MorningStar

Safety is one of the most important things when it comes to picking a senior living community . Especially for seniors in assisted living, who are more vulnerable to fall-related accidents, with nearly 3 million seniors seeking medical treatment each year. This is why finding a community that prioritizes safety is critical. MorningStar at Jordan Creek empowers seniors to live confidently in a community that values their well-being with robust safety initiatives and attentive staff. Minimizing Fall Risks in Senior Living Senior living communities should be designed with safety in mind. But MorningStar Assisted Living in Des Moines takes safety to another level. Their communities dedicate special attention to identifying and reducing potential hazards. This means keeping communal spaces and hallways clutter free with good lighting and marked turns or steps. MorningStar also prioritizes safety in these following ways: Ramps and elevators for effortless mobility Strategically placed handr...

Everyday tasks can be really overwhelming for seniors struggling with health concerns or symptoms of memory loss. Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma surrounding senior living homes. This stigma stems from misinformation. Modern senior living communities are active and dynamic spaces for seniors to enjoy. Negative ideas about senior living communities can prevent seniors from exploring positive environments where they can receive the support they need. MorningStar Senior Living in Des Moines redefines assisted living for seniors. Here’s how we can partner together to change the narrative around assisted living to celebrate all the benefits it has to offer. Recognizing the Signs The first step in getting your loved one the care they need is recognizing any changes in their behavior or personality. Aging tends to bring natural changes in memory, mobility, and health that can make certain daily tasks more difficult. This can cause normal everyday things to fall by the wayside. Remain...

Do you have an elderly relative living alone or in a senior apartments too far to visit? How about sending something special to show your thinking of them even if it’s not their birthday or a holiday. One idea is to send them a gift basket filled with goodies to eat and drink, gifts to entertain, and items to make their lives a little easier or more pleasant. For your coffee drinking parent or grandparent, a bag of gourmet coffee and a nice new mug is one way to start your basket, or add a collection of teas that include decaffeinated and herbal options. Do they love chocolate or prefer salty snacks? Adjust your selection to include high-end chocolates and other delightful treats or a nice selection of crackers and cheeses. For a book lover, add a novel you think they would enjoy or a coffee table book on famous gardens, architecture, maps, photography or wherever matches their interest. Now pack the basket with items such as jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, word-search books, a ne...

Finding the right senior living community means finding the right space where seniors feel comfortable, cared for, and at home. For many seniors, companion living provides the perfect balance of support and companionship. At MorningStar Senior Living in Des Moines, seniors can share their retirement experience with a spouse, close friend, or another trusted individual while receiving personalized care and attention from trusted staff. Shared Apartments in Senior Living Companion living at MorningStar is great for couples to continue sharing their lives together in their own suite filled with their cherished belongings and memories. For those interested in living with a friend or another family member, there are options for a bit more space that is great for mutual support and connection. Shared suites and apartments in senior living provide a sense of familiarity and comfort which helps to ease the transition into assisted living . Companionship with a Purpose While trusted senior livi...

No matter how old we are, change can be challenging. For seniors who have had just that much more time to get used to the way things are, a change in the status quo can be difficult. When faced with a change in lifestyle and residence, a person may mourn what they perceive as a loss of their independence and younger self, and the loss of a home filled with a lifetime of memories. However, regardless of how we long to keep things the same, change is a fact of life; and for many seniors, life could be better with a little daily help. When mom or dad would benefit from the many services offered by an assisted living community , there are a few things families can do to help ease the transition. To start with, senior care specialists recommend making the effort to set up mom or dad’s new suite with familiar, well-loved furnishings and mementos rather than buying all new things. Another important step toward a smooth transition is to give it time. Experts say it generally takes anywhere fro...

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 your spouse or mom or dad 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, installing 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 your taps to avoid the person getting scalded from hot water. As confusion is part of Alzheimer’s, experts say store dangerous chemicals and c...

No matter what age we are, moving can be a big deal. Whether as a high schooler changing schools, or a retiree embarking on a new chapter to an assisted living community, moving is a big deal. For older adults, a move to assisted living may include giving up a beloved family home. In this case, they probably have a whole house full of things and will need to downsize. That alone can be tough, as the person will most likely need to give up possessions they have had for years. For more on downsizing, the Internet offers a variety of suggestions to help you get started. The MorningStar at Mountain Shadows team understands every resident’s move is unique and recognizes it for what it is – a major lifestyle transition. This is why we approach each move-in with the utmost sensitivity, and sincerely strive to nurture a good relationship right from the start. We seek to reinforce the positive aspects of community life, and do all we can to help the person embrace their new adventure. Once you...

Many of us have heard about or know a senior who has had a fall that led to a serious injury. Each year statistics report one out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury; and approximately 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. Falls resulted in over 38,000 senior deaths in 2021. The Harvard Medical School reports the highest risk factor for a fall is a previous fall. While a senior may have fallen or tripped and not thought much about it, as they only twisted an ankle or didn’t sustain a serious injury, the event may be a precursor to another fall. There are things seniors in assisted living can do to protect themselves from a fall and it starts by being aware of any risk factors you may have including vision and hearing problems, which can make a fall more likely. Experts say stiff joints can hamper your gait and balance and make it easier to fall, as do certain medications for blood pressure and antihistami...

If a spouse, parent or another loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related disease and the time has come for more comprehensive care, you will want the very best. However, the problem can lie in trying to figure out what is the best, and a good place to start is with a company you can trust. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows in Colorado Springs is part of MorningStar Senior Living, which was founded in 2003 on a mission statement of honoring God, valuing seniors and investing generously in our staff. Along with assisted living, MorningStar at Mountain Shadows provides dedicated care in our distinct Reflections Neighborhood designed to meet the special needs of those with memory impairment. To encourage independence, confidence and a sense of freedom; Reflections Neighborhood uses clear wayfinding that incorporates color and pictures making it easier for residents to navigate hallways and recognize their own room. Warm and welcoming common areas help residents feel rig...

If you recently had a medical procedure or were hospitalized, you may be confused about a recent bill and are wondering what Medicare will cover, what your gap insurance will cover, and what you will be responsible for. It may help to have a better understanding of the four main parts of Medicare. Part A helps pay for inpatient stays in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, some home care and end-of-life hospice care that accept Medicare. Hospital services covered include a semi-private room and meals, general nursing, drugs and supplies, inpatient rehabilitation, and some blood transfusions. Skilled nursing services include care for things like recovering from hip replacement surgery or stroke. Part A charges a deductible for hospital stays (the fee for 2025 is $1,676) but your Medigap insurance may cover that expense as well as other deductibles. Hospital stays for up to 60 days and virtually most services are covered by Medicare; but the one exception is not in a private room. ...

Medical professionals worry far too many people do not use over-the-counter (OTC) medications according to stated directions. The most commonly used OTC medications are for pain management, allergy treatments and to reduce the symptoms of flu. US News & World Report conducted a survey in March 2023 of more than 350 pharmacists nationwide from chain, independent and hospital pharmacies regarding their views on patients’ compliance with OTC drugs. The results showed 9 out of 10 pharmacists agreed consumers believe too many myths about OTC medications. The list of some of the most commonly-held misconceptions includes: It’s okay for children to take adult OTC medications as long as the doses are reduced. It’s okay to double-dose OTC medications when I forget a dose. Natural or organic supplements are safer than other OTC medications. The bathroom is a good place to store OTC medications. It’s okay to take OTC medications after their expiration dates. It’s okay to cut, crush or chew O...

MorningStar has been serving seniors for over 21 years. We have 40+ senior living communities operating or under construction across eleven states. We are proud of the reputation our homes have earned with residents and their families alike and would like to tell you more about MorningStar’s memory care and assisted living in Colorado Springs. MorningStar communities are trusted for their excellence and for authenticity–in why we serve and how we serve. Our dedicated team understands the highest expression of living is when we are fully engaged in sharing our time and talents in service to others; and recognize the professional and personal satisfaction this calling brings. Our company was started in 2003 by Ken Jaeger, Founder/CEO, who wished to “cast a new light” on senior living by creating senior housing that felt like his grandmother’s house – true homes filled with light, love and compassion. To accomplish this, we are inspired and empowered by our mission to: Honor God in ou...

The Lancet journal reports the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA); and it is estimated to affect 500 million people worldwide (7% of the global population). In the US, over 32.5 million have OA, or 1 in 5 adults. Of Americans with OA, 70% are over the age of 55; and it is one of the most common causes of disability in adults. Females are more likely to have OA with many cases occurring after menopause. Research suggests the resulting physiological changes in a woman’s body accounts for the elevated number of cases. Obesity is another risk factor, and may be due to the increased stress on weight-bearing joints. Others are more at risk for OA due to their occupation such as agricultural work, cleaning, construction and carpentry. OA develops as the cartilage covering the end of a joint bone begins to wear away; and the joint rubs against a rough surface rather than smooth cartilage. With repeated use of a joint and the changes in the tissue over time, the condition is...

We all know how hard it is to buy Christmas or Hanukah gifts for the person in your life who has everything, or is limited on space without the room for yet one more item. This is where gift cards can be greatly appreciated, and with a little bit of research, you can find something for even your most hard to buy family member. While everyone loves a gift card to an already favorite restaurant or a new one in town, gift cards can also be found for a whole lot of other things. If you are absolutely stumped by what to get, you could settle for a preloaded VISA (or another brand) card that enables the person to shop wherever a VISA card is accepted. Experts say purchasing a virtual card to send through a person’s email account eliminates the risk of a physical card being tampered with, and stick to trusted online retailers. A virtual gift card is also a solution for last minute procrastinators, as they arrive quickly in a person’s inbox. The Internet provides some unique ideas such as purc...

It may seem as if you are hearing about food recalls every other week, and you are not too far off. A recent study reports food recalls grew annually from 454 to 547 between the years of 2020 to 2024. Experts say however, one of the reasons for the recalls is actually a good thing as more money is being invested in testing, investigation, identification and tracking systems to help ensure our food safety. Nonetheless Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University says it is far from being a perfect system. Food recalls can be voluntarily pulled off the shelves by the producer or the result of an investigation by the FDA. The reasons for a recall can be because the food is contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites. Another cause might be a foreign substance was inadvertently introduced to the product such as broken glass, plastic or metal. The FDA has also instigated a recall due to the fact important allergen in...

One thing we can do to maintain our health as we age is to get a good night’s sleep. Learning to prioritize and manage our sleep is important to good brain health including our cognitive health. However for far too many older adults, it becomes harder and harder to sleep through the night. Seniors often buy-in to the myth that they no longer need as much sleep as they did when they were younger; but experts disagree. They say the truth is older adults require the same amount of sleep as their younger counterparts, which is at least 7 hours a night according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Moreover studies show older adults are typically getting less REM (rapid eye movement) sleep per night. This is the period of time when we dream and the brain is active; and is important for memory, learning, mental focus and mood. Another sleep cycle is the period when the brain purges toxins. AARP writes, “The glymphatic system uses cerebrospinal fluid to flush out toxins a...