How MorningStar of Happy Valley Cares for Seniors

MorningStar of Happy Valley, a senior living community in the Portland, Oregon metro area, is honored to serve seniors and to help make their lives a little easier. The way we deliver our outstanding service is through our Radiance program, which is taught to all new team members and reiterated every day at our daily Huddle. 

Much more than just a customer service program, Radiance embodies the guiding principles for how we dispense our services – with depth of purpose and warmth. The program emanates from an authentic, sincere place and celebrates an attitude of selflessness that resembles a beam of light. We use the program to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others. 

In 2003, MorningStar was founded on the premise that the company will operate with “servants’ hearts” and the Radiance program gives us the framework that enables us to take our service professionalism to the next level. We recognize that the heart of each MorningStar community depends on the quality of our caregivers, which is why we hire individuals who have a calling to serve seniors and understand the importance of their contribution. 

Along with our wonderful care team, every aspect of MorningStar of Happy Valley is designed to best serve our residents’ needs. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our comfortable, loving community. When you are there, take a look at our photo gallery, amenities, and our well-designed floor plans. We offer 61 suites for assisted living and 27 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care for residents with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

Currently we are safely accepting new residents, and are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus. We are closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in assisted living and memory care 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. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community.

Help Reduce Inflammation with a Healthier Diet

Medical experts say that while inflammation helps our bodies to fight illness and can be a necessary part of the healing process, there are some people whose immune systems do not work as they should, and they suffer from chronic inflammation. This condition manifests itself in various diseases including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, asthma and metabolic syndrome (“a collection of conditions that tend to occur together, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease”).

However, the good news is researchers have found evidence that shows our diet may help us manage many of the symptoms of these diseases. They report that, “An anti-inflammatory diet favors fruits and vegetables, foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, and spices.” Foods to avoid or to limit consumption of include processed foods, red meats, and alcohol.

Doctors recommend approaching an anti-inflammatory diet as less of a specific regimen but more as a new, healthier style of eating. Two examples of diets that incorporate anti-inflammatory foods are the Mediterranean and DASH diets which favor foods rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids over those that increase the production of free radicals, which are believed to lead to cell damage. 

Research shows that sugary or processed foods can trigger or worsen inflammation, and that some foods such as those fried in very hot cooking oil can trigger the formation of free radicals. Other factors that can increase the body’s free radicals include stress and smoking. 

The Arthritis Foundation also notes that research has identified foods that can help control inflammation. These include tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines, and fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. Please keep in mind that anyone with a chronic health condition involving inflammation should consult their healthcare provider about the best dietary options for them.

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 finest senior housing Rio Rancho, NM has to offer. 

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320233#takeaway

Organizing Medications for an Elderly Parent

Chances are if your parents are elderly, they are taking one or more prescription medications on a daily basis. In fact the Washington Post cites research that estimates, “25 percent of people ages 65 to 69 take at least five prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions, a figure that jumps to nearly 46 percent for those between 70 and 79.” Polypharmacy refers to the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and puts people more at risk for adverse drug interaction, an area of special concern for the elderly. 

Alarming figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state approximately 350,000 people are hospitalized each year after visits to the emergency room because of adverse, or harmful, drug events. Doctors say while many of these problems are preventable, when you take a number of prescriptions, it can get confusing keeping up with various instructions such as “is it taken with food,” and the adverse side effects. 

Experts say to help a parent get organized, write down the names of all of the drugs they are taking, the dosage, and if they see several doctors, who prescribed them. Include any herbal supplements, multi-vitamins and over-the-counter drugs. The next time they see their primary care doctor, take your list and discuss the reasons for each drug, how long they will be on it, and if any of the drugs are dangerous taken together. Whenever a new drug is prescribed, ask what it is for and how it should be taken, and read through the paperwork. 

Store medications together in a cool, dry location (not the bathroom), discard old, expired medications, and find a pill organizer that makes sense for your parent’s needs. If they are forgetful, they may need a reminder system. However, if a parent is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, they should be carefully monitored. 

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, a senior living community southeast of Portland, OR, our residents’ wellbeing and physical health is our primary concern. This is why one of our many services is medication management that ensures residents take medications properly, and as we even order medications, there is no danger of them running out. Please visit our website for a virtual tour of our beautiful community and use our email link to inquire about availability and pricing.

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in assisted living and memory care 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. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community.

Learn More About MorningStar of Rio Rancho

MorningStar of Rio Rancho, located north of Albuquerque, offers residents a full range of care services, wellness programs and activities designed to support the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Together MorningStar’s Enrichment team and our Wellness Care team play a large role in why our beautiful community is the best choice for senior living in Rio Rancho NM. 

To start with, all assisted living residents are provided with 24/7 care managers who help assist them with Activities of Daily Living (dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, transferring and more). Also they have access to a licensed nurse onsite throughout the week and on-call around-the-clock; and every shift has an employee who is CPR certified. We also offer medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. Moreover, we want to reassure you and your family that we periodically do Care Plan reviews and update residents’ care plan as needed. 

Our centralized, mobile Electronic Health Record (EHR) system ensures accurate records of assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records). The system maintains accurate, legible and complete demographic and medical information on residents as well as enhances privacy and security of the data. 

Other clinical care services provided by MorningStar include mechanical lift assistance, diabetic management, oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care and more. We provide scheduled physician visits, a choice of physicians, pharmacy services, and onsite dental and podiatry services. 

This wide scope of care services is reflective of the full authority of our license through the Department of Health and helps to extend the stay of our residents even when health conditions change. We also pride ourselves on finding creative solutions that can result in higher quality of care at a lower cost for families. For a full list of care services, we encourage you to visit our website and take a look at our Care Services page. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho proudly provides the very best 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 finest senior living in Rio Rancho NM.

Brighten Your Elderly Loved One's Day

If you have an elderly relative living alone or in a senior community and they are isolating themselves from the coronavirus, you probably would love to do something to brighten their day but just not sure how. One idea is to send them a “thinking of you” basket filled with goodies to eat and drink, gifts to entertain, and items to make their lives a little easier or more pleasant. 

For your coffee drinking parent or grandparent, a bag of gourmet coffee and a nice new mug is one way to start your basket, or add a collection of teas that include decaffeinated and herbal options. Are they a chocolate lover or prefer salty snacks? Adjust your selection to include high-end chocolates and other delightful treats or a nice selection of crackers and cheeses. For a book lover, add a novel you think they would enjoy or a coffee table book on famous gardens, architecture, maps, photography or wherever matches their interest. A collection of classic movies is also something many seniors would enjoy. 

Now pack the basket with items such as jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, word-search books, a new coloring book and fresh colored pencils or markers. If they have low vision, include large-print playing cards and books. If your loved one is feeling anxious or having a hard time sleeping, give them a weighted blanket. While they come in many sizes, it is suggested you choose one that is 10% percent of their weight. For example, if they weigh 150lbs, buy a 15lb blanket, and if they do not have a blanket that exactly matches 10% of their weight, you can go up a couple of pounds. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley is proud to offer residents a lifestyle of comfort and wellness along with resort-style amenities. Our beautiful senior living community has 61 stylish assisted living suites for those who need help with the activities of daily living. In our Reflections Neighborhood, 27 secure suites are devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please visit our website for more information. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in assisted living and memory care 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. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community.

Is it Time to Consider Care Options for Your Loved One with Dementia?

Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can be a very stressful job. If you think it is time to consider other care options, rather than feeling disappointed in yourself, remember the job of a caregiver is tough and it may be in yours as well as your spouse, mom, or dad’s best interest to move them into memory care. 

If caring for a loved one requires more effort on your part than you are able to give physically or mentally, please reach out and get the help you need as your own health and wellbeing may be adversely impacted. Also, experts stress that while there is no downside to placing someone in memory care in the earlier stages of the disease there could be drawbacks to waiting too long. Remember the more advanced stages bring with it a significant decline in everyday functioning.

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Rio Rancho offers 26 secure suites for the care of residents with memory impairment from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Our Reflections Neighborhood is staffed by a team of individuals who through purposeful training and experience are dementia care specialists. Our team understands the unique needs of each resident and delivers that care with compassion and thoughtfulness. Additionally, every aspect of our home has been designed to accommodate those needs. 

Keep in mind as the disease progresses; it becomes very difficult for a family to keep up with the increasing needs as the person requires more and more assistance with daily care activities such as bathing, toileting, and eating. Other signs of advanced dementia include reduced mobility, wandering, and falling, which may require home modifications. Professional memory care homes such as ours are equipped to deal with these issues and have 24/7 caregivers available. So rather than feel like you let your loved down by not caring for them yourself, placing them in a multi-faceted community designed to attend to their changing needs may be the most loving thing you can do. 

Please visit MorningStar of Rio Rancho’s website for more information about the finest senior housing Rio Rancho NM offers. While you are there, be sure to read the COVID-19 update from MorningStar’s CEO detailing our defense in the fight against the coronavirus to keep our communities safe.

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 finest senior housing Rio Rancho, NM has to offer.

Enjoy Healthy Meals at MorningStar of Happy Valley

As people age, many find their appetites have diminished or they suffer from physical or medical conditions that make eating more difficult. This is why the nutritional value found in the foods they do consume is important, and even today, many seniors have an “inadequate intake of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, folic acid, calcium, and niacin.” 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) advise that people over the age of 50 follow the USDA food recommendations, which should help keep older adults feeling more vital, and thus healthier. They also point out the earlier you start eating a nutrient-rich diet, the more effective it will be later down the road. Recommendations include a daily diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. It also includes eating foods with healthy fats such as olives, nuts, and avocados. 

Along with all of the other amenities and care services we provide, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Happy Valley is proud to offer our residents daily meals that are chocked full of the freshest ingredients. We get much of our produce from home-grown or local high-quality producers. 

Our delicious meals are prepared largely from scratch, and take into account seniors’ dietary restrictions. We offer a range of choices including low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low fat that allows our residents to self-manage. MorningStar’s food service is overseen by our own Executive Chef, who welcomes resident feedback and often tailors our menus per their suggestions. 

During the coronavirus outbreak, MorningStar of Happy Valley’s highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents and team members, and we could not be more vigilant in our defensive approach. We are still accepting new assisted living and memory care residents during this difficult time, confident in our protective protocols. Please see our website 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 and memory care in the Happy Valley – Clackamas area. 

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/seniors-nutritional-needs/