to compassionately and professionally serve our residents and we start with 24/7 care managers and access to licensed nurses and certified medication care managers/QMAPs.  MorningStar’s care managers help our assisted living residents retain their independence by providing help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting and eating as well as other medical assistance.  These dedicated individuals were hired for their big hearts and a desire to serve sen...

We all know the holidays are a good excuse to heartily enjoy the rich, festive foods that make an appearance this time of the year.  However with the New Year, it is an excellent time to get back to a healthier lifestyle or to start one.    As many seniors do not exercise as much as they once did, most do not require as many calories as in the past, so the foods they do choose need to be rich in nutrients.  One good way to start eating healthier is by adding more fruits and veggies to your diet and when you do snack, to make sure it is a healthy one.  Rather than potato chips and candies, choose fruit smoothies, Greek yogurt with fruit, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, veggies and low-fat dip, or nuts and trail mixes.      Experts recommend starting your morning with a hydrating warm drink and to remember to continue to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day.  Also stay active, and if you don’t already h...

For many of us, the New Year is a time for new beginnings and we optimistically start it with a resolve to do things like losing weight, exercising on a regular basis, going back to school, saving more money, or getting a new job.  Some people’s resolutions include being kinder or becoming more involved in their church and community.   Others resolve to do something entirely new and really spread their wings and fly! However all of our good intentions can quickly fade away come February or March when many of us give up on keeping our New Year’s resolutions.  This is where a few tips come in handy to help us stay the course during 2020; and start by with focusing on the best way to achieve our goals.  For example, if you decide to lose weight, you will be more motivated if you also think about what you will gain such as increasing your energy level and improving your overall health.   Another thing behavior scientists seem to agree on is that we ar...

At MorningStar of Wheat Ridge , we know that senior living communities offer many benefits including the often-overlooked benefit of socialization.  Senior living provides a natural, easy way to be around people that share your interests as well as encourages older adults to stay engaged in life.  In fact, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has substantial research that shows socialization is an important component to our good health.   One thing the NIH studies consistently found is a “strong correlation between social interaction and health and well-being among older adults.”  Moreover they found that social isolation may have significant adverse effects for older adults. They report that social relationships are strongly associated with biomarkers of health and that loneliness may have a physical as well as an emotional impact such as a higher risk for symptoms of depression.  As MorningStar defines health and well-being holistically, we proud...

In addition to our 45 private suites for assisted living , MorningStar of Wheat Ridge provides 19 secure suites devoted to the care of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases.  Dedicated to providing the best memory care in the area, our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to encourage residents’ independence as much as possible, while providing individualized care that stimulates or calms as the situation requires.  At MorningStar our approach to memory care is designed around our comprehensive program we call “Lavender Sky.”  Our philosophy encourages us to walk alongside a resident as we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the world of dementia.  With insight and intentionality, we enter into our memory-impaired residents’ “purple world” to cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. We also educate the families of those afflicted with dementia on how to follow our lead and enter too. Another...

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you and your family will need to take steps to plan for your/their future.  Experts advise families that along with discussing dementia care options, they financially and legally plan for the future.   The National Institute on Aging advises the person to examine and update their financial and healthcare arrangements as soon as possible. By having legal and financial documents in place, such as a will, a living trust, and advance directives, it ensures the person’s late-stage or end-of-life healthcare and financial decisions are carried out.       The NIA suggests having a lawyer draw up and maintain the documents as they understand State law and can help update changes to a person’s circumstances such as divorce or a death in the family, and other applicable changes.  These documents should include Advance Directives for Health Care:...

According to the U.S. News & World Report, every year there are 5 million cases of elder fraud in the U.S., resulting in as much as $27.4 billion in losses.   Additionally, these crimes are often hard for law enforcement to prosecute because in many cases victims are too embarrassed to report the crimes.   The FBI says con artists also know that seniors do not make good witnesses even if they do report the crime due to the effects of age on their memory and the length of time it takes to bring a case to justice.     Experts explain there are several reasons why seniors are more susceptible to fraudulent schemes starting with the fact they tend to be very trusting.  Our elderly population was typically raised to be polite, to believe people are basically good, and have a hard time saying “no.”  These are the traits con artists exploit.  Lonely seniors can easily be preyed upon as they are willing to stay on the phone and engage in conver...

At MorningStar of Littleton, our beautiful community offers a choice of 65 well-appointed, private assisted living suites on three levels.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 20 suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with memory impairment. While memory care is all-inclusive, the cost of an assisted living suite is determined by the level of care the resident requires.  MorningStar’s assisted living has five levels and uses a simple point system, which factors into account the cost and time it takes to provide each service.  Whether it involves help with personal daily care activities such as grooming, bathing and toileting, or medical assistance, we come up with a cumulative score that places you within one of our five levels.  Before an assisted living resident even joins our community, our Wellness Director meets with them and their family to go over their medical history and discuss their needs.  From there, we create a care ...

Many older adults, especially those in an assisted living or memory care community are no longer as steady on their feet as they used to be.  This puts them in danger of a fall, which can have many serious repercussions on a seniors’ health .  If you are considering getting a walker to help you move about safely you should know that there are several types which meet different needs.  For starters since there are several kinds of walkers, you should consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist to assist you to find the most suitable one.  They will make sure it is your size as well as the right type. To determine size, you should be able to stand between the rails, and the width of the walker should be level with the insides of your wrists. A professional will also teach you how to use the walker and provide tips for normal activities such as sitting down while using a walker.  This is done by backing up until you feel the seat of the chair...

If you have started searching for assisted living facilities for a parent, you know if can be overwhelming.  You are probably looking for a place that fits their budget, care needs, and lifestyle preferences.  Moreover you know it is not a decision to make lightly as you will not want to move mom or dad out of a place after ju st a few months.  That is why the experts suggest that if the circumstances allow that you take your time and you get it right.  The Internet has several checklists and suggestions on what to look for when searching for senior living communities including questions to ask when talking to the staff.  One thing everyone agrees on is that it is a good idea to take a tour of the place.  Questions you will want to ask include suite sizes and configurations such as studios or one- and two bedrooms, and what is the availability.  If you plan to have both of your parents move in, ask if they can share a suite .  Also...

Currently Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.  For older adults, it is ranked third and is just behind heart disease and cancer.  There are several forms of dementia but Alzheimer’s is the most common.  Other types of dementia include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia.   Alzheimer’s disease is named after a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer.  In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer began observing a 51-year-old female patient at the Frankfurt Asylum who had a range of strange behavioral symptoms, including a loss of short-term memory.   Throughout the next five years of her life, Dr. Alzheimer studied the women.  Upon her death, he examined her brain where he discovered “many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary, or tau tangles).  These plaques and tangles in the brain are still considered so...

Several studies indicate life-long learning is good for seniors’ brain health and starting a new hobby or learning a skill late in life can help to boost a person’s memory.  In one study from the University of Texas at Dallas, researchers found that older adults “who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills.”  They theorize that when seniors mentally challenge themselves with new skills such as playing an instrument, learning to operate a computer, or being taught to quilt, networks within the brain are being strengthened.  Neurologists in another study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland discovered that a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  Their findings suggest that older adults “who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are 2.5 times less likely to h...