MorningStar

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is devastating news for all. Family members may quickly start experiencing feelings of grief as they recognize their life is about to be changed by the disease and are uneasy about what the future will hold. Most are left with questions about what to expect next. As Alzheimer’s begins to take away the person we know and love, the Alzheimer’s Association explains that, “you'll mourn him or her and may experience the different phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance.” They remind us that feelings of grief do not come in a specific order but rather we go in and out of the various stages. Feelings of denial include unrealistically hoping the person is not ill or expecting them to get better. Others try to convince themselves their loved one has not changed or try to normalize and make excuses for their behaviors. Anger may include being frustrated with the person or feeling abandoned. You may also...

Located in the heart of Wheat Ridge, a northern suburb of Denver, MorningStar of Wheat Ridge is dedicated to making your retirement years carefree. Our home is distinguished by comfort, wellness and love; made possible through a dedicated team who understand how to provide residents with a quality-of-life other senior living communities simply cannot match. MorningStar Senior Living considers it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our mission: to honor God in our business practices and relationships; to value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and to invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. To achieve our mission, we start by hiring individuals with big hearts and virtues such as kindness, character and compassion. Every person on our staff, regardless of position, receives training in “Radiance,” our brand standard of Service Excellence, which guides the way we deliver service – with warmth, s...

It is no surprise that regular social activity prevents isolation and depression and improves quality of life for seniors in assisted living. Retirement communities like MorningStar Senior Living Des Moines offers plenty of daily, weekly, and monthly activities to keep your body and mind healthy. Seniors at MorningStar at Jordan Creek enjoy a mix of social activities like book clubs, weekly socials, and participate in art therapy and other clubs. MorningStar Assisted Living communities are adapted to meeting the needs of seniors looking for a fun, stylish, and carefree lifestyle with luxurious resort style living options and active community involvement. For seniors who are overwhelmed by the costs of home ownership, or the endless planning involved in finding fun and meaningful activities outside of the home, active assisted living is an attractive option . Active senior living at MorningStar offers seniors a community of like-minded neighbors in a close-knit setting which encourages...

MorningStar is a senior living community passionate about holistic memory care and active community-based senior living. The diagnosis of a brain disease like Alzheimer’s, where memory loss and other cognitive functions begin to deteriorate, is a sobering reality. It ushers seniors and their families onto a winding and mysterious road. MorningStar senior living of Littleton Co is honored to offer supported living for those with memory impairment that is rooted in holistic care. Memory care that focuses on a holistic approach engages a person on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. MorningStar has shaped their approach to memory care around this holistic concept, which allows us to meet our residents’ needs in a unique way that maximizes their health and wellness. Holistic elder care and memory care provides a vast array of benefits. In offering tender service to the memory-impaired, we train and model the precepts of Lavender Sky, our thoughtfully considered philosophy...

If you are looking for exceptional senior living, MorningStar of Wheat Ridge may be your answer.  Our community was designed to allow our residents to comfortably and safely age in place.  By offering luxury amenities, wellness programs and activities, and a broad range of care services, we support the whole person – mind, body and spirit.   The amenities at our beautiful community include fireside patio and porches, salon, fitness room, massage room, theatre/chapel and more.  We also have a bistro, and along with restaurant-style dining in our main dining room, we offer residents a private dining area for intimate dinners with family and friends. We consider it part of our job to find creative solutions that can extend the stay of our residents even when their health conditions change, and often are able to give them a quality of care at a lower cost to families.  For assisted living residents, an individualized care plan is determined (based on five leve...

You don't have to go through an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis alone. Whether it’s for you, a parent, or a loved one, you may find yourself feeling in need of some outside assistance, and memory care communities are wonderful environments that are ideal for seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In fact, studies show that a senior living in a memory care community will experience a higher quality of life than when they live at home alone. At MorningStar senior living of Littleton, your loved one will live in an apartment-like home complete with safety features and surrounded by caring neighbors and nurturing staff members. Holistic memory care can be defined as engaging a patient’s body, mind, and spirit without turning to unnecessary modes of medication to treat uncomfortable behavior. MorningStar senior living is a senior care community that is intent on knowing about a resident’s whole wellness and personality. From physical health to hobbies, interests, walks of life and ...

Assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows are designed to offer seniors 24/7 personal care with a wide range of wellness services targeted to their needs. A Place for Mom, one of the largest senior living referral websites, explains in many cases, today’s communities may be a healthier, safer alternative for many elderly adults. Along with giving residents the help they need to maintain their independence, residents and families get peace of mind knowing someone is always around to lend a helping hand as well as all the benefits derived from the social connections offered by community life. A Place for Mom cites several studies, which shows the extensive services and programs offered by assisted living can aid seniors in avoiding many commonplace problems affecting the elderly. Getting the proper nutrition is one of those things as many elderly people struggle with meal prep and cooking, and for those who are no longer driving, buying groceries can be challen...

At MorningStar Assisted Living Des Moines, couples can continue to live together in assisted living. Couples can live together in their own suites in assisted living, surrounded by their own treasured possessions. Alternatively, suites can be shared by close friends who simply enjoy one another’s company. Companion living for seniors in assisted living is a great option for those that need a little extra care and attention from those they trust. Within its communities, MorningStar Senior Living Des Moines offers Assisted Living with support at various levels and Around-the-clock Care Managers that are on site and at the ready to ensure your comfort and safety as you make MorningStar your home. Assisted living is a senior living arrangement offered at senior living communities that lends a helping hand to seniors who may be struggling to complete or maintain everyday activities or routines. Many of the seniors in assisted living communities can still promote and advocate for their own f...

While it might be worrisome, seniors moving to a senior living community actually have an advantage during the holiday season. The many festive events, special holiday meals, and goodwill make it a perfect time to become acclimated to the new community and make new friends. 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 holiday activities that may help you or a senior in assisted living or senior living celebrate the new season. Making a trip to visit your loved one during the holiday season in their senior living community is one of the best gifts any resident can hope to have. While your senior is busy making new friends and spending time celebrating the holiday with their community, it’s the perfect time to show interest in their new home and get to know their community. During the holidays, senior living communities often host holiday meals and activit...

We often come to think something is true if we hear it stated as if it is a fact. Doctors say this happens in medicine more frequently than we realize. One such disease with lots of misinformation surrounding it is Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder affecting predominantly dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Symptoms develop slowly over years and may include tremors (mainly at rest); bradykinesia (slowness of movement); limb rigidity; and gait and balance problems. One common misconception regarding PD is it only affects a person’s movement. Doctors explain this is untrue as symptoms can also include: cognitive impairment or dementia, depression and anxiety, sleep dysfunction, pain, apathy, sexual dysfunction, and bowel incontinence. Another thing many people believe is levodopa, one of the most effective treatments for PD, is only effective for a certain amount of time. However, experts say it is not...

Language loss is an unfortunate reality for seniors struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It can be hard for seniors to express distress in conventional ways that we are used to communicating. If you are looking for quality Alzheimer’s care in a senior living community, MorningStar’s staff is committed to using holistic and comprehensive problem-solving processes in senior memory care. Sometimes, really basic bodily issues, like pain, hunger or thirst, or even an environment that’s too hot or too cold, will lead a senior dealing with memory loss to act out of confusion or frustration. This may be very difficult and confusing for family members to experience and try to ease. MorningStar memory care of Littleton offers specific training that helps meet the unique needs of early, middle, and late stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. This specialized training allows our memory care team to keep our residents engaged with purpose and a sense of self throughout the progression of th...

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), every year more than one in four people over the age of 65 suffer from a fall, and many of those accidents require a trip to the emergency department. In addition to serious injuries, some falls even result in death. To help mitigate the risk, experts recommend that along with safety modifications to the home that elderly adults also do balance exercises. Balance exercises are relatively easy-to-do and can improve both your balance as well as increase lower body strength. Ask your doctor for some suggestions or take a look at the Internet. Most do not require special equipment other than someone to assist you if needed. The exercises can be done throughout the day and each one only takes a few minutes to do. One example of a balance exercise is called Tightrope Walk. This easy exercise improves balance, posture, and core strength. Start in a standing position and lift your arms extending them out to your sides. Now walk in a ...

When we look at cultures with a reputation for longevity, leading nutritionists and food scientists say there is one food group that stands out. “Blue zones,” areas known for having many of their inhabitants live to an advanced age of hundred years or more, include in their diet, five of the ten most recommended foods. All are from the bean family and include lentils, soybeans, peanuts (a legume in the same family as peas and lentils), chickpeas and black beans. People living on the Japanese island of Okinawa might enjoy a dinner of stir-fried green beans, soybeans or mung sprouts. Another meal in Nicoya, Costa Rico typically includes black beans. Known for a high level of anthocyanins, a pigment that gives red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring, beans help fight free radicals and offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits. In fact, anthocyanins offer 10 times the antioxidants of an equivalent serving of oranges. Nutritionists say beans also boost the immun...

Along with assisted living, Colorado Springs’ MorningStar community offers 19 memory care suites for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our care services are extensive, and we provide a wide range of amenities, wellness programs and activities. MorningStar of Mountain Shadows’ memory care revolves around comforting and caring for our most tender residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. We start with a physical space designed to enhance residents’ quality of life with safe, inviting common areas encouraging independence. Residents stay active with a gentle flow of activities including art, dance, physical exercise, special events, and scheduled outings. Once a resident joins our MorningStar family, we sit down with them and their family to get to know as much as we can about them including their history, vocation, talents, and preferences. From there we create a daily routine designed to stimulate or calm as a situation req...

Pet therapy (also known as animal-assisted therapy) is used for those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia as a way to alleviate feelings of boredom, loneliness and helpless. Dr. William Thomas, a Harvard trained geriatrician and author of “The Eden Alternative,” said bringing in children, plants and animals helps to invigorate long-term care by “incorporating companionship, a sense of purpose, variety and spontaneity into the day-to-day experience of aged care residents.” While studies show therapy dogs and other animals are useful in stimulating social interaction and easing agitation in dementia patients, experts say it should be done with specially trained pets to get the most benefit. Moreover, the animal should be matched to the setting as well as to the person. Pet therapists say dogs are generally the easiest to train as they are comfortable interacting with a variety of people. The benefits of animal therapy to dementia patients include the unconditional love and a...