MorningStar

Finding the right assisted living facility for your loved one can be a difficult process. You want to consider safety, comfort, location, and budgetary restraints when searching for the right placement.  There are many assisted living and memory care homes to choose from in the Colorado Springs area. Our research checklist will help you narrow down the choices and find a facility that’s perfect for your loved one. Assisted Living Research Checklist Start online by going to the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Aging and Disability resource page provides a wealth of information about support services for older adults in Colorado. Some questions to help you narrow your search for the right assisted living facility include: Where is the community located?  Is the location conveniently placed for others to visit? What features does the neighborhood offer or lack? You may be able to find information about specific communities through the Better Business Bureau. While onl...

Occasional forgetfulness is likely nothing to worry about. However, if memory changes are disrupting your everyday life at any age, it is a warning sign that you should see your doctor. Symptoms of late-onset Alzheimer’s typically begin to appear in a person’s mid-60s, while symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s can start as early as their 30s. Caring for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s disease often requires the help of an assisted living care facility. What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain that can cause language problems, memory loss, and unpredictable, uncharacteristic behavior. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease arise because of complex changes that occur in the brain, including accumulations of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These plaques and tangles, along with a loss of connection between brain transmitters, first damage the brain’s memory center and then affect other areas. Memory problems and mild cognitive impairment can deve...

Now that we are heading into the fall months in Colorado, American football and college sports are beginning to take off again! If your loved one that is now in assisted living or memory care in Littleton CO is a big sports fan, this time of year is perfect to dedicate some quality time together and celebrate one of their favorite activities. Watching sports, especially watching their favorite sports teams, is very enjoyable to seniors struggling with memory loss or dementia. Watching sports is an activity that feels familiar. Use the advice below to help your loved one struggling with memory loss experience one of their favorite past times this Fall. Making the time to watch sports games with an elderly parent or friend is a great way to bond if they are residing in assisted living or memory care. The tradition of watching a sports game on the same day each week is very comforting for someone that struggles with maintaining routines or gets overwhelmed easily. Having an activity that ...

The everyday routine of grocery shopping, cooking, and eating a meal may become difficult with old age. Going to the supermarket may become a chore for seniors as it can become exhausting and overwhelming. Did you know that your elderly loved one’s grocery shopping habits may expose their need for assistance or assisted living? Skipping meals altogether, having spoiled food in the house, or often eating readily available snack foods is a cause for concern and may mean it’s time for increased help in your senior’s life. Grocery shopping assistance for seniors has increased in recent years. With the help of delivery apps and grocery stores branching out to do their deliveries, many seniors can complete their shopping trips with ease. However, the issue arises when your loved one forgets to order groceries, allows food to spoil regularly, and stops cooking meals for themselves. If you are experiencing concern over your elderly loved ones eating habits, an assisted living facility may be a...

MorningStar of Wheat Ridge offers 45 private assisted living suites that are specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors who wish to retain their independence but require some help each day.  Once you decide that MorningStar is the place you want to call “home,” you and your family will meet with our Wellness Director to discuss your needs and set up an individualized care plan that ensures your comfort, well-being and safety.  Some of the services we provide include help with daily personal activities such as bathing and grooming, 24-hour care managers and a licensed nurse available 24/7.  We also provide regular care plan reviews, medication management, scheduled health and wellness evaluations, pharmacy services, and much more.  Each MorningStar Care Level has its own monthly fee and is based on the cost and time it takes to provide the service.     In addition, we know that a good diet is important to keep seniors healthy, which is why ...

If you’re asking if you should start taking a dietary supplement or incorporating more foods that are rich in vitamins, the answer is probably yes. Usually, our bodies receive nutrients from the foods we eat. Therefore it is so important to eat healthy, fresh foods that are high in essential vitamins. People aged 55 and up may be in more need of some vitamins and minerals than younger adults do. As always, speak with your doctor or practitioner before changing your dietary routine. Here are some vitamins seniors should consider adding to their diet for optimal health benefits. Did you know people in the United States consume less than 50 percent of the recommended dose of Vitamin D? Vitamin D is often known to be found in eggs, fatty fish like salmon, yogurt, and certain types of milk. Vitamin D helps the body absorb and retain the minerals that are critical for building bones and keeping them strong. Studies have found vitamin D to reduce cancer cell growth, help infections, and reduc...

The Alzheimer’s Association has some effective tips for communicating with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. As the ability to find the right words or to speak at all is one of the effects of the devastating disease, it is helpful to learn some tips to make the communication process easier. Typically, in the early stages of the disease, individuals repeat themselves often and can easily lose their train of thought. They may start to avoid speaking and have trouble following a conversation, and may even use gestures rather than words. Experts suggest at this stage that you make sure to address the person directly, don’t speak through a caregiver, and allow them plenty of time to answer you back. The middle stages of the disease can signal lots of changes and usually lasts the longest. If you wish to speak with the individual, make sure to do it in a quiet space without any distractions. Your questions should be short and only require a simp...

An assisted living facility should be dedicated to creating a true home for its residents and providing their community with carefree retirement years and a lifestyle of comfort, wellness, and prosperous relationships. The Assisted Living Facility of MorningStar at Jordan Creek is seasoned in serving seniors and knows how to provide residents with a quality of life other assisted living communities simply cannot match. MorningStar’s Assisted Living in Des Moines offers a wide range of services and amenities that are designed with seniors’ best interests at heart. MorningStar at Jordan Creek is a senior living community that offers 56 bright suites for assisted living with configurations that include spacious studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans (some as large as 820 square feet). The Reflections Neighborhood is a secure assisted living development that offers 29 suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of d...

A National Institute of Health survey found patients who were most satisfied with their healthcare were those engaged in self-advocacy. This included a person becoming knowledgeable about their injury and health care needs; and being persistent about speaking up for those needs. The NIH also explains those who felt better about their experience practiced communication skills, were organized, talked to peer mentors and kept a positive attitude. Research shows practicing self-advocacy, or when a family member actively advocates on the behalf of a loved one, reduces medical errors in hospital settings, doctors’ offices or at the pharmacy. It is important as the World Health Organization reports “an estimated 10% of patients in high-income countries are harmed while receiving hospital care.” Also, according to a 2021 report in StatPearls, “medical errors result in about 100,000 deaths in hospitals and clinics annually.” Most errors are related to diagnoses, prescriptions and use of medici...

Your retirement community might have everything you’ve been searching for in a senior living facility. The abundance of healthy and exciting food options, group activities and outings, and beautiful surroundings both inside and out certainly make senior living in these environments enjoyable. However, many seniors who have moved into a retirement home will still come to miss their friends and family members. One way to combat this loneliness and build connections with new people in the community is to start or join a club. A book club is a fun and enriching way to get involved in your senior living community and keep your mind healthy. Bonding over the discussion of books is an intimate way to get to know others. Plus, the routine of reading a book over a course of time keeps seniors comfortable and encourages a sense of purpose and excitement. A gardening club is a fun and active way to get to know people, too. Nurturing plants in a collective garden has been found to give seniors a ...

Cataracts are cloudy areas that form in the lens, which is normally transparent, and are the main cause of vision loss in people over 40 years of age. It is estimated more than 40 percent of Americans aged 75 years or older have some degree of lens clouding; and over half of people 80 or older have their vision significantly impaired by cataracts or have had cataract surgery. Surgery is generally recommended once vision is impaired to a degree that people have trouble reading, driving and recognizing faces. Today the surgery is a quick, safe procedure, replacing the cloudy lens with a clear plastic one. Doctors say there are things people can do to reduce their risk of developing cataracts with quitting smoking at the top of that list. Medical News Today reports on studies linking a 3-fold increase of smoking to cataracts as well as raising the risk of a number of other eye conditions. A healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good quality fats (avocados, olive oil, and...

With age, we become more forgetful and may start to feel scatterbrained. Misplacing items or forgetting to do small errands is not an immediate cause for concern with old age. However, caregivers of an elderly loved one may fail to recognize the other subtle symptoms of forgetfulness that indicates that something is wrong. These symptoms develop gradually and can go unnoticed for a long time until it becomes serious. We often misplace our keys and wallet in our day-to-day life, and we don’t usually consider it a serious need for medical attention. Seniors who are in the early stages of dementia may not only lose their keys and wallet but will forget what these items are used for all together. They may forget that they need their keys to get into their home and leave the house without locking the door. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia can become confused as to how to use their keys and will experience frustration and anger. Leaving your senior loved one without the proper safety ...

If you are looking for assisted living in Colorado Springs, we encourage you to consider MorningStar at Mountain Shadows. For seniors who wish to maintain their independence but require assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living), our 45 assisted living suites are equipped with all the modern conveniences and safety features. Available in a variety of well-designed floor plans, suites have wall-to-wall carpeting, high ceilings, large windows, ceiling lights, and mini blinds. In assisted living, we offer various levels of support with the ADLs (we have 5 levels in all), and your care plan is determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director, and in agreement with you and your family. Various auxiliary services, both medical and non-medical, are priced a la carte. However, regardless of your level of care, all assisted living residents have access to around-the-clock Care Managers to ensure your safety as they compassionately meet your expressed (and even unexpre...

If you want to get something special for mom or dad or another loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, it can be challenging to figure out a good gift. This is where the Internet can lend a hand with a range of items designed to enhance your loved one’s quality of life. Dementia care specialists say it can take a little more time and some creativity but there are many great gift ideas. One idea is personalized gifts or memory-filled ones. A photo album filled with pictures of the person surrounded by people important to them, or a picture book from a place they loved to visit. A coffee mug personalized with a photo or a cozy throw filled with favorite family pictures are also good ideas. Music from their younger years, show tunes and old movies are sure to make them smile and can be a good way to spend an afternoon together listening to their new gifts. Coloring books filled with pictures of things they love such as animals or flowers, and a set of new...

Do you have an elderly relative living alone or in a senior community who lives too far to visit? How about sending something special to show your thinking of them even if it’s not their birthday or a holiday. One idea is to send them a gift basket filled with goodies to eat and drink, gifts to entertain, and items to make their lives a little easier or more pleasant. For your coffee drinking parent or grandparent, a bag of gourmet coffee and a nice new mug is one way to start your basket, or add a collection of teas that include decaffeinated and herbal options. Are they a chocolate lover or prefer salty snacks? Adjust your selection to include high-end chocolates and other delightful treats or a nice selection of crackers and cheeses. For a book lover, add a novel you think they would enjoy or a coffee table book on famous gardens, architecture, maps, photography or wherever matches their interest. A collection of classic movies is also something many seniors would enjoy. Now...