MorningStar

What’s one of the best ways to enhance a senior’s comfort and sense of security? Companion living options allow seniors to live intimately with someone they know and trust and is one of the many ways assisted living can make seniors feel more safe and comfortable. At MorningStar Assisted Living Des Moines , this arrangement is available for both couples and close friends, ensuring a supportive environment tailored to individual needs. What is Companion Living? Companion living is a great senior living option for those who are most comfortable living with someone they know and trust and who may need some extra help with daily living activities. Companion living is where two close individuals share a senior living apartment but can have separate care routines and treatments. If you are looking for an affordable senior living option in Des Moines, be sure to consider companion living. Individuals can share the cost of rent, utilities, furniture, and even groceries that need to be purchase...

Especially on birthdays and holidays, many of us wish to brighten the day for a loved one in an assisted living community by letting them know they are very special to us. To help make our visit more meaningful, experts provide some tips to keep in mind when we visit. You may want to plan in advance an activity your loved one would enjoy doing with you during your visit. Examples include bringing along a puzzle to work on, a Scrabble board or a trivia game. You could get prints of current photos of the family made to add to an album or start a new one. If they are a music lover, bring some new music to enjoy together. If they enjoy listening to stories, get an audiobook to listen to or buy a favorite family movie to watch together. If they like sending greeting cards to family and friends, buy a box of cards and help get them ready to mail. If they get pleasure from being pampered, bring along the supplies to give them a manicure. If the weather is cooperative, take advanta...

Although things are changing, many seniors may report a feeling of guilt or shame around relocating to a senior living home or assisted living care . These feelings are often perpetuated by family members and seniors are unable to recognize or refuse to admit the need for help from loved ones or a senior living community. This refusal often stems from the stigma surrounding the need for assistance, empathy, and care. It's important to address and remove this stigma to emphasize that needing help is a normal part of aging. If you feel you or a loved one may be ready to transition to assisted living care , here are some tips on how to break the stigma when looking for the best assisted living des moines has to offer seniors. 1. Recognize the Signs If you notice a loved one falling behind on bills, unable to keep up with typical household chores, or food frequently going bad in the fridge, it may be time for an honest discussion about assisted living options. Recognizing these signs a...

MorningStar at Mountain Shadows in Colorado Springs is a part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company , which takes a unique, holistic approach to its senior living communities. We are proud of our reputation for excellence and authenticity in why we serve and how we serve; and hold true to the belief that the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless. Our company has thrived and expanded since its conception in 2003, when Founder/CEO Ken Jaeger started the company with the intention to “cast a new light” on senior living . From there our mission statement reads: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. Even the name MorningStar has meaning regarding the kind of home we want to offer residents. Mr. Jaeger explains, “I had been searching for a company name for months. I wanted something that was alive and comforting, but offered a powerf...

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Wheat Ridge 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’s 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 meet 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 requires. Residents are also treated t...

Finding the best assisted living home for you or a senior loved one can be hard. All of the senior living options available can make the process overwhelming, but by taking the time to research and evaluate your options you’ll likely come to find that you should want an assisted living experience that matches your loved one’s needs and wants. Keep reading to learn how MorningStar Senior Living can help you tailor your assisted living experience to match your needs. 1. Evaluate Your Needs and Preferences The first step to finding senior living that meets your needs is to determine the level of care you or your loved one needs. If you are searching for assisted living, be sure to track what needs your loved one requires more help with than others. Be sure to factor in any medical support, medication management, or possible future memory care as this can contribute to your loved one’s overall senior living experience. 2. Look for Personalized Care Plans Choose communities that offer per...

Just as the rest of our body ages, so do our eyes. Older adults often complain of dry, teary or tired eyes and may have problems driving at night, experience flashes and floaters or need glasses to read. As we grow older, we are also at a higher risk for serious eye diseases that can impact our vision. One of the most serious eye diseases is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The American Macular Degeneration Foundation reports AMD is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among people aged 60 and older, affecting nearly 20 million Americans. The risk of developing AMD increases with age and if you are 75 or older, your risk is 1 in 3. Age-related macular degeneration causes the macula, a part of the back of the eye near the retina, to deteriorate. Experts say while it doesn’t impact peripheral vision, macular degeneration can affect how well a person sees what’s right in front of them. You are at a higher risk of getting AMD if a relative has had it or you are Caucasian, ...

The goal of a snack should be to satisfy your hunger as well as be a balanced addition to your daily nutritional intake. Dietician Lisa Jones says satisfying snacks can be crunchy, creamy, savory or salty and good choices include things like eggs, tofu, whole grains and fruits and vegetables. As a guideline, an adult’s snack should contain approximately 150 to 250 calories. Experts advise diabetics to stick to protein-rich choices and to watch the amount of carbohydrates a food contains as carbs can elevate blood sugar. If you are eating pre-packaged food, check to see what constitutes a serving and the number of calories. Remember healthy snacks can be tasty such as avocado on whole grain toast. For a fiber-rich snack, how about making chia pudding? The recipe is simple and all you need to do is add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to a 6 oz. glass of seed-based milk. Add ½ cup fruit and refrigerate for a couple of hours. To get 80% of the daily folate and 50% of the manganese requirement,...

A garden full of flowers and/or home-grown vegetables is a rewarding pastime for many seniors. Not only does it offer beauty and wholesome, nutritional food for you and those you share your bounty with, but a healthier lifestyle. Experts say going outside to work in the garden is a perfect way to get exercise and enjoy nature as well as to get a dose of vitamin D. They warn to protect your exposed skin with a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher, wear light, loose clothing, and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Be sure to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated and don’t overdo it, and avoid working outside during the heat of the day. Gardening is a great way to reduce stress and forget about your problems, at least for a while. Overall, even a few hours a week doing something as enjoyable as gardening can strengthen muscles, improve mobility and increase flexibility. Growing tomatoes and lettuce or starting an herb garden is a great place for beginners to start and are appropriate plants for cont...

For many people suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, there comes a time when home care is not enough and the person would benefit from long-term care in a residential setting. Of course when that time comes, you want the finest care so it is important to understand what the community offers and whether it meets the needs of your loved one. Independent living communities, which offer things like meals, transportation, amenities and social activities do not have the ability to care for someone in the middle or advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This type of community is only appropriate for those in the early stages of the disease who can still care for themselves. Assisted living communities offer supportive care and provide an alternative between independent living and nursing homes. However, if you are looking at assisted living, ask if they have a dedicated memory care area for those with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association understands it...

While losing weight is tough, for many of us, the real battle is keeping the weight off. Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, a dietitian and diabetes educator based in Washington, D.C., explains there is a growing body of evidence showing that when we focus on higher-quality nutrition, not only does our weight improve but also our health. Changing to a diet with more vegetables and fruits means you will take in fewer calories than you previously did, allowing weight loss to naturally take place. An improved diet results in better health. One of the biggest problems with “dieting” is that a person too often focuses on calorie content without regard to nutritional value.” Experts say this makes sticking to a calorie restrictive diet harder. Once we include nutritional foods in our day-to-day diet, it makes us feel fuller and even lets us eat more while taking in fewer calories. Another thing about a life-long nutritional diet filled with fruits and vegetables, plant-based proteins and whole fo...

Assisted living communities of today are designed to meet aging adults’ physical, emotional, spiritual and wellness needs. After working hard for a lifetime, seniors are offered well-deserved carefree retirement years with just the right amount of care and support. For many seniors, assisted living offers a better choice for those who require help in their daily lives than receiving in-home care services. This is because assisted living offers 24/7 care and provides the security of knowing help is not far away in the event of an emergency. For older adults who are still homeowners, assisted living means saying goodbye to yard work and never-ending home maintenance. For those already in an apartment, a move to an assisted living community provides an extra layer of security as well as amenities and programs not offered at most apartments. Another reason you may want to consider assisted living is that communities such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows are designed for the mobili...

A Place for Mom’s website explains how many people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can live independently with or without the help of in-home caregivers or family members. However, they also stress there may come a time when the disease progresses to a stage where the person’s safety and physical well-being is in jeopardy and more care is needed. As a person with Alzheimer’s may have good days and bad, it can be hard to tell if they would be better served in a memory care community . Experts say signs include: has their appearance changed? Do they look unkempt and have they lost weight due to forgetting to eat? Do they appear agitated and confused? Are they unable to carry on a conversation? Your loved one’s healthcare provider can help you decide if it is time for memory care. Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says, “When talking about memory care , or some form of a different living arrangement, I’ll cen...