How to Make Friends as a Senior in an Assisted Living Community (1)

Moving a loved one into an assisted living facility can trigger a wide variety of emotional distress issues such as fear and anxiety. One of the most effective ways to ease the angst of making the often-traumatic life transition event is to know how to make friends as a senior in an assisted living facility. Friends not only make our lives more meaningful, but they also can enhance health, as well as stave off the symptoms of dementia.

Aging can make socializing much more difficult because health and mobility limitations prevent seniors from getting out and connecting with other people. Relocating to an assisted living facility is an effective strategy to fend off the isolation that frequently overwhelms seniors. However, many seniors struggle to make friends in their new assisted living environments. How does your loved one make friends at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico?

Our team of caregivers offers a few tips to help seniors make friends in their new homes.

Participate in Community Activities

At the MorningStar Assisted Living Facility in Rio Rancho, we offer a busy calendar of community activities that keep residents engaged and just as important, give them the opportunity to connect with other residents. Many of our activities take advantage of the natural splendor surrounding our facility by encouraging residents to join outdoor group outings. Sharing common interests represents a great way to get to know other residents at our senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, NM.

Make Dining a Social Event

Meals create the perfect environment for seniors to connect with other residents at our assisted living facility. We encourage our residents to make dinner dates with other residents. Your senior loved one can connect with other residents by choosing to sit next to someone who is dining alone or by moving around the dining room to interact with different residents during each meal.

Explore the Common Areas

It is difficult to meet new people if your loved one remains inside the apartment all day. Instead, your senior loved should explore our common areas such as the game and TV rooms, as well as venture outdoors to a common area like a community garden. Your loved one does not have to wait for a planned community event to meet new residents. Your senior brings along an activity typically done alone and then sits down at a comfortable place in a common area of our senior housing facility.

Get to Know Our Community Staff

One of the best ways to make the transition from a home to an assisted living involvement is to lean on the knowledge and experience of our staff members. Your senior receives support from a team of compassionate professionals, as well as gets introductions to other residents of our assisted living facility. Our staff members build relationships with our residents to help them make new friends.

Learn More About the MorningStar Senior Housing Facility in Rio Rancho

The caregivers at the MorningStar assisted living facility in Rio Rancho. New Mexico encourages our residents to be as self-sufficient as possible. One of the most effective strategies for achieving self-sufficiency is by leaning on a support group of friends. From healthcare to recreation services, we provide a comprehensive list of amenities to ease the transition from a home to an assisted living environment. Contact a MorningStar resident service representative today to discover why assisted living in Rio Rancho is the best option for a loved one.

Remarkable Assisted Living Community in Rio Rancho, NM (1)

As the third largest city in New Mexico, Rio Rancho represents the ideal location for operating an assisted living facility. As part of rapidly growing Albuquerque, Rio Rancho offers spectacular views of the nearby desert and mountains, as well as a stunning visual display each day when the sun sets. The relatively dry climate allows residents of the MorningStar Assisted Living Facility in Rio Rancho to enjoy outdoor activities virtually every day of the year.

What Makes the MorningStar Senior Housing Facility in Rio Rancho a Remarkable Place to Call Home?

Culture plays an integral role in creating the living environment at the MorningStar Senior Housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Our founder, Ken Jaeger, established the MorningStar system of assisted living facilities based on following Judeo-Christian principles. By making God the foundation for establishing our culture, MorningStar commits each day to follow strong moral ethics and values. We value every one of our residents as important individuals by establishing a community that promotes healthy and engaged lifestyles, while at the same time encouraging independence.

One of the most important elements of the MorningStar Assisted Living facility is the people that work here. We invest substantially in each team member’s ability to serve our community. MorningStar’s commitment to hiring and retaining the most compassionate employees makes us a remarkable assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM.

Life Enrichment

Seniors require mental and physical stimulation to remain vibrant during their golden years. At the MorningStar Senior Housing Facility, our Life Enrichment Teams offer creative strategies that help residents remain active. Our Life Enrichment program has even motivated some of our residents to utilize their unique talents by leading special interest clubs.

Dining Experience

Staying active represents just one component of establishing a healthy lifestyle for our residents. The MorningStar Assisted Living Facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico also emphasizes the importance of following a nutritious diet. Our highly-trained executive chefs create seasonal menus that feature the freshest, most nutritious ingredients that include some menu items that come from our facility’s resident gardens.

Clinical Services

The extensive number of our clinical services reflects the standards established by the Department of Health. We determine the level of care required for each resident by establishing a simple point system based on the cost and time it takes to deliver individual wellness services. MorningStar has established an electronic health record system to provide quick access for our caregivers, as well as loved ones. We provide onsite therapeutic services, which include educational resources, fitness and wellness classes, and a center for physical therapy.

Schedule a Tour of MorningStar Senior Living Facility in Rio Rancho

The MorningStar Assisted Living facility in Rio Rancho, NM offers three lifestyle options for residents: Independent living, assisted living, and memory care. We work closely with loved ones to choose the best lifestyle option for each resident. MorningStar Senior Housing facilities encourage our residents to lead self-sufficient lives that include the most comprehensive list of amenities offered by any full-service community. Discuss how to best take care of a loved one by contacting one of our resident services specialists.

Learn More About Dementia

Many of us, especially seniors, have heard or known someone with Alzheimer’s disease and have an idea of the devastation it causes. While there are other types of diseases categorized as dementia, Alzheimer’s is by far the most common form of dementia accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. You should know dementia is not actually a specific disease but refers to a decline in a person’s mental ability to such a degree it interferes with their daily life.    

It is also important to understand dementia is not a normal condition of aging but rather caused by damage to brain cells that affect a person’s memory, reasoning and other cognitive skills including an ability to communicate. There are several types of clinical dementia including: Alzheimer’s disease; vascular dementia; dementia with Lewy Body; and frontotemporal dementia. Mixed dementia is the term used when a person has both Alzheimer’s and another form of dementia, which is causing their mental decline. 

The Alzheimer’s Association says the “most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first.” As the disease progresses, the person is robbed of many other abilities such as speaking, swallowing and walking. 

To help get the proper diagnosis and rule out other causes that may be treatable such as side effects from a medication, it is important to see your doctor. If warranted, they may have you see a specialist that can do further testing.      

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Happy Valley offers memory care to those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We are a team of compassionate, professionals who feel privileged to serve our most tender residents.  We also consider supporting family members as part of our job and recognize that a diagnosis of dementia is traumatizing for all involved. Contact us for availability, pricing information and to schedule a tour.  

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Contact us for more information about the finest assisted living and memory care in Happy Valley, OR.

Source: alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

MorningStar Offers Luxury Assisted Living in Happy Valley, Oregon

Today’s assisted living is not just another term for a nursing home, which is intended for people who require skilled, around-the-clock medical care and supervision. Rather assisted living, the most popular and fastest growing long-term care option for older adults in the U.S., is designed for seniors who cannot get the help they need or afford while living at home or in an independent living community. The first community in the U.S. opened in the late 1980s. The concept quickly took hold out of consumers’ distaste for nursing homes and the desire for something offering the services, safety and amenities seniors required while still supporting and encouraging their independence.  

Assisted living recognizes seniors as productive, contributing individuals who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Moreover, unlike nursing homes, assisted living communities offer private suites and most are equipped with kitchenettes. At communities such as MorningStar of Happy Valley, meals and transportation are provided, and residents can get help with activities of daily living including bathing, grooming, dressing, transferring, toileting, etc.  Residents feel comforted having the security and safety of 24-hour support, and families rest easy knowing that a trained, caring staff is available to help whenever their loved one needs it. 

Residents of MorningStar appreciate the ease of built-in social connections and predictable budgeting as well as activities designed to engage them physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. Amenities include a bistro, theater/chapel, 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.

If you think you or a loved one would benefit from an assisted living environment, MorningStar of Happy Valley may be the place for you.  If you would like to see if we are a good fit, we offer short-term stays (from one week up to a full month) and respite care for those recovering from an illness or surgical procedure. Please contact us to learn more about our amenities, care services, availability and pricing.   

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us for more information about Happy Valley’s finest assisted living and memory care.

Children May Have Difficulty Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

When a grandparent or another close family member or friend suffers from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, it can be difficult for children to understand, especially if they are very close to the person.  Most likely they have questions and concerns regarding the disease and may be struggling with a range of emotions including sadness and confusion. They may not know how to act around the person anymore or be frightened by the “strange behavior.”

Having grandma or grandpa call you by mom or dad’s name or asking the same question again and again are just some of the strange things kids see happening to a beloved grandparent. They may worry Alzheimer’s is contagious and it is important they know it isn’t but rather a degenerative disease that happens in the brain. If the person lives with them, teenagers may be embarrassed to have friends around due to the person’s behavior, and sometimes children withdraw from the person or lose patience.  

The Alzheimer’s Association suggests sitting down with your child and telling them while the person may forget your name, they can still feel your love. Encourage questions and provide honest answers, and perhaps together you can learn more about the disease. The experts offer ideas on things kids can do with the person such as listening to music, setting the table, working on a puzzle, reading a book or looking at family photos. As the person’s disease progresses, make sure your kids feel comfortable asking more questions. Regardless of how old we are, losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease is challenging for everyone.   

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers assisted living as well as 27 suites for the individualized memory care of those with memory impairment. Every aspect of our Reflections Neighborhood is geared toward residents’ care from meaningful activities, trained caregivers, food service, security and more. If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, they deserve the best care. Please visit our website to learn more about exceptional senior living in Happy Valley, OR. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s mission statement of “to honor, to value, 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: alz.org/documents/national/brochure_childrenteens.pdf