Resort-style Amenities at MorningStar of Happy Valley

 

Designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the most discerning senior, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Happy Valley is a community built on the premise that assisted living can be both purposeful and beautiful.  We have lots of warm, inviting common areas both inside and out and the amenities and services to ensure residents feel right at home.   Our community is scheduled to open to residents by the end of the year. 

If you are someone who finds that preparing meals has become too difficult due to your health or just not something you enjoy any more, you will be delighted to know we offer three daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef.  All of our delicious meals are served in our charming dining room, restaurant-style, and created largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients to tempt the most particular taste buds. We even offer a private dining room for intimate dinners.
   
Also, our Bistro with a full bar will offer a relaxing place for residents as well as their guests to gather for a beverage or a light snack.  Other beautifully-appointed, comfy gathering places allow you to enjoy time with family or friends. Our expansive outdoor amenities include courtyards featuring artwork and trellises as well as a barbecue and fire pit.  We also offer strolling paths and raised garden beds. 

Other onsite amenities include our own chapel/theatre with Wii, a library with a computer, a convenient salon offering hairstyling, manicures and pedicures, and much more.  In addition, a monthly calendar filled with meaningful wellness programs and activities will allow you to stay as busy as you like. 

While our array of amenities and services are vast, we haven’t even mentioned our devoted and loving team who are the type of individuals who feel privileged to serve seniors.  Please visit our website or our Information Center located near the intersection of SE Sunnyside Rd. and SE 145th Ave. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living in the Happy Valley – Clackamas area.

When a Loved One is Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is devastating news for all.  Family members may quickly start experiencing feelings of grief as they recognize their life is about to be changed by the disease and are uneasy about what the future will hold.  Most are left with questions about what to expect next. 

As Alzheimer’s begins to take away the person we know and love, the Alzheimer’s Association explains that, “you'll mourn him or her and may experience the different phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance.”  They remind us that feelings of grief do not come in a specific order but rather we go in and out of the various stages.

Feelings of denial include unrealistically hoping the person is not ill or expecting them to get better.  Others try to convince themselves their loved one has not changed or try to normalize and make excuses for their behaviors.  Anger may include being frustrated with the person or feeling abandoned.  You may also experience feelings of resentment with the demands of caregiving and/or resent others who are not helping with care.  

Guilt includes having unrealistic thoughts about what you should have done or feeling guilty if you do not visit every day.  A spouse that is well and still able to enjoy life may feel guilty that their husband or wife is no longer able to do so. Others may have negative feelings such as wishing the person would die or go away. 

The Alzheimer’s Association says you need to face both your positive as well as negative feelings.  They also say to be prepared to go through feelings of loss more than once as the disease progresses.  Remember your grief is a part of your journey, and if you need help, talk with someone about your feelings. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, our mission is to provide the best senior housing Rio Rancho NM has to offer, which includes compassionate and loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  Our memory care residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and spend each day in an atmosphere that celebrates and elevates their lives. Please visit our website for information on pricing and availability or to set up a tour. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement – “to honor, to value, 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 within a beautiful setting.  Please contact us to learn more about the best senior housing Rio Rancho NM offers.

Senior Living May Offer a Healthier Lifestyle

Did you know that studies show many older adults prefer the carefree life offered by senior living?  The idea of no longer having all of the responsibilities that come along with owning a home including the repairs and upkeep is very appealing to many seniors.  Furthermore, for seniors who still think moving into an assisted living community is a place people go to die, most likely have not visited one of today’s vibrant communities. 

There are even studies that suggest moving into senior living may be a healthier option for some than living alone.  This can especially be true for seniors after the death of a spouse as many begin to feel isolated and lonely.  Not to mention the burden of keeping up with household chores such as cleaning, cooking, laundry or needing to move up and down stairs. 

Senior living communities offer an individual the opportunity to easily make new friends as well as gives them the time to pursue special interests or to explore new hobbies.  Also communities typically provide amenities such as onsite fitness centers in addition to offering a range of exercise classes geared toward the fitness level of older adults. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley is a new assisted living and memory care community that is set to open by the end of the year.  We understand that for some the “MorningStar” name may be new to Happy Valley, but we want to reassure you that MorningStar Senior Living is anything but new.  Our senior living communities are scattered throughout the Western U.S. including MorningStar of Beaverton, which opened west of Portland last fall. 

In addition, we want you know that our community will be staffed by a compassionate, professional team of individuals who are experienced in all facets of senior living and committed to providing our residents a true “home.”  Visit our website for contact information and to find out more about our gorgeous new community. You are also welcome to stop by our Onsite Information Center which is open seven days a week.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Happy Valley, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Help Prevent Falls

We have all heard stories or may have had an older relative take a fall that lead to serious injuries, hospitalization, or in the worst case, a fatality.  In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the fatal fall rate for people 65 years and older jumped 31 percent from 2007 to 2016, making falls the leading cause of injury-related death among people in this age group.  Falls are so common in the elderly that every 11 seconds an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that many falls are preventable and publishes a one-page guide called “Take Control of Your Health: 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall.”  Their first tip is to find a balance and exercise class that is specifically designed to help older adults built strength and improve their balance and flexibility.  

NCOA also recommends talking to your doctor about your fall threat.  Ask if any medications you are taking have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or other issues that could increase your risk for fall.  Moreover, be sure to share any recent falls you may have had with your healthcare provider as well as your family. 

Fall prevention includes having your vision and hearing tested annually.  If you need stronger glasses, get them and be sure to wear them. The next step is to do a survey of your home both inside and out to ensure you do not have unsafe areas that increase the likelihood of a fall.  Search the Internet for a checklist of things to look for in your home to improve safety. The NCOA suggests enlisting the aid of your family to help you keep your home safe for everyone.  

MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living and memory care community comprehensively answers the demand for luxury senior living in Rio Rancho NM.  Along with our architecturally stunning building and resort-style amenities, we are most proud of our loving team of caregivers with a felt calling to serve.  Please visit our website to set up a tour. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Rio Rancho, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 within a beautiful setting.  Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior living in Rio Rancho NM.
Source: ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOA-Falls-Free-Infographic-680pixels-0917.pdf

MorningStar of Happy Valley Opens in Late 2019

The entire MorningStar of Happy Valley team looks forward to welcoming residents to our new assisted living and memory care community, which is expected to open sometime before the end of 2019.  Designed from the ground up to serve the needs of seniors who require assistance with day-to-day personal care activities, our assisted living community will offer a true home for our residents. 

Our beautiful community has 61 bright suites for assisted living offered in a variety of configurations that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some as large as 865 square feet) to accommodate differing preferences and needs.  For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, our Reflections Neighborhood’s 27 secure suites provide individualized, compassionate care for those in the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.

While MorningStar of Happy Valley may be new to the area, MorningStar Senior Living is not.  We have senior living communities throughout the Western U.S. including MorningStar of Beaverton, which opened last fall west of Portland.  We also want you to know our team is experienced in all facets of senior living and dedicated to providing residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  So along with the beautiful, welcoming design of our new community, we will be gathering a team of caregivers who have a felt calling to serve and consider seniors to be heroes.

Located near the intersection of SE Sunnyside Rd and SE 145th Ave., our community enjoys a picturesque setting in an affluent residential neighborhood as well as the convenience of nearby shopping, banks, restaurants and medical facilities.  Please see our website, give us a call or drop by our Onsite Information Center.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Happy Valley, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Rio Rancho’s Newest Senior Living Community Opens with Pomp & Ceremony

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho opened its doors with an Inaugural Reception that included plenty of pomp and ceremony on July 11th.  On our website, you will find a picture of the ribbon cutting by first depositor Wendy Alguero (with daughter Vicenta and son Andre), Shannon Barker, Executive Director, Founder/CEO Ken Jaeger and Mayor Greg Hull.  The 150 attendees enjoyed a tour of MorningStar’s newest community in Rio Rancho, NM, a northern suburb of Albuquerque.

If a parent or loved one would benefit from the care and the many amenities and services assisted living offers but are reluctant to make a change in their current situation, please visit MorningStar’s Family Resource link to our helpful “Decision Guide.”   We know that while it is a good thing to have the various senior living options available today, it can lead to confusion and our Decision Guide helps to clarify them.  

One of the first tips in the guide is to clearly identify what you are trying to solve in terms of your parent’s comfort, wellbeing and safety.  We recommend doing this with an eye to not just next year, but to the next 5-10 years. If you are new to the concept of assisted living, it is a relatively new idea that first emerged in the late 1990s, and provides a refreshing change from nursing homes of old that were often institutional and depressing. 

For additional help with starting a conversation on senior living, request a copy of “Senior Life: How to have the Best Conversation Ever with Your Elder Parent” from us.  It provides a thorough explanation of the relational and psychological constructs of aging and legacy. 

Please give us a call or use our online form to set up a tour if you or a loved one requires a little help with daily personal care activities and would benefit from companionship and the stimulation of our wellness programs and activities.  MorningStar of Rio Rancho is committed to providing the best senior housing Rio Rancho NM has to offer, and we look forward to meeting you. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement – “to honor, to value, 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 within a beautiful setting.  Please contact us to learn more about the best senior housing Rio Rancho NM offers.

Does Mom or Dad Need More Help?

If your elderly parent lives alone, you may have wondered if they have an adequate support system to ensure their safety and comfort.  We encourage you to read some advice from the experts to determine if your parent needs more help to not just survive but to thrive!

Some of the things to find out are if they have had any recent falls or driving mishaps.  Do you have any reason to suspect they may be endangering their safety by forgetting to turn off the stove or other appliances?  Do you see signs that they are having difficulty bathing and attending to personal daily care activities? Does their house look unusually unkempt with dirty dishes lying around and mail stacking up?  Are there signs of spoiled food or an empty refrigerator?  

Also consider if your parent has health conditions that are making it more difficult for them to care for themselves.  Poor balance and failing eyesight can increase the likelihood of a fall and not having help close at hand can be dangerous.  In addition, if your parent no longer drives, they may be having a hard time getting out to the grocery store or to doctor appointments as well as becoming too socially isolated.  

Assisted living may offer the best option if your parent or spouse needs more personal care than he/she can get (or afford) in the home or in an independent living community, but does not require 24-hour medical care and supervision.  Our MorningStar of Happy Valley community, scheduled to open by the end of 2019, will offer the area both assisted living and memory care.  We now have an Onsite Information Center open seven days a week and invite you to stop by or call us for more information.

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living in the Happy Valley – Clackamas area.