All of our MorningStar communities, including MorningStar of Littleton, provide our residents with our signature wellness program, WellStar. Offering an array of creative and enriching ways to stay active and productive, our programs integrate different modalities and senses for both the body and the mind. WellStar has five wellness components – physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, and food philosophy.
Our daily assortment of physical wellness activities has been designed to meet a range of capabilities as well as a variety of interests. We also recognize meeting the spiritual needs of our seniors is vital to their wellbeing, and as such, our chapel is open to all faiths. MorningStar also offers non-denominational services on a regular basis along with bible study and hymn singing. While MorningStar was founded on a Judeo-Christian tradition, we honor all faiths at our communities, among both our residents and team members. In terms of intellectual wellness, we understand that it is important for seniors to continue to stimulate their brains, and we offer a daily dose of brain calisthenics designed to introduce new ideas and practice cognitive skills. Furthermore, we do not neglect the importance of social wellness. Almost everything we do at MorningStar of Littleton enriches our community and advances our goal of building a family for life. Socializing comes in the form of organized events and activities or just informal gatherings discussing the day’s topics. We also do not forget the philosophy that healthy, nutritious food is the centerpiece of wellness and it becomes even more critical as we age. Our daily meals include the addition of foods that new research finds has tremendous healing power such as: berries, chocolate high in cocoa mass, Omega 3 fats, turmeric, and dark leafy greens. MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Littleton is dedicated to providing the finest senior living Littleton CO has to offer. Our community, tucked at the foot of the majestic Rockies, offers 65 spacious, private assisted living suites and 20 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. Please contact us to learn more. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Littleton, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest senior living Littleton CO offers.
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According to an article published by the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, it reports socials connections may be key to preserving memory. The study, led by Elizabeth Kirby, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience at the university, explains their findings influence "a body of research in humans and animals that supports the role of social connections in preserving the mind and improving quality of life.”
The university’s research involved studying a group of mice 15 months to 18 months old, which is the period in a mouse’s life when it starts to have significant memory decay. For three months, some mice lived in pairs while others were housed in groups of seven. The researchers put the mice through a series of trials each day that tested their recognition and memory skills. Consistently the mice housed in larger groups improved their performance on the tests, which researchers believe may suggest they “used their hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory.” The study is important for humans as our hippocampus declines with age as it does in mice and other animals, and helps to identify the impact of social connections on brain health. Kirby says seniors should “think about your living situation as you age. If you have the privilege of choosing where you live, make the choice that lets you be socially engaged as long as possible." At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we recognize the importance of strong social connections and offer an array of wellness programs and activities that encourage social as well as physical, intellectual and spiritual connections. Please see our website for more information about one of the best Colorado Springs assisted living facilities. MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and invite you to schedule a visit to experience one of the finest Colorado Springs assisted living facilities. Source:usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-05-31/study-a-social-circle-is-key-to-protecting-the-aging-mind MorningStar at Mountain Shadows understands that for many seniors making the decision to move to assisted living can be difficult. While change for any one can be hard, for seniors contemplating assisted living, it can feel like they are losing their independence. This is why MorningStar offers both respite stays and short-term stays that give you the opportunity to experience our community and see what you think.
A respite stay offers the perfect place to recover from surgery or to convalesce in quiet quarters while getting the personal attention you need. At the same time, you will have the companionship and community that can be just as important in the healing process. A short-term stay gives you chance to see firsthand how carefree and easy your life could be. During your stay, you will be afforded all of the amenities offered to our regular residents including 24-hour care, medication management, three daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef, and a whole range of activities, entertainment and outings. We also offer group transportation along with a fireside patio and strolling paths that allow you to take advantage of our beautiful grounds. Additionally, we have an onsite library, theatre, fitness room and more. While under our roof you will have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful meals, meet new friends and join in our many intellectual, physical, social and spiritual activities offered to all residents. Our caregivers are a team of truly special individuals who have a felt calling to serve and are the type of people who go out of their way to see to it that our residents have all of their needs met, even their unexpressed ones. If you are interested in a senior living community that feels like home, please visit our website for more details. We are proud to be one of the best assisted living facilities Colorado Springs has to offer. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest assisted living facilities Colorado Springs offers. MorningStar at Jordan Creek understands the healing power of “breaking bread together,” and that it provides more than just nutrients but bonds us together as family and friends. This is one of the reasons our community serves meals restaurant-style in our charming dining room.
Meals at MorningStar are prepared largely from scratch by our Executive Chef and made from the freshest homegrown or locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Our Chef also welcomes residents’ feedback and adapts recipes to make sure everyone enjoys our mealtimes. In addition we are committed to using BrainWise foods, which have been recognized as supporting brain health. Super Foods include items such as blue and black berries and acai that contain anti-inflammatory properties and mega antioxidants. Our delicious, nutrient-rich meals may include nuts and seeds, which are not only a great source of protein but are rich in omega-3 and Vitamin E, supplements known for fighting cognitive decline. Other foods we serve are omega-3 rich fish and healthy, antioxidant treats made with dark chocolate. We also offer a selection of sugar free, no sugar added, low sodium, vegetarian and low fat choices so our residents can self-manage their diets to meet any restrictions. In our memory care wing, mealtime is a community gathering place with team members eating right alongside our residents, and family members are welcome to come and join us. Furthermore, we recognize eating can be difficult for some individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia so we serve lots of finger foods as well as mechanically soft and puréed or thickened liquids. Most importantly our easy-to-recognize balanced meals taste as good as they look. If you are looking for exceptional senior living, Des Moines area MorningStar at Jordan Creek may be your answer. Please visit our website to learn more about the many amenities and services offered by our community. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan Creek, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest senior living Des Moines area has to offer. Especially if you are an older adult, you should have a will or trust drawn up as well as a power-of-attorney and an advanced directive. The difference between a will and a trust is a will is a legal document that goes into effect after the person dies while a trust goes into effect as soon as it is created. The trustor (the creator of that trust) can name others to be in charge of the trust when she or he becomes incapacitated or dies.
A living will, also known as a Health Care Directive, is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health care if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. The person named as the health care authority has the power to make medical decisions and sees to it that the wishes of the person is carried out. Another legal document many seniors find is a good idea to have is a Durable Power Of Attorney (DPOA). The document is used if the person (the principal) ever becomes mentally incapacitated and covers both financial and medical decisions. The attorney-in-fact or agent in effect becomes a legal guardian for the disabled principal. These types of documents should be drawn up before a person becomes incapacitated. If someone has a diminished capacity due to Alzheimer’s disease or another medical condition and needs someone to handle their medical and financial decisions, a person can pursue a legal Guardianship status for them. Legal guardianship is granted by the courts and typically continues throughout the remainder of the person’s life. Please refer to your financial consultant or attorney for more information. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest assisted living facilities Colorado Springs offers. The appetites of elderly adults typically decrease as they age, which means it is important to make smart, healthy food choices rather than filling up on foods laden with empty calories (save those sugary snacks for occasional treats). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website Choose My Plate offers ideas and tips to help people create a healthier eating style throughout the various stages of their lives including older adults.
Eating a wholesome diet rich in nutrients can help keep your muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong and to boost your immunity. If you already have a chronic disease, it can help you manage it better. My Plate explains a healthy diet will give you more energy and encourage a sense of well-being along with providing the nutrients needed by the body such as “potassium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, minerals, and dietary fiber. In addition eating well can help you lose or maintain a healthy weight. If you are on a low-sodium diet due to health conditions, you should use herbs and spices to flavor your food rather than salt. Also be wary of processed and packaged foods as many of them are loaded with sodium. In addition to drinking water throughout the day, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture says to drink 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk (substitute yogurt, butter milk, hard cheese or lactose-free foods if you cannot tolerate milk) a day. Eat cereals fortified with vitamin B12 and include sliced fruits and vegetables with your meals. MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s goal is to provide the best assisted living Des Moines and the surrounding area has to offer. We understand it is important for our residents to eat a nutritionally rich diet, which is why mealtime is both a social event as well as an opportunity to eat healthy, delicious foods. Our meals are served restaurant-style so residents can sit and enjoy the company and a relaxing meal. MorningStar at Jordan Creek proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Des Moines offers. Source: choosemyplate.gov/older-adults If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, you may be looking for assisted living Des Moines area families trust to provide the best care for your loved one. A specialized memory care community such as MorningStar at Jordan Creek may be your answer.
Memory care communities such as MorningStar’s Reflections Neighborhood care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. Services include 24-hour supervision and typically offer a secure environment specifically designed to keep residents safe and secure. This means residents are encouraged to be as independent as possible and are free to explore their surroundings. Another thing to know about memory care is that it has evolved through the years. Today’s communities now offer wellness programs that help deal with memory impairment and wandering issues as well as other common dementia behaviors. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we provide residents a number of specialized programs and highly personalized care that address their unique needs. Studies also show residents in memory care communities have a higher quality of life. A Place for Mom, the largest senior living referral website, reports that residents in memory care have “reduced medication and medication side effects; fewer falls, injuries, and hospital visits; increased nutrition and wellness; and greater independence and social interaction.” They also add that close to 75 percent of residents experience an improvement or maintenance of mental functioning. As a family member of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia, you may be struggling to understand the disease and its consequences. MorningStar at Jordan Creek recognizes many of our residents’ families need help navigating through the various challenges of the disease, and we are grateful we can provide the support they need. Please visit our website to learn more about our individualized, holistic memory care. MorningStar at Jordan Creek proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Des Moines and West Des Moines offers. Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-11-4-memory-care/ If you are looking for the best assisted living facilities Colorado Springs has to offer for yourself or a loved one, there are a few things you should consider to help guide your decision including scheduling a personal tour of the community. While many senior living communities’ websites are filled with lots of pictures and information, there is nothing like a firsthand look.
During your tour (or in a follow-up call), be prepared to ask the right questions. As A Place for Mom recommends, you will want to know about the staff-to-resident ratio and the type of training the staff has and/or receives as an employee. You will also want to know about the assessment process done prior to the individual moving into the community as this step ensures a person gets the level of care they need for their safety and comfort. In addition ask what procedures are in place to stay abreast of any changes in your or your loved one’s health. Be sure to ask if the community has a nurse on staff and if they are on call 24/7? You will also want to know how your monthly fee will be determined and the type of apartments available. Are there additional move-in fees or contractual obligations when you move out, and if there is a waiting list, what is the typical waiting period? At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows, we feel privileged to provide residents with an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Tucked at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, we are located on Centennial Street, just north of Garden of the Gods Road, convenient to banks, hospitals, shopping and restaurants. The FAQs section on our website is sure to answer a lot of your questions or you may contact us for more information or to set up a tour. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest assisted living facilities Colorado Springs offers. Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/assisted-living-resident-checklist If your parent has reached the time in their life where they need help with daily personal care activities, looking at Colorado Springs assisted living facilities may be the perfect solution. You will have peace of mind knowing their needs are being met and they are safe and comfortable. However as much of the task of helping them move will likely fall on your shoulders, you have probably begun to realize that paring back a lifetime’s worth of possessions is a bit overwhelming. Not to worry, there are many good books on the topic as well as useful tips on the Internet.
Organizing experts caution that the job can be complicated and fraught with emotion because as you see a pile of stuff to sort through and toss; your parent sees treasures and memories. Begin by creating a list of things your parent will need at their new place (keep in mind the size) and adding in the treasured items and personal belongings they want to keep. If something is hard for them to part with, help them to think of a family member or friend they would like to give it to. Also remind them if they sell the item, they can use the money toward something better suited for their new home such as a smaller couch or coffee table. Now the experts recommend going from room to room and to start sorting by keep, toss, or donate piles. In addition rather than always asking your parent what they want to keep or get rid of, winnow down the selection, and then ask them yes or no questions. Presorting items also helps to avoid keeping lots of multiple items. By measuring the size of your parent’s new suite, you can create a floor plan to realistically show how well their furnishings will fit. Include the amount of cupboards and storage space they will have to help you know how much is too much. Remember you do not want the new place to be so crowded that they can barely move safely about. Keep in mind that if your parent is moving into a community such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we do the cooking and serve the food. Also our well-designed suites come equipped with mini blinds, carpeting, and lots of overhead lighting. Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful assisted living and memory care community. MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and invite you to schedule a visit to experience one of the finest Colorado Springs assisted living facilities. Good nutrition plays a major role in the quality of life for the elderly including providing better physical, mental, and social health. Many older adults are less active than younger people and therefore do not need to consume as many calories each day and/or may have a decreased sense of appetite. This means that it is even more critical that the calories seniors are getting each day are rich in nutrients and vitamins and they avoid filling up on unhealthy food options.
The USDA has put together a list of 10 healthy eating tips for people age 65+ called “Choosing Healthy Meals as You Get Older.” The first tip is to make a point to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day, because as we age, we can lose our sense of thirst. They recommend drinking water often and limit beverages that have lots of added sugars or salt. They advise that you get into the habit of using spices and herbs to flavor food instead of salt and to have sliced fruits and vegetables available for snacks and meals. Even if you have dental problems, you can always eat cooked or canned foods like unsweetened fruit, low-sodium soups, or canned tuna. The USDA suggests seniors vary the color of vegetables at each meal to benefit from the different vitamins each one offers. Another tip is to make eating a social event and to try and eat with others. Every day seniors need food fortified with vitamin B12 such as fortified cereals, and 3 cups of fat-free of low-fat milk or yogurt and hard cheeses. Choose lactose-free foods if you cannot tolerate dairy. Another thing the USDA mentions to look out for are portion sizes and to try and eat as much food each day in order to maintain a healthy weight. Guidelines for the National Institute of Aging state that physically inactive women 50 years and older need to consume about 1600 calories a day and moderately active women need about 1800 calories. If you are a 50 year or older woman leading a very active lifestyle, you need to consume approximately 2,000 calories daily. Inactive men 50+ only need 2,000 calories, somewhat active men about 2200-2400 and very active men about 2400-2800 calories. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest assisted living Wheat Ridge has to offer. Sources:hoosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-choosing-healthy-meals-you-get-older, nia.nih.gov/health/choosing-healthy-meals-you-get-older |
Offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, MorningStar is committed to giving residents a quality of life surpassing that of other senior living communities. To experience firsthand the finest in senior living, contact us to schedule a tour. Archives
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