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The government first published nutritional recommendations in 1941, which became known as the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDAs).  At the time, recommendations were more concerned with ensuring the population “as a whole was adequately fed and free from scurvy, rickets and other wartime diseases of malnutrition.”  These early guidelines did not address long-term issues such as heart disease and diabetes.    Since then, we have learned we need to focus on maintaining good nutritional habits well into our senior years to avoid or mitigate our risk for chronic diseases.  One example is type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body’s muscle, fat and liver cells stop responding well to insulin resulting in consistently high blood sugar.  Doctors say type 2 diabetes can be caused by too much sugar and refined-carbohydrates in our diet, and to lessen our risk, we should maintain a healthy weight and minimize blood-sugar spikes as well as add more fiber to our diet.  Another thing an older adu

If you are contemplating an assisted living arrangement for you or a loved one, it’s important to understand the options each community offers. Making the decision to move to an assisted living community may feel intimidating or overwhelming but assisted living at MorningStar Senior Living Communities Des Moines offers personalized care that is uniquely designed to meet the needs of every resident. No two plans at MorningStar Senior Living Des Moines are exactly the same. and your loved one looks forward to a beautiful new chapter. Assisted living communities, such as MorningStar at Jordan Creek, focus on each individual’s experiences, unique health needs, and personal preferences. Our Assisted living staff is determined to know each resident upon their move in, making them feel at home, understanding the support they need, and creating the optimum environment for achieving that. This may include 24/7 nursing care, medication administration, or mood and behavior monitoring. It’s a hol

We all know that life changes can be fraught with anxiety and fear and moving into assisted living is certainly a major change for many seniors. However, experts say there are several things families can do to help ease the transition period. One of those things is to help your loved one make a comfortable home in their new suite. Julia Bailey, a senior associate and interior design project manager with Denver-based OZ Architecture, explains that, " Moving into assisted living often can feel like a loss of independence and privacy for your loved one, but thoughtful interior design can go a long way toward improving happiness and well-being for the resident, as well as improving overall functionality of the new living space." Ms. Bailey cautions that you need to remember to let your loved one have a say in how their new home will be decorated including the personal mementos and photos they want to bring with them and which ones they want to display. Triggering happy memor

If you're looking for a senior living community near Littleton Colorado where you can join a cooking class, take an art workshop, or spend time around a fireplace talking with your best friends, then senior assisted living at MorningStar might be the right fit for you. Assisted living allows you the independence to explore the outdoors, go on fieldtrips, and enjoy large common rooms and dining rooms where you can participate in fun social activities and savor delicious meals. According to seniors, here are some things at MorningStar Assisted Living that make retiring so much more enjoyable . Assisted living communities are designed for seniors who need a little extra help with activities like managing medication, personal hygiene, and meal management. Residents at MorningStar have their own apartment that they can decorate as they wish and have access to a wide array of community activities. With friends, seniors in assisted living can walk the trails outdoors, watch a movie togeth

Assisted Living is a senior living arrangement that lends a helping hand to seniors who may be struggling to complete or maintain everyday activities. Many of the seniors in assisted living communities still have the ability to promote and advocate for their own freedom and independence. Seniors thrive in Assisted Living accommodations that help with a medication regime, coordinating appointments, and offering support with daily activities. Assisted Living also offers 24-hour care in case of emergencies. Within its communities, MorningStar senior living Des Moines offers Assisted Living with support at various levels. Around-the-clock Care Managers are on site and at the ready to ensure your comfort and safety as they meet your expressed (and unexpressed) needs. If you are considering assisted living in Des Moines for yourself or a family member, take the time to consider what services are needed. Upon meeting with a care manager at MorningStar Senior Living Des Moines, Iowa, we will a

The Alzheimer’s Association says that six in 10 people with dementia will wander.  The danger with this is someone with Alzheimer’s disease may not remember their name, their address or how to get home.  Furthermore, the more agitated the person becomes when they feel lost and disorientated, the less able they may be to tell someone something that could help get them safely back home.   Experts say anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia that is mobile is at risk for wandering.  Even if the person is in the early stages of the disease, they may still get disorientated; but thankfully there are strategies to help keep your loved one safe.   It is important to have a plan in place in the event that it should happen to your parent or another loved one.  Find out if your area has a “Safe Return Program” and enroll them in it and have them wear a GPS locating device at all times.  Also, learn to recognize the warning signs of potential wandering such as: has t

MorningStar of Wheat Ridge is part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company, whose mission is to “cast a new light on senior living.” We start by creating a true home for the residents in our communities, made possible by a dedicated team who understands the highest expression of living is to share their gifts and talents, time and energy with others. The scope of our Vision to love and honor also includes impacting the world for good through the MorningStar Foundation, and offering support to philanthropic initiatives within our local neighborhoods and around the world. One such project is our support to the people of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. We serve not only the children of the Casa Bernabé orphanage but holistically serve the impoverished area. We also are proud to support Lifewater, whose Healthy Village strategy focuses not just on their delivery of a safe water point, but on the villagers’ monitored adoption of hygiene habits in each and every home. Closer to home, MorningStar

Is your loved one or older family member starting to show signs of bruising and small scrapes or cuts? These mishaps can be signs that your loved one is having trouble with balance and physical ability and may be cause to investigate for other symptoms of dementia. Falls aren't an inevitable part of living with dementia; however, some symptoms can make people with dementia more at risk of falling or injuring themselves. Memory loss often causes individuals to be distracted or confused, which in turn leads to clumsiness and lack of caution. If you’re in need of memory care in Littleton, MorningStar Assisted Living offers holistic memory care options focused on safety, happiness, and individuality. Falls or small scrapes may not be an immediate cause for concern. However, a simple fall can result in hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and much more. If a senior with suspected memory loss problems is still driving or operating machinery, their risk for danger is hei

Our bodies need sleep, especially as we age. It is certainly frustrating when we can’t seem to fall asleep or stay asleep for long. Not getting enough rest leads to bouts of irritation and can even lead to depression or anxiety surrounding bedtime. This Assisted Living facility in Colorado has been named “Alzheimer’s Association Leader in Dementia Care” because of their progress and dedication to top rated memory care . If you find yourself with poorer sleep than you would like, MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care works with these tips to combat pesky sleep problems in seniors with memory loss. If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, chances are you are taking many naps during the day to make up for your restlessness. While naps may seem like an easy solution to a sleepless night, they can actually hinder you in the long run. Limiting your naps during the day can help your body prepare for sleep later in the day. With dementia or Alzheimer’s, it may be difficult to get se

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and there is no better time to start planning for some traditional Thanksgiving and Fall themed activities. Especially for seniors living in retirement communities or assisted living, feeling the holiday spirit is paramount for beating any bouts of loneliness or feelings of isolation. MorningStar Assisted Living and Senior Living Des Moines, IA , has a foundation built on community and inclusion of residents, especially during the holiday season. Here are some new thanksgiving activities that may help you or a senior in assisted living or senior living celebrate the new season. Every family has their own special recipe they make on Thanksgiving. A recipe competition is good, creative way to get involved in your senior living community. Everyone likes to think their sweet potato casserole is the best, but now it’s time to bring that to fruition. Not only is it fun for the whole community to try a special dish, but it’s great bringing an old recip

If you want to get something special for mom or dad or another loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or a 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 mark

Many adult children feel as if they let their parents down by moving them into an assisted living community. Mom or dad may have even asked years ago that you never put them into a “home,” and at the time, you made the promise; and/or you know families whose adult children have opened their home to their parents. You keep thinking your parents spent years caring for you, and now when they need help, you turn to strangers to provide the care they need. Experts explain feelings of guilt are normal and moving a loved one to an assisted living community is probably one of the hardest decisions you will have to make as an adult. However, they quickly add it is important to remember they were not getting the assistance they needed at home. For their safety and wellbeing, they needed to move to a place where they would receive the proper care. Rather than waste time thinking you have let them down, think of it as giving them a better quality of life where they can safely age in place. Experts

Too often seniors mistakenly believe that moving into assisted living means an end to their independence and their life as they knew it. We want to reassure you that at today’s assisted living communities like MorningStar at Mountain Shadows ; nothing could be further from the truth. Aging.com explains that while changes in a person’s ability to care for themselves can be caused by underlying medical conditions, studies show the importance of seniors receiving the assistance they need with the ADLs (activities of daily living). “Functional status and the ability to care for oneself have a significant impact on a senior's quality of life. Unmet needs for help with activities of daily living can lead to malnutrition, poor personal hygiene, isolation, illnesses like urinary tract infections (UTIs), and falls.” Another benefit of getting the help you need when you need it, is it actually gives the person a renewed sense of independence and lets them feel like they are once again in

MorningStar at Mountain Shadows is committed to the comfort, wellbeing, and safety of our residents. Once you learn more about our community, we are sure you will agree that MorningStar at Mountain Shadows offers some of the best assisted living in Colorado Springs . In fact, the MorningStar Senior Living Company was founded by Ken Jaeger as the fulfillment of his dream to create senior housing defined by the human touch and a sense of family. We believe our community has achieved that dream and is a true home for our remarkable residents. To ensure we meet our residents’ needs, we are deliberate about the individuals we hire to become part of our distinguished team. Every new employee is carefully vetted and chosen for virtues such as kindness, selflessness, and character. We look for people who are committed to perfecting the art of anticipating needs and willingly go the extra mile to serve. Once team members are hired, they are trained in “Radiance,” which is much more than ju

Dementia care specialists say they are often asked when is the best time to place a loved one in memory care . The simple answer is it is different for each person as well as for each family. They add that while there is no definitive answer, there may be a downside to waiting too long and typically there is not a problem moving a person into memory care in the early stages. Experts recommend families start the search for senior living communities offering specialized memory care once the level of daily care needed has surpassed that of what a family can effectively and safely provide. Caring for a loved one with dementia is both physically and emotionally challenging for family caregivers, and caregiver burnout is a real problem that can impact the caregiver’s health and wellbeing. Placing a person in a community specializing in dementia care allows family members to ease their role as caregiver and instead spend quality time with their loved one. It is important to keep in mind peop