It was not that long ago that seniors moving into an assisted living community had to leave behind an important companion, their pet. Today however, more and more retirement communities are recognizing the benefits of pets to the elderly, and many such as MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, allow residents to bring their pets with them.
There has been a lot of research that validates the benefits of pets in seniors’ lives. In fact, A Place for Mom website reports on a study that shows, “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.” They go on to say that interactions between pets and humans can “lower cholesterol levels, fight depression and may even help protect against heart disease and stroke.” Another reason pets can be good for the elderly is that animals live in the here and now and do not think about tomorrow, which for some seniors, can be worrisome. In addition animals offer unconditional love, emotional support and affection. This is one reason why pet therapy programs are used in convalescent homes, hospitals, mental health centers and children centers. Many people participating in such programs experience an improvement in appetite as well as “more social interaction and tactile and cognitive stimulation after interactions with pets.” There is even research that indicates pet therapy is beneficial for those suffering from dementia diseases such as Sundowners Syndrome and Alzheimer’s. The animal’s complete acceptance and non-verbal communication has proven to be soothing for patients. Please contact us to learn more about the MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows community. With beautifully appointed spaces and resort-style amenities, we are confident you will be impressed. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, “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 in beautiful Colorado Springs. Sources: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm
0 Comments
At MorningStar at Jordan Creek our mission is to provide residents an environment that promotes wellness of the mind, body and spirit. Our signature Wellness Program offers a range of activities that are not only good for seniors entertaining as well. Residents are also served meals made largely from scratch that are both delicious and nutritional. Furthermore, we recognize the value of socialization and have designed our community to be a true home with comfortable, inviting common areas both inside and out that encourage residents to sit and enjoy a cozy chat.
As our expertise is serving seniors, we were interested in a recent article from U.S. News & World Report that discussed factors other than diet and exercise that appear to promote longevity. While recognizing the importance of a healthy diet, physical exercise, and getting enough sleep, the new study examines several habits that may also influence how you age. The study examined the personality traits of several hundred Italians over the age of ninety to see if they had any common traits. It turns out they did. The first thing researchers discovered was most of the participants had a positive outlook on life. Even when things were bad, they had the ability to quickly readjust and get back to a positive attitude and focus on the things that are going well rather than dwell on what went wrong. Another common trait among the group was a strong work ethic. This does not mean working hours and hours at a job but rather a commitment “to personal and professional projects that are both engaging and exciting.” Martin Seligman, a leading psychologist in the field of positive psychology, states that, “happiness has several dimensions that can be cultivated,” and we can find fulfillment “by using our strengths for a greater purpose.” The study also found that strong relationships were important to a good life and we could not agree more. We invite you to take a look at MorningStar at Jordan Creek and to learn more about our commitment to a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. 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 schedule a tour to discover the newest community in the West Des Moines area. Source: health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2018-02-01/5-anti-aging-secrets-that-dont-involve-diet-or-exercise Searching for an assisted living community for yourself or a parent can feel like an overwhelming task. We know you want to make the best choice and there are a couple of things you may want to consider before you take such an important step.
First, you will want to research the various options in your preferred area. The Internet is an efficient and easy way to discover what is out there, and you will find several websites that offer a search directory of facilities. Also, you can check with your health care provider for any recommendations they may have. Once you have narrowed down your list to several communities in your target location, give them a call to set up a tour. While on the phone, have a list of questions handy such as are there immediate openings available, and if not, how long is the wait, the price range and what will you see on the tour as well as how much time it will take. A community tour is your best opportunity to get a real feel for the place. You want your future home to have a caring and warm staff and residents that are friendly. If you are looking for assisted living for a family member that is not very mobile, you can tour a few and narrow down the selections so they only tour the top choices. The Caring.com website has a checklist available for researching and touring a community that you may find helpful. At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Wheat Ridge, the thing we brag the most about is our atmosphere of love and community that is built on one relationship at a time. We are conveniently located in the heart of Wheat Ridge, a suburb on the north side of metro Denver, and offer a choice of 45 private assisted living suites with spacious floor plans. Our Reflection Neighborhood has 19 suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of residents with memory impairment. Please call us for more details. 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 in Wheat Ridge. Source: caring.com/articles/assisted-living-facilities-choosing-the-right-one It is estimated that 7 to 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson’s disease. In the U.S. alone, a million people are living with the disease and as many as 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. While there is not a cure for the disease, there is treatment; however anyone with symptoms needs to have a medical diagnosis in order to rule out other causes.
The Mayo Clinic’s website provides a list of some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s. The first sign can be a tremor that affects one hand and a person may frequently exhibit a back-and-forth rubbing motion of the thumb and forefinger known as a pill-rolling tremor. Tremors usually occur while the individual is at rest, and can affect the hands, limbs, and posture. Another common sign of the disease is slowed movement known as bradykinesia. This can worsen over time and eventually affect a person’s ability to walk well or have trouble getting up out of a chair. In some cases one foot may drag, making walking even more challenging. Other symptoms of the disease include rigid muscles and stiffness within any part of the body, and impaired posture and balance that may cause a person to become stooped or lead to falls. The disease can also cause a loss of automatic movements such as blinking, smiling or swinging your arms as you walk. In addition many people experience changes in their speech such as speaking in a monotone or more softly, more quickly or with a slur. Finally many people suffering from Parkinson’s have problems writing. Often their writing becomes smaller and it is more difficult to do because of the tremors. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, “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 in beautiful Colorado Springs. Sources:pdf.org/en/parkinson_statistics mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/symptoms/con-20028488 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 times and less complications. Before you have the surgery, your ophthalmologist will perform tests on your eye to determine if you have any risk factors as well as what size and type of IOL will give you the best outcome. You will also have input into the type of IOL you want to get that will depend on your needs and personal preferences. One type of lens is an advanced presbyopia-correcting IOL that improves your reading vision without interfering with your distance vision. The actual procedure typically takes about 15 minutes but you will be there for a couple of hours to get prepped and a small recovery period afterward. Your doctor may have you wear an eye patch for a short time, and you should expect your vision to be distorted for at least a few days. Other common issues include feeling as if your eye is dry and itchy but you will be advised to not scratch or rub it. Doctors also recommend if you choose to wear glasses after surgery, you pick lenses with anti-reflective coating or photochromic lenses. 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 schedule a tour to discover the newest community in the West Des Moines area. Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/what-to-expect-from-cataract-surgery/ The shorter days of winter can be especially tough on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who suffer from the condition known as sundowner’s syndrome says author Rick Phelps who is afflicted with the condition. He explains that when we lose daylight and are faced with the often dreary, dark cloudy days of winter, those with sundowner’s can get further confused.
The Mayo Clinic describes sundowner’s syndrome as “a state of confusion at the end of the day and into the night.” They explain that it is not an actual disease but rather a symptom of Alzheimer's and typically peaks in the middle stage of the disease. In fact the Alzheimer’s Association says that, “As many as 20 percent of persons with Alzheimer's will experience increased confusion, anxiety and agitation beginning late in the day. Others may experience changes in their sleep schedule and restlessness during the night.” Researchers do not understand the exact cause of sundowning but it appears to be triggered by a number of factors including fatigue or an overreaction to the day’s sensory stimulation. The inability to see well in the dark or hormonal imbalances that occur at night could be the cause of some of the anxiety people experience. Furthermore, since many people with the syndrome do not get a good night’s sleep that can trigger behavioral problems. In addition to anxiety and confusion, the condition can also result in aggression, anger, depression, pacing, fear, restlessness, hallucinations, paranoia, wandering and violence. Experts offer some tips to better cope with sundowner’s syndrome such as keeping your home well-lit during the evening hours and following a strict schedule for meals and bedtimes. They recommend that activities be scheduled in the morning or early afternoon to give the person plenty of time to unwind before evening. Sleep disturbances should be discussed with the person’s health care provider. This post is for information purposes only and not a substitute for seeking medical advice from your health care provider. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, “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 our loving memory care in Colorado Springs. Sources: agingcare.com/Articles/sundowners-syndrome-133187.htm agingcare.com/articles/autumn-and-sundowning-210080.htm At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we feel honored to serve seniors and to help make their lives a little easier. We explain our chosen calling in one of our mission statements which states, “Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals — a commitment to creating a community that promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle, while providing security and independence.”
The way we deliver our exceptional service is through our Radiance program, which is taught to all new team members and reiterated every day at our Stand-up. Much more than just a customer service program, Radiance embodies the guiding principles for how we dispense our services – with depth of purpose and warmth. The program emanates from an authentic, sincere place and celebrates an attitude of selflessness that resembles a beam of light. We use the program to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others. It distinguishes our compassion and care as well as our service professionalism and provides residents the respect and dignity they deserve. As the director of Community Relations so eloquently stated, “Growing up in Iowa, I learned about generational wisdom and laughter from my grandparents. And as part of a farming family, I learned about serving others. Dad often had us help other farmers during harvest or as needed. I’ve been inspired by the stories of patriotism among my WWII veteran friends. These early experiences instilled in me a love for seniors.” Please call to set up a visit to see for yourself our beautiful, loving community. We are proud to offer 56 spacious suites for assisted living along with 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care for residents with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 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 schedule a tour to discover the newest community in the West Des Moines area. At MorningStar of Wheatridge, memory care takes place within our Reflections Neighborhood. We offer 19 secure suites devoted to the personalized care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and can accommodate those in the onset of the disease right through to the more advanced stages. The philosophy motivating our care is based on one of MorningStar’s mission statements that says, “To value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals.” From this principle comes our attentiveness to the unique voice, the rights and preferences, of each resident.
We have a deep understanding of the different forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s that helps us to compassionately care for our memory impaired residents and to find the best ways to interact and communicate with them. MorningStar’s specially trained staff uses an array of multi-sensory activities including art, dance, music, aromatherapy, life skills, exercise and animals to heal and comfort. Furthermore, we take the time to get to know a resident through interviews with their family members in order to learn about their history, vocation, talents and preferences. We then use this knowledge to help us design an individualized care plan for the person. In addition our Reflections Neighborhood provides daily health monitoring, assistance with meals prepared by our Executive Chef, scheduled outings and special events, and an enclosed, secure patio and courtyard. Our memory care suites accommodate a resident’s own furniture and mementos so they are sure to feel right at home. Contact us to learn more about our beautiful assisted living and memory care community in the heart of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, a northern suburb of Denver. MorningStar of Wheatridge represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Denver area. At MorningStar of Littleton, we understand that our senior community’s success lies with our caregivers. This is why one of our founding principles is to invest generously in our team members, including providing the necessary development and training required to create leaders with the ability to provide the best life possible for our residents.
We are proud of the fact that our team is comprised of people who champion our mission and have a sense of calling to serve seniors. They are a group of unique individuals who do the right thing when no one is watching and work diligently to perfect the art of anticipating the needs of our residents. In addition they not only believe that Senior Living, at its best, is love in action but do it every day. As a part of our commitment to bringing together an exceptional staff, we offer generous compensation and benefit packages to each employee in an effort to recognize caregiving as a respected career choice. We have found that our vetting of employees has paid off as we have a staff that works hard to ensure MorningStar of Littleton’s residents feel loved and cared for in every way possible. Furthermore, all of our in-coming staff receives Radiance training, which is reiterated every day at our Team Stand-up. The Radiance program celebrates an attitude of selflessness that comes from a deep and sincere place, like a beam of light and reflects the way we deliver customer service at MorningStar - with warmth, sincerity and depth. The program provides a tangible and purposeful way to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others and allows us to take our professionalism to the next level. We encourage you to schedule a tour of our gorgeous community to experience firsthand all we offer. 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 see for yourself our exceptional assisted living community. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ philosophy and approach to memory care includes our guiding principle that: whatever the extent of the memory loss, whatever the form of dementia, a person’s essence remains. We feel it our calling as well as our privilege to find ways to connect with and nurture that essence.
Our individualized care starts by meeting with the senior and their family members to learn all we can about the person’s background including their vocation, talents and preferences. Taking this information, we put together a daily routine that will be used to stimulate or calm the resident in response to their mood or the surrounding circumstances. Throughout the senior’s stay with us, we also engage the family members as we know our services are as much for them as for the residing senior. MorningStar’s memory care provides an atmosphere of safety and well-being, while at the same time, encourages and supports choice and independence whenever possible. Our residents participate in daily recreational and purposeful activities that include life skills, art, music, and exercise and are included in special events and scheduled outings. The Reflections Neighborhood is designed to permit residents the freedom to move about in spacious surroundings and include an enclosed courtyard that is reserved just for their use. Our extensive services include around-the-clock care, daily health monitoring, a licensed nurse and a caring and devoted staff. MorningStar is honored to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association in every market we serve. Our team members work to support their local chapter by donating their time, talent and treasure. In addition, MorningStar at Mountain Shadow’s often participates in Alzheimer’s events. Please visit our website for contact information as well as to learn more about our assisted living and memory care community. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, “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 our loving memory care in Colorado Springs. |
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
August 2022
Categories
All
|