A Strong Community Benefits Memory Loss

A Dementia diagnosis is heartbreaking for families and our loved ones. When navigating Alzheimer’s or another Dementia related disease, it is important to not be consumed by the diagnosis and lose sight of the individual themselves who is struggling. Your loved one is still counting on help to maintain their autonomy, independence, and encouragement of their passions and hobbies that they were once so fond of. A holistic approach to memory care builds a relationship with the person in front of you and works to treat them, not just their disease. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. This means that it is most important to care for individuals in a way that grants them comfort, enrichment, and fulfillment through connection and self-exploration.

Alyssa Merrill, the Wellness Director at MorningStar at Englefield Green, revels in their connection to MorningStar’s seniors in memory care. Merrill states that, “since childhood I’ve been drawn to seniors. My grandparents had a huge impact on me, helping to instill compassion and love. Because of them, I am who I am today. I take pride in helping families in their tenderest time of need and offering comfort and knowledge to ease difficult situations. Listening to their stories of endurance gives me a different outlook and the strength to know that even when times feel impossible, this too shall pass.”

Merrill’s statement encompasses our holistic approach to memory care that we call “Lavender Sky.” “Lavender Sky” is an exploration within a memory loss diagnosis, such as Alzheimer’s, that encourages an embrace of the diagnosis, not a suppression of the disease. Our holistic memory care allows caretakers to expand their knowledge and understanding of what it means to have Alzheimer’s. Through a “Lavender Sky,” we can attempt to better understand the individual struggling with Dementia and fully “enter, embrace, and explore” the world of memory loss and Alzheimer’s together. In doing so, we can connect more with our residents and provide better, personalized care in an extraordinary way.

MorningStar at Englefield Green specifically cares for seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia aged 55 and older. Our facility at MorningStar at Englefield Green is specialized and more acclimated to the care of individuals in need of memory care. MorningStar personalizes our care to everyone’s unique needs. To better be able to do so, we offer 24-hour care staff available for our alzheimers care homes residents. Our community, while on the smaller side, is made of 50 suites including spacious studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as amenities and services to ensure the comfort, safety, and wellbeing of our memory care residents in Boise, Idaho.

 
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. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, and offers loving, compassionate care in a beautiful setting. Please set up a tour to learn more about the finest individualized memory care in Boise.

Holistic Memory Care from the Dementia Experts

When you have a family member or loved one struggling with a Dementia related illness, you are in search of the very best care that can be specialized, individualized, and effective. Newly opened in the fall of 2017, MorningStar at Englefield Green specifically cares for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. MorningStar at Englefield Green takes a unique, holistic approach to memory care called “Lavender Sky” where we strive to find ways to connect with and nurture the individual, whatever the level of memory loss or specialized needs they may have.

It is important to seek out memory care that affirms your loved one’s dignity and value as an adult. While your loved one that is struggling with Dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be able to live independently, their independence is still a highly valued part of themselves. At MorningStar in Boise, Idaho, we take the time to get to know our seniors in memory care. Regardless of the extent of the memory loss, we know the essence of the person you love remains, and our job is to connect with and nurture that essence as we put our energies toward finding ways to celebrate life.

As dementia care experts, our unique philosophy and approach to memory care is encompassed under the possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” Under this holistic memory care, we compassionately choose to thoughtfully enter, embrace, and explore the difficult realm of Dementia. MorningStar at Englefield Green utilizes the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy, and animals to help comfort and promote rich, full lives in our seniors. In our memory care in Boise, ID, we have proudly created a community that feels like a true home.

If your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia, please contact MorningStar at Englefield Green to learn more about our Alzheimer’s care or memory care in Boise, Idaho. Unlike many memory care communities, our home was designed to promote independence and to give residents the freedom to safely explore their spacious surroundings. Our staff are trained to give loving, experienced care from the onset of the disease to its advanced stages.

MorningStar at Englefield Green proudly provides the very best in assisted living and memory care 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 amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us for more information about one of the finest retirement homes Boise, Idaho has to offer.

Visit Our Website to Learn More About MorningStar of Happy Valley

If you are looking for exceptional senior living in Happy Valley, OR, we encourage you to learn more about MorningStar of Happy Valley.  Our leadership team always welcomes phone calls and email inquiries regarding our community.  In addition, we have a very informative website that focuses on many of the different aspects of our community as well as provides some background on our company.  

For instance, our home page offers a great description of our home, brief comments from our Management Team, a map showing our location as well as a Gallery of pictures to illustrate the detailed attention to welcoming spaces and beautiful design.  Our home page also has a button to Amenities that describes many of the community’s resort-style amenities.  Clicking on Suite Amenities highlights the comforts within our 61 private assisted living suites and 27 suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with memory impairment.  Our suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations, and you can view specifics by clicking on the Suite Plans button.  

We also encourage you to view the “Come in & Welcome” video on our home page.  Here you will get a good look at some of our open common areas including the foyer, dining room, private dining room, library, theater, bistro, and more.  In addition, we share background on some of the guiding principles of MorningStar Senior Living including our mission statement and core values consisting of Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness.  

We then suggest you browse through the links at the top of the page to learn more about First Steps, Lifestyle Options, Wellness and Our Heart.  More questions are answered on our FAQ page (under First Steps) including what makes MorningStar different, understanding senior living, memory care services, pricing, staff training, and the move in process.  If you like what you see please contact us for pricing, availability and any other questions you may have.  We look forward to hearing from you.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us or visit our website for more information about the finest senior living in Happy Valley, OR.

Memory Care at MorningStar of Happy Valley

If mom or dad, or another loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, you want the finest care for them. MorningStar of Happy Valley is just such a place. As part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company, founded in 2003, we are committed to using best-practices including Montessori-based therapy techniques to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for our residents.

We understand the challenges a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s presents for the whole family and believe it to be an honor and a calling to help. Our approach to memory care is done through our program we call “Lavender Sky.”  By utilizing our extensive understanding of dementia, it provides the tools to empower and equip our team to advance our vision and mission of providing a more insightful way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  

All of our employees receive training in the program as we understand knowledge provides greater wisdom and insight into interacting with our most tender residents.  The eight hours of training includes the pathology behind the disease as well as communication techniques, and holistic solutions to dining, safety and challenging behaviors.  

Moving a parent into a memory care community is often a difficult decision to make. However, once a family chooses MorningStar, we are there every step of the way to walk your loved one through the transition. Our first step is to get to know all we can about the individual such as their background, talents and personal preferences by using a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” From there, we create a specialized, individualized service plan in accordance with the family. 

Along with memory care, MorningStar of Happy Valley offers assisted living as well as short-term stays (30 days or less) for those times when a senior’s regular caregiver needs a vacation or when recovering from surgery or an illness. Please contact us or visit our website for more information. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley proudly provides the very best in assisted living and memory care with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about exceptional senior living at MorningStar.

How Prices are Structured at MorningStar of Rio Rancho

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we regularly have questions about our community from area seniors and their family members.  FAQs include how our pricing is structured as well as availability.  In assisted living, fees are based on the level of care a resident requires.  For memory care residents, we offer all-inclusive pricing, which means suite rental and care, whatever the level of need, is one price.  

To calculate your level of need in assisted living, you and your family will meet with our Wellness Director and go over your medical history and personal preferences to create an individualized care plan.  This sets the basis of your Care Level (we have five) and your monthly fee accounts for the costs and time to provide the needed services.  These can include help with daily personal care activities (grooming, bathing, toileting, etc.) and medical assistance. 

If you are concerned the cost of assisted living may be too high for your means, we want to remind you that senior housing can be very cost-effective as there are many things you will no longer pay for out-of-pocket.  This includes the costs of your monthly utilities.  At MorningStar your monthly fee includes cable TV & utilities, laundry facilities, and three daily meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef.  In addition, we have scheduled transportation every week for rides to medical appointments as well as transportation to organized activities and cultural events.  

Assisted living residents also have access to a full-time licensed nurse and our loving 24-hour care staff.  Our wellness programs and activities engage and support our residents’ mental, physical, spiritual and social connections for a healthier, fuller life.

MorningStar’s mission is to provide the best senior living in Rio Rancho, NM, and the comfort and wellbeing of our residents are the foremost considerations for everything we do.  Our dedicated team, the heartbeat of our community, delivers service that represents the mission and philosophy of MorningStar Senior Living - honoring God and valuing seniors as gifted and contributing individuals. Please visit our website for more information.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest senior living in Rio Rancho, NM.

Suggestions to Reduce the Risk of Falls

The Mayo Clinic reminds older adults it is important they take proper precautions to prevent falls.  Medical conditions, the resulting medications needed, and a more sedentary lifestyle can result in weaker muscles and balance problems that can lead to a fall.  Also, please keep in mind, a fall for an older adult can cause injuries that are very serious such as a broken hip, head trauma, or in the most severe cases, death.   

However, the solution to preventing falls is not to stop moving.  The medical experts at the Mayo Clinic explain being inactive is bad for our health regardless of how old we are, and it is vital that we keep moving.  To that end, they suggest a commonsense six-part plan to keep seniors safely mobile.    

Their first recommendation is to set up an appointment with your doctor.  Bring to the visit a list of all your medications and be prepared to discuss with your doctor any side effects of the drugs that may put you more at risk for a fall such as anti-depressants or sedatives.  It may be possible to eliminate or substitute the medication for something else.  Also, talk to your doctor about whether you have fallen and if it was due to your medical condition.   

In addition, discuss with your healthcare provider what type of exercise would be best for you.  Typically walking, swimming and something like tai chi are gentle exercises that are safe for most; and offer the benefit of strengthening muscles, improving balance, and gait.  

Other ways to lessen your risk for a fall begins by reviewing your home with an eye to fall prevention.  Start by checking hallways and stairways for adequate lighting and add more if needed.  Secure loose rugs and make sure you have wide clear paths for walking around your home.  Wear proper fitting shoes with nonskid soles and use assistive aids like a cane or walker if necessary to maintain your balance.  Install grab bars and railings where needed.           

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our beautiful assisted living homes are designed from the ground up to serve our residents’ every need. Our community offers 61 assisted living suites in a variety of floorplans. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 27 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of those with memory impairment.   For trusted seniors living in Happy Valley, visit our website or contact us for further information about our memory care.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest senior living in Happy Valley, OR.

Source: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/fall-prevention/art-20047358

Learn More About MorningStar of Rio Rancho

A highly respected senior housing company, MorningStar Senior Living has communities throughout the Western U.S. that are designed to be true homes for their residents.  MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho is one of four MorningStar communities in New Mexico.

MorningStar was started in 2003 based on unique mission statements, principles and philosophy.  As Ken Jaeger, founder/CEO of MorningStar explains, his intention was to create senior living that was “defined by the human touch. I wanted to re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.” 

Out of this vision, came three mission statements that still guide the way we deliver service to our residents:  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.  The name “MorningStar” was inspired by Mr. Jaeger’s contemplation of the bible and his commitment to relieve poverty around the world.  

However, while founded on a Judeo-Christian tradition; please know that we welcome and honor all faiths and worldviews in our communities, and are committed to meeting not only residents’ social, emotional, and physical needs but their spiritual ones.  In our pursuit of creating a loving home, honoring spiritual preferences is part of caring for the whole person. 

In addition, we recognize our mission is advanced by hiring team members who hold true to our core values of love, respect, honesty, fairness, goodness, and kindness.  They are the type of individuals who feel privileged to serve seniors and help us create the kind of culture we envision building – a Family for Life.   

Our all-inclusive community offers a dining service under the direction of an Executive Chef, a range of floor plans to meet our senior living residents’ varying needs, and onsite amenities and care services to provide carefree retirement years. Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other senior housing Rio Rancho offers and why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home.”

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest senior housing Rio Rancho has to offer.