MorningStar

Every year the month of June is the time to promote Alzheimer’s Awareness. The Alzheimer's Association encourages people to wear purple, the official color of the Alzheimer's movement, as a way to show support and encourage others to join in the effort to end Alzheimer’s. There are several ways you can volunteer throughout the year to help raise both awareness as well as funds. This includes making a donation yourself, volunteering at your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and participating and supporting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. During this summer solstice in June, join in or start your own Longest Day event with fundraising and celebrations to find a cure. There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but it is important to let your doctor know if you recognize any signs of Alzheimer’s in yourself or a loved one as early intervention can provide a range of benefits for someone who is diagnosed. These include access to treatments that offer better results when taken...

Medical experts from the Harvard School of Medicine explain even small steps can make a positive change in our wellness journey. Many of their recommendations can be done daily without much time or effort. The first tip is to start the morning with a full body stretch to help improve circulation and wake up the body. Before getting out of bed, flex your lower limbs several times. Then bend your knees and raise your legs. Flex and rotate each foot a couple of times. From a sitting position, turn your head from side to side a few times and rotate your shoulders. Extend your arms out and rotate your hands. To maintain your dental health, floss your teeth every day. Experts say the proper way to floss is to wrap the floss around each tooth and slide it up and down a couple of times against the tooth rather than using a sawing motion. Now do the tooth on the other side. Another easy healthy habit to get into is to drink a glass of water when you get up each morning, and then drink one wi...

Seniors who struggle with everyday activities and health concerns can be more predisposed to stress, anxiety, chronic illnesses, and overall unhappiness. All that added stress can impact a senior’s lifespan, too. If you notice an elderly loved one struggling to feed themselves, complete chores, keep up with hygiene routines, or socialize, it may be time to consider options. Assisted Living options in Des Moines, Iowa can offer seniors an enhanced life experience with access to support with daily activities to keep them safe and healthy. How Living Alone Can Impact Your Loved One Living alone is not an inherent problem for most seniors. Many can maintain a routine, prepare their own meals, manage their transportation methods, and stay up-to-date with events and relationships without needing someone to check in or drop by. This isn’t the case with every senior, though. For many reasons, a senior may begin to struggle to care for themselves, especially if they live alone or with a less o...

Safety is understandably the top priority when it comes to choosing a community for yourself or a loved one. Seniors can easily experience a fall-related injury if the proper precautions are not taken. With nearly 3 million seniors seeking medical treatment each year due to fall injuries, finding a senior living community that pays special attention to preventing fall risks within their buildings and neighborhoods is important. Reducing Fall Risks in Assisted Living Senior living communities designed for seniors with assisted living needs should devote extra time and focus on reducing fall risks and potential hazards throughout the community. This means shared communal spaces and hallways are kept clean and free of obstacles that may cause a fall. Senior apartments should also have extra safety advantages that protect seniors and provide them with peace of mind. Seniors at MorningStar Senior Living experience easy accessibility to amenities with the help of ramps, elevators, handrails...

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can be a time-consuming job. As the disease is progressive and symptoms worsen over time, the person’s needs also evolve. Things they used to do for themselves may no longer be possible or safe. Moreover experts say like many older adults, a person with Alzheimer’s is likely to experience health changes over time. Therefore it is important he/she continues to get routine checkups with their primary care physician as well as with any specialists they may be seeing. The National Institute on Aging (NIH) says some of the problems caregivers should look for are signs of fever, or sickness like the flu or pneumonia. They say a fever could be signs of infection, dehydration caused by lack of fluids, heat stroke or even constipation. When taking a person’s temperature, use a digital thermometer rather than a glass one as the person might bite down on the glass and break it. Let their doctor know right away if they do have a fever. To help prevent s...

Heart disease is a serious condition that many Americans struggle with, especially if they are aged 55 and up. While heart disease can sometimes be unchangeable, there are ways it can be managed or improved through lifestyle changes or medication. Proactive management is crucial in preventing the progression or worsening of heart disease. Senior living communities can also help to manage and prevent heart disease. What are the Major Causes of Heart Disease? There can be numerous reasons why someone may develop heart disease, but the following are some of the most popular: High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Smoking Obesity Diabetes Diet Alcohol Consumption Typically, these conditions affect the heart and blood vessels, making it difficult for blood to pass throughout the body. Seniors struggling with heart disease, or looking for ways to minimize their risks, should greatly consider an active lifestyle that promotes relaxation and healthy eating. Reversing Heart Disease Lifestyle cha...

The Alzheimer’s Association explains Alzheimer’s is a disease that not only affects the individual but robs family members of their loved one. As the disease progresses, it takes away more and more of the person and the family begins to mourn the loss. While grief has different phases including denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance in no particular order; universally shared by most families is unease about what the future holds and what to expect next. Hope is a powerful human emotion so denying the disease is a coping mechanism for some as they try to convince themselves their loved one will get better or not reach the level of devastation experienced by many suffering from the disease. Others may refuse to recognize the changed behavior and make excuses for it. Spouses and significant others may experience anger as they feel abandoned by the person and frustrated at their inability to do anything about it. They may also feel resentment and overwhelmed by caregiving duties but ...