MorningStar

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, our mission is to provide seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  To ensure residents the finest assisted living and memory care , we define health and well-being holistically and back it up with an array of services and programming that support the whole person in mind, body and spirit. Wellness is enhanced through our Life Enrichment wellness programs and activities as well as through our Wellness Care Team.  At Mountain Shadows, we have the expertise and authority to provide the level of resident care that can extend the stay of residents in spite of changing health conditions.  To this end, we pride ourselves on working hard to create solutions for residents and their families that result in higher quality of care at lower costs.  Assisted living residents are thoroughly evaluated by our Wellness Director when they join our community, in order to create a care plan that is appropriate to their...

While congestive heart failure can affect people of any age, 80 percent of the cases occur in elderly people and is the leading cause of hospitalization for people age 65 years and older . The Mayo Clinic defines congestive heart failure (or heart failure) as a disease that occurs when the heart muscle does not pump blood as well as it should, and it can be chronic or come on suddenly.  The disease can be caused by several conditions including coronary artery disease (the narrowing of arteries in the heart) or high blood pressure, which gradually damages and weakens the heart.  It can also cause the heart to become too stiff to fill and pump efficiently.  While doctors says not all conditions that lead to heart failure are reversible, there are many treatments and lifestyle changes that can improve the signs and symptoms of the disease.  Lifestyle changes include incorporating exercise into your routine as well as managing stress and reducing sodium in your ...

If you are looking for the best pet friendly senior living Des Moines and the surrounding area has to offer, we encourage you to take a look at MorningStar at Jordan Creek .  At MorningStar, we understand that your pet is an important part of your family and you would not wish to move somewhere that he or she was not welcome.  If you decide to choose our beautiful senior living community for your new home, no worries – we are pet friendly!  More and more research seems to bear out that owning and caring for a pet can actually be good for seniors’ health and wellbeing.  One such study reported on by A Place for Mom’s website suggests that, “just 15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. The result: heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels immediately drop.”  Researchers found that interac...

If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related condition, you may be looking for assisted living Des Moines area families trust to provide the best care for your loved one .  Look no further than MorningStar at Jordan Creek. At Jordan Creek, our Reflections Neighborhood is dedicated to the specialized care of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  We take a holistic approach to our care, which starts with the utmost respect and compassion for each resident, borne out of a deep understanding of the many pathologies known collectively as dementia, including the most prevalent, Alzheimer’s disease.    Our secure and loving memory neighborhood can provide the care your family member needs at the onset of the disease through to the most advanced stages where the highest level of care is required.  The creative side of our care begins with learning about each resident.  We interview t...

According to a growing body of research, laughter may have therapeutic value, and it now is used as part of a mind/body approach to help people cope with something as serious as receiving cancer treatments.  At the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, they endorse laughter therapy as a way for patients to “use and enjoy laughter as a tool for healing.” Citing a large Norwegian study, Scientific American writes that “women with a strong sense of humor were found to live longer in spite of illness, especially cardiovascular disease and infection.  The same study showed that men with a sense of humor appeared to be protected against infection.   The results were most notable in those fighting cancer. HelpGuide.org, a trusted guide to mental health and wellness, explains that a good laugh relaxes the whole body and that the effects can last up to 45 minutes.  Laughter also helps to decrease stress hormones and increase immune cells and infection-fighting...

The Alzheimer’s Association’s website is loaded with the most up-to the-date information regarding all the various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease.   Part of their extensive information includes a check list of 10 early warning signs of the disease.   This is important to know as an early diagnosis allows someone an opportunity to seek treatment and to make plans for the future.   While everyone’s journey is different, they recommend if you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of memory loss, to consult with a doctor. The first sign of Alzheimer’s as stated by the Association is memory loss that disrupts a person’s daily life. This is the most common sign of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages.  Examples include forgetting important dates or events as well as recently learned information.   The second sign is experiencing difficulties in developing a plan or working with numbers.  It may affect everyday tasks such as balancing a ...

There is often confusion between the definition of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia . According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is not a specific disease. Rather it is the overall term used to describe a wide range of symptoms that cause a decline in memory and other cognitive skills that reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.  Alzheimer’s disease accounts for up to 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases, while vascular dementia, which is caused by the damage from a stroke, is the second most common cause. Other types of dementia may be a result of Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, and a person may have more than one form of dementia. Thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, brain tumors, medication side effects as well as depression, excessive alcohol use and even infectious diseases can cause dementia-like symptoms; however in these cases, once the problem is correctly diagnosed, it is reversible. This is why...