MorningStar

  Many families mistakenly think senior living and particularly assisted living is just a more luxurious nursing home.  The fact is nursing homes are intended for people who are unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental conditions and require around-the-clock skilled nursing care.  Residents may be bedridden or in wheelchairs and receive ongoing palliative and preventative long-term care.     Assisted living is for seniors who are mostly independent but require help with what is known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and include things like dressing, bathing and other personal care activities.  In some cases, people move into an assisted living community knowing that while they do not now need assistance with such tasks, they may need help in the near future.   Assisted living also makes sense for seniors who are looking for more companionship and love the security of knowing they are not alone.  As many assisted ...

    In a recent article in the US News & World Report, experts say forgetfulness is not an inevitable part of growing older and there are things we can do to help maintain and enhance our memory function and overall brain health. Furthermore, they also benefit whole body health. One of the first things they recommend is to never stop making “physical activity a priority as it optimizes blood flow to the entire body, including the brain. An adequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain helps to keep our memories sharp.” Researchers explain that the type of exercise is also important and recommend a minimum of 30 minutes a day of cardio exercise such as running, power walking, biking, or swimming. However, before beginning any new exercise regime, be sure to check with your healthcare provider. In addition, continuing to learn new things can improve our memory as studies have found a correlation between challenging our brain and maintaining brain health. This could i...

  MorningStar of Littleton 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 Littleton is also guided by our company’s founding principles that include:  Honoring God in our business practices and relationships  Valuing all seniors as gifte...

  If you have been relying on a piecemeal approach to care for your elderly parent’s various needs, you may want to consider moving them into an assisted living community. Especially now during the pandemic, having a series of people coming into their home on a daily basis may not make good sense. Another thing many are not aware of is that assisted living can be more affordable than in-home care services. Experts say if you are paying for more than 40 hours of weekly care, all told, assisted living is probably less expensive. Moreover, the peace of mind you get knowing trained care managers are always available to help navigate changes in your loved one’s health, is priceless. As some of the best assisted living Colorado Springs offers, MorningStar at Mountain Shadows provides residents a beautiful home and a lifestyle of comfort, wellbeing and security. Our team is committed to serving seniors and ensuring they are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. A...

  Now that many seniors are receiving their COVID-19 vaccines, we are all getting impatient to get back to normal life.  However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions that even after we receive our second dose of the vaccine, we still need to wear our face mask, at least for a while.   To start with, it will take some time to build up our immunity to the virus as well as the fact that the vaccine is not 100 percent effective against COVID-19.  Pfizer-BioNTech reports that “protection doesn't start until 12 days after the first shot and that it reaches 52% effectiveness a few weeks later.”  Their studies have shown that around a week after you receive your second vaccination, the effectiveness rate is 95%.  With the Moderna vaccine, an individual is reported to have a “protection rate of 51% two weeks after the first immunization and 94% two weeks after the second dose.” Another reason the CDC recommends continuing to mask up a...

  If you or a loved one is starting to feel less steady on your feet and at risk of falling, a walker, cane or even a wheelchair or scooter is probably advisable. However, before you start using a hand-me-down walker or buy any-old cane; experts warn that one size does not fit all. In the case of a walker, to be an effective and safe mobility aid, it is important to have an expert help you pick out the best type and size for your needs. As AgingCure.com points out, “The wrong device can negatively affect a senior’s stability, cause posture-related problems and even result in pain. Mobility aids come in all shapes and sizes, so selecting the right equipment and achieving a proper fit usually requires a professional’s assistance and expertise.” To get started determining what your needs are, experts recommend seeing your healthcare provider to discuss any problems you are having with your activities of daily living (ADLs). If they recognize a need for a mobility aid, they ma...

  It is important for family members and caregivers to remember that while a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease may be declining cognitively, they still have some abilities. Encouraging them to stay involved in meaningful activities is a good way to give them a sense of self-worth and purpose.  In fact, a published report from the National Institute of Health states, “engaging older persons with dementia in appropriate activities has been shown to yield beneficial effects such as increasing positive emotions, improving activities of daily living (ADL) and improving the quality of life.” It goes on to say it is important for those with dementia to stay as active and engaged as possible and that “it may even help to maintain quality of life in the more advanced stages of the disease.”   As to what kinds of activities are the most effective, studies suggest trying to stimulate all five senses: sight, touch, sound, taste and smell; and the creat...

  There are many examples of how the power of positive thinking has changed people’s lives for the better. When we take a positive attitude, it helps us to be more successful in most every aspect of our lives; and experts say it can be even more important as we age. Tom Caklos, founder of the www.positivecreators.com website, explains that positive thinking “is a critical ingredient for the well-being and health when a person is on the last leg of his or her life after completing all responsibilities and fulfilling all goals.” He adds it is an important tool to help the elderly transform their lives and fill it with passion, energy and joy.” So how can a senior who may be experiencing the loss of independence or a loved one, challenging health problems, and/or chronic pain cultivate positive thinking? Experts suggest getting into the habit of using positive affirmation to change negative thinking into positive thoughts. Moreover, when we focus on the changes we wish to make in ...