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Gift Ideas for Your Elderly Loved Ones

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While we want to let an elderly person in our life know we love and appreciate them, it is tough to find the right gift especially for a loved one in a senior living community where many of their needs are provided for and may have limited space. The goal thereby is to find something that is thoughtful, entertaining, useful, decorative and/or connects them to the family. Simplifying things can be a good place to start. For many seniors, their eyesight is not what it used to be and replacing a remote that both simplifies things by reducing button clutter and makes those buttons larger and easy to read can be a winner. The same goes for digital clocks with a large readout that includes the time, day and month along with simple user instructions is generally a winner. The same goes for a mobile phone as one with less buttons and speed dial access to family can make it easier for those not as technically inclined. A new blanket to use on the couch or on their lap when in a wheelchair ca...
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The Right Time to Move into Senior Living

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You may have noticed your parents seem to be moving a step slower. They may not be preparing meals and keeping up the house like they once did, as well as falling behind with the home’s maintenance. While aging is a fact of life, for some adults; it means chronic health problems that make it difficult to look after themselves. This can be challenging for adult children wondering if and when it is time to step in and help make decisions. Changes to look for that may be signs a parent needs more help include bruises or injuries from falls, mobility issues especially when a home is not suitable for wheelchairs or walkers, or weight loss and lack of sleep. Moreover, are they still able to safely drive? Other problems can be memory lapses, staying on top of bills or forgetting to take medications. It may surprise you to learn senior living can help a person maintain their independence and get back to living life to its fullest. Experts say however, it may be easier to make the transition wh...
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Do Anti-snoring Products Really Work?

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Snoring occurs when the airflow through the mouth and nose is partially blocked during sleep. The blockage causes the surrounding tissues to vibrate and produce the sound we call snoring. Various factors can narrow the airway, including relaxed throat muscles or a backward-slipping tongue. Almost everyone snores at one time or another but for some it can be a chronic problem as well as a problem for their partner. Sometimes it can indicate a serious health issue like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can be diagnosed by your healthcare provider. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to reduce disruptive snoring. Snoring not caused by OSA can be helped with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, and sleeping on your side rather than your back. Mouth anatomy can also make snoring more likely including a low, thick soft palate that narrows the airway; chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between the nostrils (deviated nasal septum). P...
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Supporting Mental Health for Seniors in Assisted Living

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Many seniors struggle with mental health in retirement. While many seniors find plenty of joy in retirement, the new routine can leave others feeling isolated and uncertain. With age also come major life changes, such as family moving away, new health concerns, and parting with longtime friends or neighbors. Assisted living communities work hard to support the mental health of seniors by ensuring they offer a social community that supports independence and self-discovery while providing the highest level of senior living care possible. Social Senior Living Combats Feelings of Isolation Experiencing a lack of community can cause huge impacts on seniors. Leaving the workforce, experiencing mobility concerns, or feeling less confident in socialization can all impact how a senior feels about the world around them. Finding a senior living community that encourages active involvement will help elders feel immersed in their community and find a sense of belonging. MorningStar Assisted Living...
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The Real Difference Between Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Homes

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There is sometimes confusion when it comes to knowing the differences with skilled nursing homes. Of course, there are some similarities. They are both focused on providing care for seniors who may be struggling with their health or in need of assistance. However, there are some major differences, too. To ensure that you are picking the right senior living care for your loved one it’s important to know how to set apart from skilled nursing homes. Skilled Nursing Homes Defined Skilled nursing homes, sometimes shortened to nursing homes, offer round-the-clock medical treatment for seniors who have chronic health conditions that make it difficult for them to live independently. Seniors may also spend time in a nursing home if they are recovering from an intensive surgery or illness that requires more care and attention than they are able to receive at home. Nursing homes are often the option when the individual needs more medical care, but they aren’t necessarily in need of hospital atte...
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Family Support Improves Heart Disease Outcomes

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According to AARP there are things family members can do to help a loved one live their best life with coronary heart disease. They quote Vinoy Prasad, M.D., director of interventional cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute in California, who explains after a crisis like a heart attack, “People who have a lot of support from their family actually recover better, they recover faster, and they do better long term.” Coronary artery diseases include atherosclerosis, which doctors say is a buildup of plaque in the arteries and is the most common cause of heart disease. Plaque builds up in the arteries over years, and as the condition progresses, it can result in a complete blockage and produce a blood clot. High cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes and family history are linked to the disease. Other less common causes of coronary disease include non-obstructive coronary artery disease that damages artery linings and restricts blood f...
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At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, We Value Seniors

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At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we value seniors and are honored to make their lives a little easier with assisted living and memory care Colorado Springs’ seniors and their families can count on. As one of the distinguishing hallmarks of MorningStar, we believe humility and kindness are key to healthy relationships—including with our team members, residents and their families. The guiding principles we use to dispense services are embodied in Radiance, which is much more than a customer service program. Rather it is a mindset of service excellence we use to build a culture of high character, and is taught to all MorningStar team members. MorningStar’s mission is founded on the principles to 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. While we believe senior care is reason enough to be inspired and motivated; at MorningStar, we are committed to doing more....
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