MorningStar

  Many families may be unaware of the extensive care services that assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Littleton offer to residents.  One term that is useful to know is Activities of Daily Living (ADL), which describes the various care services found in an assisted living community.   These activities typically include dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, etc.  At MorningStar a resident’s care level is determined after a thorough evaluation with our Wellness Director.  One of the care services we offer is medication management by a Certified Med Care Manager.  The cost for this service is factored into a resident’s level of care and is part of their monthly fee.  Our service includes both the ordering and supervised administration of the medications, and we have two price points based on the number and type of prescriptions involved. For many elderly people, medication management is a very important service.  Statistics show that...

  If your parent lives alone and you are worried that they need more personal daily care than you can provide, it may be time to look into other options.  One of those is assisted living , which focuses on providing residents the daily care they need to help them retain their independence.        Especially now, you want to judiciously make the best, safest choice for your mom or dad.  To help you do so, experts offer a few suggestions of things to think about before you begin your search (obviously you want to respect mom or dad’s preferences and wishes).  They recommend that while you take into account your parent’s immediate needs, you also give some thought to their future needs.  So, find out if the home you are considering will allow them to "age in place” and/or if there are limitations in terms of how much care the community provides.   Your questions should include the level of care services they are licensed...

    Whenever we suffer from a bout of the flu or another illness for a couple of weeks, we quickly remember that good health is a blessing. So, consider how tough it is for some people forced to deal with the consequences of long-term medical conditions that impact their lives every day. Many of these debilitating, persistent conditions cause pain, fatigue and other life-altering symptoms. Experts recommend if you are one of these people that you give yourself what you need whether it is food, sleep or down time and get into the habit of listening to your body and honoring its limitations. The MedlinePlus website explains it is important to support yourself as well as to let go of expectations, and if you need more support, know where to go to get it. Also, learn as much as you can about your condition as people typically cope better once they how to take care of themselves. In addition, they say let go of blame. Your medical condition may be a result of your family ...

      Research has shown that having a pet can improve our mental health, cardiovascular health and PTSD symptoms. In fact, even if you do not own a pet but just spend some time interacting with animals, it can lift your spirits and decrease stress. Also, during times of isolation and uncertainty, many of us feel our pets are more important than ever. The great thing about pets is they offer unconditional love and loyal companionship. Caring for an animal can be a welcome distraction from life’s other worries and can provide more meaning to our life. Moreover, how can you feel upset or angry when sitting with a cat on your lap and hearing the relaxing, melodious sound of their purr? Research has shown that an act as simple as petting a dog or cat has been shown to reduce stress and help regulate our mood. Many people believe their pet has the ability to pick up on their emotions and know when they are sad or stressed and need a little “extra love.” In addition, do...

  If you are new to the name MorningStar allow us to introduce ourselves. MorningStar Senior Living was founded in 2003 by Ken Jaeger whose intention was to create senior housing that felt like the loving atmosphere of his grandmother’s Mid-west home. We now have 25+ senior living communities scattered throughout the Western US including MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, a Colorado Springs assisted living and memory care home. We sincerely believe our astounding success is attributed to a mission statement of honoring God in our business practices and relationships; valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and investing in our team’s ability to serve well. MorningStar communities are also deliberate in the type of culture we strive to create, which is why it is important for us to hire individuals that believe residents are to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows offers 45 bright suites for assisted living , ...

    Do you celebrate Christmas each year with a large family get-together on Christmas Eve, host an annual family reunion with a barbeque and baseball game, or take yearly family vacations to new places? Most families have traditions that are unique to them, and experts say this is important as they help us feel connected and teach values. Traditions are rituals that can be big or small but are done with a sense of purpose and an awareness that something special is going on. While forming the bonds of family togetherness can sometimes be hard to do in today’s busy world, the rewards are great. Family rituals provide a sense of home, security and identity that kids and the older generation need. They shape our holidays and birthday celebrations, bedtime routines, meals and more. As family expert, Meg Cox defines in her newly updated guide, The Book of New Family Traditions ; family rituals are “any activity you purposefully repeat together as a family that includes height...

  At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Wheat Ridge , we compassionately and professionally provide memory care to seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.   Our Reflections Neighborhood is meticulously designed to accommodate the special needs of memory care residents.  As such, it means we can encourage and support independence as much as possible and let residents move freely about their environment.  Our community has 19 secure suites in a range of floor plans.   MorningStar’s holistic approach to memory care involves treating each of our residents with the respect and dignity they deserve.  Even before a resident joins our community, we meet with them and their family to find out as much as we can about their background and interests as well as personal preferences.  From there, our Wellness Director creates an individualized care plan that takes all of this into consideration. MorningS...