Elderly Drivers – When is it Time to Stop?

From time to time, there have been serious accidents involving elderly drivers that reach the nation’s attention and reopens the debate regarding the age that elderly adults should stop driving.  While some states have implemented stricter rules for seniors renewing their driver’s license, many states have met resistance or have had a hard time coming to a consensus.  It is hard to assess a senior’s fitness for driving as each person is different and health problems vary immensely.  One good thing is that many seniors start to self-regulate their driving habits once they notice problems.

Experts say if you have become concerned over your parent’s fitness to drive, you need to start a conversation with them.  If you think they can still handle limited driving with some restrictions, talk to them about setting up rules such as avoiding major highways and rush hour, driving only in daylight and during good weather.  Remind them that this will help keep them safe as well as others who share the road with them. If they have had fender benders and are having trouble following traffic signals, it may be time for them to stop driving altogether before they hurt themselves or others.  However, if this is the case, be sure to have some plans in place for alternative transportation. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley is a senior living community that provides residents all of the services and amenities required for their comfort, wellbeing and safety.  This includes scheduled transportation to doctor visits as well as shopping trips to area stores. We also take field trips to local culture events, museums, parks, and more. Please visit our website to learn more about our community, and while you are there, use our links to set up a tour and to ask about availability and pricing. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley 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.  We invite you to give us call or visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living community in the area.

Make 2020 the Year You Adopt a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that heart disease is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.  However according to the Heart Association, it is never too late to adopt certain lifestyle changes that can significantly improve your risk for heart disease. 

As older adults’ metabolism slows along with their appetites, it is especially important that the food they do eat is healthy.  Nutritionists recommend seniors avoid heavily processed foods and those high in saturated fats, sugars and salt. Optimally your diet should include healthy fats such as those found in fish, nuts, and avocados, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.  Fiber has also been shown to lower blood cholesterol and fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegies, beans, whole grains and cereals, and nuts. In addition, buying organic foods keep us from ingesting unnecessary and potentially harmful things like animal hormones, fertilizers, and other types of chemicals. 

Other lifestyle changes that can help reduce your risk of heart disease are quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and lowering your blood pressure.   A heart healthy lifestyle must also include daily exercise and even a few minutes a day can be beneficial. If it has been a while since you have exercised, check with your doctor and start slowly.  The Heart Association cites research that indicates 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level.

Offering senior living in Rio Rancho NM, MorningStar of Rio Rancho provides residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Our meals are both tasty as well as healthy and we offer lots of fun physical activities to keep our residents moving.  Please visit our website for pricing and availability information. 

Please consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercises.  

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.

Steps to Reduce the Risk of Falling

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), one out of every four Americans aged 65 and older falls every year and the majority of these falls occur at home. There are several reasons why seniors are more susceptible to a fall and there are steps you can take to help decrease the likelihood of it happening. 

Many elderly adults experience a general overall decline in their physical fitness resulting in reduced muscle strength, decreased bone mass, loss of balance and coordination, and reduced flexibility that make them more susceptible to a fall.  Another common problem shared by many seniors is impaired vision. This can make it more difficult to detect fall hazards such as steps, thresholds, and obstacles and changes in the ground.

Certain types of medications, especially the side effects, can cause drowsiness, dizziness or low blood pressure, which can all increase the risk of a fall.  Also keep in mind it is not just prescription drugs but over-the-counter medications can contribute to balance problems as well. Other factors that make seniors more susceptible to falls are chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis as well as surgical procedures including hip or knee replacement.  

The NIA recommends installing night lights in the hallways and bathrooms and to have a light switch and phone within reach of the bed.  Keep walkways free of clutter and avoid using throw rugs and area carpets. Use hand rails when going up and down the stairs, and if you have a pet, make sure they are not underfoot.  In the bathroom, install grab bars in the tub and near the toilet, and use non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet.

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our loving assisted living and memory care community makes residents’ safety and wellbeing a priority.  We provide 24-hour care, a licensed nurse on call 24/7, and provide suites equipped with full, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, an emergency call system and more.

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents.  Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. 

Helping Your Loved One with the Move to Assisted Living

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we understand seniors may feel anxious when facing a move into assisted living.  Often the decision is necessitated by a sudden change in the person’s ability to continue to live safely at home.  Even if the decision is of a more gradual nature, it is still a big change; but there are things family members can do to help make it a smoother transition.  

One thing experts agree on is that you need to remember to include your senior loved one in on the plans.  This starts with including them in the process of choosing the community - remember it will be their new home.  When you forget to ask for their input, it can make them feel as if they are losing their independence. While it is time consuming to visit senior living communities, we suggest you only take your parent or loved one with you after you have narrowed the choices down to a couple.  Be sure to encourage their opinion and make sure they have an opportunity to ask questions during the community’s tour. 

Another thing your loved one will most likely need is help with the moving process.  If they are still living in the family home, they will have to do lots of downsizing, which in itself can be stressful.  Trying to decide what is important to keep, what to give away to family or friends, and what to donate or sell is not easy.  Keep in mind the move to their new home will be smoother if they have familiar furnishings and treasured mementos around them.  Also while respecting their feelings, gently remind them their new home may be smaller and they do not want to be overwhelmed with too much “stuff.” 

If you are looking for the best senior living in Rio Rancho NM, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Rio Rancho. Our beautiful community has 51 well-appointed assisted living suites along with 26 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. While located in a residential setting, MorningStar of Rio is one block from Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and convenient to banks, shopping, and restaurants. 

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.

Is it Time for Professional Memory Care?

Caring for a parent or a spouse with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease is a difficult task.  As the disease progresses, families become concerned about their ability to keep the person well cared for and safe.  For some families, trying to hang on and care for a loved one at home may be creating a situation that is not optimal for the individual or the caregiver. 

Experts say there are signals that more care is needed such as is the person eating regularly? Have they lost or gained an unusual amount of weight lately?  Do you suspect the person is missing medication doses or may be taking too much medication? Have they fallen recently? Have you found the burners on the stove left on?  Other warning signs may include aggressive behaviors, wandering, or forgetting where they are when they are out of the home. Neurologist Douglas Scharre, MD, director of the Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, explains that “The main reason to move out of a home to assisted living is when there are not enough resources to safely care for the person with dementia at home.

Another reason for more professional care, and just as important, is caregiver burnout.  Experts explain that you should not feel guilty if caring for your loved one is taking a toll on your own health and wellbeing.  They also suggest the person may be bored at home. Senior living communities with dedicated memory care have activities geared toward those with dementia, and the person may find comfort in being around those in a similar situation. 

If it is time to consider a senior living community with specialized memory care, we suggest MorningStar of Happy Valley.  We offer 27 secure memory care suites dedicated to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  We have a deep understanding of the disease and feel it is our calling, and privilege to provide individualized memory care.  Please visit our website to learn more.

MorningStar of Happy Valley 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.  We invite you to give us call or visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living community in the area. 

Source:  caring.com/articles/move-parent-with-dementia-to-assisted-living

Aid & Attendance Benefits May Help Vets Pay for Assisted Living

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we proudly welcome vets into our community.  In fact, throughout MorningStar communities, we have vets from all five branches of military service.  Recognizing the courage and self-sacrifice they made to serve our country, we are committed to helping them get the services they now need to improve their quality of life.

One of the ways we help is to direct prospective residents who are vets or surviving spouses to local resources that can determine if they qualify for the Aid & Attendance benefit.  This monthly benefit payment is provided by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and is available to qualifying wartime vets or their survivors.

Requirements to qualify include financial need and a physician’s order for regular assistance with activities of daily living.  In addition, the vet must have received an honorable discharge and served for at least 90 days of active duty with at least one of those days served during a period of foreign war.  In order for a surviving spouse to qualify, he or she must have been married to the vet at the time of their death and never remarried. 

The reason we recommend going to accredited VA advisors for assistance in filing a claim for an Aid & Attendance benefit, is they are authorized by the VA to help claimants in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for the benefit.  Once approved for the benefit, the monthly payment goes directly to the qualified applicant and can be used to pay for any kind of assistance, including assisted living. The National Care Planning Council estimates that up to 25% of seniors could potentially apply for Aid & Attendance.

Newly opened in July, MorningStar of Rio Rancho’s goal is to provide the best senior living in Rio Rancho NM.  Please our website for contact information and availability and pricing. 

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.

Assisted Living at MorningStar of Happy Valley

Our website even has a dedicated page for FAQs under our “Family Resources” tab.  Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions such as age requirements (in our assisted living and memory care suites, you must be at least 62 years old).  You will also discover important information on how a resident’s level of care is determined and our pricing structure. 

FAQs include practical queries such as, yes, we will help you find a physician if you need one whether it is a primary care doctor or a specialty health care provider like an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist. And yes, we do provide transportation to doctor appointments as needed, and our transportation vehicles can accommodate a walker or wheelchair.

You and your family may also want to know about the type of training our staff receives, and we go over that too.   Care Managers complete an orientation program (including a three-day shadow), Radiance culture training, 8-hour dementia training, and ongoing training in specific care needs.  Each of our Medication Managers (QMAPs) is additionally trained in medication administration.  
FAQs go over senior housing options such as Companion Living that allows two unrelated adults of the same sex to share a suite, and of course, married couples are welcome!  MorningStar of Happy Valley also offers short-term stays based on availability that allows someone to get an idea of whether senior living is right for them. 

In addition to 61 suites for assisted living, MorningStar of Happy Valley offers 27 secure suites devoted to the compassionate and loving care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Please visit our website for contact information, to set up a tour, or to get answers to any other questions. We look forward to hearing from you. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley 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.  We invite you to give us call or visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living community in the area.