MorningStar

  Many families may be unaware of the extensive care services that assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Littleton 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...

  If your parent lives alone and you are worried that they need more personal daily care than you can provide, it may be time to look into other options.  One of those is assisted living , which focuses on providing residents the daily care they need to help them retain their independence.        Especially now, you want to judiciously make the best, safest choice for your mom or dad.  To help you do so, experts offer a few suggestions of things to think about before you begin your search (obviously you want to respect mom or dad’s preferences and wishes).  They recommend that while you take into account your parent’s immediate needs, you also give some thought to their future needs.  So, find out if the home you are considering will allow them to "age in place” and/or if there are limitations in terms of how much care the community provides.   Your questions should include the level of care services they are licensed...

    Whenever we suffer from a bout of the flu or another illness for a couple of weeks, we quickly remember that good health is a blessing. So, consider how tough it is for some people forced to deal with the consequences of long-term medical conditions that impact their lives every day. Many of these debilitating, persistent conditions cause pain, fatigue and other life-altering symptoms. Experts recommend if you are one of these people that you give yourself what you need whether it is food, sleep or down time and get into the habit of listening to your body and honoring its limitations. The MedlinePlus website explains it is important to support yourself as well as to let go of expectations, and if you need more support, know where to go to get it. Also, learn as much as you can about your condition as people typically cope better once they how to take care of themselves. In addition, they say let go of blame. Your medical condition may be a result of your family ...

      Research has shown that having a pet can improve our mental health, cardiovascular health and PTSD symptoms. In fact, even if you do not own a pet but just spend some time interacting with animals, it can lift your spirits and decrease stress. Also, during times of isolation and uncertainty, many of us feel our pets are more important than ever. The great thing about pets is they offer unconditional love and loyal companionship. Caring for an animal can be a welcome distraction from life’s other worries and can provide more meaning to our life. Moreover, how can you feel upset or angry when sitting with a cat on your lap and hearing the relaxing, melodious sound of their purr? Research has shown that an act as simple as petting a dog or cat has been shown to reduce stress and help regulate our mood. Many people believe their pet has the ability to pick up on their emotions and know when they are sad or stressed and need a little “extra love.” In addition, do...

  If you are new to the name MorningStar allow us to introduce ourselves. MorningStar Senior Living was founded in 2003 by Ken Jaeger whose intention was to create senior housing that felt like the loving atmosphere of his grandmother’s Mid-west home. We now have 25+ senior living communities scattered throughout the Western US including MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, a Colorado Springs assisted living and memory care home. We sincerely believe our astounding success is attributed to a mission statement of honoring God in our business practices and relationships; valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and investing in our team’s ability to serve well. MorningStar communities are also deliberate in the type of culture we strive to create, which is why it is important for us to hire individuals that believe residents are to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows offers 45 bright suites for assisted living , ...

    Do you celebrate Christmas each year with a large family get-together on Christmas Eve, host an annual family reunion with a barbeque and baseball game, or take yearly family vacations to new places? Most families have traditions that are unique to them, and experts say this is important as they help us feel connected and teach values. Traditions are rituals that can be big or small but are done with a sense of purpose and an awareness that something special is going on. While forming the bonds of family togetherness can sometimes be hard to do in today’s busy world, the rewards are great. Family rituals provide a sense of home, security and identity that kids and the older generation need. They shape our holidays and birthday celebrations, bedtime routines, meals and more. As family expert, Meg Cox defines in her newly updated guide, The Book of New Family Traditions ; family rituals are “any activity you purposefully repeat together as a family that includes height...

  At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Wheat Ridge , we compassionately and professionally provide memory care 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 residents move freely about their environment.  Our community has 19 secure suites in a range of floor plans.   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. MorningS...

  Ma ny times, a move to assisted living is precipitated by a fall or a medical emergency that causes a family to realize mom or dad needs more care than they are presenting getting living alone. In these cases, it means there is not time for planned strategies for where or when the person will make the move. Instead, they quickly leave behind a beloved home, while coming to terms with a recent loss of mobility or needing assistance with personal daily care activities. This can be very traumatizing for many seniors, and experts offer tips to help families and the senior cope with the sudden change. One of the first things they suggest when looking into the area’s senior communities is to make sure that the community is equipped to care for your loved one’s needs. Moreover, as today’s move is hard, another move in a few years will be at least as hard if not more so, which is why you must evaluate if the community is also able to provide for their future needs. Another thing ...

  As the holidays quickly approach, many of us wonder what to get mom or dad or other beloved seniors on our gift list.  Moreover, while this has been a tough year for most of us, many seniors have been isolated from their children and grandchildren due to the pandemic, making it especially difficult.  This is why we want our senior loved ones to know they are very much loved and missed.   If you are buying a gift for a parent in an apartment or senior living community , remember they most likely do not have lots of space to store things so be circumspect about buying a large gift that will used only occasionally.  Consider something like a wreath for outside their door to cheer up and personalize their space.  Also keep in mind it doesn’t necessarily have to be holiday related but one that can be used all year long.  If they have a window where they could see a bird feeder, check with management to see if you can hang one outside.  ...

  At MorningStar, our goal is to provide the best senior living Littleton, CO has to offer, which includes compassionate and loving care for those with memory impairment.  Our Reflections Neighborhood is unique from many other senior communities as it is specifically designed to cater to the specialized needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia -related diseases.  Starting with our physical design, which enhances residents’ freedom to explore our expansive surroundings safely and easily, we look for creative ways to connect with and nurture each individual, regardless of the level of memory loss.   To aid us in this endeavor, we are staffed by a dedicated team that feels it is their calling, their privilege, to serve our tender residents and to provide a level of care that affirms their dignity and value.  Each team member is trained in Radiance, our Service Excellence Program, which is an attitude of the heart and is the way we deliver ...

    Medical experts say changing our daily habits to include a healthier diet and routine exercise can help fight off viruses and improve our overall health . They recommend starting our day with fiber such as eating a bowl of unsweetened bran cereal and then add a dark colored berry like blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. Fiber feeds the good bacteria in our gut, and antioxidants and flavonoids “improve the health of macrophages and other virus-eating cells.” Then they suggest you take a walk, ride a bike, swim or jog for about 30 minutes to an hour. Doctors say exercising helps to circulate our immune cells and that the benefit lasts for up to two to three hours after we are done. Lunch or your afternoon snack should include a salad or a veggie and fruit smoothie. Dietitians advise varying the fruits and veggies you eat and to try to get ten servings a day. Another tip to help ward off viruses include taking time each day to destress and rel...

  MorningStar of Wheat Ridge is a part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company whose vision is “to be a company of servant-minded, purpose-driven leaders in our senior communities and throughout the world.”  This means right from the start we have made a point to staff our loving home with individuals who feel called to serve and understand that seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.   In addition, we support MorningStar’s mission of serving others here at home and throughout the world including supporting the Alzheimer’s Association and the Casa Bernabé orphanage in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.  We also support MorningStar’s partnership with “Lifewater,” a non-profit organization that focuses on delivering safe water sources to villages across the globe.  MorningStar of Wheat Ridge is also guided by our company’s founding principles that include:  Honoring God in our business practices and relationships  Valuing...