New Study Finds “Singing” May Help to Reduce Some Parkinson’s Symptoms

An interesting new study out of the Iowa State University in Ames shows that singing may help to improve Parkinson’s symptoms. The pilot study, led by Elizabeth Stegemöller, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the university, looked at the impact of singing on a small group of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Previously Stegemöller conducted studies that indicated singing may improve respiratory control and may help with swallowing problems. 

Although this was a very small study, it does join a growing body of research. In this case, researchers found the singers had “statistically significant improvements in some motor symptoms that are often unaffected by drugs. In particular, upper extremity bradykinesia (slowness of movement), tremor, and walking were most improved.” Now scientists are left with trying to determine how singing is impacting these symptoms. They say it may be due to oxytocin, a hormone often referred to as the love hormone and released during bonding. 

Elizabeth "Birdie" Shirtcliff, an associate professor in human development family studies, explains that, "the singing participants feel positive and less stress in the act of singing with others in the group. This suggests we can look at the bonding hormone, oxytocin."

Another thing the research team is doing is to check the levels of inflammation and neuroplasticity as well as heart rate variability in the subjects after singing. If the study’s results hold true, singing may turn out to be a very cost-effective solution to some of Parkinson’s symptoms. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living and memory care community is the newest senior housing in Rio Rancho. We are situated within a residential setting and convenient to the Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, stores, restaurants, and banks. Take a look at our website or visit our onsite Information Center at the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Our community will open in the spring of 2019. In the meantime, visit our Information Center to talk to our team about unparalleled senior housing in Rio Rancho NM.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323590.php

parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons

Resort-style Amenities Offer a Lifestyle of Comfort, Wellness and Community

MorningStar of Rio Rancho is a beautiful new assisted living and memory care community that is set to open in the spring of 2019. Rio Rancho will join New Mexico’s two other MorningStar Senior Living communities, MorningStar of Albuquerque and the new MorningStar of Santa Fe. 

Our community will serve as a true home for its residents and helps to fill an overall need for senior housing in the Rio Rancho area. Also unlike other senior living communities, MorningStar has both a compassionate and loving team as well as a wide array of resort-style amenities to ensure every need of our residents is met. 

As a resident of our fine community, you will enjoy amenities such as meals prepared by an Executive Chef and served restaurant-style in our charming dining room or in a private dining room reserved for intimate dinners. Other highlights include a 24-hour bistro with full bar, a workshop and art studio, spa and massage therapy room, fitness center, salon, and a theatre/chapel. Set on 5.5 acres, our outdoor area will include courtyards featuring artwork and trellises, barbecue and fire pit, walking paths and resident gardening areas. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho will offer technological features such as community-wide Internet and an emergency call system. Each stylish assisted living suite is also equipped with a stacked washer/dryer. All residents will have access to 24-hour care and a full-time licensed nurse, housekeeping and linen services, and schedules transportation. And if you are wondering, our community is pet friendly! 

For details on the most compassionate, comfortable senior housing in Rio Rancho, we encourage you to visit our Information Center on the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road. Our new community is conveniently located and just a block away from the Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, and close to a variety of restaurants, stores, and banks. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. We will open to residents in the spring of 2019. In the meantime, we invite you to visit our Information Center to learn more about the finest senior housing in Rio Rancho.

Celebrating Our One-year Anniversary!

It is hard to believe that MorningStar at Englefield Green just celebrated our one-year anniversary.  It has been an exciting time for all of us as our growth has been quick and we have had the privilege of welcoming many new residents into our Englefield Green family.      

The year has seen had many “first” such as our community joining MorningStar of Boise for an Alzheimer’s Awareness event.  Our Paint and Sip night not only raised money for a great cause but everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves whether they were sipping, painting, or doing both at once.  We love having our two communities work together. 

Moreover what’s not to love about residents, their families and team members having a great time at MorningStar of Englefield Green’s inaugural Sock Hop where we sipped on delicious root beer floats and danced to great music?  Take a look at our home page picture of residents Pat and John “dancing the night away.” 

This month we celebrated Thanksgiving with a wonderful family dinner on November 17^th.  Afterward were entertained by the Swingin’ with Ellie Shaw Show that featured her hauntingly beautiful, vintage voice and violin. 

During the year we have also had some personnel changes and additions such as our new Reflections Coordinator, Alisi Tongamoa, who will lead our care team.  Alisi had worked at MorningStar of Boise for four years as a lead Med-Tech and we are excited to have her join us.  Danielle Markham, LPN, will serve as our Wellness Nurse and brings lots of administrative experience to our community.  Finally, Susan Stuart, RN BSN, will serve as our Wellness Director.  Susan has an extensive resume as a nurse and most recently was at Karcher Estates Skilled Nursing in Nampa.

We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about one of the area’s very best Alzheimer’s care homes.  Our community has 50 suites including spacious studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments.  In addition we offer all of the amenities and services to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of our residents.

MorningStar at Englefield Green embodies the very best in senior living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting.  Please set up a tour to see for yourself our unique approach to dementia care.   

Tips to Help Make Assisted Living More Affordable

When we open in the spring of 2019, MorningStar of Rio Rancho will proudly offer the best senior housing in Rio Rancho. Our beautiful 70,863-square-foot community is situated on a 5.5-acre lot and has 51 private assisted living suites as well as 26 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

For residents in assisted living, your monthly fee is based on the size of the suite, location within the building and view, and your level of care (we offer 5 levels) as determined by a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director. The fee for memory care residents is all-inclusive (suite and care) and is one packaged price. 

To help families find ways to make assisted living more affordable, we provide information on a variety of innovative financial options and other often under-used benefits. One such example is to make veterans aware of the “Aid & Attendance” pension benefit. We refer them to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs where they can find out if they qualify. 

Another resource to help pay for assisted living is Long-term Care insurance. To see what expenses, and/or up to what amounts, will be covered under your policy, review your Benefits Summary section to learn about the specifics of coverage, daily benefit, policy limit, and elimination period. 

Many people also overlook life insurance policies as a source for funds. However in some cases, whole life and universal life policies can be used to raise funds through cash surrender, death benefit loans and other means. We recommend consulting your accountant or tax advisor for information on any tax liabilities you may incur. 

Furthermore be sure to ask about MorningStar of Rio Rancho’s Founders Club savings of up to $5,000 (available for a limited time only). Please stop by our onsite Information center at the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road or give us a call. We look forward to meeting potential residents and their families.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Opening in spring of 2019, we invite you to visit our Information Center to learn more about compassionate assisted living and memory care in Rio Rancho, NM.

Holiday Gifts for Seniors

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are stumped as to what to buy for an elderly parent and other senior loved ones. Experts suggest you keep in mind they most likely they do not need a lot of “things” but would appreciate something that helps to make their lives easier and/or more enjoyable. 

In fact, do not limit yourself to the idea that gifts have to be something new. Many seniors enjoy getting out and taking them to an activity they love such as a sport’s game (maybe a game of their grandchild’s), a play, or concert is quality time spent together. Another idea is to give them a series of gift certificates for a year’s worth of monthly dinners out with you or for things like haircuts, manicures, a spa day with massage, or even ride services. 

As many elderly adults get cold easily, a comfy, soft throw blanket makes for a good gift. Another thoughtful gift especially for someone with Alzheimer’s is a customized photo blanket. They can be order through several large retailers and are not too expensive. If your parent is a music lover, expand their collection with popular songs from their younger days, and if they don’t already have one, buy them a portable boom box that is easy to use. 

Another gift idea is to get them a phone or simplified tablet that will let them facetime, enjoy family photos, and browse the Internet. Gift baskets filled with favorite foods or new soaps and lotions, non-skid soled slippers or compression socks also are appreciated by seniors. Other ideas include large-print playing cards, puzzles, and adult coloring books with a new set of markers are also fun gifts for seniors. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Opening in the spring of 2019, we invite you to visit our Information Center to learn more compassionate senior housing in Rio Rancho.

Our Leadership Team is Ready to Go!

MorningStar of Rio Rancho, the area’s newest senior housing in Rio Rancho, is designed by the award-winning senior living interior specialist, Thoma-Holec Design. However, while we focused on meeting residents’ needs with our gorgeous physical structure, we have also put in place a leadership team that is as professional as they are compassionate. 

Ms. Shannon Barker has been appointed as our Executive Director and will lead our mission of honoring God in our business practices and relationships, valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals, and investing in our team members’ ability to serve well. Shannon recounts how seniors dramatically changed her life and believes them to be the most valued people in our society. She explains that, “To care for those who once cared for me is one of the highest honors. While science and technology have radically changed our world, some of life’s lessons do not change from generation to generation.” She says seniors have decades of experience to share, and she enjoys unlocking that knowledge.

To head up Community Relations, Director Patty Campbell brings fifteen years of experience in community health programs. She relates how her sweet grandma Pearl taught her the importance of always looking for the joy and happiness in any situation. As Patty’s beloved grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, she explains that “MorningStar’s holistic approach through Lavender Sky to thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore with the memory-impaired is why I feel blessed to join the MorningStar family.”

Opening in the spring of 2019, we offer 51 stylish, private assisted living suites in a variety of configurations including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans. We also have 26 secure suites dedicated to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. If you would like to learn more, please give us a call or stop by our Information Center at the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road. Additionally ask about our Founders Club Benefit savings of up to $5,000 available for a limited time.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. We will open to residents in the spring of 2019, but in the meantime, visit our Information Center for more information on the finest senior housing in Rio Rancho.

Have Humans Reached Their Lifespan Potential?

An article in the journal, Science, reports on a study that found the death rate of seniors “abruptly slows around 80 years old and then plateaus at 105 years old.” Researchers have interpreted this to mean that humans are not close to the biological limit on how long they can live. Up to now, a 2016 study from the Elbert Einstein College of Medicine suggested that the human maximum lifespan was about 115 years.

The data for the study involved looking at the records of 3,836 Italians who had reached the age of 105 years old in 2009 to 2015. Researchers then examined mortality rates for persons born in 1896 to 1910. They discovered patterns when death rates seemed to naturally ebb and flow such as go up in a person's thirties and drastically increase when people reach their seventies and eighties. 

While the study “doesn't explain why death rates plateau at 105 years old, one possibility is that some people have genes that make them stronger than others, while some have genes that make them frailer.” In essence, the more resilient your genes are, the better your chances are for a long life. Elisabetta Barbi, a demographer at the University of Rome and one of the study’s researchers, states if there is a fixed biological limit, we are not close to it. Kenneth Wachter, a co-author of the study and a demographer at the University of California, Berkeley, explains that, "The plateau is sinking over time. We're not approaching any maximum lifespan for humans yet." 

At MorningStar at Fountain Hills, we feel privileged to provide senior care and strive to provide our residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Our assisted living offers various levels of support with the activities of daily living, which is determined after an assessment with our Wellness Director, to ensure your every need is met. In addition as dementia experts, we provide memory care that is designed to find ways to connect with and nurture the essence of the individual. Please visit our website for contact information as well as browse our site to learn more about our exceptional senior care community. 

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior care 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 Fountain Hills area.

Source: usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-06-29/study-humans-have-not-reached-maximum-lifespan-yet

Gift Ideas for Someone with Dementia

With the holidays fast approaching, you may be wondering what type of gift to get your elderly parents.  It is especially difficult to know what to get if a loved one is suffering from dementia.  Experts suggest you help them find ways to reminisce about their lives and accomplishments, and give them things that will bring a smile to their face and some joy into their life.    

Many ideas for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia include personalized gifts.  One such gift is a talking photo book that allows you to record your own person commentary to go along with each photograph.  This can be a fun book to sit and enjoy with your family member as it helps to trigger memories and conversation.  Many companies offer such books, and prices typically vary with the amount of photos and recording time available. 

Buying an interactive book (the Alzheimer’s Association’s store has many) featuring vivid photographs and large print on a subject your mom or dad love such as animals or flowers can also promote conversation and provide a way to spend relaxing time together.  To ease stress or agitation, you may want to look into getting them a fiddle muff.  A fiddle muff can provide comfort and warmth as well as activity to promote increased hand flexibility and brain stimulation.

Another meaningful gift is a cozy, customized blanket filled with photos of the grandkids or a beloved family pet.  On the Internet you can find companies that will do a collage of family photos or a singular one in a variety of materials.  Many of the blankets have surprisingly sharp images and can be machined washed and dried. 

If the person has a hard time falling asleep or relaxing, calming visual and or audio stimulation may help.  Several companies have all-in-one cubes that offer a range of calming music and visual displays that can turn the ceiling into a beautiful night sky.   

MorningStar at Englefield Green embodies the very best in senior living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting.  Please set up a tour to experience for yourself unsurpassed “assisted living memory care near me.” 

Source:

store.best-alzheimers-products.com/alzheimers-dementia-gift-ideas/alzheimers-gift-guide.html

unforgettable.org/shining-star-cube-with-soothing-sounds

What’s Happening at MorningStar of Fountain Hills?

At MorningStar, we know our residents bring a wide range of backgrounds and diverse interests and hobbies to our senior living communities. This is why we offer lots of great activities that are designed to enrich the lives of our residents and allow them to enjoy each day to the fullest.

As we know it is beneficial for older adults to keep as physically fit as possible, MorningStar of Fountain Hills has a fitness center as well as starts most mornings with a Total Body Workout class. For our music lovers, we bring in outside groups that put on musical performances for the enjoyment of the whole community. For film fans, every evening is capped off with a movie in our theater. 

If you enjoy playing games, we have you covered. Each month residents have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities including Bingo, card games, blackjack, Rummikub and more. In addition, our monthly calendar is filled with activities that range from cooking, art classes, writing groups, poetry reading and others. In fact if we do not offer something you are interested in, we can probably help to get it organized. 

To get an idea of all that goes on around our community, we invite you to visit MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ website and take a peek at our “Upcoming Events”, “Monthly Calendars” or “Life Around our House.” You will find our community not only stays engaged with daily activities but has many special events each year. One such event was the Taste of the Caribbean event we recently held for seniors and industry professionals. Joined by MorningStar founder Ken Jaeger, we sipped, toured and socialized at twelve kiwi-infused “ports of call” around our community.

Please visit our website to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar of Fountain Hills is one of the finest senior living communities in the area.

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills represents the very best in senior living communities with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.

How We Determine Monthly Costs at MorningStar of Fountain Hills

If you are looking at senior living communities, you will want to know how the monthly fees are determined. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our assisted living residents pay a monthly fee based on their accommodations as well as their level of care. 

Within our 63 bright suites, we offer a range of configurations that include spacious studios and one- and two-bedroom floor plans as large as 870 square feet and priced accordingly. Your level of care (we offer five) is determined after you and your family meet with our Wellness Director to discuss your medical needs. From there, we create a personalized care plan based on your medical history and daily needs. Your care plan is routinely reviewed and updated as needed. 

We are also proud to offer MorningStar’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for more coordinated, efficient care. The central, mobile solution offers assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records). 

We feel that the EHR system benefits both our team and residents by providing quick and secure access to accurate, complete demographic and medical information on residents. In addition, the legible documentation offers enhanced privacy and security of residents’ medical data. 

Within our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 28 secure suites dedicated to the specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. For memory care, we charge an all-inclusive fee that wraps the suite rental and care (whatever the level of need) into one price. Please visit our website to read about the full range of clinical services we provide and to learn more about our loving, beautiful community. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Fountain Hills, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest assisted living in the Fountain Hills area.

Psychiatric Symptoms May Be Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

Medical News Today reports that there is most likely already a significant amount of tissue damage in the brain by the time a person starts to display the common signs of Alzheimer’s.  This has prompted scientists to propose that specific psychiatric symptoms such as “depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, and loss of appetite – may serve as markers of very early brain changes in Alzheimer's.”    

Several groups of researchers, including the University of California in San Francisco and the Brazilian Biobank for Aging Studies (BBAS) at the University of São Paulo, recently published a paper based on their findings in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.  Studying postmortem brain tissue tests, the group compared them to a range of psychiatric symptoms they discovered in the individuals after speaking to people who knew the deceased well.  This has lead researchers to suggest that the person’s “psychiatric symptoms are not the cause of Alzheimer’s but more likely early indicators of the disease.” 

Researchers say that by identifying such symptoms as the early signs of Alzheimer’s may help doctors to diagnose the disease much earlier and to give the person more of an opportunity to take steps to slow the progression of the disease.  In addition scientists note that earlier diagnoses could save trillions of dollars in future medical costs and care. 

Do you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s and are wondering if there is quality “assisted living memory care near me?”  The compassionate team at MorningStar at Englefield Green wants to assure you that we are dementia care specialists that feel privileged to serve our most “tender residents.”  We also consider caring and supporting family members as part of our job as we understand that dementia can be a scary road.  Please visit our website to find out about availability and pricing as well as to set up a tour. 

MorningStar at Englefield Green embodies the very best in senior living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting.  If you are looking for the best “dementia care near me?” please visit our website to learn more!

Source:  medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323366.php

What is Shingles?

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that almost 1 out 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes, at some point in their lives and that 50% of those cases occur in women and men 60 years and older. With approximately 1 million cases reported each year, you can get shingles if you have ever had chickenpox as the varicella-zoster virus remains inactive in nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain. 

The Mayo Clinic says symptoms can occur anywhere on the body but “most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso.” While not life-threatening, the rash is very painful and complications from shingles include a long-lasting pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) that can last for months or even years. 

Generally the first symptom is pain, and given the common location around the trunk, it can be confused with problems of the heart, lungs or kidneys. The course of the disease can be improved and shortened with early treatment and a vaccine can lessen the risk of getting shingles. While some people will never develop a rash, you need to see a doctor immediately if you suspect shingles. 

According to the Mayo Clinic common symptoms include: 

• pain, burning, numbness or tingling 

• sensitivity to touch

• a red rash that begins a few days after the pain

• fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over

• itching

Other symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue and sensitivity to light. The CDC recommends that anyone 60 years or older should get a shingles vaccine even if they have already had the disease as it can prevent future occurrences. 

The CDC states that, “Zostavax® is the only shingles vaccine currently approved for use in the United States.” They add that, “This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51% and PHN by 67%.” A shingles vaccine requires just one dose and can be done by your doctor or at a pharmacy. 

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 communities 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 Fountain Hills area. 

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/ 

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574