MorningStar

The senior living community you pick to live out your retirement years should have the same deeply held values that align with your comfort and safety. You can find the best senior living Des Moines has to call your future home. MorningStar Senior Living emphasizes relationships, empathy, and independence under a three-pillar mission designed by Ken Jaeger.  If you are deciding to move into senior living or assisted living, take the time to thoroughly research senior living in Des Moines that will illuminate the standards and level of care you expect while creating a spiritually loving environment.  A senior living facility should have the same morals and values you support. Ken Jaeger, Founder and CEO of MorningStar Senior Living, believed in senior care that was defined by the human touch. He looked towards his familiar roots and wanted to re-create his grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family. Ken developed a three-pillar mission to keep Mor...

If you still think assisted living is an “old person’s home,” you could not be more mistaken. Today’s assisted living communities are a far cry from old-fashioned facilities like nursing homes, and offer seniors a vibrant lifestyle of comfort, wellness, and community. As a resident, you have opportunities to grow, learn and contribute. Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) had their beginnings decades ago as “nursing homes,” and in a time when there were few other options for senior care. Today SNF typically focus on short-term rehab including helping patients discharged from the hospital after surgery or illness. SNF staff include RNs and CNAs, and specialize in serving residents in fragile and declining health. Assisted living is designed to assist residents with the activities of daily living (ADLs) such as toileting, dressing, and bathing. However, assisted living communities like MorningStar of Wheat Ridge provide much more than just physical care. Along with a wealth of amenities, ...

Holistic memory care options for seniors with Alzheimer's are becoming increasingly helpful in remedying symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Holistic memory care has been shown to improve outcomes for seniors with dementia and provide them with the highest quality of life possible. By exploring all the Assisted Living options Littleton CO offers, you can be sure you’re making the right choice in Alzheimer’s care for a senior loved one struggling with a memory loss diagnosis. Holistic Vs. Traditional Memory Care Holistic memory care can be found in assisted living communities that focus on a person-centered approach to senior care. This means diet, exercise, therapy, lifestyle changes, and relaxation techniques are all considered for optimal senior care. Traditional memory care relies mainly on medications to manage symptoms and behaviors. Assisted Living communities that utilize holistic memory care address all aspects of the individual's well-being, focusing on...

Nothing feels better than spending time with people you love. However, families with children traveling to see family members in Assisted Living may need help keeping children entertained the whole time. While Iowa has some of the best Assisted Living Des Moines offers, children may still feel excluded. Utilizing all the amenities your Senior Living community provides while exploring the city is a great way to spend time with your family in Assisted Living. If you are planning a trip to visit your loved one in senior living Des Moines, consider these fun activities to participate in as a family: Every facet of our community is designed to provide carefree retirement years and includes an array of hospitality and senior care services, luxury amenities, and signature wellness programs and activities. At MorningStar, residents’ families are encouraged to feel comfortable in our spaces. If you are cautious about taking your loved one out for the day, bring a movie to one of our theater ro...

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 side effects inclu...

When families receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for their parent or loved one, it’s understandable for them to feel a little lost and overwhelmed. When confronting this new change, it’s essential to be familiar with the stages and possible treatments for seniors seeking Alzheimer’s care . If you are exploring all the memory care options in senior living Littleton Co. Consider MorningStar of Littleton to help you find excellent Alzheimer’s care near you. Alzheimer’s disease is usually seen in three stages: Mild : A person with mild Alzheimer’s symptoms may still be able to function in professional and social activities, but they may have difficulty with some tasks involving their memory and communication. Moderate : Moderate Alzheimer’s symptoms involve significant memory loss, confusion, and physical symptoms. At this stage, it becomes harder for the person to recognize family members and friends, follow instructions, or carry out daily tasks and errands. Severe : At this stage, a pers...

Staying social and active within your community can be difficult as we age. However, social interaction is vital for everyone’s well-being, especially seniors. Seniors not living in active senior care communities are more susceptible to social isolation. This is why seniors should be aware of the best social opportunities in senior living Des Moines has to offer. Along with helping you navigate all the changes that come with growing older, MorningStar Senior Living and Assisted Living Des Moines focuses on your social well-being to provide mental and physical health benefits. Recreation is important for seniors because having an active social life helps prevent depression and anxiety. Aside from all the amenities MorningStar has to offer, they advocate for community involvement by joining groups and pursuing hobbies. Sharing common interests and staying socially active makes it relatively easy to make friends at MorningStar if you want to venture out and try new things. Would you cons...

If your parent or loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, you’ll know that providing care for these individuals is both challenging and rewarding. Seniors with Alzheimer’s want to feel appreciated and connected to their loved ones and those around them. At MorningStar Assisted Living, you’ll find the most comprehensive senior living Littleton co offers for seniors battling memory loss. Communication with someone struggling with Alzheimer’s may look different from our everyday communication habits, but it is still possible. Not only are these connections possible, but with some tips, you can spark a meaningful connection with your loved one again despite an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. What is Alzheimer’s Understanding Alzheimer’s can help you relate to your loved one’s experience and plan ahead for assisted living options and senior care. Alzheimer’s is a progressive memory loss disease. With this memory loss disease, symptoms worsen over time. Your loved one may experience mild, moderate, a...

Expert report “at least half of those over age 65 say they are more forgetful than they were when they were younger, experiencing ‘senior moments’ of things like where they put things or recalling somebody’s name.” While several studies show as many as 40 percent of seniors suffer from some level of memory loss, this doesn’t necessarily mean Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Doctors say we need to remember Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, and there are some characteristics which separate age-related memory loss from dementia. One example is forgetting how to program your remote control or operate a piece of machinery after not doing it for a while. They stress this is common and typically not a cause for concern but forgetting how to get home or perform routine tasks may be a sign of a bigger problem. Another symptom of Alzheimer’s or other memory loss diseases is forgetting what an object is used for or what it is. Someone with Alzheimer’s can forget they wear...

MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ assisted living is designed to support and engage residents’ mind, body and spirit. Our wide array of amenities, care services, wellness programs and activities help nurture residents’ independence for the best quality of life. In fact, MorningStar’s comprehensive care services can help extend the stay of a resident if their health changes and they require more care. Furthermore, our dedicated team has experience finding creative solutions that yield a higher quality of care for our residents at a lower cost to their families. Along with 24/7 Care Managers, Certified Medication Care Managers, and access to licensed nurses; we assist residents with obtaining a wide range of therapeutic and medical services from third-party providers. Individualized service plans may include things like mechanical lift assistance, weights and vital monitoring, diabetic management, oxygen administration, and palliative/hospice care. We also offer pharmacy services to keep ...

The Alzheimer’s Association explains Alzheimer’s is a disease that not only affects the individual but robs family members of their loved one. As the disease progresses, it takes away more and more of the person and the family begins to mourn the loss. While grief has different phases including denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance in no particular order; universally shared by most families is unease about what the future holds and what to expect next. Hope is a powerful human emotion so denying the disease is a coping mechanism for some as they try to convince themselves their loved one will get better or not reach the level of devastation experienced by many suffering from the disease. Others may refuse to recognize the changed behavior and make excuses for it. Spouses and significant others may experience anger as they feel abandoned by the person and frustrated at their inability to do anything about it. They may also feel resentment and overwhelmed by caregiving duties but ...

The Harvard Medical School reports it is estimated 1 in 3 people over age 65 will fall each year, and every 19 minutes a senior dies from a fall-related injury. Statistics show women are at higher risk for a fall but men are more likely to die from their injuries than women. Seniors should be aware of several things that can affect balance and lead to a fall. These include certain medications, inner ear problems, foot pain, weight changes and a vitamin D deficiency. Anti-hypertensive medications prescribed to keep blood pressure under control or decrease the risk of stroke and heart failure are all known to affect balance. A common side effect is orthostatic hypotension, a condition that happens if blood pressure gets too low; and results in lightheadedness, faintness and dizziness especially when the person attempts to stand from a sitting or lying down position. Medications that suppress the central nervous system may also result in a fall as they reduce alertness, and slow reactions...

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we are committed to providing the best memory care and assisted living Colorado Springs offers, and our beautiful community was designed from the ground up to ensure our cherished residents’ safety and wellbeing. One of the ways we do this is by providing each of our residents with around-the-clock care from our compassionate team of care managers. This includes assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as dressing, grooming, bathing, and eating as well as needed medical assistance. Each of our care managers is hired for their loving nature and their desire to care for seniors. Our medication care managers/QMAPs are another way we help to keep our residents safe. In fact, a National Institutes of Health study found that 40% of seniors aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications, and 90% take at least one prescription. The same study reports that as many as 55% of seniors take their medications incorrectly. Morn...