Memory Care – Page 4 – MorningStar Senior Living

Memory Care at Colorado Springs’ MorningStar at Bear Creek

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 at Bear Creek, we provide compassionate memory care assisted living with all the amenities and services to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of residents.

As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” 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.

An important aspect of our program is to provide plenty of recreational activities such as singing and making music, dance, art, and fitness classes. To ensure our residents’ safety and well-being, services include daily health monitoring and around-the-clock staffing as well as suites with handicap-accessible bathrooms and 24-hour emergency call systems.

Mealtimes at Bear Creek are as much about Community as they are about Nutrition, with residents and team members eating together. Family style meals allow team members to encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating. In addition, much of our food is modified out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised eating abilities and includes finger foods, texture-modified diets and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.

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. Please contact us or visit our website to learn more about trusted memory care in Colorado Springs.

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 for more information about the finest memory care assisted living in Colorado Springs.

Trusted Memory Care at MorningStar of Billings

At MorningStar Senior Living of Billings, we offer residents a warm and welcoming home to safely age in place with the added benefit of several neighborhoods under one roof. This includes 32 cottages and 72 suites for independent living along with 70 stylish suites for assisted living in a variety of floorplans and configurations. Fully equipped, all you need to bring are your furnishings and personal treasures; and yes, we are pet friendly.

For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, we provide suites and can lovingly care for individuals from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. While a secure area, our Reflections Neighborhood encourages independence with clear wayfinding and inviting common areas including a secure courtyard. For residents’ safety, suites are equipped with emergency call systems and handicap-accessible bathrooms. Other amenities include housekeeping and laundry services as well as scheduled transportation for doctor’s appointments and special outings.

Memory care in our Reflections Neighborhood begins with a high staff to resident ratio. All team members are trained in our “Lavender Sky” program that encompasses our philosophy and approach. This training gives employees a better understanding of the disease and more tools for effective, compassionate treatments. In addition, residents receive daily health monitoring with access to licensed nurses and other third-party service providers.

Meals are attractively served, and tasty as well as nutritional. Many foods are easily eaten with fingers to accommodate those who may have trouble using a fork and knife. In addition, our wellness programs keep residents purposefully engaged and leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy and animals to heal and comfort whatever the extent of memory loss.

Once a family decides MorningStar is a good fit, we start the process to learn as much as we can about your loved one’s background, talents and personal preferences using a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” This allows us to create a specialized, individualized service plan that calms or stimulates as each unique situation suggests. Contact us for more information about compassionate and loving memory care in Billings, MT.

MorningStar of Billings’ foundation is based on the mission to honor God, value seniors and invest in our staff to create a unique senior living experience. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide exceptional independent living, assisted living and memory care. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar’s Assisted Living in Billings

After making the move into assisted living, many residents are surprised at how full their lives become. And despite their fears about losing their independence by moving into a senior community, most are pleased to discover that by getting the assistance they need, they are more ready than ever to lead productive lives.

At MorningStar of Billings, our assisted living offers five levels of care. Your level of care will be determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with you and your extended family. For your safety, each assisted living suite is equipped with a handicapped-accessible bathroom and emergency call system and is smartly designed to accommodate the various needs of our residents. Assisted living also includes housekeeping and laundry services, trash removal and full access to all onsite amenities.

Our holistic approach to senior living creates an atmosphere filled with love, care and compassion. We also recognize that it is important for our residents to continue learning and contributing, which is why we offer such a wide range of meaningful wellness programs and activities that engage the mind, body, and spirit.

In addition, many elderly adults who live alone find meal prep to be difficult and often resort to frozen meals or fast food. When living in our beautiful community, you can sit back and enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors while you are served beautifully prepared meals restaurant-style. Moreover, if you are a senior who no longer drives, we take care of that with scheduled transportation.

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Billings offers independent living, memory care, respite stays and trial stays to see if we are a good fit. Please contact us for more information. Not only is our team happy to answer any questions but our website provides information on our community as well as our company’s history, vision, and mission.

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 independent living, assisted living and memory care in Billings, MT.

Loneliness Can Lead to Poor Physical and Mental Health

A UCSF Division of Geriatrics study found 43 percent of seniors report regularly experiencing loneliness. Mayo clinic psychologist, Dr. Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D., explains why this can be a problem. He says as “social animals by nature; we tend to function better when we’re in a community setting and being around others.”

Several studies report a link between social isolation and an increased risk of disease, including one from the Academy of Science, which found loneliness can lead to higher rates of poor physical and mental health. Health concerns for isolated adults include hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, depression, anxiety and Alzheimer’s disease.

It becomes harder for seniors who live alone to socialize as they get into their upper 70s or 80s as many stop driving and/or suffer from chronic health problems affecting their mobility. Other contributing issues to loneliness in the elderly may include the death of a spouse or close family members and friends.

To emphasize how important socialization is for older adults, the American Public Health Association explains the most effective way for seniors to improve their health is to increase socialization. They report “socialization improves mood, cognition, memory recall, and is associated with healthy behaviors, including exercise.”

At MorningStar of Fort Collins, our goal is to promote physical, intellectual, spiritual and social wellbeing. We provide everything seniors need for quality of life and to age in place safely and comfortably. Along with luxury amenities, and care and hospitality services; our signature wellness programs and activities are designed to engage and encourage residents to live fully productive lives.

In addition to memory care and assisted living in Fort Collins, our beautiful community offers respite care (short recuperative stays) or trial stays (up to a full month) so you can see if we are a good fit. Please contact us today for more information about outstanding senior living at MorningStar.

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 memory care and assisted living Fort Collins has to offer.

Source: seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/the-mental-health-benefits-of-socializing-for-seniors/

Facts About Living Wills

Many times people put off creating a living will, also known as a health care power of attorney, because they don’t understand how important it is to have one; or they fear they are giving up too much control over their life. The medical community explains the reason you need one is to ensure you get the type of care you want when you can no longer speak for yourself.

The Harvard Medical School says before you create a living will there are a few things to consider including separating fact from fiction. To start with, think about what quality of life means to you. Sometimes having extraordinary measures taken to save your life doesn’t factor in where such treatments will leave you. Having a living will can help guide your medical team on just such decisions.

Some people worry if they choose to refuse certain life-sustaining medical treatments to prolong life even when death is inevitable that it will invalidate their life insurance policy. Medical professionals explain there is no reason to worry as the recorded cause of death will be from the person’s underlying medication condition. Another common concern is if medical treatment is started, it can’t be stopped. This too is not true as treatment plans can always be updated and revised to address current circumstances.

Medical professionals want patients to know treatment can be started or stopped. Even if you refuse certain life sustaining treatments, it does not mean you won’t get other types of treatment such as intensive comfort care to help manage pain and symptoms.

Seniors especially should be aware a recent new directive has pretty much replaced a DNR (do not resuscitate), which only gives EMS permission to not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A POLST (physician orders for life-sustaining treatment) can include a DNR as well as provide more instruction regarding medical interventions such as intubation, antibiotic use and feeding tubes. Talk to your medical provider to learn more.

At MorningStar of Fort Collins, we offer residents carefree retirement years with a range of hospitality and care services, luxury amenities and a complement of wellness programs and activities. In addition, our all-day dining service includes healthy, delicious meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef.

Located on the southeast side of the city and convenient to medical facilities and other services, MorningStar of Fort Collins offers 55 suites for assisted living in a variety of floor plans. Additionally, the Reflections Neighborhood has 24 suites devoted to specialized dementia care for residents with memory impairment.

Tai Chi is a Popular Low-Impact Exercise

Harvard Health restates a classic text that says tai chi will help you become “Strong as an oak, flexible as a willow, and [mentally] clear as still water.” The ancient Chinese tradition is based in the martial arts; and is a popular low-impact exercise involving slow movements and breath. Experts say tai chi is suitable for people of all ages including seniors and offers numerous benefits.

Tai chi’s mind-body exercises consist of slow, flowing, and choreographed movements that provide many people a sense of calm, which is why it is often referred to as mediation in motion, or medication in motion. Its movements focus on control as well as slowing down and relaxing muscles to allow the body to move more freely. Harvard Health says for those in their 60s, 70, 80s and beyond, “tai chi’s restorative powers can help you age more gracefully and function at a higher level than those who don’t practice.”

Other known benefits include offering relief from common ailments such back, neck and arthritis pain, and fibromyalgia as well as reducing the risk of heart disease. One study reports older adults who practiced tai chi one to three times a week had better balance and were 43% less likely to fall, and cut their risk of injury in half. In addition, research suggests tai chi improves mood and is an effective treatment for depression. It may also help reduce age-related cognitive decline and slow dementia.

For outstanding independent or assisted living, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Billings, a true destination for successful aging. Our beautiful community is all-inclusive, boasting a dining service under the direction of our Executive Chef, wellness programs and activities, luxury amenities and care services. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood provides individualized memory care to residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please contact us for information on our community as well as pricing and availability.

MorningStar’s foundation is based on the mission to honor God, value seniors and invest in our staff to create a unique senior living experience. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care in Billings, MT. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar at Bear Creek Offers Experienced Memory Care

MorningStar at Bear Creek is proud to offer experienced memory care in Colorado Springs. Our parent company, MorningStar Senior Living, operates senior living communities in eleven states. This means MorningStar at Bear Creek benefits from the extensive knowledge and expertise our company has gained in their 20 years of operation regarding all facets of senior living, including a deep understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.

MorningStar has earned a reputation as trusted dementia care specialists, and we feel it is our calling to provide care to our special residents. By devoting our entire community to memory care, residents have the independence to safely move about their expansive surroundings. To ensure our residents’ safety and well-being, services include daily health monitoring and around-the-clock staffing as well as a secure courtyard and strolling paths to allow them to enjoy being outdoors.

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.

Our holistic approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia. Providing loving support for our residents, we enter with insight and intentionality as we step into their “purple world” and cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. We also feel it is our job to help support our residents’ families. Along with education, we show them how to follow our lead and enter into the world of their loved ones.

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 memory care Colorado Springs offers.

Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

Most of us are familiar with the forgetfulness and confusion Alzheimer’s disease causes. Especially in the early stages, family and friends start noticing the person is constantly repeating themselves and/or forgetting where they put things. However, experts say there are other commonly occurring signs of a serious problem.

One of those early warning signs can be having trouble navigating and even getting lost in familiar places. A decline in spatial awareness as well as vision problems can cause a person in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to become confused in new places and have trouble identifying objects and people.

Spatial and visual issues may include looking at an object and not seeing it clearly for what it is. Examples could be a person sees a blue floor as water or a dark spot in a rug as a hole in the floor. They may be unable to tell if their house is to the left of them or to judge distances accurately. Some people may mistake their child for their spouse or another relative.

These misconceptions and misidentifications are caused by damage to the neurons, which are “cells in your brain that communicate with each other and with the rest of your body. Alzheimer’s causes damage to neurons.” Researchers say they are not sure if the problems are due to impairment to the spatial reasoning part of the brain or damage to the temporal and parietal lobes.

There are things caregivers can do to help a person navigate their surroundings more easily such as removing clutter from the person’s living space and labeling items. Keeping things in the same place is another helpful tip as habit is a strong instinct. IF you are out with the person and they look confused or frightened, stop what you are doing, and calmly explain where you are as well as listen to their perspective of what they are feeling.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we specialize in providing individualized memory care assisted living for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Our community is equipped to care for residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Every aspect of our community caters to those with memory impairment with purposeful activities, trained caregivers, easy-to-eat meals, security and more. Visit our website for more information about our loving home and our company’s approach to care.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting. Please visit our website for more information about exceptional memory care assisted living in Colorado Springs.

Source: alzheimersdisease.net/symptoms/visual-spatial-problems

Assisted Living at MorningStar of Fort Collins

MorningStar of Fort Collins’ goal is to provide the best assisted living Fort Collins, CO offers, and we understand that deciding which community is right for you is a big step for a senior. This is why we encourage interested families to give us a call to discuss any questions you may have and to inquire about availability. In addition, our website is filled with lots of pertinent information regarding amenities, services, floorplans, and more.

Our website even has a dedicated page for FAQs under our “First Steps” tab. Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions such as age requirements (in our assisted living and memory care suites, you must be at least 55 years old). You will also discover important information on how a resident’s level of care is determined and our pricing structure.

FAQs include practical queries such as, yes, we will help you find a physician if you need one whether it is a primary care doctor or a specialty healthcare provider like an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist. And yes, we do provide transportation to doctor appointments as needed, and our transportation vehicles can accommodate a walker or wheelchair.

You and your family may also want to know about the type of training our staff receives, and we go over that too. Care Managers complete an orientation program (including a three-day shadow), Radiance culture training, 8-hour dementia training, and ongoing training in specific care needs. Each of our Medication Managers (QMAPs) is additionally trained in medication administration.

FAQs go over senior housing options such as Companion Living that allows two unrelated adults of the same sex to share a suite, and of course, married couples are welcome! MorningStar of Fort Collins also offers short-term stays based on availability that allows someone to get an idea of whether senior living is right for them.

Please visit our website for more information and if you like what you see, contact us to set up a tour. 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 to learn more about the finest assisted living Fort Collins, CO has to offer.

Is a Loved One Having Serious Memory Problems?

If your mom or dad or another loved one is having serious memory problems, we have some suggestions to help you navigate through this trying time. Medical experts recommend doing some research on Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, to educate yourself on how the disease is diagnosed, stages of the disease, and some of what your family can expect if it is. You may want to visit websites such as the Alzheimer’s Association as well as online support groups for family members dealing with the disease for suggestions on how to best prepare and support your parents.

Also, remember it may not be dementia as there are medical conditions, reactions to medications, and nutritional and hormonal issues that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Therefore, you need to sit down and have a talk with your parents about the problems they are having and the need to make an appointment with their healthcare provider for a full medical exam.

Experts say when you are ready to have the “conversation,” be honest and try to keep your voice calm. Pick a time and place where you will not be interrupted and be sure to include in your homework different care options in case they ask. Also, be ready to talk less and listen more as they may have also been worried about some of the changes they have been experiencing. However, keep in mind it is common for a person to be confused, in denial, and/or withdraw.

At MorningStar of Fort Collins, we understand a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another dementia related disease is devastating, and we want area families to know we are here to help shoulder the burden. Every aspect of our Reflections Neighborhood caters to our most tender residents with purposeful activities, trained caregivers, food service, and security. Our comprehensive care also includes assisting families to better understand and cope with the disease. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about exceptional memory care or assisted living in Fort Collins, CO.

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 memory care and assisted living Fort Collins offers.