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Some seniors in the early stages of dementia may be able to live independently or with their children or loved ones with some help. However, as the disease progresses, providing the right level of care may become difficult. While you want your loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s to stay comfortable, happy, and properly watched over, you may also be wondering if there are other options for Alzheimer’s care that you have yet to consider. For whatever reason, home may no longer be the best place for your senior parent battling memory loss. Keep reading to explore the top 3 reasons why Alzheimer’s care might be right for your parents and your family. Routine Seniors with dementia and memory loss respond well to regular routines and schedules. In fact, these individuals may react negatively if their routine is impacted in some way. For growing families, families with constantly changing schedules, or families with inconsistent work hours, a senior in need of Alzheimer’s care may require

Senior living is no longer “one-size-fits-all.” This means seniors receive the proper amount and type of care they require in assisted living communities Des Moines . At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, their caregivers believe personalized care plans create the most unique senior living Des Moines has seen. Personalized care plans are specialized to a senior’s physical, emotional, and social needs. Developed with family, care providers, medical professionals, and the care team at MorningStar, seniors receive structured assisted living support through a personalized care plan. Specialized Support One of the biggest benefits of personalized assisted living care plans is that they allow seniors to receive care that is tailored specifically to them. This plan is designed to meet the individual where they are at. Specialized support makes seniors feel seen and understood and can greatly impact their mental health and overall happiness. Preventing Isolation Upon the initial screening, your assi

It is difficult to make the decision to move a parent from their home into assisted living. Coping with the general grief of aging is tremendously stressful, especially while watching your parents struggle to complete tasks and daily activities. You want the best life possible for your parents; sometimes we can’t always give them that. Regardless of your current situation, you can find the most trusted assisted living Des Moines has to offer seniors at MorningStar Senior Living. By reading this guide, you will be more equipped in knowing how to move a parent to assisted living. Finding the Ideal Senior Living Community In the age of information, you may feel overwhelmed with the amount of senior living. How can you know which one is the best for you, your parents, and your family? Assessing Needs Before you begin touring senior living communities, assess what your parent’s needs are. For assisted living options, keep record of activities, chores, errands, and daily tasks that your par

Navigating a memory loss diagnosis is not easy. For families of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia, you may be experiencing anxiety, stress, and grief. While you may currently feel at a loss for answers, just know you are not alone and many memory care professionals know how to guide you and your loved one through these uncertain times. Keep reading to find out how MorningStar Senior Living Littleton Co helps families navigate the emotional challenges of memory loss. Alzheimer’s Care You Can Trust MorningStar Alzheimer’s Care and Senior Living Littleton Co has been named “Alzheimer's Association Leader in Dementia Care." To receive this honor, a senior living community is required to enroll 75 percent of its staff in an eight-hour training that encompasses brain pathology, communication techniques, and methods of lessening agitation with non-pharmaceuticals. Colorado is the only Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the country offering this special program. MorningStar of

Senior Living Des Moines offers modern and dependable assisted living to seniors aged 55 and up. Assisted living offers a variety of benefits to seniors and their families. MorningStar Senior Living has created the very best assisted living Des Moines for seniors who need help with daily living and activities.  In these assisted living communities, seniors get to experience life to the fullest. Relaxation in retirement is what seniors really want. MorningStar Senior Living Des Moines offers a community where seniors enjoy these 3 benefits of assisted living.  Safety & Security  While seniors get to experience a wide variety of clubs, amenities, and activities, seniors also feel safe and secure within their assisted living community. When searching for assisted living in Des Moines, you should find communities that offer safety technologies throughout the community as well as in private rooms and apartments. This offers families peace of mind knowing their loved ones are experienci

A memory loss diagnosis means more than just being “forgetful.” Seniors who are struggling with memory loss or Alzheimer’s experience difficult emotions and newfound frustration. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, which is a form of dementia that commonly impacts seniors aged 65 and up. While there may not be an accepted treatment plan for dementia, Alzheimer's care professionals all agree that certain therapies and activities prove successful with this disease. MorningStar Senior Living offers the best Alzheimer's care Littleton Co has to offer seniors struggling with a memory loss diagnosis. Holistic Alzheimer's care focuses on more natural approaches to treatment. Keep reading to explore the top benefits of music therapy in memory care for seniors seeking Alzheimer’s care and treatment. What is Music Therapy? Music therapy is a simple, yet effective Alzheimer’s care method that engages and soothes seniors with dementia and memory loss. It’s been shown that sen

Many of us have been embarrassed by forgetting someone’s name when we unexpectedly run into them or missing an appointment. The Medical News Today (MNT) describes short-term memory as the brain systems involved in storing information for short periods, usually up to about 30 seconds. Short-term memory typically holds about seven pieces of information at a time. Our long-term memory is where old memories are stored. Experts remind seniors not all problems with memory loss are caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia but rather some are age-related or caused by outside factors. One example is sleep as research shows lack of sleep interferes with short-term memory and is vital to memory consolidation, which is the process of preserving key memories and discarding excessive or irrelevant information. Drinking too much alcohol and using recreational drugs also interfere with memory consolation; and overtime can cause irreversible damage to both short and long-term memory. Ot

In an article in the US News & World Report, experts say forgetfulness is not an inevitable part of growing older and there are things we can do to help maintain and enhance our memory function and overall brain health.  Furthermore, they also benefit whole body health.       One of the first things they recommend is to never stop making “physical activity a priority as it optimizes blood flow to the entire body, including the brain.  An adequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain helps to keep our memories sharp.”  Researchers explain that the type of exercise is also important and recommend a minimum of 30 minutes a day of cardio exercise such as running, power walking, biking, or swimming.  However, before beginning any new exercise regime, be sure to check with your healthcare provider.   In addition, continuing to learn new things can improve our memory as studies have found a correlation between challenging our brain and maintaining brain health.  This could include acti

For exceptional memory care or assisted living, Colorado Springs ’ MorningStar community offers residents a home that is not only beautiful but designed to accommodate their every need. Located on Centennial Blvd just north of Gardens of the Gods Rd., our community offers 45 assisted living suites, with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Within our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 19 suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. To ensure residents’ every need is met, we offer a broad range of amenities, wellness programs, care services and more. For a deep dive into our community, our website is a good place to start as it is loaded with information including suite plans, a list of amenities, pictures, and background on the MorningStar Senior Living Company. We explain more about what the difference is between independent living, assisted living, and memory care, along with a decision guide to help

Chances are if your parents are elderly, they are taking at least one or more prescription medications daily. In fact, the Washington Post cites research that estimates, “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 refers to the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and puts people more at risk for adverse drug interactions, an area of special concern for the elderly. Alarming figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state almost 450,000 older adults (65 years old or older) visit the emergency room each year because of adverse, or harmful, drug events. Doctors say while many of these problems are preventable, when you take a number of prescriptions, it can get confusing keeping up with various instructions such as “take on an empty stomach,” and the adverse side effects. Experts say to help a parent get organ

Alzheimer’s disease results in symptoms causing impaired judgement, forgetfulness, and agitation, as well as problems with gait and balance increasing the risk for falls. This is why experts say it is important to take the proper steps to keep a loved one safe if they have Alzheimer’s. They explain the goal of caregivers should be a balancing act between providing an environment that offers as much independence as possible, while at the same time, ensuring the person’s safety and wellbeing. Recommendations include removing knobs from the stove, and if the person can handle it, install automatic shut-off valves with timer and motion sensors. At a certain stage of the disease, it is not safe for the person to be cooking, and if needed, investigate food delivery services. Additionally, lower the temperature of the water coming from the taps to avoid the person getting scalded from hot water. As confusion is part of Alzheimer’s, experts say store dangerous chemicals and cleaning supplies i

The Mayo Clinic reminds older adults it is important they take proper precautions to prevent falls. Medical conditions, the resulting medications needed, and a more sedentary lifestyle can result in weaker muscles and balance problems that can lead to a fall. Also, please keep in mind, a fall for an older adult can cause injuries that are very serious such as a broken hip, head trauma, or in the most severe cases, death. However, the solution to preventing falls is not to stop moving. The medical experts at the Mayo Clinic explain being inactive is bad for our health regardless of how old we are and it is vital that we keep moving. To that end, they suggest a commonsense six-part plan to keep seniors safely mobile. Their first recommendation is to set up an appointment with your doctor. Bring to the visit a list of all your medications, and be prepared to discuss with your doctor any side effects of the drugs that may put you more at risk for a fall such as anti-depressants or

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows in Colorado Springs, we understand the importance of gathering as a community to “break bread” each day. We believe food is a healing medicine unlike any other, and when our residents sit down to a delicious meal served restaurant-style, it creates lasting bonds and fellowship within our “family. We recognize that good nutrition is especially important to the wellbeing of seniors, which is why MorningStar meals are prepared largely from scratch and feature the freshest ingredients from high-quality producers, locally sourced when possible. Menu offerings are designed by our Executive Chef and include daily and weekly specials as well as a la carte items. Dining is available all day which means you can eat when you are hungry and not according to a rigid schedule. As a resident, you will be treated to seasonal menus and special holiday feasts such as those we enjoy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, our Chef modifies menus and recipes to accommoda