Affordable Christmas Gift Ideas for Seniors on a Budget

Christmas is about the thought behind the gift, not the price tag. For seniors in assisted living facilities Rio Rancho, finding meaningful yet budget-friendly gifts can be a fun and creative challenge. Whether you’re crafting something special or finding a small treasure, there are plenty of ways to spread holiday cheer without overspending.

Let’s chat about some heartwarming, affordable Christmas gift ideas perfect for the season.

Handmade Gifts

There’s something magical about a gift you make yourself—it’s personal, thoughtful, and unique.

• DIY Photo Album or Scrapbook: Gather photos, old and new, and create a mini storybook of shared memories. Add captions or small mementos for an extra touch.

• Homemade Treats: Bake cookies, fudge, or even a loaf of holiday bread. Package them in decorative tins from the dollar store for a festive presentation.

Practical and Useful Items

A little practicality goes a long way when gifting seniors in senior housing.

• Cozy Accessories: A soft blanket, warm socks, or a scarf can bring comfort during chilly winter nights.

• Personalized Calendars: Use an online service to create a calendar with family photos for each month. It’s a gift that keeps giving all year long!

Experiences Over Things

Sometimes, the best gift isn’t a physical item but a shared moment.

• Host a Movie Night: Pick a favorite Christmas classic, like It’s a Wonderful Life, and pair it with hot cocoa and popcorn.

• Offer Your Time: Create “coupons” for things like a lunch date, a home-cooked meal, or help with a project they’ve been meaning to tackle.

Affordable Tech Helpers

Simple tech gadgets can make life easier and more enjoyable.

• Digital Photo Frames: Load it with family pictures so they can enjoy a rotating slideshow of memories.

• Key Finders: Small and budget-friendly, these gadgets are perfect for helping find misplaced keys or wallets.

Every year, Patricia, a resident in senior living, gives handmade ornaments to her children and grandchildren. “I pick a new theme each year—angels, snowflakes, or little Santas—and use craft supplies I’ve collected over the years. It’s become a tradition they look forward to, and it doesn’t cost much at all,” she said.

Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers

Small gifts can have a big impact.

• Puzzles or Activity Books: Crossword puzzles, sudoku, or adult coloring books are great for staying engaged.

• Holiday-Themed Tea or Coffee: Festive flavors like peppermint or spiced apple are cozy and affordable.

• Hand Cream or Lip Balm: Practical and appreciated during the dry winter months.

Gift-giving doesn’t have to break the bank to be meaningful. With a little creativity and a lot of heart, you can create special moments that remind your loved ones just how much they mean to you. After all, the best gift is time spent together and the love shared along the way.

WEIGHTLIFTING 101 FOR SENIORS

As we grow older, our bodies lose muscle mass from the development of a naturally occurring process. The more muscle mass that we lose, the more difficult it is to complete routine daily activities, much less achieve feats of uncanny strength. You can expect the hear and read of several miracle cures for restoring muscle mass, but one timeless method remains relevant for older adults living in a senior housing center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

We are talking about strength training that revolves around weightlifting. 

Weightlifting represents the most effective exercise for stimulating muscle growth. You can restore muscle mass by following a weightlifting regimen. Lifting weights also increases bone density, which is an important benefit for older adults who have to deal with medical conditions such as osteoporosis. Increasing bone density also is important to prevent fractures, which often impact older adults who lose too much bone density.

It is not just the body that benefits from lifting weights. Several studies have demonstrated that weightlifting increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), which are brain proteins that support the growth and sustainability of the neurons located in the brain. The result of the neuron stimulation is enhanced cognitive health that is an important factor in starving off the symptoms of dementia.

Let’s take a look at a few tips for older adults to follow when weightlifting at the gym or home in the basement.

Warm Up

The first tip for weightlifting is the most important: You must warm up before completing the first repetition. Without warm-up exercises, you increase the risk of sustaining an injury because your muscles are not loose enough to support free weights. You should set aside 10 minutes for warm-up exercises such as squats, calisthenics, arm windmills, and shoulder rolls. Warming up also increases your heart rate to get you acclimated to a more strenuous weightlifting session.

Form and Technique Matter

Weightlifting is not about trying to exceed your limitations by lifting heavy weights. The goal is to follow the right form and technique to ensure safe and efficient movements. One of the most common reasons why people sustain injuries while weightlifting involves making movements that place too much stress on the body. Following the correct form and technique helps you use the right muscles for each weightlifting exercise.

Start Light

We already mentioned the importance of not overdoing it by trying to lift more than you can handle. This tip, which is to start lifting lighter weights, ties in directly to the previous tip to follow the proper form and technique. Unless you are an experienced athlete who participates in body-building competitions, you should lift lighter weights at least when you start in a weightlifting program. The number of repetitions matters more than how much the weights weigh on a barbell. Even the most experienced weightlifters go light during most of a weightlifting regimen.

Listen to Your Body

Your body is the first line of defense to prevent an injury from developing during a weightlifting session. At the first sign of discomfort, take a break from weightlifting or even call it a day and wait until your body responds positively to the downtime. As we grow older, our bodies take more time to recover from physically demanding activities such as weightlifting. If any pain that develops turns into a more serious health issue, consult with a physician to determine the best course of action.

Our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho offers a fitness center for residents. Learn more about what we have to offer for weightlifting equipment by scheduling a tour today.

4 MUST-HAVE SECURITY FEATURES AT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

Peace of mind.

If you ask a close family member who is considering a senior housing center in Rio Ranch, peace of mind both for the family member and a loved one often sits at the top of the criteria list. There comes a point in our lives when we need help navigating through each day, from cooking meals to running errands. An assisted living facility in Rio Rancho helps older adults make the difficult transition from independent living.

Making the difficult decision to move into an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is just the first important decision to make. You also have to choose the right facility based on several important factors. One of the most crucial factors to consider concerns the type of safety features that protect older adults at senior housing centers in Rio Rancho.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we believe there are four safety features your loved one should count on for the utmost protection.

Video Surveillance

Security camera systems set up at senior housing centers in Rio Rancho do much more than monitor residents and the productivity of caregivers. Video surveillance also plays a role in keeping track of what goes on outside an assisted living facility. Each assisted facility on your shortlist of candidates should place security cameras above every exit and entrance, as well as in hallways and elevators. One of the crucial objectives of installing video surveillance equipment is to detect any intruders who have entered the building after visiting hours. Video surveillance also helps detect theft and fraudulent worker’s compensation claims.

Property Access Control

Although advanced video surveillance equipment plays a critical role in enhancing the safety of our residents, implementing property access control measures bolsters the strength of any safety system. For example, all entrances to an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho should be electronically, not mechanically accessible. Credential technology such as PIN codes for staff members and electronic bands for residents help prevent unauthorized visitors from gaining access to your loved one’s new home. Limiting exit and entrance points makes it easier for staff members to monitor traffic

In-Room Monitoring

Not every safety issue at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM concerns preventing crimes from happening. Safety also is measured by how safe our residents are in their rooms. Many assisted living residents require some type of assistance throughout the day. Our caregivers ensure every resident receives the correct assistance at the right times. However, we have installed sensors to detect when residents struggle with something such as getting out of bed or going to the bathroom. Our in-room monitoring devices eliminate the fear that comes with struggling with a task.

Fire Safety Measures

The proper fire safety measures are important for any building, but they are especially crucial for the protection of the residents of senior housing centers in Rio Rancho. Fire lurks around every corner of an assisted living facility, from a kitchen appliance such as a toaster to combustible medical equipment like oxygen tanks. There should be plenty of fire detectors spaced close together to ensure full coverage. Fire sprinklers should cover every inch of every floor of an assisted living facility. Fire escapes should be numerous, as well as easy to access.

No other issue matters more than the safety of a loved one at MorningStar of Rio Rancho. Schedule a tour today to learn more about the advanced safety features set and implemented by our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho.

HOME SAFETY TIPS FOR SENIORS

Practice makes perfect.

Long before you move to a senior housing community in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, you lived independently in your own home for many years. The same safety tips that you follow in your own home also apply to your new home at an assisted living facility. Let’s review home safety tips for seniors that you should follow as well at your new home at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho.

Be Prepared

The last thing you want to do during an emergency is scramble to find the emergency phone numbers that allow you to call for immediate assistance. Write down every emergency contact phone number in large print and place the list next to a landline phone. If you have mastered operating a Smartphone, add emergency phone numbers in the phone by accessing the Contacts feature. Some of the emergency phone numbers to store include 911, poison control, and your healthcare provider, as well as friends and family members.

Prevent Falls

Falls represent one of the most common reasons why seniors visit hospital emergency rooms. You can prevent falls by implementing several strategies. Install handrails in the bathroom to provide you with stability if you start to slip and fall. Handrails also represent helpful additions in your home along stairways. Make sure to pick up all objects sitting in high-traffic areas of your home to prevent you from tripping and falling. Ask your healthcare provider to perform a risk assessment concerning your balance and coordination.

Make Security a Priority

Seniors are prime targets for criminals, which means you should implement several security tips to prevent criminals from taking advantage of you. Keep doors and windows locked at all times, even when you plan to stay home for the rest of the day. Never allow a stranger to enter your home if you are alone. Install a digitally advanced security system that includes a feature that allows you to quickly contact the nearest law enforcement agency if you feel threatened by an intruder. Avoid financial scams by talking over every proposed deal with a trusted friend or family member.

Make Your Home Fire Resistant

A fire can start at any time, without giving you any warning to react promptly by putting it out. Install a fire detector in every room and make sure to replace each battery twice a year. Never leave the kitchen if you are cooking a meal. Do not overload a socket or extension cord with multiple electrical cords and wires. Follow the rule of one cord, one socket. You should not leave a room with burning candles, as well as replace small appliances that attach to frayed or damaged electrical cords. For a large appliance, contact the nearest dealer to have a technician replace the damaged cord.

Stay Safe at MorningStar-Rio Rancho

At our senior housing community in Rio Rancho, NM, our caregivers receive comprehensive training on how to implement safety tips for our residents. We ensure residents receive the correct medications in the proper dosages. Our caregivers also educate residents on how to avoid bathroom hazards, as well as prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The caregivers at our assisted living facility also conduct regularly scheduled safety inspections to keep residents safe and secure 24 hours a day. Learn more about how we keep residents safe and secure at our senior housing community in Rio Rancho by scheduling a tour.

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR GAMES FOR SENIORS?

Staying active physically is a lifestyle tip older adults hear on almost a daily basis. However, maintaining vigorous mental health is just as important of a tip. According to the National Institute of Health, playing games can be as mentally stimulating as reading a good book or spending time at a cultural attraction such as an art museum. What researchers have discovered is certain games called “brain games” help older adults bolster memory skills, which is an effective strategy to prevent the development of dementia symptoms.

As our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, caregivers understand how brain games can enhance memory skills. They help older adults connect with loved ones, as well as give them a feeling of being in control. Stimulating games helps the brain make new neurotransmitter connections to keep seniors alert. Another benefit of games for seniors is that they help prevent the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Let’s review the most popular games for seniors.

Bingo

Bingo is one of the most popular games at our senior housing center in Rio Ranch, New Mexico. It does a great job of encouraging social interactions, while at the same time helping older adults overcome memory challenges. The mental health benefits of bingo stem from remembering the numbers called out, as well as searching for the numbers called out on playing cards.

Checkers

Checkers is considered one of the easiest board games for older adults to learn. The game is not as much about developing a winning strategy as it is about processing logic and improving hand-eye coordination. Checkerboards come in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate older adults who live with arthritis and/or vision challenges.

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles are popular at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho for several reasons. First, crossword puzzles are easy to access, whether you find one in a newspaper or when you go online. Second, you do not have to recruit a playing partner, although you can work on a crossword puzzle with a fellow resident. Third, crossword puzzles test memory skills and help you develop strategies.

Card Games

Card games represent ideal brain sharpening tools, from playing solitaire alone to engaging with friends in a game of hearts. The best part is you can play these games in person or find a competitive card game online. Card games develop memory skills, as well as improve an older adult’s math skills. Many of our residents play card games in the community activities room in both formal and informal environments.

Trivia

A board game such as Trivia Pursuit is an effective way to stimulate the brain, as well as improve memory skills. Trivia games require players to dig deep in the mind to pull out what were considered once-forgotten facts. Playing a board game allows you to interact with other residents, but there are also plenty of online trivia games that initiate action in the brain.

Stay Mentally Active by Playing Brain Games

The memory program at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho emphasizes the importance of staying mentally active. Playing games is the foundation of the plan to keep residents engaged with one another to bolster memory skills. We invite you to take a tour of the MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living facility to learn more about how our caregivers keep residents mentally sharp.

THE COMMON CRITTERS OF RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO

New Mexico has earned the appropriate nickname of the “Land of Enchantment.” From the stars dazzling the nighttime sky to sunlight bouncing different colors off rocky mountains, New Mexico lives up to its descriptive nickname. The state is also home to a wide variety of amazing animals, many of which you might see while hiking near our assisted living facility.

Here are the common critters of Rio Rancho, New Mexico:

Bobcats

As the smallest species of lynx, bobcats represent the most common wildcat in North America. They especially enjoy roaming the wide open spaces of New Mexico, including the prairies and rocky inclines located near our senior housing center in Rio Rancho. Adult bobcats can weigh from eight to more than 30 pounds and typically possess a docile disposition. It can be difficult to see one, as bobcats tend to maintain an elusive and solitary lifestyle.

Coyote

The piercing howl often heard at night makes the coyote appear to be a formidable threat. However, like the solitary bobcat, coyotes prefer to maintain a healthy distance from humans. They usually live in small packs that range from three to eight members. Coyotes can adapt to any type of living environment, as long as there is an abundant supply of food sources. They eat fruits and berries for snacks and when nighttime arrives, coyotes turn their attention to birds and animals for sustenance.

Great Horned Owl

As another animal that calls out at night, the great horned owl uses its ability to blend in with nature to hunt other birds and small mammals. With keen eyesight and crystal-clear hearing, great horned owls can detect the smallest prey several hundred yards away. Their talons can apply pressure that exceeds 500 pounds per square inch. As a nocturnal animal, the great horned owl typically becomes active at dusk after making a series of four to five hoots.

Jackrabbit

Jackrabbits are considered hares, not rabbits. They are shaped leaner than rabbits, which allows them to increase speed quickly to evade the many predators that lurk in the desert and mountain ranges. Jackrabbits can reach a top speed of 35 miles an hour, which helps them stay ahead of the hungry predators in the wildcat family. The residents at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho can spot jackrabbits in grassy or semi-open areas after it rains when wet vegetation is on the menu.

Roadrunner

Where there are coyotes, roadrunners cannot be far behind in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. You can spot the state bird all year long across the city of Rio Rancho. Although roadrunners can fly, they spend the vast majority of their time on the ground reaching speeds up to 20 miles per hour. Roadrunners mostly eat insects and small snakes, which makes them an effective and highly popular form of pest control in New Mexico.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

This fanged reptile mostly roams desert ranges when it is hot enough to warm its cold blood. They lurk in crevices carved out of the landscape, as well as in wood piles and abandoned caves. The rattle acts as a warning device to any creature that wanders too close for its liking. Western diamondback rattlesnakes hunt small mammals and other reptiles such as lizards. Like some of the other critters on this list, this snake is hard to spot at any time of the year.Discover what we have to offer at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho by scheduling a tour today.

WHAT IS THE KETO DIET?

One of the most important factors to consider before choosing a senior housing community in Rio Rancho concerns diet and nutrition. As we grow older, our body develops special needs that only the proper diet and nutrition can fulfill. If you watch just a little television, you probably have come across several ads that promote different diets. At night, it seems like a non-stop flurry of ads extolling the virtues of eating certain diets.

How do you make sense of all the information concerning diets?

The answer is learning about the facts of each diet. At our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, that starts by answering the questions, what is the Keto diet?

An Overview of the Keto Diet

Also referred to as the ketogenic diet, the keto diet has emerged as one of the most popular diets that involves consuming a below-average amount of carbohydrates. If following a strict keto diet, you replace carbs with fat to generate energy, with the primary goal of accelerating the body’s natural fat-burning process. Created to treat children who live with drug-resistant epilepsy, the keto diet eventually went mainstream because of its weight loss benefits.

The science behind the keto diet involves ketosis, which is a process the body develops when you eat a low-carb diet. Other diets that follow the ketosis approach include the Atkins diet and the Dukan diet. The keto diet stands out from the other diets that rely on ketosis due to the consumption of a higher-than-average amount of fat. To generate the ketosis process, your body should not absorb more than 50 grams of carbohydrates a day.

How Do You Follow the Keto Diet?

You should ease into a keto diet by first focusing on eating foods that provide liver support, such as garlic and onions. Another tip to maximize the benefits of the keto diet involves decreasing the amount of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol that you consume. Following the standard keto diet includes incorporating a considerable amount of non-starchy vegetables like kale and spinach into each meal. Both leafy vegetables work well as part of every meal, including breakfast. Kale and spinach are low in carbs and both leafy vegetables deliver plenty of vitamins and minerals.

The best foods to consume as part of the keto diet include fish, nuts, high-fat meat, and high-fat dairy such as cheese. Foods to avoid cover all types of bread, pasta, and cereal. You also need to avoid drinking certain beverages such as fruit juices and milk-based drinks.

Does the Keto Diet Work?

Research indicates the keto diet can help you lose weight, as well as improve insulin sensitivity for those who live with diabetes. When tested against a low-fat diet, the keto diet achieves a greater loss of body weight, in some cases as much as 10 pounds in just two weeks. How long you keep the extra weight off depends on your commitment to following the keto diet, as well as maintaining a regular exercise routine.

The Importance of Diet and Nutrition at MorningStar of Rio Rancho

The licensed caregivers at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM place a strong emphasis on educating our residents about the importance of diet and nutrition. Although the keto diet might not be for every resident, the scientific proof of the diet’s success makes it one to consider for residents who want to lose weight. Learn more about how MorningStar of Rio Rancho stresses the importance of diet and nutrition by scheduling a tour today of our senior housing community in Rio Rancho.

HOW TO WARM UP BEFORE A WORKOUT

If you seem to be running out of time, one of the ideas that crosses your mind is to skip warming up before a workout. After all, you can slowly ease into your workout routine without limbering up beforehand, right? 

One of the most important points our caregivers emphasize for residents concerning physical health is the importance of warming up before a workout. At our senior housing center in Rio Rancho, every organized workout directed by one of our caregivers starts with a warm up session. If you do not properly warm up before a workout, you increase the risk of sustaining an injury, or at the very least, place undue strain on your joints and muscles.

Warming up before a workout is important for additional reasons as well. You increase your body’s flexibility when you properly warm up, as well as enhance the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Numerous studies indicate that a thorough warm up period improves physical performance during a workout, such as giving you a much better range of motion. A thorough warm up period also reduces muscle pain and tension.

Here are a few suggestions to help you properly warm up before a workout:

Pushups

One of the most common, yet incorrectly done warm up exercises works your upper body, as well as the core and glutes. For those that struggle with standard push ups, doing this warm up exercise on the knees works as well. The key is to do push ups the right way to get the most out of this warm up exercise. At our assisted living facility, we organize group exercise sessions directed by a fitness expert who ensures each class participant does push ups the right way.

Squats

Squats represent a versatile exercise that targets several muscles, including the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps. This warm up routine requires you to start slow by squatting halfway toward a full knee bend. You slowly increase the difficulty until you achieve a full knee bend without squatting with any weights. After you warm up by squatting, you can eventually hold weights to work your leg muscles harder. 

Planks

One of the most serious health issues that slow down seniors concerns back pain. Years of putting pressure on the back can lead to debilitating medical conditions, which include suffering from a herniated disc. Planks are a warm up exercise that targets the back by loosening back muscles. They increase back strength, as well as improve balance and posture. If you have never done planks, make sure to do your first few sets under the guidance of a certified fitness trainer.

The Bottom Line

Jumping right into a workout routine without first warming up not only diminishes the effectiveness of the workout, it can also be dangerous. This is especially true for seniors because they do not possess the strength and mobility that they did years ago. Warming up at a comfortable pace is essential to achieving the desired results in preparation for a workout. The caregivers who specialize in fitness at our senior housing center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico encourage residents to warm up as a group to foster a sense of community that helps everyone achieve the same workout goal.

HOW TO SPRUCE UP YOUR ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENT

Moving into an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico also means moving into a smaller space. This means you have to rethink how to decorate your new home. Although at first downsizing appears to be a step down in the housing department, it is a great opportunity to donate some of your things to a favorite charity, while at the same time enhancing the ambiance of your new apartment.

At the MorningStar senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, we help new residents maximize the smaller spaces in their new homes by describing how they can spruce up their assisted living apartments.

Let There Be Light

Not every decoration idea has to involve buying new furniture or creating an elaborate collage to hang on a wall. Simply opening up blinds and/or pulling back shades can do wonders in improving the ambiance of a living space. Allowing more sunlight to grace your assisted living apartment in Rio Rancho not only brightens the mood, but also makes a room feel much larger.

Sunlight is a critical component to maintaining vibrant health, and we receive plenty of sunlight in Rio Rancho, NM. On average, the greater Albuquerque metro region basks in the glow and warmth of sunlight a whopping 310 days a year.

Use the Right Colors

As it is with sunlight, color accents also contribute to the mood and ambiance of a living space. It makes sense that using warm colors for decorative purposes turns a drab-looking room into one that exudes warmth and comfort. The question is what types of colors exude the degree of warmth and comfort that you want to shine in your new assisted living apartment?

Lighter colors tend to do the best job of making a living space seem inviting to both guests and residents. Painting a room all in one lighter color also does a great job of inviting even more sunlight into a living space.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

When you think of a mirror, you probably think about an accessory that helps you look your best as it hangs in the bathroom. However, mirrors represent an effective way to spruce up an assisted living apartment. Regardless of how many windows there are in your new living space, hanging one or more mirrors magically creates the effect of increasing the size of your new home.

Mirrors also represent an effective strategy to reflect light from both natural and artificial sources.

Leverage the Decorative Power of Walls

One of the first things guests invited to your apartment see are the living room walls. This provides you with the best opportunity to make a memorable first impression for all the right reasons. Although walls serve a highly functional purpose by allowing for the building of shelves to store things, they also offer a sturdy foundation to hang paintings and photographs.

The key is to not overdo it by overloading the walls with artwork.

Boost the Aesthetic Appeal of Your Assisted Living Apartment

When you move into our senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, we want your new apartment to feel like home. Sprucing up your new assisted living apartment goes a long way to enhancing your mood, as well as giving you a feeling of ownership. One of the most common reasons why MorningStar of Rio Rancho attracts new residents is our three lifestyle options.

Learn more about the three lifestyle options, as well as how to spruce up your new assisted living apartment, by scheduling a tour today.

With Sweater Season Around the Corner, Seniors Will Enjoy These Sweater Styles

Fall reintroduces us to spectacularly colored trees, as well as apple cider drinks that warm the heart. The season that runs from early September to late November also introduces us to a chill that dramatically changes our wardrobes. Gone are the days of short-sleeve shirts, and instead, we start to add sweaters to our daily attire. At the MorningStar senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, we begin to see a wide variety of sweater styles come out of closets and dress drawers.

Material matters when choosing the best sweaters to wear during the colder months of the year. Cashmere, which is one of the most luxurious feeling sweater materials, contains natural wool fibers that derive from the undercoat of central Asian goats. Traditional American wool contains fibers from several different sources to help trap heat. Cotton provides an unsurpassed level of comfort, which makes it the ideal material for sweaters that are worn as a first layer.

With sweater season around the corner at our assisted living facility, let’s take a look at the most popular styles of sweaters to add to your fall and winter wardrobes.

Cardigan

Often associated with the look of college students, cardigan sweaters work well for the members of any age group that wear this style of sweater over a button-down shirt. Cardigan sweaters feature long sleeves and buttons that run down the front. A shawl-neck knit cardigan sweater includes an extra fabric layer that runs down around the neck to keep the body warm on cold winter days.

Turtleneck

A high collar that folds up or down defines the stylish appearance of turtleneck sweaters. The folding capability of the collar allows you to expose as much of the neck as you want to expose, which comes in handy on days that start warm, but turn chilly in a matter of just a few minutes. Turtleneck sweaters work fashionably well as a layer with blazers and leather jackets.

Crew-Neck

As we grow older, our skin becomes more susceptible to incurring damage, especially in winter when cold, dry conditions make our skin brittle. Wearing a pullover crew-neck sweater ensures the apparel goes easy on the skin. As one of the main symbols of casualwear, wearing a crew-neck sweater allows you the fashion versatility to pair it with a tweed blazer or a button-down Mac coat.

V-Neck

Designed with a wide variety of materials, V-neck sweaters improve the flow of air around the body by exposing the neck and inner shoulders. Often paired with t-shirts on warmer days, you can change your look if the temperature dips by wearing a V-neck sweater as the first layer beneath a heavy coat

Schedule a Tour of the MorningStar Assisted Living Facility in Rio Rancho, NM

Leaving your loved one in the hands of the team members at a senior housing facility in Rio Rancho can trigger stress and anxiety. At our senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, we alleviate the concerns faced by loved ones because of our commitment to focus on the little things. We offer three lifestyle options that allow a senior to transition from independent living to assisted living without having to move to another facility. MorningStar offers more amenities than any other senior housing facility in Rio Rancho and beyond.

Schedule a tour today to learn more about our highly-rated senior housing facility.

How to Avoid Medication Administration Errors

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medication errors cause at least one fatality per day and injure nearly 1.3 million people a year. Americans 65 years of age and older are highly vulnerable to falling victim to one or more medication administration errors, especially seniors who live by themselves. Caregivers at assisted living facilities play a crucial role in ensuring residents follow all the proper protocols for taking their medications.

At the MorningStar senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, our team of highly-rated caregivers places a strong emphasis on educating residents and their loved ones on how to avoid medication administration errors.

Organize Medications

One of the most effective strategies to avoid medication administration errors is to organize pills to ensure our residents take the right pills at the right times on the right days of the week. To prevent taking the wrong medications, organizing pills by following a printed schedule can help a senior avoid taking the wrong drugs that have similar names. For example, a common medication error is taking a drug like Celexa when a senior is supposed to take a medication such as Celebrex.

In addition to following a printed medication schedule, organizing medications in a pillbox that is labeled according to each day of the week also represents a proven strategy for organizing prescription pills.

Understand Administration Instructions

Every prescription medication includes a label that presents instructions on how to administer a drug. How a resident at our assisted living facility in Rio Ranch takes a drug is just as important as remembering to follow a printed administration schedule. For instance, a senior might swallow a pill that is intended to be absorbed at a much slower rate under the tongue. The administration of a medication that is meant to follow a different route in the body can lead to serious health consequences.

Another important role of our team of caregivers is to help residents read and understand the instructions for administering prescription medications.

Confirm Dosing Requirements

Prescription drug overdoses represent the leading cause of fatalities caused by medications. Although prescription drugs are the most common cause of overdose fatalities, over-the-counter medications also pose a danger to seniors who do not follow dosing requirements. Seniors face overdosing issues primarily because of a decline in vision and/or memory. Many prescription drugs require each dose to be taken with a certain amount of water or at a specific meal during the day. If the dosing requirements are not fully followed, a medication might not work, or worse, put a senior at risk of developing a serious health problem.

Ensure Your Senior Prevents Medication Administration Errors

The MorningStar Assisted Living facility in Rio, Rancho, NM offers three types of living arrangements for our residents: independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Regardless of the type of living arrangement for residents, our team of caregivers ensures each resident closely follows medication administration requirements. Our commitment to providing superior healthcare services such as administering medications correctly allows you to enjoy peace of mind.

Learn more about our senior housing facility in Rio Rancho by contacting one of our resident services representatives.

Finding Community and Connection in Senior Housing: A Guide for Older Adults

Even though senior housing communities are supportive, enriching environments, many older adults hesitate to participate in the social scene when they first move into senior housing. 

If you feel uneasy about the social environment in your senior housing area, don’t worry. You are not alone. Follow this guide to improve your social life and connect with other residents. 

Reflect on the Past

Looking back on your younger years as you move into senior housing might seem odd. However, this can be useful for finding your tribe in your new community. 

You probably had to start your social life from scratch when you entered middle school, high school, college, or even new workplaces. Moving into senior housing is no different. You can apply some of the same strategies you used then to make new, long-lasting friendships now. 

Remember what you learned about people’s personalities and habits back then. Are there any personality traits you want to avoid? What stood out to you when you met different people throughout your life? 

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back and reflect on what you’ve learned. 

Have a “Yes” Mindset

Start saying “yes” more! 

Of course, there will be times when you have to say “no” to an activity, event, or gathering, but try to limit this as much as possible. Part of building a strong sense of community is trying new things while meeting new people. 

Even if you don’t enjoy everything you try, you can store this knowledge for future use. You never know what you might gain from the experience of trying something new.

Pay Attention to Community News

Most senior housing communities have bulletin boards and other central areas for current news and events. Senior housing communities often host various recreational activities to encourage team building and socialization. 

Pay attention to the upcoming activities in your community. These are great opportunities to connect with familiar and new people alike. You might meet your new best friends at the next art class or outdoor hike.

Keep an Open Mind

It can be difficult to adjust to a brand-new social scene, especially if you are used to your family or solo time. Keeping an open mind will help you break out of your shell and meet new friends. 

Try not to judge anyone you meet at first glance. Getting to know someone’s heart and personality takes time, so give everyone a fair chance.

Find Your Tribe in Senior Housing 

Follow these tips to improve your social life in senior housing. These tips work for almost any senior housing community in the country. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised by what — and who — you discover!