MorningStar of Happy Valley's Compassionate Memory Care

Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia at home can be a difficult job. Moreover for some caregivers whose own health is less than perfect, the stress and worry of providing care for a loved one with dementia can be too much. 

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our Reflections Neighborhood is a dedicated area that cares for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Staffed by compassionate, dementia care specialists, the entire area is designed to accommodate the need of our most tender residents. Furthermore, we are equipped to care for seniors from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. 

Our loving team takes a holistic approach to memory care that is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the very different and isolating world of dementia. To fully support residents, we intentionally enter into the “purple world” of dementia and lovingly cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. 

The families of MorningStar’s memory care residents feel comforted knowing that every aspect of our Reflections Neighborhood delivers focused care including mealtimes intended to stimulate the often-flagging appetites of residents. In addition, we leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy, and animals to heal and comfort as well as take into account the uniqueness of each person. And most importantly, we embrace hope. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley is safely accepting new residents and we are very confident in our enhanced protocols for dealing with COVID-19. To ensure the safety of residents and team members alike, we have temporarily suspended non-essential visitors and vendors from entering our senior living communities, ramped up our cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and more. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in senior care within a beautiful, serene setting. 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 assisted living and memory care community.

Individualized, Loving Memory Care in Rio Rancho, NM

While there is not a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other dementia-related diseases, it is important to provide the person with the proper level of care. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho our goal is to provide the best senior housing Rio Rancho offers, and we have the amenities and services to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of our memory care residents. 

Our Reflections Neighborhood has 26 suites that are completely devoted to the individualized care of residents with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. We are proud of our staff that is trained in progressive therapeutic approaches to palliate symptoms for our special residents. 

The creative side of our care begins with learning about each resident. We interview the family to get a thorough understanding of a person’s history, and use that knowledge to aid in their care and to develop a trust between the resident and our care team. We use gentle, resident-directed methods to calm and awaken memories and to support each resident’s capabilities. Common techniques include using multi-sensory cues such as aromatherapy as well as a range of meaningful and purposeful activities that incorporate art, music, and life skills. 

To ensure our residents safety and well-being, services include daily health monitoring and around-the-clock staffing as well as a secure patio and courtyard reserved just for memory care residents. Also bear in mind that we accept residents in the earliest stage of the disease right through to those in more advanced phases that require the highest level of care. Furthermore, everything we do is in a loving environment that affirms the dignity and value of the individual. 

Along with memory care, MorningStar of Rio Rancho offers 51 private, comfortable assisted living suites with a choice of floor plans. Please visit our website to for more information about our memory care as well as the many resort-style amenities and services we provide to all residents. While you are there, you may read the statement from our CEO which details our defense against the coronavirus to help ensure the health of residents and team members during this difficult time.

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.

If You Can, Spend Some Time in Nature Today

While many of us have always felt a sense of calmness when working in our backyards or sitting out on our patios, there is now lots of research that proves spending time among nature can improve not only our wellbeing but our health. The National Institute of Health (NIH) published a report that draws on multiple studies, which show contact with nature improves a variety of conditions and diseases including: depression and anxiety disorders, diabetes, mellitus, cancer, respiratory diseases and more. It explains that time spent “in and around tree-lined streets, gardens, parks, and forested and agricultural lands is consistently linked to objective, long-term health outcomes.” Moreover, it found higher risks for morbidity and mortality linked to people in less green surroundings leading researchers to hypothesize that greening neighborhoods with more parks and trees may be an effective, inexpensive intervention for better health. 

Thus spending time sitting on your deck, walking along a tree-lined street or simply looking out your window at a tree in your backyard, communing with nature benefits our health and wellbeing. In fact in the 1980s, renowned biologist E. O. Wilson first introduced the idea that humans have an innate connection to nature. Around that same time, a professor of architecture at Texas A&M University began studying how surgery patients seemed to be discharged faster and needed fewer painkillers if they had a view of a nature scene outside their hospital window. Also more recent studies have shown hospital patients exposed to “natural light, windows, and healing gardens are related to reduced stress, improved healing, and reduced use of pain medicines.”

If you are looking for a senior living community in the Happy Valley, OR area, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Happy Valley. Our beautiful community is situated on 2-acres and our spacious outdoor amenities for assisted living residents include courtyards featuring artwork and trellis as well as a barbecue, fire pit and strolling paths. Memory care residents are also able to enjoy the outdoors with their own enclosed courtyard. We are still accepting residents during this difficult time, confident in our protective protocols. Please see our website for more information about our community and a message from the CEO detailing our coronavirus response.

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. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community. 

Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4548093/
jphmpdirect.com/2020/04/30/our-need-for-the-outdoors-the-role-of-nature-during-covid-19/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-need-for-the-outdoors-the-role-of-nature-during-covid-19&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-need-for-the-outdoors-the-role-of-nature-during-covid-19

A Creative Gift for an Elderly Loved One

Have you been searching for something for your elderly mom or dad that would provide some comfort and help ease their feelings of loneliness and isolation? While you may think now is not the best time for them to assume the responsibilities of a new pet, you may want to take a look at one of the many “robotic pets” in the marketplace. 

We know there has been a lot of research that supports the idea pet ownership is beneficial to seniors and a loving pet is a great companion. Now researchers have also discovered that robotic pets may provide the elderly with many of the same benefits live animals do. A 2017 study found that the interaction between older adults and animals, whether real or robotic, helped lower blood pressure, eased anxiety, reduced feeling of loneliness and improved the overall quality of life. 

The advantage of a low-maintenance robot dog or cat is they are easy for seniors with little to no tech savvy to “care for.” The realistic pets do little tricks such as a robotic dog who wags its tail, raises its eyebrow when you pet it, has a heartbeat, and makes a barking noise. For people with dementia, robotic pets have helped ease agitation and anxiety and seem to have a calming influence. 

In fact New York’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) was so impressed with the pets that they implemented a program to distribute mechanical dogs and cats to a number of seniors with the aim of easing loneliness. The DFTA’s Commissioner, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez explains, “For the older person, social isolation really has a devastating effect on their health.” 

If you are looking for exceptional senior housing, Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s MorningStar of Rio Rancho encourages you to contact us or visit our website for more information about our loving community. Along with 51 assisted living suites, MorningStar of Rio Rancho offers 26 secure suites dedicated to the specialized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We are now accepting new residents and are confident in our COVID-19 protocols for keeping all those beneath our roof 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.

Trusted Assisted Living & Memory Care in Happy Valley, Oregon

The MorningStar story began with a vision from our Founder/CEO, Ken Jaeger, who wanted to re-create senior housing that was defined by the human touch and felt much like his grandmother’s house – “a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.” Out of this loving concept that focuses on the power of relationships, came three mission statements upon which MorningStar was founded: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. 

Following these precepts, MorningStar of Happy Valley is committed to providing residents with a lifestyle of comfort and wellness with a care team that feels honored to serve seniors. Our beautiful community offers a choice of 61 well-appointed, private assisted living suites in a variety of floorplans. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 27 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with memory impairment. 

While the country slowly gets back to normal and continues to reopen, we want you to know that MorningStar of Happy Valley will still be closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government. This includes prohibiting non-essential visitors and vendors from entering our community. Also all team members who interact with residents must follow strict protocols regarding hygiene and protection, and we will continue the daily screening of staff for symptoms and prevent those who are ill from coming to work. 

Currently we are safely accepting new residents; however it is being done in conjunction with a thorough screening process. New residents move directly into their private suite, where they will remain for a 14-day quarantine period; and staff entering the room will wear full personal protective equipment. 

Remember our first commitment is to the safety of all those in our care. Listen to what one resident’s daughter writes about her experience, “Although it is difficult not being able to visit our loved ones, I am so grateful for the proactive stand you are taking. Our parents could not be in a better place.” 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in senior care within a beautiful, serene setting. 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 assisted living and memory care community.

Learn More About Osteoarthritis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic (long-lasting) joint condition and affects more than 32 million adults in the US. The disease can cause people to experience pain, stiffness, and swelling and is also referred to as “degenerative joint disease.” 

Women are more likely to develop OA than men according to the CDC and risk factors for getting the disease include genetics, obesity, race, injury and overuse of a joint. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wear down causing the joints to painfully rub together. 

Since there is no cure, the disease is treated in a variety of ways including using over-the-counter pain medications and prescription drugs, physical therapy, engaging in physical activity, weight loss and surgery. In addition, researchers believe that those with OA can benefit from eating foods known to reduce inflammation because OA is yet another form of inflammation. Amy Kimberlain, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explains, eating these foods “gives you a better chance of combating your osteoarthritis symptoms.” 

Foods containing flavanols have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are found in broccoli, kale and berries. Other anti-inflammatory foods are those high in beta carotene and include carrots, red and orange peppers, sweet potatoes and dark leafy greens such as spinach. Vitamin C is also important and is found in citrus fruits and winter squash. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho provides exceptional senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM that is centered on wellness, comfort, and community. While we are currently following protective protocols for fighting COVID-19, we are safely accepting new residents into our beautiful suites for assisted living or our secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. 

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.

Tea May Help Stave Off Cognitive Decline

Researchers say that something as simple as a cup of tea each day may help put you at a lower risk for cognitive decline. We have known for a while that green tea, black tea and oolong tea, which all have high amounts of antioxidants, are associated with a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Now a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, reports that tea, and especially green tea, may benefit our brain with a better working memory. 

When compared to adults who rarely drank tea, individuals who drank tea on a regular basis had a 50 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. Moreover researchers say drinking tea even provided some level of protection for those who have the APOE e4 gene, which is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, by having an 86 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. 

The study, led by Feng Lei from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, explained that, “Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. The data from our study suggests that a simple and inexpensive lifestyle measure such as daily tea drinking can reduce a person’s risk of developing neurocognitive disorders in late life.”

Alzheimer’s care homes such as MorningStar at Englefield Green are devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our all-inclusive, holistic approach allows us to provide the amenities and services residents require for their utmost comfort and safety starting from meals to activities and programs. MorningStar’s compassionate community has 50 secure suites in a range of floorplans including spacious studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Please visit our website to learn more about the area’s most trusted memory care as well as availability and pricing. 

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. Get your loved one the care they need at one of the area’s most compassionate Alzheimer’s care homes. 

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316619#Up-to-86-percent-lower-risk-of-cognitive-decline-for-tea-drinkers

Does Mom or Dad Need More Help?

If your parent lives alone and you are worried that they need more personal daily care than you can provide, it may be time to look into other options. One of those is assisted living, which focuses on providing residents the daily care they need to help them retain their independence. 

Especially now, you want to judiciously make the best, safest choice for your mom or dad. To help you do so, experts offer a few suggestions of things to think about before you begin your search (obviously you want to respect mom or dad’s preferences and wishes). They recommend that while you take into account your parent’s immediate needs, you also give some thought to their future needs. So find out if the home you are thinking about will be somewhere they can "age in place” and/or if there are limitations in terms of how much care the community provides. 

Your questions should include the level of care services they are licensed for as well as their limitations. For instance, at MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Happy Valley, our licensing provides us with a range of available care services that makes it possible for us to extend the stay of residents even as health conditions change. 

Unless a resident requires round-the-clock nursing (including the management of acute pain), MorningStar is honored, with the partnership of a hospice agency, to care for a resident through end-of-life. In addition, as a licensed “Directed Level of Care” community, we care for residents within a secure environment (memory care) who, due to compromised cognitive ability, cannot recognize danger and, therefore, cannot respond appropriately and/or cannot express their needs. 

While we know there are a lot of worrisome stories in the news about COVID-19 among nursing and assisted living communities, MorningStar of Happy Valley wants potential families to understand that the care of those beneath our roof is our utmost priority. To that end we are following protocols - in some cases exceeding them - set forth by the CDC and other organizations in our fight against the virus; and are confident in our ability to safely accept new residents. MorningStar of Happy Valley is a true home where the residents are heroes who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect; and MorningStar families know they can trust their loved ones to us. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in senior care within a beautiful, serene setting. 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 assisted living and memory care community.

Communicating with a Loved One with Dementia

If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you probably have felt at times like you were not getting through to them. While communicating with someone suffering from Alzheimer’s is not always easy, we have a few tips to help make it more effective. 

Colleen Kavanaugh, a Certified Dementia Practitioner & Certified Dementia Communications Specialist, offers “a few tricks to have up your sleeve” that may help lessen irritation and calm and soothe more quickly. For instance, if you want to get the person dressed, Kavanaugh suggests you take a few moments to connect with the person. Get down to eye level so they can look directly into your face, speak slowly and ask a simple question such as “how is your day?” Once you have their attention, let them know the tasks at hand.

Another thing to remember is to keep your instructions simple. Ask if they would like to do a particular task such as brushing their hair; and then put the brush in their hand and using your hand, guide the first couple of brush strokes. Do the same thing with brushing their teeth, etc. Make sure to talk soothingly and let them know how well they are doing. 

Strategies to try to calm the person when they are frustrated or angry include also getting down to their level, taking their hand and calmly letting them know you are there to help. Give them time to respond but if they are unable to express themselves and you cannot determine what they need, slowly distract. Show them pictures of family members or talk about things you are going to do together. Above all avoid criticizing or arguing. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we offer unsurpassed senior living in Rio Rancho NM with 51 beautiful, well-designed assisted living suites in spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In addition, we have 26 secure memory care suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, which are staffed by a team of dementia care specialists who truly understand the disease. Please visit our website to read our protocols for dealing with COVID-19 and how we are safely accepting new residents into our loving community. 

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. 

Source: seniorlink.com/blog/communicating-with-dementia

Don't Put Off Getting the Medical Attention You Need

The medical profession is worried that people have put off seeing a doctor or coming in to the emergency room for medical conditions that demand immediate attention. While many states have come out of “stay at home” orders, doctors say there are still far too many people afraid to seek medical attention for critical care. 

Doctors fear that patients who need urgent care for conditions such as stokes, heart attacks, abdominal conditions, and bladder infections are not reaching out for help. Moreover, in some cases, by not seeking appropriate, timely assistance, there has been an uptick of people dying at home or suffering from irreversible damage caused by the lack of medical intervention. 

This is why hospitals and care providers around the country want to reassure the public that they are doing everything possible to keep you safe from catching the virus while getting the emergency care you need. In fact most medical centers and hospitals have completely separated potential COVID-19 patients from the general public. To ensure you get the critical care you need, healthcare providers say it is “crucial that patients identify key symptoms early and call 911 as soon as possible, regardless of the pandemic situation” 

MorningStar of Happy Valley, a senior living community southeast of Portland, OR, is proud to offer residents a true “home” with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities. While temporarily closed to non-essential visitors due to COVID-19, we are still safely accepting new residents. We offer 61 well-appointed suites for assisted living in spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. MorningStar’s Reflections Neighborhood also provides 27 secure suites devoted to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 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 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. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community.

How We Meet the Needs of Assisted Living Residents

If you are looking for luxury senior living in Rio Rancho NM for yourself or a loved one, MorningStar of Rio Rancho may be your answer. Our beautifully designed community provides residents an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Our experienced team understands that when a potential resident and their families are looking into assisted living, they want to know how we meet each resident’s needs to ensure their utmost comfort and safety. 

At MorningStar, that process starts as soon as you make the decision to join our community. Each new resident and their family meet with our Wellness Director to allow us to get to know your personal preferences and normal routines. Our Wellness Director will also review your medical history to enable us to create a customized care plan that meets your approval. Furthermore, your care plan will be regularly re-evaluated to address any changing needs. 

Various auxiliary services provided by MorningStar include medical and non-medical and are priced a la carte. For example, if you require medication management, it will be administered by a Certified Med Care Manager. Other ways we provide our residents with a higher quality of living are diabetic management, oxygen administration, pharmaceutical services, transportation to medical appointments and much more. 

Regardless of the level of care you will be receiving, all residents have access to 24-hour Care Managers and a licensed nurse who is onsite 5-7 days a week and on call 24/7 as well as receive scheduled health and wellness evaluations. In addition, we have a CPR-trained staff member on every shift. 

Finally, MorningStar wants you to know that during the coronavirus outbreak, our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families and our staff; and we could not be more vigilant in our defensive approach. We are staying abreast of its real time status and closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure the health and well-being of all beneath our roof. Please see our website for updates on the changes we have made to help keep our community safe. 

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.

Our Goal is to Improve Quality of Life for Residents

Rather than diminish a senior’s life, assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Fountain Hills help to improve quality of life for residents in a variety of ways.  Along with providing the daily care services residents need to maintain their independence, we provide on-going support to ensure their safety, comfort and continued personal growth.  For our residents’ families, they get peace of mind knowing their loved one is being well-cared for. 

Another benefit of MorningStar’s assisted living is the healthy dining that allows residents to self-manage a variety of dietary restrictions such as low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian or low fat.  Additionally, our medication care management services see to it that residents’ medications are ordered, delivered and dispensed in a meticulous, timely fashion.  Services also include light housekeeping, laundry, transportation and more. 

Moreover, as the CDC reports that each year 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries, residents at MorningStar of Fountain Hills feel comforted knowing that help is just the push of a button away as all suites are equipped with a 24-hour Emergency Call System.  In addition, all bathrooms are handicap-accessible and equipped with grab bars.  

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers loving memory care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Even now, we are safely accepting new residents and following all of the guidelines, and in some cases exceeding them, set forth by the CDC, the American Senior Housing Association and the Federal government to ensure the health and well-being of both residents and team members.  Please visit our website for more information.

MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

How to Help Your Loved One Transition into Memory Care

After a careful search for the best memory care for a parent or spouse, your next step is to support them through the transition phase.  Dementia care specialists caution that everyone is different and to factor into the process the person’s personality and unique needs.  Also remember most Alzheimer’s care homes are dedicated to providing the best care for the person and do so by including the person’s family into all aspects of decision making.    

Experts recommend avoiding trying to explain to the person that “they need more help” as by the time you are looking into 24-hour care, they most likely do not fully understand their situation.  Moreover even though the care provided by the community will most likely improve their quality of life, recognize that it will be a challenging process.  In addition while it may seem counterintuitive, experts say do not include the person in any of the moving decisions as it will only add to their confusion.  Also schedule the person’s move-in at the time of day when they are typically at their best.   

   

Other things to do to ease the transition include not bringing too much stuff.  A person with Alzheimer’s gets easily confused and having way too many clothes and other items around them is not comforting.  Also stay in touch with the home’s management team and ask to be alerted to any troubling behaviors or needs of your loved one. 

At the MorningStar at Englefield Green memory care community, we want you to know that we understand our residents’ families are still the most important person in their life and that our care services are in conjunction with their wishes.  We are proud to be one of Boise’s most professional and compassionate Alzheimer’s care homes; and our holistic approach to memory care is individualized, specialized and encompasses the whole person.

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.  Visit our website for more information on Boise’s most trusted memory care.

Source: https://www.seniorlink.com/blog/50-tips-on-transitioning-a-loved-one-to-memory-dementia-or-alzheimers-careyour-blog-post-title-here

Elder Fraud is All Too Common

According to the U.S. News & World Report, every year there are 5 million cases of elder fraud in the U.S., resulting in as much as $27.4 billion in losses.  Additionally, these crimes are often hard for law enforcement to prosecute because in many cases victims are too embarrassed to report the crimes.  The FBI says con artists also know that seniors do not make good witnesses even if they do report the crime due to the effects of age on their memory and the length of time it takes to bring a case to justice.    

Experts explain there are several reasons why seniors are more susceptible to fraudulent schemes starting with the fact they tend to be very trusting.  Our elderly population was typically raised to be polite, to believe people are basically good, and have a hard time saying “no.”  These are the traits con artists exploit.  Lonely seniors can easily be preyed upon as they are willing to stay on the phone and engage in conversation with a stranger. 

A recent scheme that targeted a large group of seniors was a robocall that informed people they needed to return the call as there was a security issue with their social security number.  When the person called back, they were asked for their full name, address and S.S. number, and told their SS# had been compromised and they would be receiving a new one.   Authorities warn that if criminals obtain someone’s full name and SS#, it allows them to do all kinds of damage to the victim including trying to collect their benefits.   

Another scam is romance fraud, which involves a person being approached by the scammer through dating sites or other social media.  A relationship ensues through online contact but never face-to-face.  After a level of trust is established, the person is asked to send small amounts of money for alleged emergencies to test their willingness and gullibility.  Finally as the scam plays out, the person may give the con artist large amounts of money, or even be used to receive money or goods purchased with stolen credit cards or to transport drugs.      

The FBI warns that there are many fraudulent schemes to be aware of including telemarketing scams, Medicare scams, tax fraud, etc.  They say, “If you are age 60 or older—and especially if you are an older woman living alone—you may be a special target of people who sell bogus products and services by telephone.”  Remember to never give out personal or financial information over the phone or online and do not send money.    

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 contact us to learn more about our exceptional community.

Sources: health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/how-to-prevent-senior-fraud
fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes/seniors

Keep Your Mind Sharp While Having Fun

We all know that even as seniors, physical exercise is important to maintaining healthy bodies but medical experts want us to remember that mental exercise is also essential to good brain health.  Luckily there are many fun and entertaining ways to exercise our mind and include an array of games on our tablets or computers as well as ones that only need pen and paper.  Games like Sudoku, mahjong, chess, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and solitaire are enjoyable and challenging ways to improve memory and stimulate the brain.   

Moreover, there is good evidence that supports this claim such as the study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  The research team conducted a long-term study that found seniors who did crosswords four day a week had a 47 percent lower risk of dementia than those who only did them once a week. 

Also, while there is the perception that chess is only for those who are very intelligent, it turns out the skills used to play a good game of chess are ones we all should cultivate as they may make us smarter.  Experts says chess encourages “concentration and focus around ‘if then’ thinking, which is useful when making decisions.”  The game forces you to think a few steps ahead and that type of thinking can be especially helpful for older people who are navigating options in life and could use a little help with creative thinking. 

The good news is that many of these types of games are free or cost very little and even the Internet offers lots of options.  To play a game of solitaire, you only need a deck of cards but playing on your tablet offers many different varieties of game of which some may be new to you.  Crossword and Sudoku books as well as jigsaw puzzles can be ordered online and are very reasonably priced for the amount of entertainment you get.  They also make great gifts for seniors. 

We want you to know that MorningStar of Fountain Hills is safely accepting new residents, and we are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus.  Our community offers 63 beautiful assisted living suites with spacious studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options.  We also have 28 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  We encourage you to visit our website for contact information and to learn more about MorningStar’s mission of servant-leadership.  

MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Source: sixtyandme.com/keep-your-brain-buzzing-with-these-free-brain-games-for-seniors/

Learn More About MorningStar of Fountain Hills

MorningStar of Fountain Hills is a beautiful senior community that offers assisted living as well as memory care.  Our exceptional team is experienced in serving seniors and understands what it needed to provide our residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. 

In fact, all facets of our community were designed from the ground up to compassionately and professionally serve our residents and we start with 24/7 care managers and access to licensed nurses and certified medication care managers/QMAPs.  MorningStar’s care managers help our assisted living residents retain their independence by providing help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting and eating as well as other medical assistance.  These dedicated individuals were hired for their big hearts and a desire to serve seniors.

MorningStar’s medication care managers/QMAPs also play an important role based on statistics from a National Institute of Health study.  It reports that 40% of seniors aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications, and 90% take at least one prescription. In addition, it found that 55% of those seniors are improperly taking their medications.  Our certified med managers oversee both the ordering and dispensing of medications to our residents. 

For residents’ safety, our entire community is handicap accessible with wide doorways, spacious common areas and hallways, and each suite is equipped with handicapped-accessible bathrooms.  In addition, all 63 of our bright assisted living suites have a 24-hour Emergency Call System.   Our Reflections Neighborhood has 28 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and is designed to encourage our tender residents to easily and safely explore their spacious surroundings. 

Finally, MorningStar wants you to know that during the coronavirus outbreak, our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families and our staff; and we could not be more vigilant in our defensive approach. We are still accepting residents during this difficult time, confident in our protective protocols.  Please see our website for more information about our community and a message from the CEO detailing our coronavirus response.

MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

The Reflections Neighborhood at MorningStar of Fountain Hills

Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia at home can be a difficult job.  Moreover for some caregivers whose own health is less than perfect, the stress and worry of providing care for a loved one with dementia can be too much. 

At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our Reflections Neighborhood is a dedicated area that cares for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Staffed by compassionate, dementia-care specialists, the entire area is designed to accommodate the need of our most tender residents.  Furthermore, we are equipped to care for seniors from the onset of the disease right through to the most advance stages. 

Our loving team takes a holistic approach to dementia care that is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the very different and isolating world of dementia.  To fully support residents, we intentionally enter into the “purple world” of dementia and lovingly cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us.  

The families of MorningStar’s memory care residents feel comforted knowing that every aspect of our Reflections Neighborhood delivers focused care including mealtimes intended to stimulate the often-flagging appetites of residents.  In addition, we leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy, and animals to heal and comfort as well as take into account the uniqueness of each person.  And most importantly, we embrace hope.

MorningStar of Fountain Hills is safely accepting new residents and we are very confident in our enhanced protocols for dealing with COVID-19.  To ensure the safety of residents and team members alike, we have temporarily suspended non-essential visitors and vendors from entering our senior living communities, ramped up our cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and more.  Please see our website for more information.

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 contact us to learn more about our exceptional community.

Father’s Day is June 21st

Especially in these unusual times when many of us will be unable to visit an elderly loved one, we want to make sure our parents or grandparents know how special they are to us.  With Father’s Day just around the corner, let dad or grandpa know that while they may be out of sight, they are not out of mind. 

So what is a good gift that lets him know he is not forgotten?  As you know dad best, ask yourself if he’s a guy who loves practical gifts, tech toys or something on the humorous side?  I know many dads may not buy one themselves but would love a plush new bathrobe; so why not personalize it with a monogram?  If he is more of a t-shirt kind of guy, order him a personalized shirt.  A popular one has handprints with the names of all the grandchildren and a message calling him out as “Hands Down Best Grandpa,” or how about one that says “Great Dads Make Great Grandpas?”

If dad gets chilly and loves to fish, how about getting him a cozy throw decorating with fish bearing the names of his grandkids.  Another idea is an indoor gardening kit for the dad who loves to grow things.  If granddad is a gamer at heart, how about getting him a lap-sized Nintendo Switch.  A recent study showed in addition to fun, 3D-platform games can help improve cognitive health.  Don’t forget the gift of music or audio books targeted to his interests, and if he doesn’t already own a set, consider noise cancelling headphones for the ultimate listening experience.  If dad still gets around, a step tracking device is a fun way to keep him moving.

While the MorningStar senior living communities are temporarily closed to non-essential visitors, we are still open to the love that is pouring in for our residents.  At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we are still accepting assisted living and memory care residents during this difficult time, confident in our protective protocols.    Please visit our website and take a virtual tour of our 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 contact us to learn more about our exceptional community.

End of Life Decisions for Advanced Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s can be a very difficult disease for families to deal with as we slowly watch our loved ones slip away from us until they do not even know us.  We watch a loving parent or spouse gradually lose their thinking, remembering, and reasoning abilities, until at the very end, no longer even respond to their name. 

As a person with Alzheimer’s can live for years, we sometimes forget that it is a terminal disease with no cure.  In addition this may mean that at a certain point families are faced with difficult end-of-life decisions, and these decisions sometime have to be made without knowing our loved one’s direct wishes. 

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has published some guidelines to help families traverse through these challenging issues.  One of their foremost recommendations is to have this conversation with mom or dad or a spouse early-on, before the disease takes away their ability to seriously weigh in on their feelings regarding end-of-life decisions.  The article relates a story about a woman in the later stages of Alzheimer’s who ended up with pneumonia.  Without her mother being able to communicate any longer, the daughter did not know what her mother’s wishes were in regards to feeding tubes and antibiotics to treat the illness.

  

Other decisions regarding the care of those with Alzheimer’s include whether to continue medications to treat medical conditions or to have surgery in the end stages of the disease or to just provide palliative care.  Thus family members must weigh quality of life with quantity of life.  The NIA reports that the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease include some of the following:  being unable to move around on one’s own, being unable to speak or make oneself understood, and eating problems such as difficulty swallowing. 

   

If you need memory care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, we invite you to consider MorningStar at Englefield Green.  We proudly and lovingly provide compassionate care from the onset of the disease to the very most advanced stages.  Please visit our website to learn more.

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.  Amidst a beautiful home-like setting, we provide care based on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve.  Please contact us for information on one of Boise’s most trusted Alzheimer’s care homes. 

Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life-care-people-dementia