MorningStar

Now may be the time to consider moving your parent into assisted living as a way to ensure they get the daily support they need in a safe, comfortable environment.  Assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows provide all of the comforts and care residents need to thrive! Assisted living also provides peace of mind if your mom or dad has poor balance or failing eyesight, which can increase the likelihood of a fall, and not having help close at hand can be dangerous.  In addition, if a parent no longer drives, it may be difficult for them to get groceries and other necessary supplies including prescription medications or to see a doctor. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ beautiful community provides assisted living residents help with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to maintain their independence as much as possible.  Residents and their families take comfort knowing our trained care managers are there to help them navigate through...

We all know that even as seniors , physical exercise is important to maintaining healthy bodies but medical experts want us to remember that mental exercise is also essential to good brain health. Luckily there are many fun and entertaining ways to exercise our mind and include an array of games on our tablets or computers as well as ones that only need pen and paper. Games like Sudoku, mahjong, chess, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and solitaire are enjoyable and challenging ways to improve memory and stimulate the brain. Moreover, there is good evidence that supports this claim such as the study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The research team conducted a long-term study that found seniors who did crosswords four days a week had a 47 percent lower risk of dementia than those who only did them once a week. Also, while there is the perception that chess is only for those who are very intelligent, it turns out the skills used to pl...

If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you probably have felt at times like you were not getting through to them. While communicating with someone suffering from Alzheimer’s is not always easy, we have a few tips to help make it more effective. Colleen Kavanaugh, a Certified Dementia Practitioner & Certified Dementia Communications Specialist, offers “a few tricks to have up your sleeve” that may help lessen irritation and calm and soothe more quickly. For instance, if you want to get the person dressed, Kavanaugh suggests you take a few moments to connect with the person. Get down to eye level so they can look directly into your face, speak slowly and ask a simple question such as “how is your day?” Once you have their attention, let them know the tasks at hand. Another thing to remember is to keep your instructions simple. Ask if they would like to do a particular task such as brushing their hair; a...

Seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia need to maintain their overall health as studies have found that poor health is associated with greater symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  This is why experts stress the importance of being under the care of a qualified doctor and following good health habits such as exercise, eating nutrient-rich meals, and properly caring for any chronic or new health problems.   Doctors also advise the individual should have routine hearing and vision exams and any problems be treated appropriately.  Along with being seen by their primary care provider, the person should see specialists as needed.  The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation explains that co-existing medical conditions may negatively impact Alzheimer’s behaviors. They state one example where “frequent urinary tract infections may increase wandering, and depression disrupts sleep and deepens social withdrawal.”   While it ...

MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ mission is to provide the best memory care and assisted living Colorado Springs has to offer.  To ensure we meet our standard of service excellence, each of MorningStar’s team members from caregivers to dining servers or housekeepers go through our proprietary service excellence “Radiance” training.  In addition, its precepts are reiterated during our daily “Huddle.”  Radiance celebrates an attitude of selflessness, which issues from a deep and sincere place as does a beam of light, and is the framework that guides the way we deliver service – with warmth, sincerity and depth.         As one team member from a MorningStar community writes, “Radiance training is absolutely phenomenal!”  She says she appreciates the fact that it helps team members to be their best at work as well as in their personal lives and creates an environment where residents are treated with the utmost care....

Most of us feel better overall after we exercise even if it is not strenuous.  A nice walk can leave us feeling more clearheaded and studies are proving that it is not just in our minds. Research has shown that when we exercise, “blood pressure and blood flow increase everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.”  In fact, the Harvard Men's Health Watch published an article stating that physical exercise helps us to maintain healthy blood pressure and weight, improve energy, lift mood, lower stress and anxiety, and keep the heart healthy - all which in turn benefits the brain.  The article explains exercise may stimulate brain regions involved in memory function and release a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whose job is to rewire memory circuits to work better.  Dr. Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a...

While I can’t speak for all seniors, I will say among my circle of friends and acquaintances, talking about our grandchildren is a common topic. For many of us, our grandchildren add a whole new component to our lives, and we have learned firsthand that the bond between grandparents and grandkids is a very special one.  This may be because a grandparent’s role is more about enjoying time spent with the grandchildren and a lot less about discipline and rules. That job we gladly leave to mom and dad. Right from the beginning, we are the fresh pair of hands that walks a fretful grandbaby until they fall asleep. As they grow older, many grandparents delight in taking the grandkids on “adventures” such as trips to the neighborhood park, an animated movie, visits to the dinosaur exhibit, or a meal at their favorite restaurant.  In addition grandkids are a great excuse to share hobbies that as retirees we now have more time to do from craft projects to baking, dancing, pl...

Along with assisted living , MorningStar of Wheat Ridge provides 19 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to accommodate the needs of our residents and encourages and supports their independence while keeping them safe.   Our holistic approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia.  Providing loving support for our residents, we enter with insight and intentionality as we step into their “purple world” and cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us.  We also embrace the world of dementia, which begins with accepting the diagnosis, as difficult as this can be.  Utilizing MorningStar’s extensive experience, we ...

At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we not only provide some of the best assisted living Des Moines – West Des Moines offers, but also experienced memory care. Our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure memory care suites dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. MorningStar’s compassionate team expertly provides the care your loved one requires for their utmost comfort, wellness and safety.  Our holistic approach to memory care is done through our program we call “Lavender Sky.” By utilizing our extensive understanding of dementia, it provides the tools to empower and equip our team to advance our vision and mission of providing a more insightful way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  All of our employees receive training in the program as we understand knowledge provides greater wisdom and insight into interacting with our most tender residents. The eight hours of training includes the pathology behind the diseas...

Thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association, we can stay updated on new advancements and treatments for Alzheimer’s by using their informative website.  At the end of last year, they summed up the remarkable progress made during 2019.  For example, the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) revealed several pieces of good news in the fight against Alzheimer’s. One of the most significant news stories was that we will likely have the capacity to test for Alzheimer’s disease easily and more affordable in the very near future.   The Alzheimer’s Association says that researchers are currently working on developing a simple blood test to detect the signs of the disease early, accurately, and much more affordable than other methods used.  This means individuals can benefit from early interventions such as medications and cognitive activities and change modifiable risk factors like losing weight, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking. The person also ha...

Many families may be unaware of the extensive care services that assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Jordan Creek 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 show that “many hospitalizations are d...

MorningStar of Littleton wants to reassure families looking into assisted living that if they put their loved ones into our home, we will see to it they receive the care they need.  Before the resident even moves in, our Wellness Director, who is also a registered nurse, will meet with the family to thoroughly discuss the person’s medical history, current health condition, medications, and personal preferences.  In addition, we regularly review, evaluate, and update care plans to ensure changing needs are addressed.  As a family member, some of your concerns may be focused on your parent or loved one’s medications especially if they have had problems taking them on time, all the time, or incorrectly.  If you want to know if we offer medication management, the answer is yes, and we also offer pharmacy services.  We consider medication management to be an important service to our residents as we know many seniors with chronic health conditions take several pr...

A fall can result in serious injuries especially for the elderly , who make up the majority of cases, and can take a long time to heal.  Many even lead to permanent mobility issues that limit the person’s freedom.  The CDC reports one in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year, and that an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds and a senior dies from a fall every 19 minutes.   Experts explain there are several reasons why the elderly are more vulnerable to falling and include medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, hypoglycemia, diabetes, and blood pressure fluctuations.  In addition, physical disabilities that affect strength and balance, poor eyesight, inner ear problems, and dehydration can also put a person more at risk for a fall.  Common situations that can result in a fall include wet or recently polished floors, poorly lit areas, rugs not properly secured, stairs, and u...