MorningStar

If you are looking for the best assisted living   Des Moines and the surrounding area offers, we encourage you to consider MorningStar at Jordan Creek.   Starting from our spacious, private suites to our beautiful common areas, both inside and out, we have meticulously seen to it that every detail has been paid to ensure residents the most carefree retirement possible. For those unfamiliar with the concept of assisted living, it is built on a European social model, and offers a new paradigm in wellness and engagement for those seniors who need a little support with personal daily care activities.  At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, new residents and their family sit down with our Wellness Director to create a care plan designed around their special needs and safety.  The resident will have around-the-clock Care Managers as well the services of our full-time licensed nurses on call 24/7 and onsite 5–7 days/week.   Among our many services, we have...

A cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eye causing blurred or tinted vision, seeing double, impaired night vision, and extra sensitivity to light.  The vision loss from cataracts happens slowly over time and cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses or with corneal refractive surgery such as Lasik.  Cataracts are typically an age-related disease, and according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 75 , approximately half of all Americans have cataracts.” The surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, and while cataract surgery may sound scary, most people get excellent results.  During surgery, the affected lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).  The procedure has been improved over the last several years by the use of a high-frequency ultrasound device, which has resulted in faster healing time...

Regardless of your age it is important to have a nutrient-rich diet in order to stay as healthy as possible.  Even for people in their 70s, 80s and 90s , eating well can make a difference in how they feel; but unfortunately, many seniors do not always know what constitutes a healthy diet.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides some helpful tips for older adults to follow to ensure they eat well.  One of the first things they say is to make sure to stay hydrated because as we age, we lose some of our sense of thirst.  They recommend drinking plenty of water and avoiding beverages with lots of added sugars. Seniors’ diets should include fruits and vegetables in a variety of different colors, lentils and beans, nuts and seeds, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy, and lean protein.  While vegetables and fruits are a good source of fiber, full of vitamins, and low-calorie, they can be difficult to chew for some elderly people with dent...

Are you in the process of looking at assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs for yourself or a loved one?  MorningStar at Mountain Shadows recognizes that moving to assisted living can be a difficult step for families, which is why we strive to provide all the details regarding our community beforehand so seniors and their family can make an informed decision.  On our website, we have a lot of information about our Mountain Shadows community as well as resources from MorningStar Senior Living regarding particulars on the company and our many services and programs.   One good source of information is to take a look at the FAQs.  Here you will likely discover answers to your questions (if not, please email or give us a call) and much more.  We start by providing families with a little bit of history on MorningStar such as the fact that we were founded in Denver in 2003 on the principal that it is a “privilege to serve, and our pleasure to love ...

Who can forget the nostalgic sights, sounds, and smells of their first trip to a state fair?  As an article in the Saturday Evening Post explains, “The American state fair is a conceptual curiosity, a celebration of agriculture that is at once a fantastic departure from the discipline and labor of the farming life.”   Even from the earliest fairs, agricultural displays and discussions competed for space and attention with a wide range of irresistible attractions, carnivals, and shows.   For many of us, going to our county or state fairs is an annual tradition and includes taking along the younger members of the household to introduce them to this very American institution.      Historians credit a wealthy New England farmer and businessman, Elkanah Watson with initially starting the idea of a state fair after he displayed his sheep in the public square of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1807.  However, it took another thirty-four years for the f...

Along with our 45 assisted living suites , MorningStar at Mountain Shadows has 19 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Regardless of whether your loved one is at the onset of the disease or well into the more advanced stages, we can care for them.    MorningStar’s approach to memory care starts with the utmost professionalism and respect for the individual and works toward replacing medications with alternative natural therapies including patience, attention and love whenever possible.  Our specially-trained care managers use gentle, resident-directed methods to calm and awaken memories and to support each resident’s capabilities.  Common techniques include using multi-sensory cues such as aromatherapy as well as a range of meaningful and purposeful activities that incorporate art, music, and life skills.   Our personalized appr...

It is important to schedule routine doctor appointments for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease .  The Mayo Clinic explains that checkups ensure health and behavioral issues are regularly addressed and provide tips for caregivers accompanying the person to help them get the most out of the limited time spent with the doctor.  Also they suggest that while your loved one is still able, to have them sign a privacy release form at the doctor’s so their medical condition can be freely shared with you.   You should try to schedule appointments during the person’s best time of day, and if you can, coordinate it with the doctor’s least busy time.  You should bring along snacks and water as well as an activity you can do together. If your loved one has been uncooperative about going to the doctor’s in the past, wait and let them know about the appointment that day. The Mayo Clinic says the caregiver should prepare a list of things they wish to discuss with the docto...