MorningStar

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports millions of older adults fall each year—resulting in more than 36,000 deaths. Of those falls, 3 million seniors are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries; and one out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury. With these alarming statistics, experts say it is important for seniors to know their risk for a fall including whether they are taking medications associated with an increased risk. The first step is to talk to your doctor to see if you are taking one of these medications, as medications are a common reason for falls. Furthermore, experts say adjusting or making a change in medication is the easiest thing to do to help prevent a fall. If it is determined you are taking a medication known to cause light-headedness, dizziness, sudden drop in blood pressure, or chronically low blood pressure or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), you and your healthcare team can regularly re-eva...

In the event of a medical emergency or illness, to file income taxes, or apply for state or federal benefits, experts say it is helpful and maybe even lifesaving for seniors to have their paperwork in order. Important documents to have available to a family member or trusted friend include property deeds, history of financial income and medical information. For example, Stuart Furman, A Place for Mom legal expert and elder attorney, explains if your parents are eligible to apply for veterans’ benefits or Medicaid, they will need proof of past income and financial resources. If you are the designated person, start by helping your parents compile a record of their bank accounts as well as sources of financial income including pensions, 401(k) information, and annuity contracts. In addition, help them organize information regarding savings bonds, stock certificates, or brokerage accounts. File these documents along with all property deeds and titles to vehicles in a home safe where they ...

Trying to find thoughtful gifts for an elderly parent can be a challenge.  If they live in a senior living community that provides for many of their needs or an apartment without much extra space, they probably do not need anything that takes up a lot of room or already has it.  This is where it helps to be creative, and remember gifts of your time often mean the most to an elderly person . However, there are some good gift ideas you may not have thought about and would be appreciated by your loved one. One idea for a mom or dad who loves coffee but doesn’t want to brew a whole pot is a single-serve coffee maker. Add in a few boxes of single-serve cups to use with the maker including hot chocolate or flavored coffees in a selection they would enjoy. If they haven’t gotten a smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo yet, it can make a great gift for someone with mobility challenges as it is voice operated. They can play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set...

If you are a senior who is having difficulty turning your neck to look behind you when driving, having problems getting up from a low chair or difficulty picking something up from the floor, you may find adding stretches to your routine can really improve these types of motions. Stretching exercises also help seniors improve flexibility and balance, both of which lower a person’s risk of falls and injuries. Experts explain stretching gives seniors a better range of movement in their joints, helps improve posture, increases circulation and releases muscle tension and soreness.  The Journal of Gerontology reported on the results of a 12-month stretch and flex program for older adults. It found “participants demonstrated positive changes in areas like physical fitness, self-efficacy, perceived functioning, and well-being. They also experienced a decrease in pain.” Along with the favorable benefits stretching provides, it can be done anywhere and does not require any special equipmen...

At MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, our goal is to provide residents with a comfortable, inviting home where they can safely age in place. Our services, amenities and wellness programs are all geared toward accomplishing this. Residents also receive the often overlooked benefits of community living such as healthy social connections and peace of mind knowing loving support is available whenever they need it.   All assisted living residents have an individualized care plan created to help them maintain their independence, and our 24/7 care managers make sure the plan is carried out.  MorningStar’s care managers are dedicated, hard-working individuals who provide loving care to our incredible residents and enjoy building strong relationships with them.  Many of our daily activities are just plain fun and include movie nights, trivia and card games, art classes, exercise classes and much more. Our all-day meal service is targeted to seniors’ palates as well as their nutriti...

The U.S. News and World Report published an article on tasty treats designed to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide a healthier alternative to more sugar laden desserts. One suggestion from board-certified oncology dietitian, Kailey Proctor, of the Leonard Cancer Institute at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, is to grill pineapple, banana, apple or pear slices. Grilling concentrates flavors by reducing the water content, and further sweetens the fruit as natural sugars are caramelized by the heat.   Dark chocolate is a known powerful source of antioxidants as research shows it can help improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and raise HDLs, reducing your risk for heart disease. One healthy, easy-to-make dessert is to melt dark chocolate and spread it over parchment paper. Then sprinkle dried cherries, chopped nuts or sunflower seeds over it; refrigerate for five minutes and cut into small pieces. Another variation is to dip fresh strawberries or ...

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...

MorningStar of Wheat Ridge offers assisted living as well as individualized care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases . Our Reflections Neighborhood has 19 secure memory care suites and we are equipped to care for residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  MorningStar’s holistic memory care is personalized and compassionate supported living under what we call Lavender Sky , which is the way we thoughtfully enter, embrace, and explore to find purpose and encouragement in every aspect of daily routine. As dementia care specialists , we deeply understand the disease and know regardless of the extent of memory loss residents deserve to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity. All team members are trained in MorningStar’s brand standards of Lavender Sky and in the pathology of dementia and brain disease. Caregivers provide 24/7 assistance with eating, bathing, dressing and have the tools to calm or stimulate a residen...

Growing older typically brings up worries about our health and wellbeing. The AARP states by the time a person is 65 years of age , there is a fifty-fifty chance they may need long-term care sometime in their future. The Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported in 2020 that women 65 years or older typically needed care for an average of 3.7 years, and men for 2.2 years. Moreover, while the cost of such care varies depending on need, experts say in today’s dollars it can average around $140,000 annually.  As none of us know what the future holds, we can end up worrying about disease and/or disabilities, which would make it difficult to care for ourselves as well as worrying about not having the funds to pay for the care. In addition, as people are living longer, retirees’ savings may not stretch as far. One way to alleviate your fears and give you peace of mind is to talk to a financial adviser to see if you should...

It is important for family members and caregivers to remember that while a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease may be declining cognitively, they still have some abilities. Encouraging them to stay involved in meaningful activities is a good way to give them a sense of self-worth and purpose.  In fact, a published report from the National Institute of Health states, “engaging older persons with dementia in appropriate activities has been shown to yield beneficial effects such as increasing positive emotions, improving activities of daily living (ADL) and improving the quality of life.” It goes on to say it is important for those with dementia to stay as active and engaged as possible and that “it may even help to maintain quality of life in the more advanced stages of the disease.”   As to what kinds of activities are the most effective, studies suggest trying to stimulate all five senses: sight, touch, sound, taste and smell; and the creative art...

A Place for Mom’s website offers some advice to families regarding the need for memory care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. They explain early-on in the disease, many individuals are capable of living independently with family members overseeing some of their care. However, they also warn symptoms can vary from day to day and it can be difficult to know exactly when a person requires more supervision for their safety and wellbeing.  Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says when speaking to families, he centers the conversation regarding additional care for their loved one on the “ability to perform activities of daily living and safety.” ADLs include things like dressing, bathing, eating and toileting.  Other questions doctors may ask to evaluate a person’s ability to live on their own include: is he or she having trouble finding their way back home from familiar neighborhood routes? Are they forgetting to eat or dr...

Experts say medication management is an important preventive measure to avoid potential serious health hazards for seniors . As many older adults take multiple medications, vitamins, and supplements to treat different symptoms and health conditions, they are at a greater risk for medication mix-ups. Researchers estimate that 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 is the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report approximately 350,000 people are hospitalized each year due to adverse, or harmful, drug events. While these episodes are usually preventable, doctors acknowledge it can be confusing keeping track of daily dosages and special instructions such as to take with or without food or the time of day, etc. If an elderly parent or grandparent is taking several m...

Looking for the best senior living Littleton, CO offers? MorningStar of Littleton provides residents a full range of care services, wellness programs and activities designed to support the whole person – body, mind and spirit.   Our residential home is filled with spacious, beautifully-appointed common areas both inside and out and include a fireside patio and all-season porches, general store, salon, theatre, and library.  Residents also enjoy delicious, nutritious meals inspired by our Executive Chef and served restaurant-style in our lovely dining room. However, our stylish design does not stop at the door of our private suites.  Each one offers a range of features including high-end finishes, lots of lighting, and large windows as well a kitchenette with refrigerator.   For residents’ peace of mind and safety, our suites are also equipped with an emergency call system to ensure help is there if the need arises as well as handicap-accessible bathrooms.  Cabl...