MorningStar

You may be confused about whether assisted living is the best choice for you or your loved one.  While licensing requirements for assisted living communities vary by state, they generally provide care for individuals who do not require around-the-clock skilled nursing.  The National Center for Assisted Living defines assisted living as “part of a continuum of long-term care services that provides a combination of housing, personal care services, and health care designe d to respond to individuals who need assistance with normal daily activities in a way that promotes maximum independence.” Thus, assisted living communities are ideal for seniors who are mainly independent but need help with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as dressing, bathing, and other personal care tasks.  They also provide daily meals and 24/7 care and can readily accommodate residents’ changing needs and preferences.  Most offer transportation and housekeeping services, which...

Experts say that one of the most important things you can do for a parent or another loved one in an assisted living community is to commit to visiting on a regular basis.  We are not suggesting every day or even every other day, in fact you need to give your loved one time to bond with those in their community, but rather to be consistent with your visits.  If you worry about what you will talk about or do during your visits, A Place for Mom, the largest assisted living referral service, has some tips to help you spend meaningful time together.  One of their suggestions is to do a craft project together.  You will find all kinds of ideas on the Internet and can use upcoming holidays for appropriately themed projects.    Scrapbooking is another idea and will give your parent the chance to reminisce about the past and to share old family stories.  Pick up scrapbooking supplies at your local craft store and bring along plenty of photos (be...

Have you started to think your parent or a loved one may need more care in the near future to assure their safety and wellbeing?  If the time is coming when they will need help with daily personal care activities, you may want to consider assisted living .   A community such as MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers a residential home where your loved one will receive the assistance they need, and allow them to live as independently as possible.  If this sounds like your situation, you will want to include your parent in the decision making process as the more they are involved, the better they will accept the decision.  In the case of a loved one being in denial about the need for changes in their lifestyle, it may help to read suggestions from experts on how to navigate through the process such as MorningStar’s Decision Guide, which is available on our website.    Stella Henry, R.N., author of The Eldercare Handbook, explains, “Many senior...

The Mayo Clinic reports on research that suggests listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. They explain the reason may be that “musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer's disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged b y the disease.”   Listening to music can help relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and reduce agitation.   Music can bring back memories to those even in the most advanced stages of Alzheimer’s.  A lzheimers.net q uotes neurologist Oliver Sacks, who says, “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory… it brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”  When music is incorporated into the everyday activities of someone with dementia, it can help them to recall memories of that activity and improve cognitive ability over time.  Research has shown that some of...

Many families may be unaware of the extensive care services that assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows offer to residents.  One term that is useful to know is Activities of Daily Living (ADL), which describes the various care services found in an assisted living community.   These activities typically include dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, etc.  At MorningStar a resident’s care level is determined after a thorough evaluation with our Wellness Director. One of the care services we offer is medication management by a Certified Med Care Manager.  The cost for this service is factored into a resident’s level of care and is part of their monthly fee.  Our service includes both the ordering and supervised administration of the medications, and we have two price points based on the number and type of prescriptions involved. For many elderly people, medication management is a very important service.  Statistics sh...

If you live away from your aging parents or other elderly loved ones, we hope you are able to schedule visits at least a few times per year.  Sometimes spending more time with mom or dad after not seeing them for some time can bring up real concerns about how well they are taking care of themselves on their own.  In fact, you may be seriously considering how much they would benefit from the many services and amenities offered by assisted living. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we understand many seniors are reluctant to make a change in their current living situation, which is why MorningStar offers a useful Decision Guide on our website under the “Family Resources” tab.  Here you will find information on the various senior living options available today.  The idea of Assisted Living took root in the late 1990s, as people started to realize there had to be a better option than the town’s nursing home, which often was a depressing, institutionalized facili...

Just because someone is older, it doesn’t mean the need for company, support and love lessens any.  Studies have found a consistent social life is particularly important to seniors’ emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.   However due to lifestyle changes many seniors experience such as re tiring from the workplace, the death of a spouse and/or other close family and friends, and no longer driving, older adults can find themselves socially isolated.   Having a healthy social life alleviates feelings of loneliness as well as helps to reduce the likelihood of depression, which is common among seniors.  It also helps to stave off cognitive decline and lessen anxiety.   Seniors with a more robust social life have been found to exercise more, which in itself can lead to better mental as well as physical health by strengthening the heart and immune system.  Researchers have found longevity to be another benefit of socialization, and maintai...

You may have found that there are several senior living communities in the area and may be wondering what sets MorningStar at Mountain Shadows apart other assisted living and memory care Colorado Springs offers?  To start with, we provide seniors comfortable private suites and inviting gathering areas as well as scenic exterior patio and strolling paths.  Our home offers 45 assisted living suites a long with 19 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. MorningStar’s assisted living is designed for those who want to maintain their independence but require some help with their day-to-day personal care activities.  Assisted living at MorningStar offers five levels of care along with a wide range of auxiliary medical and non-medical services.  We are also proud to have earned a reputation as one of the leading memory care providers in the Western U.S.  Our Reflections Neighborhood offers a holistic approach to car...

Scientific studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that engaged individuals are typically healthier and express more satisfaction with life.  In fact the NIA cites research linking social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for various physical and mental conditions includin g high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and even death. The journal, PLOS ((Public Library of Science) Medicine, reports that in almost 150 studies focusing on social relationships and mortality, they found loneliness may be just as bad as smoking and worse than obesity.  The studies also showed those with more developed social relationships had a “50 percent increased likelihood of survival than those whose relationships were weaker.”  Thus it appears an active social life isn’t just good fun but is good for us! It also turns out volunteering is a great way to increase social connections, and benefits you and your family as much ...

We all like to bring our elderly parents or loved ones a gift to show them just how much we care about them. It is often hard to know what to give to a senior , and especially difficult if a loved one is suffering from dementia.  Experts suggest you help them find ways to reminisce about their lives and accomplishments, and give them things that will bring a smile to their face and some joy into their life.     Many ideas for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia include personalized gifts.  One such gift is a talking photo book that allows you to record your own person commentary to go along with each photograph.  This can be a fun book to sit and enjoy with your family member as it helps to trigger memories and conversation.  Many companies offer such books, and prices typically vary with the number of photos and recording time available.  Buying an interactive book (the Alzheimer’s Association’s s tore has many) featuring vivid photo...

While MorningStar of Wheat Ridge is proud to offer high-quality assisted living and memory care for seniors, we also provide information on possible financial solutions to make care more affordable.  One example is our Companion Living option that is designed for two unrelated people of the same sex to share an assisted living or memory care suite.  This is an ideal solution for those wishing to share expenses as the rent of the suite is split between the two residents as well as a way to build a lasting friendship.  Even if you do not have someone in mind to share a suite, we will help you find a roommate and go to great lengths to match you with an individual who has common interests and similar background.  A roommate can also help to ease your transition to senior living.  You and your roommate can look out for one another, and as you are familiar with each another’s habits and personalities, may be the first person to notice changes in health and a...

If you are looking for exceptional assisted living in the Littleton, CO area, MorningStar of Littleton may be your answer.  Our community has 65 private assisted living suites, and another 20 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.  If you are wondering how costs are determined, we can provide you with a general guideline.  Assisted living offers seniors 62 years and older compassionate assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in a residential setting and each resident’s care is personalized to address their needs.  Even before you move in, MorningStar’s Wellness Director will sit down with you and your family and do a thorough assessment in order to create an individualized care plan.  Once you have moved in, your trained Care Managers will see to it your needs are met, and as we do routine Care Plan reviews, any changes to your health will be addressed.  You monthly fee is based on a ...

While MorningStar’s first priority is to our residents, we also recognize that helping our families accept the transition to senior living is important.  This is why we have a website filled with useful information and resources regarding all aspects of our senior living communities. We encourage everyone to read the history of MorningStar and about our Founder/CEO, Ken Jaeger’s mission to start a senior housing company defined by the human touch.  He explains that he “wanted to re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.”  Guided by our Radiance program, you will also learn how we deliver service - with warmth, sincerity and depth. Furthermore, we understand that senior living and senior care decisions are often precipitated by major changes, which is why we provide a guide that details various retirement options.  One recommendation we offer is to clearly identify what you are trying to solve, and to think about ...

The Alzheimer’s Association explains that many people suffering from Alzheimer’s may be “overwhelmed with too many food choices, forget to eat or have difficulty with eating utensils.”   This can be a problem as we know healthy eating is especially important for those with dementia and that poor nutrition can result in weight loss and increase behavioral symptoms.  This is why in addition to the many aspects of MorningStar of Wheat Ridge’s memory care ; we take our residents’ nutritional concerns very seriously.  One of the things we do to encourage our tender memory care residents to eat is to make dining as much about Community as it is about nutrition.  At mealtime, team members sit with residents to help make meal time an enjoyable, shared experience.  We also regularly serve meals family-style on platters and serving bowls to prompt residents to connect with memories of meals they have eaten or prepared during their lives.  Family members are in...

We know that seniors value their independence and that many are reluctant to let families and friends know they may need more help.  Often older adults fear they may become a burden or worry their family. However, experts advise that even if your parent is not expressing a need for more help, there are signs to look for that indicate they need it.  Michael Perskin, a geriatrician at NYU Langone Health explains that, “Sometimes you’re shocked when you visit.”  He adds it is troubling if “you walk into a parent’s house and the bathrooms are dirty or there’s no food in the refrigerator.”   Other signs include weight loss and a general decline in their appearance. Often older adults in need of more care can no longer safely bath themselves and their health problems can make dressing difficult.   Driving can also become a problem for seniors and evidence of scrapes and dents on their car may indicate they should not be driving anymore.  For other se...

Committed to be the best senior living Des Moines or West Des Moines offers, we feel it is our calling, and our privilege, to provide loving, compassionate memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  With 29 memory care suites , we are equipped to care for your loved one from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  Also, our Reflections Neighborhood is a secure environment, designed to allow residents the independence to move freely and safely about in their expansive surroundings.  In fact, every aspect of our memory care is tailored to serve the needs of our most tender residents from a team of exceptional caregivers to meals, wellness programs and services.  Once your loved one decides to join the MorningStar community, we sit down with your family to learn as much as we can about their personal preferences, medical history and background in order to create an individualized care plan.  Every ...