With better nutrition and healthcare, more and more seniors are living well into their nineties and beyond. A recent study reports that the number of Americans age 65 or older increased tenfold during the last century and today’s seniors are not only living longer but more comfortably and in better health. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported there were 72,197 Americans aged 100 or older, which is up more than 44 percent from 2000, when there were only 50,281 centenarians.
By 2050, it is estimated that 4 percent of the population will be 85 years or older, which is ten times the amount of people alive at that age in 1950. Furthermore, researchers say that on average, one in twenty women today who are age forty will live to celebrate their 100th birthday (one in ten girls born today will live past 100). For men, the number is one in forty who are age forty today that can expect to live to 100 (one in twenty boys born today will live past 100). Experts also report that approximately one-half of seniors will pay out-of-pocket for long-term care services and support (LTSS). Right now $300 billion a year is spent on LTSS and the money comes from the individuals themselves, private insurance, and government programs. To provide the care needed for the elderly and those with disabilities, the number of caregivers has increased by almost 300,000 from 2007 to 2012 to total 911,311. Harvard researchers found that one of the top reasons for healthier seniors is “improved medical treatment, especially better cardiovascular health and vision care.” Commonly prescribed drugs such as statins and other heart medications have reduced disability from heart disease and cataract surgery has helped to improved seniors’ eyesight. Of course when seniors do require a little help to safely grow old, assisted living provides the level of care needed while still allowing the person to retain their independence. Please contact MorningStar at Jordan Creek for more information about West Des Moines newest senior living 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. Sources: smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/there-are-more-americans-over-age-100-now-and-they-are-living-longer-180957914/ gerontology.usc.edu/resources/infographics/americans-are-living-longer/ /money/4369180/retirement-living-longer-better/
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Residents of the MorningStar at Jordan Creek community will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of wellness programs and activities as well as receive resort-style amenities. Along with an on-site chapel/theatre (including Wii), bistro, salon, fitness room, and more, resident are provided with three daily meals served restaurant style and prepared by our Executive Chef. We also have a library that includes multiple computers and newspapers available for our residents.
Another new technology we are proud to offer residents is the groundbreaking “It’s Never 2 Late” (iN2L) computer program that combines touchscreen computers with intuitive picture-based software. The user-friendly technology components are designed so residents can enjoy using a computer regardless of their past experience or physical or intellectual limitations. Offering a library with over 3,000 selections, iN2L users are provided intellectual and physical stimulation, social and spiritual connections, emotional support and vocational interests. Seniors can easily navigate the web, read online newspapers, play trivia and brain fitness games, take quizzes and virtual tours, participate in Skype web chats and much more. In addition each resident can personalize a “My Page” and set it up with their history and email address as well as web and entertainment preferences. The My Page feature also makes it easy for family members to share their latest photos and news. Once we are up and running, we encourage you to come in and ask for a demonstration to experience firsthand the scope of the program. Please see our website to learn more about MorningStar at Jordan Creek and for contact information, pricing and availability. In February, we are looking forward to welcoming our wonderful residents to their new home. 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. Even for older adults, good nutrition is important for a healthy lifestyle. A study from the National Institute of Health (NIH) states that “a good diet in your later years reduces your risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart diseases and certain cancers. As you age, you might need less energy. But you still need just as many of the nutrients in food.“
As a part of their findings, they recommend avoiding foods loaded with empty calories such as potato chips, cookies, soda and alcohol to ensure you get your proper amount of daily nutrients. Instead they advise eating wholesome, nutrient-rich foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated or trans fats. One of the benefits of eating well is that it may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, Type II diabetes and bone loss as well as some types of cancer. In fact if you already suffer from one of those diseases, maintaining a healthy diet along with staying physically active can help you to better manage them. Additionally adopting a healthy diet can help to reduce your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol. Wholesome, healthy foods help keep muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong and vitamin-rich food can boost immunity and fight against illness-causing toxins. Furthermore, a healthy diet can help you feel better as well as give you more energy. At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we wholeheartedly agree that good nutrition is important for seniors. This is why our residents are served three daily meals that are not only very healthy but also delicious. Each of our meals are served restaurant-style in a beautiful dining room and prepared by our Executive Chef. Please contact us to learn more about our wide range of services and programs offered by MorningStar. This post is intended for informational purposes only; please consult your health care provider regarding any medical concerns. 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. Source:nihseniorhealth.gov/eatingwellasyougetolder/benefitsofeatingwell/01.html As with any project, the last few months are some of the most exciting as things finally start to come together. Now that MorningStar at Jordan Creek is only a couple of months from move-in day (we are on schedule to open in February), everything is looking better than we even imagined.
At our recent holiday-style “We’re Building Excitement” event in MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s Information Center, we had the honor to welcome many area families who are looking into senior living options. We took the opportunity to update everyone on our construction progress, and all in all, it was a wonderful day. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit our community in person, you can start by browsing through our website and take a look at our most recent pictures. As you will see, we have grown into a beautiful fully-built and fully-furnished community. Also one of the best things about our 71,643-sq-foot community is that every aspect has been specifically designed to accommodate the needs of our residents. In total, we offer 56 bright suites for assisted living that include a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some as large as 820 square feet). For our memory care residents, we have 29 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood committed to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. It is hard to believe it was only a little over a year ago that we first broke ground on our gorgeous new senior living community and that now we are busy completing the finishing touches in readiness for residents who will make it their new home. Please visit our website to discover more about our community and fill out our contact information for pricing and availability, or give us a call or come in. We could not be prouder of our community and would like to share our excitement with you and your family. 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 Assisted Living and Memory Care at Mountain Shadows, our Reflections Neighborhood is dedicated to the specialized care of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. We take a holistic approach to our care, which starts with the utmost respect and compassion for each resident, borne out of a deep understanding of the many pathologies known collectively as dementia, including the most prevalent, Alzheimer’s disease.
Our secure and loving memory neighborhood can provide the care your family member needs at the onset of the disease through to the most advanced stages where the highest level of care is required. The creative side of our care begins with learning about each resident. We interview the family to get a thorough understanding of a person’s history and use that knowledge to aid in their care and to develop a trust between the resident and our staff. To help control adverse behaviors associated with the disease, we use a variety of multi-sensory cues, including aromatherapy, to calm and to awaken memories, to support capabilities and to affirm the individual’s dignity and value. We know a prognosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia is frightening, which is why we work closely with our families to help them understand what is happening to their loved one. Whatever the extent of the memory loss we know a person’s spirit and essence remains. Our calling—our privilege—at MorningStar is to find ways to connect with and nurture that essence. Our team at MorningStar at Mountain Shadows works every day to make a difference in the lives of our memory care residents. Please contact us to learn more about our Reflections Neighborhood as well as our full MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ assisted living 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 the finest assisted living in beautiful Colorado Springs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report in 2015 that states 25 percent of all American women aged 65 years or older suffer from osteoporosis. They found that in men over 65 years, it is closer to 6 percent. Since anyone with osteoporosis is more at risk for dangerous fractures, it is important for seniors to be aware of whether they suffer from the condition.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Healthy bones look like a honeycomb when viewed under a microscope, but for those with osteoporosis, the holes and spaces in the honeycombs are much larger and the abnormal porous bone is compressible or sponge-like. As the bones lose density or mass and are made up of more abnormal tissue structure, the bones become less dense, weaken and more likely to break. Healthy, strong bone is composed of protein, collagen and calcium. Osteopenia is the term used when a person’s bones are slightly less dense than normal bones but are not considered as severely compromised as those with osteoporosis. Thankfully it is easy to evaluate a person’s risk of fracture with a painless X-ray absorptiometry test (also called DXA or DEXA). The noninvasive test measures the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip or total body bone density and only takes about 10 to 20 minutes. Health care professionals recommend a bone mineral density test for all postmenopausal women with risk factors and all women 65 or older. Men should be tested at age 70 or at age 50-69 based on risk factors. The test lets you and your doctor know if you have normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia) or osteoporosis, and if there appears to be a problem, what steps to take to help prevent broken bones in the future. If you are taking osteoporosis medications, professionals advise having a bone density test by central DXA annually or once every two years to determine if your medication is working. This post is intended for informational purposes only; please consult your health care provider regarding any medical concerns. 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: webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20150813/1-in-4-senior-women-in-us-has-osteoporosis-cdc nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/ Once MorningStar at Jordan Creek opens, we will lovingly provide our residents the amenities and services to ensure their comfort and to make them feel right at home. We also will provide a range of activities including our creative and enriching WellStar programs consisting of five wellness components – physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, and food philosophy. Designed to help seniors stay active, engaged and productive, the programs integrates different modalities and senses for both the body and the mind.
Introduced by our Life Enrichment coordinator, the activities will tap into the unique talents and experiences of our residents and includes encouraging residents to start and lead special interest clubs themselves. Along with recognizing a range of capabilities and a variety of interests, the goal of our activities is to elevate the mood of our residents, reduce pain, and help them to rely less on medications. We know that physical exercise is imperative to seniors’ health and we offer a variety of activities for our residents’ enjoyment. In addition meeting the spiritual needs of our residents is also important to their wellbeing, which is why a chapel, open to all faiths, is an integral part of our community. We also offer intellectual wellness with entertaining daily doses of challenging brain games designed to practice cognitive skills and introduce new ideas. In addition to all of this, is a natural, welcoming atmosphere that encourages socializing and helps to strengthen the bonds of our community. Last but not least our wellness program includes serving residents healthy, nutritional food. This is why we have an Executive Chef on staff who will be preparing the tasty meals that are served in our beautiful dining rooms restaurant style. You will find the one thing that sets MorningStar at Jordan Creek apart from other senior living communities is the fact that our entire team is working to build a true community and our WellStar programs exemplify that philosophy. Please visit our website to learn more about our new assisted living and memory care 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. Since Americans are living longer, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself to ensure your later years are good ones. The National Institute of Health (NIH) explains there are real benefits to a healthy lifestyle and adds that it is never too late to begin. Another recently published study by Sian Robinson, a professor of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Southampton, also emphatically states that, "Improving the quality of your diet can have a beneficial effect on health, whatever your age."
Experts advise that one of the best things older adults can do to stay healthy is to eat a balanced diet and to keep their minds and bodies active. Other healthy habits include not smoking, getting regular checkups and learning how to prevent falls. At the FamilyDoctor.org website, they remind seniors that even small changes such as daily physical activity can make a difference. Moreover as you increase your physical activity, it will help to strengthen your bones and muscles, which in turn can help prevent falls. If you do fall, stronger bones are less susceptible to breaking. Participating in routine physical activity also helps your brain and studies indicate that people who regularly exercise make better decisions. In fact exercise is so important to our health that experts say the benefits outweigh the risk of an exercise-related injury. Even chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease may improve with exercise. The NIH does suggests that seniors new to exercising start slowly; and before you begin any new exercise, consult your health care provider. Another easy-to-do tip from Family Doctor is to eat food high in fiber. Not only does it help your colon work better but it may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Some research suggests it may help to lower your cholesterol levels. Whatever healthy changes you decide to incorporate into your everyday life should help you feel better and can be done over a period of time. 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. Sources: nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthyaging.html medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_169515.html familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/seniors/staying-healthy/good-health-habits-at-age-60-and-beyond.html One essential thing that sets MorningStar apart from other senior living communities is our unique approach to service. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, all of our new team members are trained in our proprietary service program known as “Radiance.” The program is much more than just a way to offer customer service to our residents but rather our brand standard of Service Excellence.
The very essence of Radiance begins in a deep and sincere place, much like a beam of light, and celebrates an attitude of selflessness. The program provides us with a tangible and purposeful way to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others and is the basis for how we dispense service - through warmth, sincerity and depth. Along with introducing the program to each new team member, we also will be reiterating and strengthening the program’s concepts during daily short meetings called the “Huddle.” In 2003, MorningStar was founded on the premise that the company will operate with “servants’ hearts” and the Radiance program gives us the framework that enables us to take our service professionalism to the next level. We recognize that the heart of each MorningStar community rests in the quality of our caregivers, which is why we hire individuals who have a calling to serve seniors and understand the importance of their contribution. MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s goal is to have a compassionate and caring team with a ready smile for our residents as well as the time to listen to a story and lend a helping hand where needed. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about West Des Moines’ newest and most assuredly the best assisted living and 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 schedule a tour to discover the newest community in the West Des Moines area. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we understand there are all sorts of emotions that occur when a family begins to look into assisted living for a parent or a loved one. Often it is a complete learning experience as many people do not know what assisted living offers and how it differs from a nursing home.
Assisted living is a fairly new concept that started in the late 1990’s and is designed for seniors who want to maintain their independence but need a little help with daily living activities. Based on the European social model, it creates a new paradigm in wellness and engagement, and we believe that the structure and society offered in Assisted Living communities introduces a return of healthy routines and healthier lives. It is estimated that approximately one million Americans are living in senior care communities and that number is expected to almost double by 2030 as people are living longer. Most assisted living residents moved into a community from their own home, family residence or an apartment while others move in after a hospital or rehabilitation stay. Our recommendation for opening a conversation about making some changes in the way your parent is living should be done when everyone is gathered and relaxed. Also remember nothing has to be decided on all at once, and while it should ultimately be a family decision, the person involved needs to be given a voice. We also understand that searching for the most suitable community is difficult as there are many factors to consider. We suggest that once you narrow down several choices, you set up tours to experience the communities firsthand. The child of the person or healthier spouse should do the tours, and not more than two a day, as there is a lot of information to take in. Assisted living communities like MorningStar at Jordan Creek are designed to allow seniors’ their independence and give them the opportunity to stay socially active. We have put together a “Conversation Guide” that goes into even greater depth regarding helping families to make the transition. When you contact us, please ask for a copy. 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: ascseniorcare.com/assisted-living-statistics-a-deeper-dive-into-the-demographics/ |
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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