MorningStar

We all like to bring our elderly parents or loved ones a gift to show them just how much we care about them. It is often hard to know what to give to a senior, and especially difficult if a loved one is living with dementia. Experts suggest you help them find ways to reminisce about their lives and accomplishments, and give them things that will bring a smile to their face and some joy into their life. Many ideas for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia disease include personalized gifts. One such gift is a talking photo book that allows you to record your own personal commentary to go along with each photograph. This can be a fun book to sit and enjoy with your family member as it helps to trigger memories and conversation. Many companies offer such books, and prices typically vary with the number of photos and recording time available. Buying an interactive book featuring vivid photographs and large print on a subject your mom or dad love such as animals or flowers can...

Many older adults complain about being unable to see clearly while driving at night. Experts explain that night blindness, also known as nyctalopia, makes it difficult to see well in dim or dark settings as the person’s eyes are unable to adjust to changes in brightness or to detect lights. Driving at night with this condition is not only a problem but is dangerous, and it is more common in seniors. The condition is caused when the iris, the colored part of the eye, and the retina aren’t working well together. The iris has muscles that widen or narrow the opening of the pupil to adjust how much light enters the eyes. The retina has light-detecting cones and rods, which manage vision in dim light. When the irises’ muscles don’t react well; pupils can dilate and let in too much light or remain too small and make it hard to see in dim light. A number of things can exacerbate night blindness including something we cannot control – old age. Dr. Isabel Deakins, an optometrist with Harvard-...

Many of us find ourselves wondering if our brain is working as efficiently as it did when we were younger. Research shows most likely it is not. Various studies suggest memory problems often “reflect a slower processing speed and poor encoding and retrieval of new memories as a result of diminished attention.” However, while normal aging causes seniors to process new information slower; judgement and reasoning powers remain largely intact. Researchers say in the same way we cannot jump as high or run as fast as we did when we were children; our thinking process also begins to slow down. By the time we are in our 50s or 60s, this can interfere with remembering things, solving problems or learning new information. Structural changes in the brain regions involved in memory processing such as the hippocampus and the frontal lobes all experience anatomical and neurochemical changes as we age. Concentration can be affected by the natural loss of receptors and neurons. Outside factors such as...

The American Heart Association offers a checklist of eight key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health. Life’s Essential 8 is designed to highlight things we can do to lower our risk for heart disease, stroke and other major health problems. In 2022, the Association added sleep duration to the list as a component of heart health. They say the amount and quality of sleep can influence a person’s eating habits, mood, memory, internal organs and more. One advantage to getting enough sleep is being more productive. After spending years working long hours to the detriment of a good night’s sleep, Ariana Huffington now says, “The irony is that a lot of people forgo sleep in the name of productivity. But in fact our productivity is reduced substantially when we’re sleep deprived.” Professor of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Charles Czeisler, explains being sleep deprived can impair your abilities and is like being drunk. Poor sleep habits can cause you to eat ...

By incorporating nature into our memory care community, MorningStar Senior Living strives to improve the physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being of our senior living community in Littleton, Colorado. Nature-based activities, natural light, biophilic design and pet therapy can all help to improve mood, cognitive function, and provide a sense of purpose and well-being to those in memory care . We have a variety of outdoor spaces for our residents to enjoy at MorningStar of Littleton, including beautifully curated gardens, relaxing walking paths, and luxurious patios. These spaces provide residents with the opportunity to be outside and enjoy the beauty of nature. Fresh air, sunshine, and greenery can help to improve mood and cognitive function of those with Alzheimer’s. We incorporate nature-based activities at MorningStar as often as possible. For example, the gardening club plants and tends to their own flowers or vegetables, or we may take a group walk on one of the many nearby ...

When a loved one is struggling with Alzheimer's, proper communication can be a challenging task. However, it is important to understand that effective communication can greatly enhance the quality of life for the seniors struggling with memory loss and their loved ones. MorningStar Senior Living in Littleton co understands how important it is to understand that nonverbal communication, such as touch, facial expressions, and body language, greatly improves the responsiveness of seniors with Alzheimer’s. When a senior with Alzheimer’s is able to feel comfortable through appropriate communication, their overall health and wellbeing improves drastically. First and foremost, it is important to understand that individuals with Alzheimer's may have difficulty with verbal communication as the disease progresses. They may struggle with finding the right words, have difficulty following conversations, and may even become agitated or confused. It is essential to remain patient and unders...

MorningStar is a senior living community passionate about holistic memory care and active community-based senior living. The diagnosis of a brain disease like Alzheimer’s, where memory loss and other cognitive functions begin to deteriorate, is a sobering reality. It ushers seniors and their families onto a winding and mysterious road. MorningStar senior living of Littleton Co is honored to offer supported living for those with memory impairment that is rooted in holistic care. Memory care that focuses on a holistic approach engages a person on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. MorningStar has shaped their approach to memory care around this holistic concept, which allows us to meet our residents’ needs in a unique way that maximizes their health and wellness. Holistic elder care and memory care provides a vast array of benefits. In offering tender service to the memory-impaired, we train and model the precepts of Lavender Sky, our thoughtfully considered philosophy...

Through proper diets and healthy choices, food is a healing medicine unlike any other. It is also one of the great joys of living, especially when enjoyed in community. With Fall approaching, our appetites are searching for warm, hearty, and familiar meals. For seniors, it’s important to consume foods high in antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats throughout the year. Finding foods that can meet all our needs can be difficult, but these fall foods might just offer you that brilliant and beautiful meal that you’ve been searching for. Butternut squash is a type of winter squash with pale orange skin and a bright orange interior that is often served in the fall and winter months. It is great in soups, pastas, and roasted on its own with some olive oil. Butternut squash is high in potassium, which can help keep your blood pressure in check. Managing your blood pressure can reduce your risk for stroke and heart disease. Who doesn’t love pumpkin flavored dishes? Well did you know that pump...

Words fail us when we hear our veterans’ stories of raw courage and self-sacrifice— all in the name of Country and Honor and Duty. At MorningStar Assisted Living in Des Moines, we are privileged to include veterans from all five branches of the military service among our residents in our retirement community. If you, or a spouse, have served in the military, you may be entitled to receive senior benefits because of your status as a Veteran. Understanding how to receive these benefits may help in providing you financial support with health care, housing, and even long-term care options. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides both short-term and long-term care in nursing homes to veterans who aren’t in need of hospitalization but are too disabled or elderly to take care of themselves. Ensuring that veterans have a safe and happy place to live is an important part of MorningStar’s values. The Homebound and Aid and Attendance programs offer some support that can make long-term ca...

Retirement options are greater and more widely available than ever before. A simple google search of senior living facilities can quickly become overwhelming. How can you make sure you’re choosing the right one? To find an ideal senior living community for a loved one struggling with dementia, you should identify your loved one’s top needs and evaluate how those needs may change within the next 5-10 years as well as find a community that prides themselves in understanding the full life of your loved one, not just their disease. It is important to find a memory care facility that can meet the needs of a loved one with dementia not only at their present capacity, but with how their needs may change in the future. As part of your move-in process at MorningStar of Littleton, our Wellness Director will assess your loved one’s current health and review their medical history to ascertain how we can best meet their needs. At that time, we will also learn your own preferences, as well as normal...

Coming to the realization that your loved one may need support beyond what you can provide comes with difficult decisions to make regarding assisted living . Caregivers of family members and loved ones that have special needs or require extra help often experience their own hardships. Anxiety, depression, negative eating habits, financial strain and poor health are not rare when it comes to caring for an elderly parent or family member. Children of senior parents may feel shame in assessing senior living and assisted care, but these facilities can lessen that guilt and offer a peace of mind that your loved one is healthy, safe, and happy. You know your parent better than anyone and have developed a care routine that allows your parent to be close by or living in similar circumstances of their younger years. Sadly, this may not always be sustainable. Perhaps you have welcomed a new child, taken a new job where you will be around less often, or maybe have decided to move. If you are unab...

Exercise doesn’t have to be intense to be beneficial. In fact, regular walks, and the incorporation of extra steps into your daily routine, hosts an array of health benefits both for your body and your mind. Sedimentary living can be one concern when residing in a senior living facility. However, MorningStar’s amenities at Jordan Creek offers intellectual, spiritual, and social engagement with creative ways to stay active and productive as we believe the human capacity to learn and grow is ageless. Walking is considered low intensity exercise and is just as valuable as running or high intensity workouts when done regularly. Walking every day, even just for 15 minutes, has been found to greatly improve the lives of individuals. Seniors aged 55 and up who exercise regularly are more likely to participate in everyday activities without assistance and be more independent in household chores and upkeep. Daily walks while living in senior living communities encourages healthy lifestyles. Thi...

In our senior living facility within Littleton, Colorado, we see the devastation that comes with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Often, family members and close friends deal with high levels of grief and even anger in regard to this diagnosis of their loved one. It is difficult to watch someone so close to you change and often feel unrecognizable. Through MorningStar’s holistic approach to memory care, “Lavender Sky,” it can be seen that the personality of the person that you knew and loved may still be able to maintain a relationship regardless of their memory loss. Cassidy Jones, an employee of MorningStar, started out as a server and quickly progressed to a concierge within our facility. Here, she met one of the residents staying in Memory Care, Elsie. Jones felt such a high calling to befriend Elsie and visits her whenever she is working. Watching Jones and Elsie, you can feel the joy radiating between them as they communicate in what looks like gibberish to the outside world. Jones tell...

Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 19th this year. If your special father figure is in assisted living rather than at home, it may seem difficult to come up with ideas to celebrate him this year. Instead of helping in the usual strenuous yard work, throwing an elaborate barbecue, or planning a fishing trip, show the dad in your life appreciation through spending some much-needed relaxing family time from the ideas below. Senior living doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Dad the same way you may have been accustomed to. Assisted living facilities , such as MorningStar in​​ Des Moines IA, offer colorful and unique living arrangements and community involvement that keeps your father’s life full and enriched while continuing to keep him safe and healthy. Celebrating Father’s Day at MorningStar is special because family is what makes that day important. If your dad is a bit of a social butterfly, show interest in his life at MorningStar this Father’s Day by visiting with his close-knit commun...