Loving Care for Alzheimer’s and Dementia-related Diseases

MorningStar of Fountain Hills is a senior living community which has assisted living options along with 28 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Our specially trained staff provides personalized care for residents using progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  Furthermore, our community is equipped to care for individuals in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.   

At MorningStar, we take a gentle, resident-directed approach to calm and awaken memories as well as to support capabilities.  Along with using multi-sensory cues, including aromatherapy, our residents are provided with recreational and meaningful activities including music, life skills, art, entertainers and exercises.    

The goal of MorningStar’s methods is to affirm dignity and value of each resident and to support choice and independence as much as possible.  By interviewing family members, we gather together a complete history of a resident’s preferences, abilities and idiosyncrasies and use that information to create trust between staff and residents.   

One of our unique approaches to memory care includes life skill stations where we incorporate a variety of props that may have played a role in a person’s background to help awaken dormant memories.  When individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases harken back to their past, they have the opportunity to take joy in the present and feel calm and connected.   

Our warm and loving Reflections Neighborhood at MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers residents the freedom to safely and securely move about and includes an enclosed patio and courtyard exclusivity for our memory care residents.  Visit our website to learn.  

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior living with our unique 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please call to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.

Take a Look at our Beautiful Community

Once you visit our website and have the chance to take a look at our gorgeous Gallery photos, you will see why MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead is one of the best looking senior communities around.  In fact our community was designed by the award-winning firm of Thoma-Holec and received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 “Environments for Aging” Design Showcase.  

As our pictures show from the moment you walk through the door, you will feel like you have walked into a gracious home.  From beautifully-appointed common areas that provide a comfortable, relaxing place to sit and enjoy a visit with friends, fireside patio and porches, bistro, a full salon offering hairstyling, manicures and pedicures and much more.  Other Gallery photos features onsite amenities such as our chapel/theatre, library (including a computer), and fitness center. 

You will also notice that throughout our community everything is designed for residents’ comfort as well as to accommodate their every need.  However while we are one of the best-looking senior living communities in the country, we are most proud of our staff.  Each of our caregivers feels privileged to serve seniors and routinely go the extra mile.  

MorningStar at Arrowhead offers 60 private assisted living suites on two levels with a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans of which some are more than 600 sq. ft.  Our Reflection Neighborhood has 25 secure suites devoted to the personalized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  We encourage you visit our website and use our online form to schedule a tour of our very special community.  

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

Our Care Team is Honored to Serve Seniors

At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Fountain Hills, we recognize that our wonderful assortment of amenities and our beautiful surroundings are fantastic; however, we know that the real heart of our community rest in our caregivers.  We have made it a point to hire individuals who have a real calling to serve seniors and understand the magnitude of their contribution when they work at our assisted living community.     

The MorningStar staff consists of a group of people who have perfected the art of anticipating the needs of our residents and going the extra mile to serve them.   Filled with compassion and care, each of our staff members has a smile for the residents and is as quick to listen to a story as they are to lend a helping hand when needed.   

In fact as part of MorningStar’s on-going commitment to the well-being and care of our residents, we train all of our new hires as well as reiterate every day with our full staff the principles of our mission.  Our Radiance program teaches and celebrates an attitude of selflessness that issues from a deep and sincere place like a beam of light and reinforces our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others.  MorningStar was founded on the premise that we operate with “servants’ hearts” and our Radiance program gives us the framework that enables us to take service professionalism to the next level.    

We are sure that once you learn more about our community you will agree with us that MorningStar is a great place to call home.  Please contact us today to schedule a tour to discover for yourself our loving, home-like community.  

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior living with our unique 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please call to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.

MorningStar of Fountain Hills Offers Respite Care

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we provide high-quality assisted living and memory care as well as respite care.  Respite or temporary care is a great option for seniors who are recovering from surgery or an illness and require some day-to-day support services.  In addition, our community allows recovering seniors the opportunity for socialization and meaningful activities.   

As a respite resident of MorningStar, you will receive a quiet suite and personalized care to comfortably recover your health, as well as companionship and community, which can just as important in the healing process.  Respite stays are typically 30 days or less and your spouse is welcome to join you.  Of course since our suites are subject to availability, it is important to contact us when you know you will require respite care in the foreseeable future.   

Respite or temporary care also offers a solution for seniors whose regular caregiver is taking a much needed vacation or is busy with other priorities.  However regardless of why you have come to temporarily join our community; we will make you feel right at home.   

Along with providing a fully furnished suite, our respite residents are treated to three healthy and delicious daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef, 24-hour care and medication management.  In addition, you are invited to take advantage of MorningStar of Fountain Hills’s on-going activities, entertainment and scheduled outings.   

We have our own onsite theatre, fitness center, fireside patio and porches as well as provide housekeeping and laundry services and group transportation.  For an additional charge, you can enjoy a massage or visit our salon.  Contact us to learn more about our respite care services and how they can help you or your loved one to make a speedy recovery.    

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior living with our unique 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please call to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.

Pet Ownership is Beneficial for Seniors

Research continues to show a strong correlation between pet ownership and a number of benefits to seniors.  Everything from helping the elderly to stay physically active, to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, providing companionship and making depression less likely are attributed to having a pet.  In fact there are several studies that indicate that patients with heart problems do better when they are responsible for a pet.  

Not only do pets offer lots of affection and unconditional love but they can also help seniors cope with the loss of a loved one.  In an article from AgingCare.com, a New Jersey psychotherapist, Dr. Jay P. Granat, discusses some of the other intangibles that pets offer to the elderly.  He states that, "Dogs—and other pets—live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. By having an animal with that sense of now, it tends to rub off on people."

 At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Boulder, we wholeheartedly agree that pets provide many benefits to seniors, which is why we are proud that our community is pet friendly.  Along with our residents’ pets, we also have a special “house dog”, Nellie, that provides companionship and warmth throughout our entire community.   

MorningStar of Boulder is dedicated to giving our residents a carefree lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  We are conveniently located on the southeast side of beautiful Boulder, and offer a choice of 48 private assisted living suites with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  Our Reflections Neighborhood has 46 suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of residents with memory impairment.   

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Boulder represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and invite you to schedule a visit to experience one of the area’s finest senior living communities.      

 

Sources:petsfortheelderly.org/articles.html

agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm

Staying Socially Connected is Beneficial for Seniors

As seniors age, it often becomes harder to stay connected to the community and many older adults end up living fairly isolated from the outside world.  A number of factors contribute to the problem including health issues that limit mobility, no longer driving, and the loss of a spouse and other family members and friends.   

Furthermore, good nutrition can be a problem for seniors living alone as it may be difficult for them to prepare meals or to even buy groceries.  Some seniors have even been found to be suffering from malnutrition.  Physical safety can also be a problem as the elderly are more prone to falls due to common medical conditions that effect balance and physical strength including diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.  In addition, seniors living alone may not be as quick to recognize a health issue needs immediate medical attention.   

At MorningStar at Arrowhead, participating in a range of activities is just a way of life as we offer a full calendar of fun and stimulating activities every day.  Our residents enjoy nutritional daily meals served restaurant style that offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy both the meal and to socially interact with others.  We also provide scheduled transportation for residents along with special outings to local places of interest and entertainment. Residents also have the assurance that our 24-hour care staff is always available to help if the need arises.    

Living alone can be difficult for seniors and even affect their overall lifespan.  We encourage you to contact MorningStar at Arrowhead and learn more about the services and amenities that we provide for our residents.   

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. To experience firsthand the finest senior living in the Phoenix area, contact us to schedule a tour.

Source: whereyoulivematters.org/community-living-its-healthier/

MorningStar Offers the “It’s Never 2 Late” Interactive Software

As part of MorningStar Memory Care at Englefield Green’s individualized, resident-directed care, we are now pleased to be able to offer our residents the user-friendly, interactive software called “It’s Never Too Late” ® (iN2L).  This unique, person-centered technology makes it easy for anyone to use a computer, regardless of prior experience or abilities, and is designed specifically for the continuing entertainment and education of seniors.   

Simply to use, iN2L provides customized activities that are based on a person’s interest and background, which are used to enhance cognitive function, socialization and quality of life.  Also a Wii-like functionality offers interactive physical as well as cognitive activities. The personalized program allows each resident to have his or hers own “page” on the system, and is setup to display their photos, videos, stories, music, games and even websites.  The resident’s page can even be customized remotely through a family portal to give family members an opportunity to add personal updates, information and current pictures.    

With over 3,000 application and content items, the highly adaptable nature of the system makes it easy to adjust activities and content to a resident’s unique abilities and interests. 

Along with an array of brain exercises, educational and travel videos, interactive games, puzzles, word games, history, news topics and trivia, the iN2L software also offers safe and easy Internet access, email, and Skype.   

Set within the popular neighborhood of Englefield Green in Boise, MorningStar lovingly provides care for seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our community consists of 50 suites, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Englefield Green, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other assisted living communities.  Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve.  We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best memory care in Boise.

Source: in2l.com/ 

 

Prediabetes Facts and Prevention

The Mayo Clinic defines prediabetes as the condition where a person’s “blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.”  They go on to say that without intervention, a person is in danger of becoming diabetic in 10 years or less; however, there are steps you can take to help prevent this from happening.  

While it is not known exactly what causes prediabetes, we do know that family history and genetics play a significant role.  The Mayo Clinic explains that the genetic link has been confirmed by research with the discovery of some insulin resistant genes.  In addition studies show that excess fat; especially abdominal fat as well as inactivity are “important factors in the development of prediabetes.”

The job of glucose (sugar) in our bodies is to fuel the cells that make up our muscles and other tissues.  We get glucose from any food we eat that has carbohydrates and not just from sweets.  As our food is digested, glucose enters the bloodstream, and “with the help of insulin, it enters the body's cells where it is utilized as a source of energy.”   For someone who has prediabetes, it means they have stopped processing glucose properly, and it is building up in their bloodstream, no longer providing fuel for their cells.  

To help prevent prediabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes, you need to make changes in your lifestyle.  A good way to start trying to normalize your blood sugar levels is to get plenty of physical exercise, make healthier food choices, and lose weight if you carry a lot of excess body fat.    

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.  

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior living with our unique 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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please call to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest assisted living in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area.

Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/basics/symptoms/con-20024420