MorningStar’s Third Valley of the Sun Senior Community Opening Soon!

Opening this fall, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills is the third MorningStar senior living community in the Valley of the Sun.  Set in the scenic town of Fountain Hills, our private suites boast a view of the area’s renowned lake fountain featuring a geyser that shoots water to a height of 562 feet every hour as well as views of the surrounding mountains.

 

Our community offers 63 private assisted living suites on two levels and includes spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.  Our Reflections Neighborhood, devoted to the care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related conditions, has 28 secure suites.

 

If you have not yet had the opportunity to come to one of our open house events, we encourage you to set up an appointment to view our model suites.  In addition take a look at our website, as along with lots of information and pictures, we also feature several of our floor plans.  We even offer an assisted living two-bedroom lay-out that is 870 square feet! 

 

Ready to call it home, our private suites are all set for you to move in - all you need to do is to bring your furnishings and personal items.  Complete with mini blinds, wall-to-wall carpeting and ceiling lights, the units are designed with large windows and high ceilings to allow for lots of natural light.  Each suite is also equipped with an emergency call system, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, individual heating and air conditioning, basic cable TV and utilities.  Furthermore, MorningStar offers weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services.  Our community also has laundry facilities available and we do daily trash removal and spot cleaning.  

 

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a visit to see our model suites and learn more about assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.  

Technological Advancements that May Improve Seniors’ Lives

A recent article in the U.S. News and World Report discusses several technological advancements under development that may benefit the lives of older adults.  One example they cite that is already available is remote health monitoring systems that permit patients to take their own vital signs and send them to their medical provider.  Additionally shoe insoles with GPSs inserted in them have also been developed as a way to track someone with Alzheimer’s.

 

Still in the early stages of development, self-driving cars may help to improve the lives of seniors.  We know that driving is something that many seniors start to feel uncomfortable doing, but giving it up can often mean a loss of independence.  Experts predict self-driving cars will be widely available in as little as ten years.   

 

Another interesting technological development already available in Denmark is edema socks that detect and signal swelling of the feet and edema.  SmartSox is a similar concept under development that will be a used to “detect excessive pressure, heat and misplaced joint angles that could cause foot ulcers. This is useful because people with diabetes often lose sensation in their feet and can't always feel such changes.”

 

Also while not currently being produced, a group of researchers have developed a vibrating shoe insole to improve balance and stability and may reduce falls by as much as 70 percent.  Along those same lines, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are trying to create a shirt with built-in sensors that will be able to administer CPR.

 

No article on technological advancements would be complete without the mention of robots.  For years, researchers have been working on robots that will have the required artificial intelligence to serve as health care aides.   In fact as soon as next year, England, Greece and Poland will be testing robot caregivers.   

 

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a visit to see our model suites and learn more about assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.  

 

Source:money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/retirement/articles/2015/12/09/7-tech-advances-that-will-change-seniors-lives  

Knowledge and Empathy – Important Characteristics for Caretakers

“Memory Care” is the term used to describe communities specifically designed to care for those suffering with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills, we have 28 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related conditions along with 63 assisted living suites. Opening this fall, we look forward to providing compassionate memory care for each of our residents that is borne out of a deep understanding of the disease.  

Based on our premise that knowledge can lead to a better understanding of dementia, this summer MorningStar of Fountain Hills hosted an interactive lecture series for professionals and area families eager for more information.  The comprehensive series gave all of us an opportunity to learn even more about dementia and how it affects those with the disease. 

Our June workshops featured Dr. John DeBoer, a leading neuropsychologist in the area of early-stage dementia detection and intervention mechanisms. One of the lectures, called Memory and Aging: What’s Normal and What’s Not, defined dementia and memory impairment associated with the disease and explained how it differs from memory loss experienced in the normal aging process.         

The second in the series from Dr. DeBoer was The Myth of Dementia and Why It is Untrue.  The basis of the lecture was to give family members and caretakers of those with dementia a clear understanding of the disease and its myriad causes.  It highlighted The SMART Brain Aging cognitive program developed by Dr. DeBoer that is designed for those in the early stages of the disease.

The last lecture in the series was Family Adjustment to Memory Loss.  The discussion focused on redefining life for individuals affected with memory impairment as well as their families.  The entire series was well received by the community.  Furthermore, we also welcomed a film crew from NetFlix who were there to produce a documentary on the topic as well as a local reporter.   

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a visit to see our model suites and learn more about assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.  

Does Your Parent Need More Help?

Adult children are often surprised to discover that a parent is not doing well and that they may require additional assistance to ensure their continued safety and comfort.  According to the experts, there are several signs to look for to help determine if assisted living is the right answer for your mom or dad. 

The website Caring.com recommends that you consider assisted living if your elderly parent has recently experienced a fall or has had a medical emergency and did not receive the immediate help they required.  Also it may be time to think about it if they suffer from chronic health problems that are getting progressively worse such as COPD, congestive heart failure or dementia?  Furthermore, do they take a long time to recover from an illness? 

Other indications that your loved one is not getting the care they need at home are signs of weight loss and a more frail appearance or if they are neglecting their personal hygiene and are not as well-groomed as they used to be?  It may simply be that preparing meals and taking care of day-to-day personal activities have become too difficult for them.  An empty refrigerator, stacks of unopened mail, and new dents in the car could all be warning signs that your parent would benefit from having more assistance.  

Another advantage to assisted living is that it can also provide your loved one with social activities and companionship.  Often seniors live alone, and as many stop driving, they do not get out on their own.  Assisted living communities provide seniors with an opportunity to live comfortably and securely as well as to enjoy a range of activities and the company of others.  We encourage you to plan a visit to MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills to discover the carefree lifestyle we offer. 

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a visit to see our model suites and learn more about assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.   

Sources:helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/assisted-living-facilities.htm caring.com/articles/signs-its-time-for-assisted-living

Great Career Opportunities for the Right Individuals

Are you interested in finding a career path that will make you feel good about what you are doing and provide the opportunity to help others every day?  MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills offers just such an opportunity and is looking for the right individuals to complete our staff at one of the newest MorningStar properties in Fountain Hills, AZ. 

Recognizing that a senior community’s success invariable rests on its caregivers, MorningStar invests generously in the development, compensation, benefits and career paths of our team members.  We understand that while it is critical that we hire the very best people, we also work hard to provide them with the ultimate work environment.  MorningStar strives to ensure that our staff is recognized for the magnitude of their contributions in making someone else’s life better. 

A typical MorningStar team member is someone who is aligned with our mission, and is the kind of person who does the right thing even when no one is watching.  They are individuals who know how to anticipate the needs of those they are caring for and are willing to go the extra mile to serve them.  Our team is made up of individuals who understand that Senior Living is at its best, love in action. 

The MorningStar workplace is a unique environment as it is also the home of our residents, and as with any home, it requires that each one of us work toward the single goal of enriching the lives of our seniors one day at a time. We are an equal opportunity employer and embrace a culturally diverse workforce.  In addition we work to accommodate the needs of our employees by offering flexible hours and schedules.   

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a visit to see our model suites and learn more about assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.