The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports if you are lucky enough to live a long life, along the way, you will develop cataracts. While it may not get to the point of requiring surgery, they say everyone eventually has them. However, while cataracts are the most common age-related eye condition, they are also the leading cause of preventable blindness.
So how do you know you have cataracts or if it is time for surgery? Ophthalmologists explain the most accurate way to keep track of your eye health is to get regular eye exams; but there are some signs you can look out for on your own. One of the top changes you may notice is more difficulty driving at night. Cataracts make it much harder to see in the dark. Reading may also become difficult as you find yourself needing brighter and brighter light in order to focus on the page. Other symptoms can include seeing everything through a slightly tinted yellow or brown hue; or experiencing halos around light sources such as headlights or streetlights. Some cataracts can cause double vision, and between seeing halos and double vision make night driving especially dangerous. Experts say if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please make an appointment to have your eyes checked. If surgery is recommended, remember every year an estimated 3.7 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice for a speedy recovery. Your eyes will be frail for several weeks afterward but most people have little to no pain and experience good vision almost immediately. For outstanding memory care or assisted living in Albuquerque, NM, we encourage you to consider MorningStar. MorningStar of Albuquerque offers a true home for residents with all the amenities and services needed for their comfort, wellbeing and safety. Please visit our website for more information. While you are there, use our Community Assistant (lower right-hand corner) to inquire about availability and pricing or to request a tour to see firsthand our beautiful assisted living community. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your eyesight. 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 Albuquerque, NM offers. Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7812090/
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Worrying about the cost of senior living care for yourself, a parent, or a loved one is normal. Changing living arrangements can cause significant stress for seniors and their families. If you are considering all-inclusive senior living options, you may also be wondering about hidden fees or unexpected costs that you won’t be aware of until after moving.
MorningStar Sparks offers some of the most cost-effective senior living options Nevada has to offer for those looking for assisted living and senior living near them. By having specialized levels of care and partnering with financial services, MorningStar in Sparks, Nevada, can offer quality financial advice and support to families needing trusted retirement living. MorningStar retirement homes provide top-quality care that is easily accessible to seniors looking for reliable senior living and assisted living. When debating on the affordability of this living arrangement, just know that our communities believe that seniors deserve exceptional care and support, illustrated through our numerous financial resources, like ElderLife Financial Services. The equity built up in an individual’s private home is typically a retiree’s most significant asset. Selling a home is the usual route individuals take when they decide to move to senior living, as it is the most profitable. It is more than likely that the house will be empty, or those still residing within will be ready to downsize. While selling a home is the quickest way to make senior living affordable, it can take time to accomplish promptly. MorningStar has partnered with ElderLife Financial Services to assist families in the senior living transition. Elderlife offers access to real estate professionals and other resources to help with cleaning, packing, listing, and selling. While selling a home is one way to move to a retirement community, some seniors have other options. MorningStar senior living in Nevada offers various payment options, including private pay, which can be possible through savings, income, or investments. Still, payment is also possible through long-term insurance and veterans’ benefits. Contact us today if you want to know about the best senior living community with built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, and modern memory care Nevada has to offer. MorningStar Senior Living Retirement Homes in Sparks, Nevada, takes care of the worry and stress of aging, allowing seniors more time to do the things they love. To learn more about MorningStar’s Senior Living in Reno, contact our staff, who are happy to answer any questions. Our website also provides information on our company’s history and vision and what sets us apart from other retirement facilities in Nevada. We encourage you to see the most exceptional and dependable memory care Sparks, Nevada, offers. If you have become responsible for more and more of the caregiving duties of an elderly parent or another loved one, it may be time to consider a change. Today’s senior living options include assisted living that provides daily help with personal care, and actually helps residents regain their sense of independence. Also, once your loved one is getting the proper care they need, it allows you to get back to just enjoying the time you spend together. Moreover, assisted living communities like MorningStar of Albuquerque provide much more than just physical care. Along with a wealth of amenities, activities and services, it is designed to feel like a real home.
Our priority is to ensure your loved one gets the care they need. This starts with a thorough evaluation of their medical and personal history, followed by a care plan approved by you and your parents. MorningStar’s services also help our families by providing transportation to doctor appointments as well as offer scheduled physician visits and supportive services from third-party providers including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Residents have the opportunity for plenty of socializing and are encouraged to participate in a range of activities and wellness programs. While this is not a substitute for the time your loved one spends with family, you may find your mom or dad is not always available to take your call as they are busy having fun with other residents and staff. Our services also include providing housekeeping to help ensure residents’ homes are tidy and clean. By taking care of meals, we see to it your loved one gets the daily nutrition they need. Moreover, meals are served restaurant-style in our lovely dining room as we believe breaking bread together provides far more than physical nutrients but bonds us as family and friends. We also offer assistance with another common problem many seniors experience when living alone, which is forgetting to or improperly taking medications. We solve this by offering medication management services. Please contact us for more information regarding exceptional senior living in Albuquerque, NM. Our community offers 48 stylish suites for assisted living and 21 suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. 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. Visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque offers. MorningStar at Arcadia is more than just a place for a senior loved one to call home. Our caregivers also provide memory care services, which include being able to recognize the signs of cognitive decline. Recognizing the signs of cognitive decline in the earliest stage allows our caregivers to take steps that help our residents improve their cognitive skills,
Although everyone experiences some form of forgetfulness, a decline in cognitive skills goes well beyond the standard bad day when we forget something. Between 15 and 20 percent of seniors 65 and older live with some form of cognitive impairment. Symptoms of cognitive decline can remain stable or even improve over time. However, some cases of cognitive decline indicate the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s see how the caregivers at our assisted living facility in Phoenix recognize the signs of cognitive decline. Misplacing ItemsDoes a senior loved one frequently set an item down, walk a few steps away from the item, and then forget where the item is located? Misplacing things happen most often for common-use items such as room keys and wallets/purses. It can trigger an incredible amount of frustration that eventually morphs into a mental condition such as depression. Not only does misplacing items indicate one of the signs of cognitive decline, but it is also considered an especially worrisome sign when a senior places an item in an inappropriate location. For example, a senior who typically places the room keys on a coffee table starts placing the keys in strange locations like inside the freezer or under the bed. Difficulty Completing Ordinary TasksIt is one thing for a senior to have trouble solving a complex crossword or jigsaw puzzle. It is quite another thing for seniors to have difficulty completing routine daily tasks, such as cooking meals and grooming themselves. A senior loved one showing signs of cognitive decline cannot complete the same tasks they have completed all their lives. This also includes dressing and using the oven for baking. Speaking DifficultiesOne of the most noticeable signs of cognitive decline is when a senior begins to slur speech. Slurred speech indicates a disruption in the transmission of signals inside the brain. Speaking difficulties also include forgetting words and substituting words that have no place in a conversation. Seniors with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease also can blurt out words at the most inappropriate times and places. DisorientationAnother highly visible sign of cognitive decline concerns a senior who has trouble knowing the day of the week or getting lost while at a familiar place. Seniors suffering from cognitive decline can walk on a once familiar street, only to panic when they cannot remember how to return to the place where they started. Disorientation can turn into a dangerous sign of cognitive decline if not detected. A senior loved one can walk outside of an assisted living facility and wander off to a place the senior no longer recognizes. The MorningStar mission of “To honor, to value, to invest” includes providing the best memory care services. Our caregivers receive extensive training to detect the signs of cognitive decline, as well as implement steps that enhance brain performance. Connect with one of our caregivers to learn more about the highly-rated memory care services provided at our assisted living facility. One of the many reasons why seniors thrive at our senior living facility in Phoenix is the jam-packed calendar for daily, weekly, and monthly activities. MorningStar at Arcadia operates on the principle that an engaged senior is a senior who enjoys robust mental and physical health, as numerous research studies confirm the connection between an active senior and a healthy senior. Activities also improve resilience, as well as enhance memory and creativity.
The best strategy for staying mentally and physically active while living at a memory care facility in Phoenix involves picking up a hobby or two. According to Dictionary.com, a hobby is “an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure and relaxation.” The key to picking up a hobby is finding one that brings you joy, while at the same time giving you a purpose in life. You have many hobbies to choose from, with the following hobbies representing the easiest ones to pick up. Swimming The United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that older adults should strive to complete at least 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity aerobic activities. When you think of aerobic activities, you probably think of walking, hiking, and cycling. However, swimming is one of the most beneficial aerobic activities for enhancing your mental and physical health. The best part is that at an assisted living facility such as MorningStar at Arcadia, a senior has access to a swimming pool every day. Gardening Gardening requires physical exertion, but the most significant benefit of gardening concerns boosting mental health. This hobby has a calming, almost meditative effect that alleviates stress and anxiety. It also teaches seniors how to become more food self-sufficient, as well as eat fruits and vegetables that increase stamina and improve the functioning of the immune system. Gardening also represents a hobby that you can share with other members of our senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Genealogy You probably have watched at least one commercial promoting the services of a genealogy research company that provides the tools to trace a family’s history that goes back as far as several centuries. Learning your family’s roots can help you connect with a long-lost relative, as well as genealogists who can help you dig deeper into your background. All you need to get started with this hobby is Internet access and a keen interest in conducting investigative research. Birdwatching Invest in a pair of binoculars and a book that describes the birds native to your region, and you have acquired the essential tools to launch a bird-watching hobby. Discovering when and where seasonal birds migrate helps you establish a location to watch birds leave in fall, as well as come home to roost in spring. Birdwatching also is a great hobby for interacting with your peers and members of your family. You can teach your grandchildren how to watch birds and help them learn more about each species. Picking up one or more hobbies is an effective strategy for seniors to remain active while staying at the MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia facility in Phoenix. Established to build a foundation for honoring God, our senior living facility in Phoenix offers a warm, caring environment for a senior to call home. Learn more about our activities calendar at MorningStar at Arcadia by connecting with one of our staff members. The close relationship between a grandchild and a grandparent leaves behind memories that both cherish for a lifetime. From going on nature walks on sunny days to solving jigsaw puzzles on days when it rains, the bond between grandchildren and their grandparents is as strong of a bond as it gets.
One of the ways a grandparent connects with a grandchild, especially a younger one, involves reading books together. As a parent, you welcome the social and educational benefits that develop from your child reading with a grandparent. Research has discovered that reading to children of all ages enhances the communication skills of kids that they carry with them into adulthood. The question is not whether a grandparent should read to your child. Instead, the question is what children’s books can your senior loved one read to your child? At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia in Phoenix, Arizona, we provide our residents with a place to call home that welcomes guests such as grandchildren. With National Grandparents Day only a few months away on September 11, we have compiled a list of children’s books your senior loved can read to your children. A list of great books for kids includes timeless classics such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Pat the Bunny, as well as the entire Sesame Street collection. For our list, the books feature the close bond formed in grandchildren-grandparent relationships. Here Comes Grandma! This popular book follows the journey of a grandmother and her small dog that travel by car, horse, train, and even skis to see grandma’s grandchild. Written for grade school-age children, the book playfully highlights the positive trait of perseverance. Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa Winner of several literary awards in the children’s category, this book describes the special bond forged between grandchildren and grandparents. The book also addresses the issue of separation, as the lead character Emily deals with separation anxiety every time the visits with her grandparents end. Her grandparents explain to Emily how her imagination keeps the relationship close by remembering all the good times they spent together. Old Bear During winter when bears hibernate, Old Bear falls asleep and begins to dream of becoming a cub once again. Children enjoy the Old Bear’s vivid dreams and grandparents relate to Old Bear’s memories of his youth and the joy of waking on a beautiful spring day. Old Bear’s description of the four seasons offers an educational moment for your child, while your parent discusses what it is like to grow older. The Hello, Goodbye Window Children’s books that are told from a child’s perspective especially capture the attention of children. The young girl in this book tells the story of what happens when her grandparents babysit her. This book is perfect for grandchildren and their grandparents to read aloud together. Me with You Told in a simple rhyme, this book captures the close bond established between a granddaughter and her grandfather. It is a book dedicated to the positive influence grandfathers have on their grandchildren that is written in an appealing format for grandchildren of all ages “To honor, to value, to invest” is the mission statement at our senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Our loving home for seniors provides resort-style amenities surrounded by spectacular views of natural splendor. Learn more about MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia by connecting with one of our representatives. Summer is the time of year to spend much more time outdoors, but seniors must be careful not to overdo it. According to research, 40 percent of all heat-related deaths occur among seniors at least 65 years old. Seniors are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses for several reasons, including lower body water content and a compromised bodily heat detection system.
Keeping seniors adequately hydrated during the summer months is one of the many healthcare priorities of the caregivers at our senior living facility in Phoenix. Let’s look at five categories of beverages that do a great job of hydrating seniors, and at the same, deliver robust flavors that keep them coming back for more. Milkshakes Ice cream stands see lines form early in the day for their delectable selection of milkshakes. With milk and ice cream as the base ingredients, milkshakes come in a wide variety of flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. If a senior is lactose intolerant, our assisted living facility substitutes an ingredient like rice or almond milk. Adding nutritious fruits to a milkshake reduces the need to enhance the flavor profile with processed sugar. Smoothies With a consistency similar to milkshakes, smoothies eliminate the dairy component from their recipes. Instead, smoothies consist of much more fresh fruit that delivers crucial nutritional benefits such as vitamins A and C. Smoothies represent a refreshing way to hydrate during summer, especially for active seniors who spend time enjoying outdoor recreational activities like hiking and cycling. They also make ideal breakfast drinks to complement other dishes. Slushies Unlike milkshakes and smoothies, slushies consist of an ice base that eventually melts to provide water hydration for seniors. Slushies remain in liquid form by including fruit and non-sugary liquids in the recipe. Because of the significant percentage of ice, slushies withstand the heat of summer much better than the base ingredients of smoothies and milkshakes, which makes them the perfect beverage for serving at outdoor events. Fruit/Veggie Juice Freshly squeezed juices represent one of the most popular summer drinks for seniors. Without the need to add sugar or preservatives, juices offer the most nutritional option for hydrating a parched senior. Naturally high fructose fruits such as grapes, apples, and blueberries might require consumption moderation for seniors who live with certain medical conditions like diabetes. As a more savory version of fruit juices, veggie juices work well for seniors who require hydration, as well as enjoy the nutritional benefits offered by vegetables without having to chew them. Flavored Water Flavored waters contain the highest percentage of water than any of the other beverages on this list. This type of beverage is the right choice for seniors who want to be thoroughly hydrated, without increasing their calorie intake. For seniors that find fruit and vegetable juices to be too strong, flavored waters deliver the most neutral flavor profile. However, seniors with less sensitive taste buds might find it difficult to taste some of the milder flavors. Ensuring the strong health of our residents is one of the most important services provided by MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia. This includes providing our residents with the proper amount of hydration to maintain robust health. Phoenix is notorious for its super-hot summers when temperatures frequently soar above 100 degrees. Learn more about our senior living facility in Phoenix by connecting with a staff member. |
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MorningStar Senior Living offers assisted living, memory care and respite (short-term) care. Our communities have graciously-appointed assisted living suites, as well as beautiful and spacious private suites for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Morningstar Senior Living's award-winning architecture, together with amenities that foster a lifestyle of comfort and wellness, make our residents’ retirement years as carefree as possible. Our activities and programs are enriching, and our care services first-class, but what truly sets us apart from other senior living communities is the love beneath our roof. To experience firsthand the finest senior living in your area, contact us to schedule a tour. Archives
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