MorningStar

At MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, our goal is to provide residents with a comfortable, inviting home where they can safely age in place. Our services, amenities and wellness programs are all geared toward accomplishing this. Residents also receive the often overlooked benefits of community living such as healthy social connections and peace of mind knowing loving support is available whenever they need it.   All assisted living residents have an individualized care plan created to help them maintain their independence, and our 24/7 care managers make sure the plan is carried out.  MorningStar’s care managers are dedicated, hard-working individuals who provide loving care to our incredible residents and enjoy building strong relationships with them.  Many of our daily activities are just plain fun and include movie nights, trivia and card games, art classes, exercise classes and much more. Our all-day meal service is targeted to seniors’ palates as well as their nutriti...

The U.S. News and World Report published an article on tasty treats designed to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide a healthier alternative to more sugar laden desserts. One suggestion from board-certified oncology dietitian, Kailey Proctor, of the Leonard Cancer Institute at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, is to grill pineapple, banana, apple or pear slices. Grilling concentrates flavors by reducing the water content, and further sweetens the fruit as natural sugars are caramelized by the heat.   Dark chocolate is a known powerful source of antioxidants as research shows it can help improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and raise HDLs, reducing your risk for heart disease. One healthy, easy-to-make dessert is to melt dark chocolate and spread it over parchment paper. Then sprinkle dried cherries, chopped nuts or sunflower seeds over it; refrigerate for five minutes and cut into small pieces. Another variation is to dip fresh strawberries or ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that each year, one out of every five Americans aged 65 years and older has a fall that results in an injury such as broken bones or a head injury.  However, medical professionals say while it is important for seniors to take precautions to prevent falls as injuries can be serious, they also remind us that regardless of how old we are, it is beneficial for our overall health to keep moving.  Experts explain that failing to engage in “mild exercise on a regular basis results in reduced muscle strength, decreased bone mass, loss of balance and coordination, and reduced flexibility.” They go on to say that despite commonly held beliefs, falls are not a normal part of aging and there are things you can do to help keep you on your feet and mitigate the risk of a fall.  Their first advice is to talk to your doctor about your risk and prevention.  Tell them if you have fallen and discuss your medications to see if...

MorningStar of Wheat Ridge offers assisted living as well as individualized care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases . Our Reflections Neighborhood has 19 secure memory care suites and we are equipped to care for residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  MorningStar’s holistic memory care is personalized and compassionate supported living under what we call Lavender Sky , which is the way we thoughtfully enter, embrace, and explore to find purpose and encouragement in every aspect of daily routine. As dementia care specialists , we deeply understand the disease and know regardless of the extent of memory loss residents deserve to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity. All team members are trained in MorningStar’s brand standards of Lavender Sky and in the pathology of dementia and brain disease. Caregivers provide 24/7 assistance with eating, bathing, dressing and have the tools to calm or stimulate a residen...

Growing older typically brings up worries about our health and wellbeing. The AARP states by the time a person is 65 years of age , there is a fifty-fifty chance they may need long-term care sometime in their future. The Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported in 2020 that women 65 years or older typically needed care for an average of 3.7 years, and men for 2.2 years. Moreover, while the cost of such care varies depending on need, experts say in today’s dollars it can average around $140,000 annually.  As none of us know what the future holds, we can end up worrying about disease and/or disabilities, which would make it difficult to care for ourselves as well as worrying about not having the funds to pay for the care. In addition, as people are living longer, retirees’ savings may not stretch as far. One way to alleviate your fears and give you peace of mind is to talk to a financial adviser to see if you should...

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 creative art...

A Place for Mom’s website offers some advice to families regarding the need for memory care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. They explain early-on in the disease, many individuals are capable of living independently with family members overseeing some of their care. However, they also warn symptoms can vary from day to day and it can be difficult to know exactly when a person requires more supervision for their safety and wellbeing.  Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says when speaking to families, he centers the conversation regarding additional care for their loved one on the “ability to perform activities of daily living and safety.” ADLs include things like dressing, bathing, eating and toileting.  Other questions doctors may ask to evaluate a person’s ability to live on their own include: is he or she having trouble finding their way back home from familiar neighborhood routes? Are they forgetting to eat or dr...

As senior living provides a range of benefits such as socialization, healthcare, amenities, and convenient services, it is no surprise it has become a popular lifestyle for many older adults. If your family has already started the search for senior communities in Colorado Springs , you know there are a number of options.  This may have left you wondering how to narrow down your search to find the optimal community for yourself or a loved one?    Experts say the first thing to do is to find a home that provides the proper level of care.  If you are a senior who needs a little help with the ADLs (activities of daily living), assisted living offers you the opportunity to maintain your sense of independence and get on with living your life to the fullest.  In addition to 24/7 care managers, access to licensed nurses, and medication management, many assisted living communities offer services including meals, onsite amenities, scheduled transportation, housekeep...

Growing older typically brings up worries about our health and wellbeing. The AARP states by the time a person is 65 years of age , there is a fifty-fifty chance they may need long-term care sometime in their future. The Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported in 2020 that women 65 years or older typically needed care for an average of 3.7 years, and men for 2.2 years. Moreover, while the cost of such care varies depending on need, experts say in today’s dollars it can average around $140,000 annually.  As none of us know what the future holds, we can end up worrying about disease and/or disabilities, which would make it difficult to care for ourselves as well as worrying about not having the funds to pay for the care. In addition, as people are living longer, retirees’ savings may not stretch as far. One way to alleviate your fears and give you peace of mind is to talk to a financial adviser to see if you shoul...

Experts say medication management is an important preventive measure to avoid potential serious health hazards for seniors . As many older adults take multiple medications, vitamins, and supplements to treat different symptoms and health conditions, they are at a greater risk for medication mix-ups. Researchers estimate that 25 percent of people ages 65 to 69 take at least five prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions, a figure that jumps to nearly 46 percent for those between 70 and 79.   Polypharmacy is the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report approximately 350,000 people are hospitalized each year due to adverse, or harmful, drug events. While these episodes are usually preventable, doctors acknowledge it can be confusing keeping track of daily dosages and special instructions such as to take with or without food or the time of day, etc. If an elderly parent or grandparent is taking several m...

Each year millions of elderly seniors fall prey to ruthless schemes that rob them of their money and identity.  The sad part is that it is often a result of a senior’s trusting nature or feelings of isolation and loneliness; or in some cases, a senior may have cognitive issues that impair their judgement and decision-making skills.    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 and agreeable to others, which in turn can make them more susceptible to fraud. Lonely seniors can easily be preyed upon as they are willing to stay on the phone and engage in conversation with a stranger.   The National Council on Aging (NCOA) updates the public to current scams targeting seniors so if you have a parent or other elderly loved ones who may be at risk, take a look at the info and discuss the variou...

Looking for the best senior living Littleton, CO offers? MorningStar of Littleton provides residents a full range of care services, wellness programs and activities designed to support the whole person – body, mind and spirit.   Our residential home is filled with spacious, beautifully-appointed common areas both inside and out and include a fireside patio and all-season porches, general store, salon, theatre, and library.  Residents also enjoy delicious, nutritious meals inspired by our Executive Chef and served restaurant-style in our lovely dining room. However, our stylish design does not stop at the door of our private suites.  Each one offers a range of features including high-end finishes, lots of lighting, and large windows as well a kitchenette with refrigerator.   For residents’ peace of mind and safety, our suites are also equipped with an emergency call system to ensure help is there if the need arises as well as handicap-accessible bathrooms.  Cabl...

If mom or dad or another loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, we have a gift idea sure to bring a smile to their face. Robotic pets are soothing companions to those in the middle and later stages of Alzheimer’s ; and a proven resource for providing a means for social interactions as well as stirring memories of when they felt useful. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reports “robots helped decrease stress and anxiety and also caused a reduction in the use of psychoactive medications and pain medications for patients with dementia.” A robotic pet allows a person to feel like they are providing care for someone – not always on the receiving end of it. However, dementia experts caution the “pet” should be introduced slowly to the person so as not to overwhelm them with feelings of too much responsibility. The Alzheimer’s Association explains it is best to introduce pet or doll therapy in a controlled atmosphere. They add when you let the person take r...