If your mom or dad is having serious memory problems, we have some suggestions to help you navigate through this trying time. Medical experts recommend to do some research on Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, in order to educate yourself on how the disease is diagnosed, stages of the disease, and some of what your family can expect if it is. You may want to visit websites such as the Alzheimer’s Association as well as online support groups for family members dealing with the disease for suggestions on how to best prepare and support your parent.
Also, remember it may not be dementia as there are medical conditions, reactions to medications, and nutritional and hormonal issues that can cause dementia-like symptoms. This is why you need to sit down and have a talk with you parent about the problems they are having and the need to make an appointment with their healthcare provider for a full medical exam. Experts say when you are ready to have the “conversation,” be honest and try to keep your voice calm. Pick a time and place where you will not be interrupted and be sure to include in your homework different care options in case they ask. Also, be ready to talk less and listen more as they may have also been worried about some of the changes they have been experiencing. However, keep in mind it is common for a person to be confused, in denial, and/or withdraw. At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Wheat Ridge, we know something about the pain and devastation families go through with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our Reflections Neighborhood is staffed by a dedicated, compassionate team and provides a safe, loving home for seniors suffering from dementia. If you are looking for trusted senior living in Wheat Ridge, CO, please give us a call. MorningStar of Wheat Ridge’s mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 provide outstanding assisted living and memory care. Source: alzheimers.net/how-to-talk-with-a-parent-about-dementia-symptoms
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Not only do flu shots NOT make a person more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease, a myth that has been around for years, but recent research has found evidence that flu and pneumonia vaccines may actually protect you from Alzheimer’s. This year’s 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference presented two studies that dealt with this very idea.
The first study was from the University of Texas where they went through millions of medical records in a national database with the goal of finding factors that appeared to affect a person’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Albert Amran, a medical student of the McGovern Medical School at the university’s Health Science Center in Houston and an author of the study, relates that one of the commonalities was getting a flu shot. Researchers took into account other risk factors for Alzheimer’s such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, education, and income as well as the number of prescriptions a person filled as a way to check their overall health. Even after all that, Amran explained they found that “People who got at least one flu shot had a 17% reduction in risk, and people who got regular vaccinations saw their risk drop another 13%. The other study presented at the conference was by a team of researchers from Duke University and the University of North Carolina. Svetlana Ukraintseva, an associate research professor in the Biodemography of Aging Research Unit at Duke's Social Science Research Institute of Medical Records, said the team studied the medical records of more than 5,000 people at least 65 years and older. In her presentation to the Conference, she stated they discovered individuals who had a “pneumonia vaccine before the age of 75 was at least 25% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's.” While scientists are uncertain why flu and pneumonia vaccinations appear to protect seniors from Alzheimer’s, they have some theories. One may be the fact that flu and pneumonia adversely affect the brain so protecting a person from the disease protects their brain from damage. Another theory is that getting the flu or pneumonia can result in a general weakening of the immune system and ultimately allow more bacteria and viruses into the brain, putting them more at risk for Alzheimer’s. 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 memory care and assisted living Des Moines – West Des Moines has to offer. Source:npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/07/27/894731147/flu-shot-and-pneumonia-vaccine-might-reduce-alzheimers-risk-research-shows For unsurpassed memory care or assisted living, Littleton, CO area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar of Littleton. We are currently accepting new residents, confident in our safety protocols during the pandemic. Please visit our website for lots of information about Morning Senior Living and the Littleton community, including a virtual tour.
The virtual tour will give you a good look at some of our beautiful common areas including our bistro, dining rooms, library, fireside patio and more. You will also get a chance to see our well-appointed suites. In addition, we share background on some of the guiding principles of MorningStar Senior Living including our mission statement and core values consisting of Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness. MorningStar of Littleton is dedicated to providing compassionate, loving care that enhances our residents’ lives. We are proud to have a team of individuals with a felt calling to serve, and who consider seniors to be heroes. Each staff member is the type of person who does the right things even when no one is watching and willingly goes the extra mile to assist our residents. We also think it is important for families to know that we have been very deliberate in putting into place a coordinated defense against the coronavirus in every aspect of our operations and have built layer upon layer of protocols as information evolves. Recently, we have begun to use Electrostatic Disinfecting Technology in our communities. It is harmless to you but deadly against infectious disease. As the nation reopens, MorningStar is carefully following suit with each state’s phasing and pacing where our communities are located. We continue to stay abreast of developments and evaluate best practices and innovations in our services to seniors. To give you comfort regarding our care during these unusual times, we would like to share just one of the messages MorningStar has received from our families. They write, “I can’t imagine trying to work through this if Mom had still been on her own.” MorningStar of Littleton’s mission statement “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 resort-style amenities, MorningStar offers residents the best memory care and assisted living Littleton offers. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, our goal is to provide the best senior living Des Moines – West Des Moines has to offer, which includes compassionate and loving care for those with memory impairment. Our Reflections Neighborhood is unique from many other senior communities as it is specifically designed to cater to the specialized needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Starting with our physical design, which enhances residents’ freedom to explore our expansive surroundings safely and easily, we look for creative ways to connect with and nurture each individual, regardless of the level of memory loss.
To aid us in this endeavor, we are staffed by a dedicated team that feels it is their calling, their privilege, to serve our tender residents and to provide a level of care that affirms their dignity and value. Each team member is trained in Radiance, our Service Excellence program, which is an attitude of the heart and is the way we deliver service – with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. Our team also goes out of their way to get to know our residents, to really listen to their stories, and in many cases, treat them like they would their own moms and dads. We encourage you to take a look at our touching Twice the Story video series that showcases these special relationships that develop between residents and our team members. At MorningStar, we believe these friendships testify to the fact that we need to support one another, and through these special connections, we come away changed for the better. Along with assisted living, MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers 29 secure memory care suites in a variety of floor plans for permanent and short-term stays. Please visit our website to learn more about the area’s most trusted dementia care as well as to inquire about availability and pricing. While major disruptions like COVID-19 cause many hardships and sorrows, often they give rise to innovation. While the MorningStar senior living communities have always been purpose-built to protect our residents and team members, we have stepped up our rigorous protocols with Electrostatic Disinfecting Technology. This emergent weapon in our fight to protect is harmless but it is deadly against infectious disease. MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers the very best in senior living with our distinct 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 to create a true “home” for residents. Visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living Des Moines-West Des Moines offers. If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you probably have felt at times like you were not getting through to them. While communicating with someone suffering from Alzheimer’s is not always easy, we have a few tips to help make it more effective.
Colleen Kavanaugh, a Certified Dementia Practitioner & Certified Dementia Communications Specialist, offers “a few tricks to have up your sleeve” that may help lessen irritation and calm and soothe more quickly. For instance, if you want to get the person dressed, Kavanaugh suggests you take a few moments to connect with the person. Get down to eye level so they can look directly into your face, speak slowly and ask a simple question such as “how is your day?” Once you have their attention, let them know the tasks at hand. Another thing to remember is to keep your instructions simple. Ask if they would like to do a particular task such as brushing their hair; and then put the brush in their hand and using your hand, guide the first couple of brush strokes. Do the same thing with brushing their teeth, etc. Make sure to talk soothingly and let them know how well they are doing. Strategies to try to calm the person when they are frustrated or angry include also getting down to their level, taking their hand and calmly letting them know you are there to help. Give them time to respond but if they are unable to express themselves and you cannot determine what they need, slowly distract. Show them pictures of family members or talk about things you are going to do together. Above all avoid criticizing or arguing. At MorningStar of Jordan Creek, we understand the devastation families feel when they get a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. We know the path going forward is unplanned for, and we consider it our privilege – our calling to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their family on their unexpected journey. Our goal is to provide the best senior living Des Moines and the surrounding area offers, which includes compassionate care for those in the early onset of dementia right through to the most advanced stages. Please visit our website for more information. MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers the very best in senior living with our distinct 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 to create a true “home” for residents. Visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living Des Moines-West Des Moines has to offer. Source: seniorlink.com/blog/communicating-with-dementia Seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia need to maintain their overall health as studies have found that poor health is associated with greater symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This is why experts stress the importance of being under the care of a qualified doctor and following good health habits such as exercise, eating nutrient-rich meals, and properly caring for any chronic or new health problems.
Doctors also advise the individual should have routine hearing and vision exams and any problems be treated appropriately. Along with being seen by their primary care provider, the person should see specialists as needed. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation explains that co-existing medical conditions may negatively impact Alzheimer’s behaviors. They state one example where “frequent urinary tract infections may increase wandering, and depression disrupts sleep and deepens social withdrawal.” While it is important for all seniors to eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, it is especially so for people with dementia as they may experience problems with eating. Nerve damage associated with the disease may result in extreme eating disorders such as overeating or not eating at all. The person may also have trouble smelling and tasting or chewing food and digesting it, so what they do eat needs to be healthy. In later stages of the disease, the person may also have difficulty using a knife or fork. At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we understand the disease and the different stages it takes. Our team of memory care specialists creates an individualized care plan for each resident based on their needs, personality and preferences. MorningStar’s Reflections Neighborhood offers 19 secure suites in a variety of floorplans. Please visit our website to learn more about our compassionate, loving assisted living and memory care community. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ mission statement of “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 provide our residents exceptional assisted living and memory care in Colorado Springs. Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Wheat Ridge provides 19 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to accommodate the needs of our residents and encourages and supports their independence while keeping them safe.
Our holistic approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia. Providing loving support for our residents, we enter with insight and intentionality as we step into their “purple world” and cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. We also embrace the world of dementia, which begins with accepting the diagnosis, as difficult as this can be. Utilizing MorningStar’s extensive experience, we have developed a deep understanding of the brain disease, regardless of the type of dementia, and embrace the changes needed to ensure the finest care. This includes embracing our own communication style to calm or stimulate and physically embracing our tender residents as we recognize the power of touch. However most importantly, we embrace hope. Lavender Sky’s last component is exploration, and is approached each day with a wide range of purposeful, individualized solutions. Acknowledging that the essence of the person lies beneath the fog of the disease, we explore a person’s life, history and preferences to create a personalized care plan. At MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, we also feel it is our job to help support our residents’ families. Along with education, we show them how to follow our lead and enter into the world of their loved ones. Please contact us for more information about our experienced, compassionate memory care. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living options. 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 contact us for more information about our loving assisted living and memory care community. MorningStar of Littleton wants to reassure families looking into assisted living that if they put their loved ones into our home, we will see to it they receive the care they need. Before the resident even moves in, our Wellness Director, who is also a registered nurse, will meet with the family to thoroughly discuss the person’s medical history, current health condition, medications, and personal preferences. In addition, we regularly review, evaluate, and update care plans to ensure changing needs are addressed.
As a family member, some of your concerns may be focused on your parent or loved one’s medications especially if they have had problems taking them on time, all the time, or incorrectly. If you want to know if we offer medication management, the answer is yes, and we also offer pharmacy services. We consider medication management to be an important service to our residents as we know many seniors with chronic health conditions take several prescription medications daily, which can result in missed or improper dosages. Your initial meeting with our Wellness Director is also a good time to discuss concerns such as a parent who has been losing weight recently and who may not be eating properly. Or it may be you worry they are not drinking enough fluids each day. We have an answer to both problems as our 5-star meal service is designed to be both nutritional as well as to temp the appetite of our most discerning residents. To help keep our residents hydrated, we make sure their have plenty of opportunities to drink throughout the day. Along with our compassionate care services and resort-style amenities, residents have a choice of well-designed floorplans that are sure to meet a variety of preferences and needs. Within our 65 assisted living suites, we offer floorplans that include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations with some over 700 sq. ft. You will find all of our suites have high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting and mini blinds and all that is missing to make it home is your own furnishings and personal items. Moreover, if you are wondering, we are pet friendly! Currently we are safely accepting new residents, and are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19). As the nation slowly reopens, MorningStar of Littleton is judiciously following Colorado’s guidance in terms of phasing and pacing. Please visit our website for more information. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Littleton, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living options. 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 learn more about the finest assisted living Littleton has to offer. A fall can result in serious injuries especially for the elderly, who make up the majority of cases, and can take a long time to heal. Many even lead to permanent mobility issues that limit the person’s freedom. The CDC reports one in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year, and that an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds and a senior dies from a fall every 19 minutes.
Experts explain there are several reasons why the elderly are more vulnerable to falling and include medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, hypoglycemia, diabetes, and blood pressure fluctuations. In addition, physical disabilities that affect strength and balance, poor eyesight, inner ear problems, and dehydration can also put a person more at risk for a fall. Common situations that can result in a fall include wet or recently polished floors, poorly lit areas, rugs not properly secured, stairs, and uneven sidewalks. There are some changes you can make to fall-proof your home such replacing light bulbs in dimly lit hallways or stairways with higher wattage bulbs. Clean up clutter and make sure each room in your home has a clear, clean path to walk through and install grab bars and handrails where needed. Use a non-slip mat in the bathtub or shower and do not wear socks or loose, floppy slippers but rather a good walking shoe with support and cushioning. If a loved one is unsteady on their feet, talk to their doctor about using a walker or cane. Also, ask if any of their medications can cause dizziness or light-headedness, and if so, is there an alternative. Doctors say if not, it is even more important to make the appropriate lifestyle changes. At MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, our beautiful senior living community is designed to accommodate our residents’ limitations. All of our spacious private suites come with wall-to-wall carpeting, fully handicapped-accessible bathrooms and emergency call systems. Suites are available in a variety of well-designed floor plans and have details reflective of those found throughout our beautifully appointed home. Please visit our website for more information as well as pricing and availability. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living options. 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 contact us for more information about our loving assisted living and memory care community. We understand the devastation families feel when they get a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. We know the path going forward is unplanned for, and we consider it our privilege – our calling to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their family on their unexpected journey. We are equipped to provide care to those in the early onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.
In addition to MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ assisted living option, our Reflections Neighborhood consists of 19 secure memory care suites. The area is specifically designed to allow residents the freedom to move safely about their spacious surroundings. Also given the nature of dementia, residents pay one price for their suite and their care regardless of the level of memory loss. As dementia care experts, our unique approach and philosophy to caring for those afflicted with the disease is called “Lavender Sky.” We know the essence of the person remains despite the level of memory loss, and our job is to nurture and support the individual by finding ways to calm or stimulate as the situation demands. Lavender Sky provides the path for us to enter, embrace, and explore the “purple world” of memory loss, and to cross over the physical, emotional, and relational boundaries that would otherwise separate us. Every aspect of our home is designed to provide the comfort, wellness and safety our special residents require including mealtime. We know those suffering from memory loss can sometimes have compromised abilities at the table. We address this by providing a selection of finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look. If you are looking for the best memory care or assisted living Colorado Springs offers, we encourage you to contact us for more information and availability and pricing. Also please know that during the coronavirus outbreak, we are staying abreast of any updates and closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and the Federal government. MorningStar at Mountain Shadows’ mission statement “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 provide our residents the best memory care and assisted living Colorado Springs has to offer. |
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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