Religious and Spiritual Assisted Living in Colorado

March 27, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

One of the most difficult aspects of transitioning into assisted living is the fear of losing close connections with longtime friends in their religious community. Religion and spirituality provide us with meaning and purpose and offer many opportunities to volunteer and get involved in our neighborhoods. In retirement, seniors often gravitate to religious spheres because of the ability to easily make friends while receiving hope and healing.

Assisted living homes with religious or spiritual support provide seniors with the same sense of belonging. Joining a senior living community of open and like-minded peers who share similar values will help seniors settle into their new assisted living home. Religious and spiritual senior living can provide seniors with these various benefits that promote overall holistic well-being:

Spiritual and Faith-Based Activities in Assisted Living

Religious assisted living homes with spiritual support provide seniors with opportunities to volunteer and get involved in their community. Much in the same way they may have done before transitioning to assisted living, seniors are able to participate with their religiously affiliated group to give back to their neighbors and feel as though they are honoring themselves and building a connection with their higher power through the community.

Religion and faith provide seniors with residency and hope. If a senior is struggling with health concerns or anxieties about life, accessibility to spiritual practices in their senior living home can provide seniors with relief and structure.

Spirituality and MorningStar Senior Living

While MorningStar is founded on a Judeo-Christian tradition, we honor all faith systems and worldviews among our team members and residents. Our preeminent goal is to meet a resident’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs, all of which contribute to creating a comfortable home and offering truly compassionate care.

Find Your New Assisted Living Home Today

Contact us to learn more about MorningStar’s retirement homes and senior living options in Parker, Colorado. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have. Our website also provides information on our company’s history and vision, as well as what sets us apart from other senior living facilities in Colorado.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar Parker “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 our exceptional offering for independent and assisted living in Parker, Colorado.

How to Transition a Parent to Assisted Living

March 27, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

It can be challenging for a parent to admit they need help. The truth is, they may never admit that they’re struggling. As the adult child of an aging parent, you have begun to notice changes in your parent’s home. Perhaps they are unable to care for the house as much, they have a difficult time driving themselves to doctor appointments or to complete errands, or perhaps they are experiencing behavioral changes. Even if you have voiced your concern, your parents may still argue against moving to an assisted living retirement community. You want to respect their wishes, but you know they need help. What can you do?

Assess your parent’s needs

Before relocating your parents to assisted living, assess what needs your parents currently have. What are they currently struggling with? Have they received a new medical diagnosis or require more supervision now? Keeping track of your parent’s daily activities and abilities will give you a better look into what they may need from an assisted living facility. Senior living facilities, like MorningStar Assisted Living Portland, offer personalized care plans that allow families to have a hands-on approach to their loved one’s care.

Advocate for your parent

In most cases, you can’t make your parents do anything against their will, and you shouldn’t want to. However, if you know in your gut that your parents need help, it may be worth standing up on their behalf to voice what you know is right for them. After assessing their needs, you will have a better idea of what struggles they are experiencing. Discuss these concerns with your parents, let them know you want what is best for them, and that you will work to make sure they are in proper care. Remember to be kind and calm when discussing your parent’s transition to assisted living.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living, empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.

Contact us today at (971) 544-8100 To learn more about MorningStar at Laurelhurst and the outstanding care practices within our senior living and memory care communities. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have. Our website also provides information on our company’s history, vision, mission, and what sets us apart from other retirement homes in Portland, Oregon.

5 TIPS FOR BEGINNING BIRDWATCHERS

March 25, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

One of the goals of our retirement community in Idaho Falls is to keep residents active throughout the year. From holding social events to taking day trips to local natural wonders, MorningStar of Idaho Falls is the ideal place to call home for older adults who want to continue to live active lifestyles. One activity that flies under the radar is the popular activity called birdwatching. Idaho Falls is a prime location to capture the flights of a wide variety of bird species.

Let’s review five tips for beginning birdwatchers to get the most out of this fun activity.

Invest in High-Quality Binoculars

You are going to watch birds mostly through the lenses attached to a pair of binoculars. Investing in a high-quality pair of binoculars allows you to get big, crisp, and bright up-close images of the birds in action. Binoculars especially come in handy when you want to zero in on a nest to watch baby birds cry out for their mother. Although spending less than $100 for a pair of binoculars appeals to your sensibly frugal ways, consider spending as much as $300 to receive superior images of the birds that you watch.

Know How to Attract Birds

Although hiking around to find birds to watch appeals to your adventurous side, the most successful way to birdwatch is to attract a flock or two to visit your home. You can accomplish this by placing a bird feeder near the entrance to your apartment at our assisted li v ing facility in Idaho Falls. Bird feeders come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but the most important element is what you put in a feeder for the birds to enjoy. Most birds love munching on sunflower seeds, which are readily available at both pet and grocery stores.

Capture the Moments

Binoculars help you get much closer to birds, but you can capture the moments for future viewing by investing in a still and/or video camera. Even using a sophisticated Smartphone can help you create a lifetime’s worth of memories of the birds that you watch. You can capture the majestic flight of an eagle, as well as shoot a flock of crows getting together for their daily meeting. Mounting a camera on a tripod helps you stabilize each shot.

Record What You See

Birds are creatures of habit, from returning to the same spot after every migration to feeding at the same field at the same time each day. As a beginner birdwatcher, you should record the activities of the birds that you watch for reference during upcoming years. You can write down your observations, but a more accurate description can be given by talking into a voice recorder.

Interact With Other Birdwatchers

Although you can develop a feeling of inner peace by watching birds on your own, the real joy of birdwatching comes from sharing your experiences with fellow birdwatchers. Making birdwatching a social event in addition to an educational event helps you gain insight into how other people approach this popular hobby. Joining a club that organizes bird watching expeditions is an effective way to make connections.

Another way to make connections while you birdwatch involves getting together with other residents of our assisted living facility in Idaho Falls. The mission “to honor, to value, to invest” has special relevance when it comes to the activities planned at MorningStar of Idaho Falls. Schedule a tour today to learn more about the activities scheduled at our senior living center in Idaho Falls.

Be Mindful of These Changing Dietary Needs in Old Age

March 25, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

Aging causes a lot of changes to our bodies, and this includes our relationship with our diet and eating habits. Seniors experience changing dietary needs and habits throughout aging. With age, you need to be especially careful to prevent nutrient deficiencies, dramatic weight changes, and dehydration.

Assisted living communities keep a senior’s health in mind when developing dining plans and recipes. Because of MorningStar’s knowledgeable executive chefs and trained assisted living staff, they can recommend the importance of being mindful of the following dietary needs in old age:

Dietary Changes in Old Age

While many changes can come with aging and our relationship with food, some of the more common are:

Decreased metabolism
Chronic inflammation
Losing muscle mass
Low stomach acid
Inability to recognize hunger and thirst cues
Dramatic weight gain or weight loss
And different taste preferences

These changes can make navigating your diet difficult and unpredictable. Many of these dietary changes and symptoms of old age may cause seniors to have an aversion to eating regular, balanced meals, which can greatly impact their overall health. The following whole foods are important for senior consumption and should be prioritized in assisted living dining menus:

Whole Foods

Fiber is an extremely beneficial component to any diet. However, fiber may be especially important for seniors who struggle with constipation, feeling full, and eating enough whole foods. Fresh, whole foods are generally great sources of fiber. Apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, and whole grains are high-fiber foods that can easily be incorporated into a senior’s diet for better health.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living (ADLs), empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.

Stretching Exercises Provide Many Benefits

March 22, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you are a senior who is having difficulty turning your neck to look behind you when driving, having problems getting up from a low chair or difficulty picking something up from the floor, you may find adding stretches to your routine can really improve these types of motions. Stretching exercises also help seniors improve flexibility and balance, both of which lower a person’s risk of falls and injuries. Experts explain stretching gives seniors a better range of movement in their joints, helps improve posture, increases circulation and releases muscle tension and soreness.

The Journal of Gerontology reported on the results of a 12-month stretch and flex program for older adults. It found “participants demonstrated positive changes in areas like physical fitness, self-efficacy, perceived functioning, and well-being. They also experienced a decrease in pain.” Along with the favorable benefits stretching provides, it can be done anywhere and does not require any special equipment. However, before beginning any new exercise routine, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider regarding your fitness level and the type of stretches most appropriate for you.

Another thing to remember is it is important to warm up before stretching. Experts say it can be doing something as simple as a walk around the block. Additionally, they warn not to stretch to the point of pain, only to the point of tension. A stretch can typically be held for 30 seconds, but do not bounce when you stretch.

MorningStar at West San Jose is a senior community with a range of onsite amenities, care services, wellness programs and activities designed to promote a healthy, engaged lifestyle. Please contact us for more information and to set up a tour. Not only is our staff happy to answer any questions but our website provides information on our company’s history, vision, and mission as well as what sets us apart from other assisted living and memory care in San Jose, CA.

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 assisted living and memory care in San Jose, CA.

Safe and Comfortable Assisted Living in Portland

March 04, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

One thing families consistently worry about when it comes to finding assisted living communities is safety and accident prevention. Seniors in need of assisted living often struggle with mobility and can be more accident-prone. This is why the assisted living facility you pick for your loved one should be dedicated to proper senior care management by ensuring safety around every corner. MorningStar Retirement Homes Portland has implemented a range of safety protocols. Keep reading to understand how MorningSar offers safe and comfortable assisted living in Portland.

Fall Prevention

Multiple factors contribute to fall risks among seniors. Messy surroundings, mobility changes, changes in vision, and even medications can contribute to fall accidents in seniors. Being weary of falling holds seniors back from fully enjoying their lives. Assisted living communities are designed with fall prevention in mind. Halls are easy to navigate at MorniningStar, and are kept mess-free at all times. 24/7 caregivers, cameras, and staff are all in place to minimize falls and other accidents. With this supervision and support, seniors feel safe to explore their community, meet up with friends, and get fresh air.

Secure Senior Living Apartments

Seniors want to feel safe and comfortable where they live, without feeling like they are in a hospital. It can be hard to find that balance, but MorningStar Senior Living Portland has been able to find the perfect match of safety and luxury for their retirement homes. Non-slip flooring, Grab bars in the bathrooms, emergency response systems, and much more make MorningStar Assisted Living in Portland safe and comfortable for all seniors.

Finding Safe Senior Living in Portland

Overall, MorningStar Assisted Living Portland provides high-quality care and safety assurances for seniors, making it an excellent choice for families looking for a safe and secure senior living community. With their commitment to safety, experienced staff members, and state-of-the-art safety features, you can be confident that your loved one will receive the best care possible

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

3 Engaging Hobbies for Seniors in Assisted Living

March 01, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

The best senior living communities promote social and mental stimulation in seniors. Seniors in assisted l iving should experience all the joys retirement has to offer. Senior living communities in Portland prioritize senior independence and autonomy, even if a senior is actively struggling with memory loss, immobility, or other health concerns. By offering and encouraging seniors to participate in hobbies and activities around the community, seniors experience an enjoyable retirement that isn’t impacted by any physical or mental limitations. Below are 3 engaging hobbies that senior living communities offer to promote socialization and mental stimulation in seniors in assisted living care:

Explore Your Passion at MorningStar Assisted Living Portland

Cooking and Baking Classes for Seniors
If your senior parent or loved one has a passion for cooking, attending an interactive cooking class is sure to brighten their day and give them something to look forward to. Baking and cooking is a great way to keep your mind and hands busy. Senior living communities that host baking classes or cooking instruction for seniors in assisted living prioritize the passion of seniors. MorningStar Senior Living is a holistic retirement community that understands the needs of seniors, regardless of their mental or physical situation.
Writing Workshops for Seniors
Your loved one doesn’t need to be a world-renowned author to enjoy writing and storytelling. Every senior can benefit from journaling or creating poetry. The art of storytelling stimulates the brain and promotes memory recollection and creativity. Community writing workshops for seniors are a great way for seniors with a common interest to bond over the art of writing.
Trivia Night for Seniors
Seniors love sharing what they’ve learned throughout the year. This is what makes trivia nights so fun and exciting for seniors in senior living communities. Trivia encourages playful competition and mental stimulation.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

What Affordable Assisted Living Options Do You Have?

February 28, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

When the time comes to transition your senior loved one or parent to assisted living, you may experience anxiety wondering if you are financially prepared for this new senior living arrangement. You want to make the right choice for your loved one.

When searching for affordable retirement homes, you will want to consider the following:

What level of care your loved one requires
Easily accessible amenities
Well-trained and available staff
On-site nursing
Overall happiness of residents

The above list will help guide you to making the most informed choice for your loved one’s senior living community. You will want to be mindful of how much care your loved one will need and if that community can support them. However, you need to be able to afford this care, too. When it comes to paying for assisted living care, there are multiple financial resources available to find the best senior living community for your parent or loved one.

Affordable Assisted Living Options in Portland

All-inclusive senior living is one of the best financial choices for retirement home options in Portland. This means families pay a flat rate for services and housing that covers all the care a loved one requires and has been discussed through the creation of a personalized care plan. Depending on what level of care or assistance with daily living your loved one needs, pricing may vary to better accommodate concerns.

When it comes to paying for assisted living care or a senior retirement home, there are financial resources available beyond retirement savings and investments. Long-Term Care insurance is just one example of how assisted living care can be more affordable. Explore some of the financial options and affordability for seniors looking for retirement homes in Portland at MorningStar’s website, or by calling them at the number below.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living (ADLs), empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.

How is Care Customized to Individual Needs in Assisted Living?

February 26, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you have a senior parent or elderly loved one in need of assisted care, you want to be sure that their future senior living community can properly support and care for them depending on their unique needs and concerns. Personalized assisted living care plans are specialized to a senior’s physical, emotional, mental, and social needs. For many senior living communities, personalized care plans are developed with the input of family, care providers, and medical professionals.

When you are transitioning a loved one to assisted living, here is what to expect when building your personalized care plan at MorningStar Senior Living Portland:

Initial Assessment

The initial assessment involves gathering information about the resident’s health, medical history, physical and cognitive abilities, preferences, and any specific care needs. Before you move your loved one to an assisted living community, be sure to have a list of your loved one’s daily routine or activities. Within this list, be sure to communicate with the personalized care team if your loved one’s current physical, mental, or emotional state hinders or impacts the completion of any activities.

Developing the Care Plan

A personalized care plan is drafted after all the personal information has been considered. This care plan is always flexible and subject to change. The personalized care plan outlines the specific services and assistance required for your loved one to be successful at MorningStar while considering factors such as activities of daily living, mobility, medication management, and any medical conditions that need to be regularly treated.

Enacting the Personalized Plan

Once everything has been drafted, staff and medical care providers will be notified of the needs required by the new resident. Special dietary needs will also be communicated to catering staff and chefs. If any changes need to be made to the plan following its initial draft, care managers are happy to edit and reconsider any concerns to make residents happier and healthier in their new homes.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living (ADLs), empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.

How is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed?

February 26, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

While there is not one single test used to definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, doctors typically use a variety of tools to make a diagnosis. Along with the person’s primary care provider, specialists like neurologists, neuropsychologists, geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists may all be involved in determining if the patient’s problems are Alzheimer’s or caused by other reasons.

The process starts with a medical workup done by a health care provider that includes the person’s history of medical problems as well as any history of psychiatric, cognitive or behavioral problems. It is important to tell the doctor about all current medications including over-the-counter-drugs and supplements the person is taking. Your doctor will also want to know if there is a family history of Alzheimer’s or other cognitive problems.

A physical exam should include a check of reflexes, blood pressure levels and questions regarding sleep patterns, diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits. A structural brain imaging scan such an MRI or computed tomography is used to rule out damage to the brain from stroke, tumors, head trauma or a build-up of fluid. Blood and urine tests can rule out other reasons for symptoms. The Alzheimer’s Association says common causes of dementia-like symptoms include depression, untreated sleep apnea, delirium, side effects of medications, thyroid problems, certain vitamin deficiencies and excessive alcohol consumption.

The doctor may also use one of several cognitive, functional tests to evaluate the person’s memory, thinking and simple problem-solving skills. Professionals state, “There is an urgent need for a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive and easily available diagnostic tool such as blood tests to diagnose the disease.” Currently researchers are experimenting with a variety of tests to enable them to track changes more easily in the brain to identify the disease. Currently, health professionals do not recommend routine genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease.

At MorningStar at West San Jose, we offer individualized, specialized care in our Reflections Neighborhood for those at the onset of Alzheimer’s disease through to the most advanced stages. Beginning with compassionate caregivers to activities, programs and meal services tailored to our residents’ special needs, we bring a deep understanding of the disease to our care. Please see our website for more information about trusted memory care or assisted living at MorningStar.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living and memory care in San Jose, CA.

Source: alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis/medical_tests

3 Important Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Assisted Living Community

February 23, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

When you are making the decision to transition your senior parent or loved one to an assisted living community, you may be overwhelmed by all the options available to you. Many of these communities may seem promising, but asking a few key questions below will certainly help you make a more informed decision about your loved one’s future retirement home.

How is Assisted Living Care Customized to Individual Needs?

If you are seeking assisted living care, you are likely concerned with how a future senior living community will meet the unique needs of your loved one. For the best assisted living care, a personalized care plan should be developed based on an individual assessment, family input, and medical advice. Be sure to ask about the process different communities use to build their care plans. Flexible care plans ensure that the level of care can change depending on the senior’s needs over time.

How Qualified are the Staff and Management?

Asking about the staff-to-resident ratio is an important question to ask when considering assisted living options. Knowing this will help you to better infer if your loved one’s needs will be properly met in a timely manner. Not only this, but overworked staff are more likely to experience apathy, which can impact your loved one’s care.

What is the Visitor Policy?

To ensure that your loved one is receiving the proper care, it is important to ask about a community visitation policy before moving your loved one. A welcoming senior living environment that welcomes family and friends regularly is important for the resident’s social and emotional well-being.

Why MorningStar Senior Living Portland

MorningStar retirement homes are found across the Western US and have proudly earned a reputation for “casting a new light” on senior living. Newly opened, MorningStar at Laurelhurst offers trusted assisted living in Portland, Oregon, that focuses on elements of independence within assisted living. After asking the above 3 questions, we are sure you’ll find our retirement homes boast great recognition for having flexible personalized care plans, qualified staff, and maintaining great relationships with family.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

MorningStar at West San Jose Offers Individualized Memory Care

February 23, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

Along with assisted living, MorningStar at West San Jose offers 34 memory care suites for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our care services are extensive, and we provide a wide range of amenities, wellness programs and activities.

MorningStar at West San Jose’s memory care revolves around comforting and caring for our most tender residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. We start with a physical space designed to enhance residents’ quality of life with safe, inviting common areas encouraging independence. Residents stay active with a gentle flow of activities including art, dance, physical exercise, special events, and scheduled outings.

Once a resident joins our MorningStar family, we meet with them and their family to get to know as much as we can about them including their history, vocation, talents, and preferences. From there we create a daily routine designed to stimulate or calm as a situation requires. Residents are also treated to tempting meals consisting of finger foods and family-style dining for a stress-free, companionable dining experience.

As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” Our program provides us with an insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families. All team members, regardless of their position, receive Lavender Sky training, which includes a deeper understanding of the disease and communication techniques to use with memory-impaired residents. It also includes training in environmental safety and security as well as holistic solutions to challenging behaviors. Additionally, our devoted team feels privileged to serve, and understands every person deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

MorningStar Senior Living will celebrate its 21st anniversary this year and has grown to 40+ communities in operation or under construction in eleven states. Please contact us for more information about individualized, compassionate memory care in San Jose. We look forward to hearing from you.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for family satisfaction second to none. Contact us for more information about the finest assisted living and memory care in San Jose, CA.

Independent Senior Living Vs. Assisted Living: Which is More Suited for Your Loved One?

February 21, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you have been considering senior care options for your aging parent or loved one, you may be wondering what the difference is between independent senior living communities and assisted living retirement homes.

The choice between independent senior living and assisted living depends on various factors like health concerns, mobility, and the overall independence level of your loved one. Here are some key differences to better help you differentiate if your loved one will need assisted living care or will be better suited for independent living.

Independent Senior Living

Independent Senior Living Communities are ideal for seniors who are still active, independent, and can manage their daily activities without assistance. Senior Living Communities, like MorningStar at Laurelhurst, provide seniors with a deep sense of community while offering easily accessible amenities located on community grounds.

Assisted Living

Assisted Living at MorningStar offers the same active community and easily accessible amenities as independent senior living does. However, assisted living provides seniors with more support and management to help them achieve their goals while keeping them happy and healthy.

Assisted living is best for seniors who need help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, medication management, or mobility assistance. It offers a higher level of support while still encouraging independence.

When is it Time for Assisted Living?

Some warning signs that may indicate it is time to consider assisted living for your loved one:
Chores are not completed around the home or their living space
They are forgetting to take medication or fill prescriptions
Home maintenance is not maintained
You worry about them driving a car alone
There is a large amount of spoiled food in the kitchen
A medical provider voices their concern over any memory impairments or health issues

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living (ADLs), empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.

Explore These Popular Holistic Wellness Programs in Assisted Living

February 21, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

The key to great whole-body health for seniors in assisted living care is to utilize holistic wellness and therapies. Holistic wellness aims to support seniors in multiple realms of their lives. At MorningStar, we understand that each senior is unique and has differing wants, interests and goals. Because of this, holistic wellness programs work to provide care for multiple needs in a senior’s life.

What is holistic wellness?

Holistic wellness programs in senior living assisted living care facilities address the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of residents. These programs often incorporate a variety of activities and programs to promote overall health and enhance the quality of life. Here are some popular holistic wellness programs that assisted living is incorporating in their senior living communities:

Mindfulness and Meditation
Just like you or me, seniors experience feelings of frustration or overwhelm. Sometimes we need a break. Mindfulness and meditation practices encourage peace and relaxation for seniors in assisted living communities. This holistic method of care encourages breathing exercises and other activities to soothe seniors.
Spiritual and Faith-Based Activities
Holistic wellness also includes spiritual and faith-based activities for seniors. Maintaining your relationship to faith, or rebuilding it, brings a sense of peace and belonging to many seniors in assisted living.
While MorningStar is founded on a Judeo-Christian tradition, we honor all faith systems and worldviews among our team members and residents. Our preeminent goal is to meet a resident’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs, all of which contribute to creating a comfortable home and offering truly compassionate care.
Music Therapy
There is a lot of research to prove the benefits of music therapy for seniors. Music engages the part of our brain that holds memory and recognition. Working with music, whether listening to music or playing an instrument, helps seniors to recall memories and feelings that may have otherwise remained inaccessible.

Find Your New Assisted Living Home Today

How to Have an Active Lifestyle for Seniors in Assisted Living Care

February 19, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

It is no shock that there are numerous advantages to living an active lifestyle. For seniors, staying active is seriously important. Staying active doesn’t necessarily mean you have to run daily or go to the gym, however. An active senior lifestyle is anything that gets your body moving in whatever way is most beneficial to you. Using the stairs, taking more walks, or incorporating a few minutes of daily stretches are all beneficial changes seniors in assisted living can make to have a more active lifestyle in senior living assisted care.

There may be certain mobility or safety concerns that make participating in certain activities more difficult for seniors in assisted living. Below are a few examples of activities that encourage seniors in assisted care to move their bodies in easy, yet beneficial ways.

Daily Walks
Perhaps one of the most valuable forms of exercise is walking. For many seniors, it may be difficult to walk long distances or for an extended period. Luckily, a few minutes of walking is still beneficial to seniors. If possible, use a walker or cane to walk throughout the halls of your community. With a partner or caretaker, short outdoor walks can be made safer and easier to complete.
Stretching
Yoga is a deeply appreciated physical activity, but not everyone can move their body in that way as they age. However, stretching is still a great way to get more physical activity into your day. Chair yoga involves gentle stretches and poses performed while seated. It promotes flexibility, balance, and relaxation for many seniors with decreased mobility.
Water Aerobics
If your health permits, water aerobics is a low-intensity workout that promotes great overall health for seniors. This workout helps with cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. Plus, many seniors rejoice in the freedom of joint pain from the water.

Find Your New Assisted Living Home Today

WHAT IS ASSISTED LIVING FOR SENIORS?

February 19, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

Relocating is one of the most stressful events in life. You have to become acclimated to new surroundings, as well as make new friends. Relocation turns into a more stressful event when the move consists of a new home with a different environment. Such is the case for residents of an assisted living facility. Part of the stress generated is caused by fear of the unknown. At our senior living center in Idaho Falls, our staff removes the veil called fear of the unknown by explaining what assisted living is for seniors.

What is Assisted Living?

According to the Administration for Community Living, nearly 60 percent of older adults in the United States can expect to live in some type of long-term care environment. Assisted living represents the most common type of long-term care living arrangement, but most people do not understand what defines this type of retirement community in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

An assisted living environment is an arrangement for older adults who want to remain as independent as possible, but require non-medical assistance and help with the activities associated with daily living. A licensed caregiver helps an assisted living resident with activities associated with daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and maintaining healthy hygiene. Assisted living residents typically pay a flat monthly fee for renting an apartment, as well as an additional fee that is calculated according to the level of care provided by the assisted living facility.

Assisted living residents have access to common areas like the dining and entertainment rooms. Other common areas where residents interact with each other include a pool, a library, and an activities room. Retirement communities in Idaho Falls differ in the services offered, from basic daily meals and activities to luxurious accommodations that include bars and spas. Assisted living facilities in Idaho Falls typically have a staff on-site 24 hours a day, with an advanced security system to ensure the utmost safety for residents.

What Are the Benefits of an Assisted Living Facility?

An assisted living facility allows residents to continue living an independent lifestyle that is somewhat modified. A resident might live with a chronic health condition that requires monitoring, as well as live with memory loss and/or mobility issues. Residents do not have to worry about repair and maintenance issues, which they do have to worry about while living independently in a home or apartment.

One of the greatest benefits of living at an assisted living facility in Idaho Falls is to prevent the development of loneliness and isolation. Many residents have lost a spouse and the ensuing period has caused them to feel alone, which often triggers negative mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Research data accumulated over decades of work indicates loneliness and isolation are bad for mental, cognitive, and physical health. The presence of other residents combined with opportunities to interact with other residents throughout each day helps residents maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Learn More About What is Assisted Living in Idaho Falls

At MorningStar of Idaho Falls, we offer all three services that are associated with senior living centers: Independent, assisted, and memory care. This makes us the ideal place for older adults to call home. Our mission “to honor, to value, to invest” showcases the commitment to Christian principles in the daily operation of our retirement community in Idaho Falls. Find out why MorningStar properties receive

Is Your Elderly Parent Doing Well Living on Their Own?

February 16, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you noticed a change in mom or dad or another loved one during a recent visit from out of town, you are not alone. Experts say when families spend time together after a prolonged separation many adult children realize their parents are not doing as well as they thought they were living on their own.

Some of the most obvious signs a parent is having problems caring for him or herself is an unintended loss of weight, change in grooming habits or signs of a fall. The ADLs or Activities of Daily Living are used by experts to evaluate the needs of a person and include personal care such as bathing, dressing and toileting as well as transferring (ability to get in and out of bed or chair), continence and eating.

Other important signs a person is no longer doing well on their own and could benefit from some sort of assistance are based on what experts call the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These include things like paying bills, taking care of their home, preparing and cooking meals, being able to get out of the home, and socializing.

At MorningStar at West San Jose we offer assisted living and memory care. Our assisted living is designed to provide the services residents need to maintain their independence with 24/7 care managers, medication management, access to licensed nurses and more. Moreover, all residents are treated to a delicious, healthy restaurant-style dining service, wellness programs and activities, and sponsored community outings and events.

Our beautiful home has assisted living suites in a range of floor plans including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom. In addition, we offer respite care, (short recuperative stays) or trial stays from one week up to a full month to see if we are a good fit. For trusted senior living in San Jose, we encourage you to consider MorningStar.

Assisted Living at MorningStar’s Community in San Jose

February 12, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you are a senior or have a parent or other loved one that needs more daily help to ensure their safety and wellbeing, it may be time to consider an assisted living community. When you begin your search, please add MorningStar at West San Jose to the top of your list. Our beautiful community borders Saratoga, Los Gatos and Cupertino and is convenient for medical facilities, shopping and restaurants as well as recreational areas.

Too often seniors worry that moving into assisted living will result in a loss of independence and freedom. They are afraid that assisted living communities are cold, institutional places that feel more like a hospital or nursing home. Moreover, many mistakenly believe it will mean a loss of privacy and the ability to make their own decisions. At MorningStar at West San Jose, this could not be further from the truth.

What sets MorningStar apart from other senior living in the area? Along with spacious private suites in a range of configurations and floor plans, a whole host of amenities, and five-star dining, our community also provides care services that help our assisted living residents maintain their sense of independence and dignity.

As we define health and well-being holistically and offer services and programming that supports the whole person: body, mind and spirit, we believe it makes MorningStar a destination for successful aging. In addition, we have a staff that feels it is a privilege to care for seniors and believes in our core values of love, respect, honesty, fairness, goodness, and kindness.

In fact, our goal is to provide a true home for our residents by creating a MorningStar family that includes residents and their families as well as our team members. In addition to our 69 suites for assisted living, our community has 34 suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please contact us to learn more about our amenities, care services, availability and pricing.

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. Visit our website for more information about the finest senior living in San Jose, CA.

Gift Ideas for Someone with Memory Impairment

February 09, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

If you want to get something special for mom or dad or another loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related disease, it can be challenging to figure out a good gift. This is where the Internet can lend a hand with a range of items designed to enhance your loved one’s quality of life.

Dementia care specialists say it can take a little more time and some creativity but there are many great gift ideas. One idea is personalized gifts or memory-filled ones. A photo album filled with pictures of the person surrounded by people important to them, or a picture book from a place they loved to visit. A coffee mug personalized with a photo or a cozy throw filled with favorite family pictures are also good ideas.

Music from their younger years, show tunes and old movies are sure to make them smile and can be a good way to spend an afternoon together listening to their new gifts. Coloring books filled with pictures of things they love such as animals or flowers, and a set of new markers or crayons, and easy-to-do crafts are also fun to do together.

Another item targeted to people with Alzheimer’s or dementia is therapy stuffed animals. Designed to meet their special needs, one example is a teddy bear that comes with a few classic songs but has room to load a person’s favorite tunes (up to a 1,000 songs). Cuddly robotic cat and dog stuffed animals have a calming, soothing effect on people in the middle and later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows they can help the person remember a time in their life when their purpose included caring for others.

Along with assisted living, MorningStar at West San Jose provides compassionate and loving care to those suffering from memory impairment. The Reflections Neighborhood is meticulously designed to accommodate the special needs of memory care residents, allowing them as much independence as possible. Our specially-trained care team understands that the essence of the person still exists despite the memory loss, and will strive every day to connect with and nurture that essence. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

3 Things to Look for in an Assisted Living Home to Encourage Senior Independence

February 02, 2024 by MorningStar Senior Living in Assisted Living

When it’s time to start considering assisted living care for your elderly parent, spouse or loved one, there are a few things to keep in mind. As we’re sure you’re aware, deciding on a senior living community is no easy feat. You are likely taking multiple preferences into account. While staying mindful of the things best for you, your family and your loved one, consider these 3 things to look for in assisted living Portland that you may not be aware of.

Find an Assisted Living Facility that Promotes Independence

While your loved one may need added help, care and attention completing tasks and chores, they still want to feel independent and self-sufficient. It’s important to find a senior living community in Portland that promotes senior identity and autonomy.

Assisted living facilities that encourage independence might have more activities and events for seniors to attend, encouraging them to get out of their rooms and socialize with their neighbors while completing crafts and games.
Retirement homes with easily accessible amenities make it easier for seniors to complete the things that are important to them. If your loved one gets their hair cut once a month, an on-site salon promotes autonomy by allowing seniors in assisted living to continue their regular routines and maintenance with some guidance and supervision. Likewise, senior living facilities provide on-site fitness centers, movie theaters, bistros, gardens, convenience markets or coffee shops.
Assisted Living communities with highly skilled and knowledgeable caretakers promote better independence among seniors. These equipped professionals know how to navigate the changing needs of seniors in assisted living care and how to mitigate frustration and emotional challenges. Caretakers want to see seniors be successful. At MorningStar Senior Living Portland, caretakers and staff encourage seniors to be their authentic selves.

Find the Best Retirement Homes Portland, Oregon, Has to Offer

We have an unmatched commitment to the well-being of our assisted living residents at MorningStar at Laurelhurst. We offer round-the-clock support for their activities of daily living (ADLs), empowering them to maintain their independence. With compassion, our care managers provide medication management and access to licensed nurses. Our retirement communities are thoughtfully crafted with luxury amenities, hospitality services, and wellness programs that nurture new interests, hobbies, and individual needs.