If you are looking for exceptional assisted living, Des Moines area MorningStar at Jordan Creek may be your answer. Our community has 56 private assisted living suites, and another 29 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.
If you are wondering how costs are determined, we can provide you with a general guideline. Assisted living offers seniors 62 years and older compassionate assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in a residential setting and each resident’s care is personalized to address their needs. Even before you move in, MorningStar’s Wellness Director will sit down with you and your family and do a thorough assessment in order to create an individualized care plan. Once you have moved in, your trained Care Managers will see to it your needs are met, and as we do routine Care Plan reviews, any changes to your health will be addressed. You monthly fee is based on a couple of things including your choice of apartment (we offer spacious studios and one-and two bedrooms suites) and its location within the building and views. In addition, we offer five levels of care for assisted living, and your level will be determined by your care plan. MorningStar also offers a range of auxiliary services, both medical and non-medical, which are priced a la carte. MorningStar at Jordan Creek is designed to meet residents’ every need and offers a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Amenities include a bistro, life enrichment room, fitness room, library, salon and much more. Throughout our community, you will find inviting areas to sit and have a chat with friends or family or the perfect spot to find some solitude and just enjoy the day. Our equally enjoyable outdoor areas include enclosed courtyards, raised garden beds and strolling paths. Please visit our website for more information. 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 area offers.
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It is no wonder that some elderly adults get confused with their medications and often miss doses or take too much of a medication. According to 2010 statistics, “medication usage among elderly patients in the US is eye-opening: more than one-third of prescriptions drugs used in the US are taken by elderly patients; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9-13 prescriptions a year (including new prescriptions and refills).” In addition the average elderly patient takes more than five prescription medications; and the average nursing home patient takes seven medications.
If your elderly parent is on several medications, do you know if they are managing dosages appropriately? A quick look in their medicine cabinet or wherever they keep their medications should give you a good idea. If they have outdated bottles of pills mixed in with current prescriptions or un-opened bags from the pharmacy, chances are they are not doing a good job. Experts warn it can be a sensitive topic to broach with your loved one, but if you start slowly, you should be able to help them get things sorted out and organized. Begin by listing all of the current medications they take including over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins. Your list should include medicine they take every day and things they use occasionally. Now take the list to their pharmacist to see if the combination of what they are taking is safe to do so. Many drugs can poorly interact with one another or be redundant. Check with their doctor to see if they still need to take a particular drug or is it just getting refilled over and over again. If it helps, get a new pillbox that better fits their need. There are many choices including color coded and multiple holders. If medication management continues to be a problem, you may need to look into getting more help for your parent. Looking at assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs for you or a loved one? MorningStar at Mountain Shadows provides the utmost care for our assisted living and memory care residents. From healthy daily meals to wellness programs and activities, we have a whole range of services and resort-style amenities to ensure their comfort and wellbeing. Our care services include care managers, access to licensed nurses, and medication care managers. Please visit our website to learn more about our exceptional community. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows epitomizes the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “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 as we create a true home for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies. We invite you to schedule a visit to discover why we are a step above ordinary assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs. Source:health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/how-to-help-aging-parents-manage-medications?onepage If you are just starting to look at assisted living facilities for yourself or a parent, you probably have some questions regarding what type of care is offered. At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we understand the concerns families have and provide answers to FAQs on our website as a good way to get you started. For example, one question we get asked often is our age requirement and the answer is you must be at least 62 years old. We also get asked if couples can live together. Of course! Couples can live together in their own suite, surrounded by their own treasured possessions, or suites can be shared by friends of the same sex who simply enjoy one another’s company.
Another question we are frequently asked is, “do we offer short-term stays.” Yes, it is based on availability and we do ask that you commit to at least a week’s stay or a full month. This gives you the chance to sample a life free from cooking and household chores, and to participate in a bustling calendar of activities and enjoy the instant companionship. If you are concerned that your parent may not get the care they need, there is no reason to worry. Before your parent joins our community, our Wellness Director will sit down with your family to discuss your parent’s medical history and personal preferences. From here, we create an individualized care plan that meets everyone’s approval. This plan will be routinely evaluated and updated as the need arises. You will also find our pet policy on our FAQs page. We are a pet friendly community and recognize the tremendous benefits animals offer to all of us. We do assess an animal’s appropriateness for our community on a case-by-case basis, and we have some restrictions on breeds. There is also a one-time, nonrefundable pet fee. We encourage you to visit our website to read the answers to other questions you may have regarding our assisted living. However if you do not see the information you need, please give us a call as we are ready to help. We look forward to meeting you and your family. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows epitomizes the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “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 as we create a true home for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies. We invite you to schedule a visit to discover why we are a step above ordinary assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs. Just as MorningStar at Jordan Creek encourages anyone interested in our community to schedule a tour, so do most other assisted living communities. This is because you cannot really get an idea of what a community looks like or feels like without seeing it in person.
In addition to wanting your loved one to be happy in their new “home,” your priorities most likely include finding a community that is well run, clean, and within your price range. Experts recommend your first step should be to do some research over the Internet and on the phone. Narrowing down your choices includes considering things such as how convenient will it be for the family to visit and is it located close to a pharmacy, medical facilities and shopping. Furthermore, find out if the community is accepting new residents, and if not, you may want to go on their waiting list. Senior support network Caring.com has a great checklist (it is even printable) of tips to consider for when touring an assisted living community. To start with, they say you should always listen to your gut instincts. From the moment you walk through the door, do you get a good feeling? Regardless of how beautifully decorated, does it feel welcoming and have a home-like atmosphere? If they offer the service, eat lunch with the residents as it will help to give you a more complete picture of the community. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we are committed to provide the best assisted living Des Moines area has to offer, and we encourage families to come and visit as we are proud of each and every aspect of our community. Not only is our community beautifully decorated and designed for residents’ every comfort and need, but we have a staff that is committed to serving seniors and come to work each day with a smile on their face. Please visit our website to learn more. MorningStar at Jordan Creek is pleased to provide the area the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “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 and we strive to create a true home for residents in a beautiful setting. Contact us to schedule a tour to experience the finest assisted living Des Moines area offers. Source: caring.com/articles/assisted-living-facilities-choosing-the-right-one#research There are many misconceptions about the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. As traumatizing as it is for a family to learn a loved one has Alzheimer’s, it is also important to sort through the various truths and myths regarding the disease.
One mistake many people make when they or a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is to think their life is over. In reality, a person can live a productive life for many years. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is important and should include a nutrient-rich diet and routine exercise. Experts also note it is important to stay socially connected and engage in activities that challenge the brain. As medication is more helpful in the earlier stages, getting a proper diagnosis is vital. People also fear that if a parent had Alzheimer’s, they will get it. The facts are that “familiar Alzheimer’s disease accounts for less than 5% of all cases of Alzheimer’s disease.” Furthermore, remember Alzheimer’s is not only a disease of the elderly. While there are many fewer cases, it does occur in people as young as their 40s and 50s. Another common myth is the belief that dental amalgam fillings containing a small amount of mercury caused the disease. Studies have shown no such correlation between the two. Others believe aluminum pans are responsible, and while a few studies suggest a small possibility, most experts think the link is questionable. Some people think memory loss is a natural progression of aging, but the truth is while many of us experience some decline in memory, if the loss is disrupting your day-to-day life, you need to see a healthcare provider. Another thing to remember is a diagnosis of dementia is not necessarily better than being told a person has Alzheimer’s, it is just another form of the disease. Looking for the area’s best memory care? Colorado Springs’ families know they can trust MorningStar at Mountain Shadows to provide the finest care for their loved one. We take a holistic approach to memory care that is individualized and encompasses the whole person. Please visit our website for more. 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 and memory care Colorado Springs has to offer. Sources: alz.org/news/2018/senate-takes-bold-steps-in-fight-against-alzheimer alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Myth-and-reality-about-Alzheimer-s-disease Most of us agree that Christmas is a magical time of the year. It is a time to embrace the true meaning of the holiday in terms of our faith as well as connect with family and friends. It is a time to think about helping others and how we can lend a hand to lift them up. It is the time to think about the events of the past year, and with today’s insight, on how we might have done things differently. It is also the perfect time to reminisce and reflect on the wondrous Christmases of our past.
Those of us who have celebrated more Christmases than we care to admit have seen changes evolve over time as to how the holiday is celebrated. When we were young, everything from gift-giving, to decorating, to special Christmas foods was simpler, and more focused around our faith and our families. Stockings were filled with fruit and nuts and not expensive tablets and cell phones. Yesteryear’s Christmas celebrations usually had fewer gifts, even for the children, but as families did not buy many toys throughout the year, Christmas morning was as exciting to a child in the early to mid-20th century as a tree chockfull of presents is for a child in 2019. Many of the gifts we did receive were homemade. How many of us from that era remember receiving a hand-knitted mitten, scarf and hat set from an elderly aunt or grandmother? Also our Christmas outfits, especially girls’ dresses and skirts were often sewn by our mothers or other relatives. Many gifts were sentimental and/or homemade and included food items such as jams, jellies, chutneys, breads, and even wines. Giving the gift of a homemade fruit cake was another American holiday tradition that stemmed from the British dessert called Christmas cake or plum cake. In addition, a lot of our decorations were homemade or were cuttings of pine branches, holly and mistletoe fashioned into wreaths and garlands. Children opened advent calendars to count down the days before Christmas, nativity scenes were set-up with baby Jesus to be lovingly place in the manager late Christmas Eve, and advent wreaths and candles were lit during the period leading up to Christmas. Without cell phones, the Internet, and the many other distractions of modern life, people played games, sang Christmas carols, and if the weather cooperated went sledding or skating. To recapture some of the holiday magic of old, perhaps we should all consider simplifying our own family celebration. Many families with elderly parents or loved ones are uncertain just what to expect from an assisted living community. While each community has its own personality and differs from the type of services and amenities offered, typically “assisted living” is a long-term care option that provides personal care support services such as bathing, dressing, meals, medication management, and transportation. According to aPlaceforMom.com, assisted living may offer “a more cost effective, residential approach to delivering many of the same services either by employing home health agencies or personal care staff.” MorningStar of Wheat Ridge offers 45 private assisted living suites in a variety of configurations as well as provides residents with a whole host of resort-style amenities and services. Upon joining our community, the resident and their family meets with our Wellness Director for a thorough assessment of their needs that is used to create a customized care plan. Furthermore, regardless of the level of care you receive, all residents have an onsite 24/7 Care Manager that is ready to ensure their safety and comfort. We also offer a licensed nurse onsite 5 days a week and on call 24/7; medication management by certified med care managers; periodic care plan reviews; and scheduled health & wellness evaluations. As MorningStar defines health and well-being holistically, we are proud to offer a range of services and programs that support the whole person: body, mind and spirit. We consider wellness to be a joint effort between our Life Enrichment and Wellness programs, which play a critical role in making MorningStar the destination for successful aging. Please visit MorningStar of Wheat Ridge’s website for more information about our exceptional senior living community. In addition to our assisted living suites, we offer 19 secure memory care suites devoted to the specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Wheat Ridge “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living and memory care in the area. It is typically with mixed emotions that a family comes to the realization that their loved one needs more care than they can get at home. When this happens, there are several things to consider as you search for the best memory care. One of the first things you need to know is that “memory care” is committed to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Assisted living is intended for those that require some extra care with their daily living activities in order to retain their independence and live their lives safely and comfortably. Many senior living communities like MorningStar of Wheat Ridge have a separate area devoted to memory care residents. Memory care staff members should have gone through specialized training in order to understand the disease as well as to effectively care for those with dementia. At MorningStar our Reflections Neighborhood team members are extensively trained to care for our tender residents and our community is uniquely designed to allow residents to freely move about to explore their surroundings. You also will want to know the level of care the community is equipped to handle. At MorningStar, we care for those from the onset of the disease through to the most advanced stages. Other questions should include how secure is the community and what is the staff/resident ratio during the day as well as at night. In addition, do residents receive regular health monitoring, is there a nurse on staff, and will there be a thorough intake process before your loved one joins the community? Ask how meals are handled, and when will you be contacted if there is a problem. We encourage you to visit MorningStar of Wheat Ridge’s website to learn more about our loving, unique memory care community. Our Reflections Neighborhood takes a holistic approach that supports choice and independence and, above all, affirms individual dignity and value. MorningStar of Wheat Ridge 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 all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are privileged to create a home infused with warmth and love. Schedule a tour to see firsthand our individualized, resident-directed approach to memory care. Source: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/memory-care-checklist It is estimated that approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million Americans have low bone mass, which puts them at an increased risk for osteoporosis. People may be unaware they have the disease until they fall and fracture a bone as osteoporosis does not exhibit any clear signs or symptoms. While the disease affects both men and women, older white and Asian women (especially those post-menopausal) are at the highest risk. Studies show one in every two women and up to one in four men age 50 years or older will break a done due to disease. Furthermore, injuries can lead to serious complications and twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year of surgery. Many others require long-term care.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation says it is never too late to take steps to protect our bones and prevent fractures (broken bones), and urge us to take action by adopting health habits that build and protect our bones. One step is to eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as calcium and vitamin D. Exercising regularly is another important component and should include weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises. Also avoid smoking and limit alcohol to 2-3 drinks per day. An early diagnosis can also make a difference as osteoporosis is a disease that can be treated as well as prevented. A safe and painless procedure called a bone mineral density (BMD) test uses a special machine to measure bone density. It tells you the amount of bone mineral you have in a certain area of bone and can be done on different bones in your body such as hip, spine, forearm, etc. In addition, common health conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis, breast and prostate cancer, and diabetes can increase you chance of getting osteoporosis. As one of the area’s finest assisted living facilities, MorningStar at Mountain Shadows offers the services and programming that support the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Please visit our website to learn more about our loving and compassionate community. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows epitomizes the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “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 as we create a true home for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies. We invite you to schedule a visit to discover why we are a step above ordinary assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs. Source: nof.org/preventing-fractures/prevention/ Many studies have discovered that pets can be very beneficial for the elderly. For example, the various tasks that go along with caring for a dog such as taking them for a walk offers good cardiovascular exercise for seniors. Additionally petting, grooming and feeding a pet helps to keep seniors engaged in life and give them a sense of purpose.
Pets also offer unconditional love and their loyal companionship can help alleviant loneliness. Research points to evidence that pet and human interactions can help to lower cholesterol levels, fight depression, and reduce stress, which is why they are so beneficial to the elderly. In fact researchers report that “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.” It used to be that when someone moved into a retirement community, they had to give up their pet. Now more and more senior living communities have recognized the benefits of pets and allow seniors to bring them. Pets can even be beneficial to others living in the community and help draw out residents that may not be very communicative. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, we could not agree more about the benefits of pets and we are happy to be a pet friendly community. All that’s missing from our spacious, stylish suites are your personal furnishings and treasures—even the furry kind! Please visit our website to learn about the best assisted living Des Moines-West Des Moines has to offer. Our residents enjoy a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community and a whole range of resort-style amenities and wellness programs. 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 assisted living Des Moines and the surrounding area offers. Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living |
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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