The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report in 2015 that states 25 percent of all American women aged 65 years or older suffer from osteoporosis. They found that in men over 65 years, it is closer to 6 percent. Since anyone with osteoporosis is more at risk for dangerous fractures, it is important for seniors to be aware of whether they suffer from the condition.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Healthy bones look like a honeycomb when viewed under a microscope, but for those with osteoporosis, the holes and spaces in the honeycombs are much larger and the abnormal porous bone is compressible or sponge-like. As the bones lose density or mass and are made up of more abnormal tissue structure, the bones become less dense, weaken and more likely to break. Healthy, strong bone is composed of protein, collagen and calcium. Osteopenia is the term used when a person’s bones are slightly less dense than normal bones but are not considered as severely compromised as those with osteoporosis. Thankfully it is easy to evaluate a person’s risk of fracture with a painless X-ray absorptiometry test (also called DXA or DEXA). The noninvasive test measures the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip or total body bone density and only takes about 10 to 20 minutes. Health care professionals recommend a bone mineral density test for all postmenopausal women with risk factors and all women 65 or older. Men should be tested at age 70 or at age 50-69 based on risk factors. The test lets you and your doctor know if you have normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia) or osteoporosis, and if there appears to be a problem, what steps to take to help prevent broken bones in the future. If you are taking osteoporosis medications, professionals advise having a bone density test by central DXA annually or once every two years to determine if your medication is working. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents. We invite you to drop in to our Information Center or give us a call to learn more about our exceptional community. Sources:webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20150813/1-in-4-senior-women-in-us-has-osteoporosis-cdc nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/
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Senior living communities such as MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia are a popular option for many older adults and offer a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. At our all-inclusive community, we strive to meet seniors’ physical, emotional, spiritual and wellness needs within a comfortable, secure setting.
Assisted living is an excellent solution for older adults who are finding it increasingly difficult to live alone. MorningStar offers various levels of assistance with daily living activities which are tailored to meet individual needs. Our Wellness Director carefully assesses each person and then creates a care plan in agreement with the senior and their family. Also, as we offer 24/7 care, you know you or your loved one will get the attention they need. Memory care is another term for dementia care and is intended for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia-related diseases. MorningStar’s memory care is delivered with the utmost professionalism and respect for the individual. We use alternative natural therapies whenever possible, and try to replace medications with patience, attention and love. MorningStar at Arcadia is committed to creating a true home for our residents with a quality of life unmatched by other assisted living communities. Along with our beautiful suites, our community has warm and inviting common areas that are perfect to sit and enjoy the day while chatting with friends. These include a large, relaxing outdoor courtyard, complete with fireplace and fountain and as well as a general store, bistro, theatre, chapel, library and more. To experience our community up close, contact us to schedule a visit. MorningStar at Arcadia’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living in Phoenix AZ. Research has shown that people with dementia benefit physically, emotionally, socially and mentally from a connection between humans and animals. Whether they are a furry, feathery or scaly friend, it appears that animals have the ability to trigger memories of a person’s past animals and to help them feel more at ease.
In numerous studies, therapeutic animals have drastically improved dementia symptoms and helped to combat anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression and loneliness. Experts say that as you “cuddle, stroke and talk to an animal, your body releases endorphins as well as other feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, prolactin and dopamine. This helps lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and foster a sense of calm and joy.” Many people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia lose the ability to initiate and maintain social relationships as the disease progresses. Dr. Mara Baun, a professor and associate dean for research at the UNMC College of Nursing has extensively studied the psychological benefits pets provide to those with Alzheimer's disease. In her research, she found that when a therapy dog visited patients with dementia, residents were less “disoriented, wandered less and were less likely to be aggressive.” Dr. Baun says that dogs are the classic example of an animal’s unconditional love and therapy dogs offer a missing element of physical and social contact. In fact therapy dogs will approach a resident with dementia regardless of their physical or mental deterioration. They provide a distraction from the person’s agitation as the dogs allow the person to pet, hug and interact with them. At MorningStar of Sparks, we strongly believe in the power of animals’ unconditional love and periodically bring in animals to visit with our memory care residents. Every day our house dog Willow, an adorable Godden Doodle, brings a smile to residents and staff alike. In addition to our loving, compassionate memory care, MorningStar of Sparks also offers independent and assisted living, and in case you wondered, we are a pet friendly community. Please visit our website to learn more. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “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 Sparks NV. Source: caring.com/articles/pet-therapy-dementia One essential thing that sets MorningStar apart from other senior living communities is our unique approach to service. At MorningStar of Santa Fe, all of our new team members will be trained in our proprietary service program known as “Radiance.” The program is much more than just a way to offer customer service to our residents but rather our brand standard of Service Excellence.
The very essence of Radiance begins in a deep and sincere place, much like a beam of light, and celebrates an attitude of selflessness. The program provides us with a tangible and purposeful way to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others and is the basis for how we dispense service - through warmth, sincerity and depth. Along with introducing the program to each new team member, we also will be reiterating and strengthening the program’s concepts during daily short meetings called the “Huddle.” In 2003, MorningStar was founded on the premise that the company will operate with “servants’ hearts” and the Radiance program gives us the framework that enables us to take our service professionalism to the next level. We recognize that the heart of each MorningStar community rests in the quality of our caregivers, which is why we hire individuals who have a calling to serve seniors and understand the importance of their contribution. MorningStar of Santa Fe’s goal is to have a compassionate and caring team with a ready smile for our residents as well as the time to listen to a story and lend a helping hand where needed. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about Santa Fe’s newest and most assuredly the best assisted living and memory care. MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents. We invite you to drop in to our Information Center or give us a call to learn more about our exceptional community. MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia emphatically agrees with the Alzheimer’s Association about the importance of visiting your loved one in a memory care community. While it can be hard to see your parent or family member struggling with memory loss, many times they are aware that they have a visitor even if they do not know your name.
The Alzheimer’s Association wants you to remember that you are an important link to your loved one’s identity and to keep in mind that there is more to them than just their memory. They recommend keeping visits simple and to try to limit distractions and excess noise. In addition they remind visitors that they may have to adjust their expectations and to not take it personally if your loved one becomes angry or upset with you. It is also helpful to know as much about the disease as you can as it will help you to better understand the struggles of memory loss. Jolene Brackey also shares some tips from her book, Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer’s Disease, to help family members when visiting. She suggests you begin your visit by introducing yourself, and to use their given name rather than calling them “mom” or “dad” as they may have forgotten that their kids are already grown. If your loved one has a familiar nickname, you can use that. Ms. Brackey also recommends that you visit “one on one” or in small groups, and to bring the conversation around to pleasant memories from their past. If you do get them talking, give them plenty of time to respond to a question or to follow directions. MorningStar at Arcadia reminds family members that a new voice is always a welcome change and a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers can lift the spirits of someone struggling with dementia. Your friendly, loving visit can have a positive effect on your loved one for the rest of the day. MorningStar at Arcadia’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living in Phoenix AZ. Source: alz.org/stl/documents/Visiting_Your_Loved_One.pdf Adult children are often surprised to discover that a parent is not doing well and that they may require additional assistance to ensure their continued safety and comfort. According to the experts, there are several sign to look for to help determine if assisted living is the right answer for your mom or dad.
The website Caring.com recommends that you consider assisted living if your elderly parent has recently experienced a fall or has had a medical emergency and did not receive the immediate help they required. Also it may be time to think about it if they suffer from chronic health problems that are getting progressively worse such as COPD, congestive heart failure or dementia? Furthermore, do they take a long time to recover from an illness? Other indications that your loved one is not getting the care they need at home are signs of weight loss and a more frail appearance or if they are neglecting their personal hygiene and are not as well-groomed as they used to be? It may simply be that preparing meals and taking care of day-to-day personal activities have become too difficult for them. An empty refrigerator, stacks of unopened mail, and new dents in the car could all be warning signs that your parent would benefit from having more assistance. Another advantage to assisted living is that it can also provide your loved one with social activities and companionship. Often seniors live alone, and as many stop driving, they do not get out on their own. Assisted living communities provide seniors with an opportunity to live comfortably and securely as well as to enjoy a range of activities and the company of others. We encourage you to plan a visit to MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque to discover the lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community we offer. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Albuquerque, “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 schedule a tour and see for yourself our exceptional community. Sources:helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/assisted-living-facilities.htm caring.com/articles/signs-its-time-for-assisted-living Experts agree that walking is beneficial to seniors’ health as it can stop bone mass loss, strengthen leg and abdominal muscles, and improve circulation by helping to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk for heart disease. Walking can also lead to weight loss or help to maintain your weight, help you sleep better, increase your mental sharpness, and improve balance and stability. It can even increase your lifespan. However, if you have not exercised in a while, doctors recommend you start slowly and only gradually increase your distance and pace.
If you let your health care provider know you are going to start walking, they can help you determine a safe starting point. From the onset you may only be able to walk a block, but over time, you will be able to go farther and should start noticing benefits fairly quickly. Additionally, experts say even if you need a cane or a walker to safely move about, don’t let that stop you from walking, just take it with you. Also wear properly fitted comfortable shoes that provide good arch support. If you have foot problems, talk to your doctor about orthopedic shoes. Remember do not overexert yourself. Walk at a safe pace and keep in mind that the most important thing is to just get started. For your safety, tuck your cell phone into a pocket that you can easy get to if the need arises and stay hydrated. To help keep you motivated, walk with a buddy or join a walking group. At MorningStar of Sparks, we wholeheartedly agree that exercise is important for seniors and residents can walk on the grounds as well as participate in other scheduled exercise classes or use the well-equipped fitness room. Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community, activities and programs, and our wide range of amenities. Please consult your health care provider before starting any type of exercise. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “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 Sparks NV. |
MorningStar
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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