If you are starting to search for senior living, it is recommended that you take a tour of the community. While all the beautiful pictures online or in a brochure can make a community look great, firsthand impressions go a long way toward getting a real feel of the place.
Before your visit, make sure the senior living communities you are interested in offer the options you want – independent living and/or assisted living. If a family member needs memory care, is there a separate wing devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. If you are looking for assisted living, please keep in mind it is important that you get it right the first time as it is hard on your loved one to get settled somewhere and then decide it is not a good fit. During your tour, A Place for Mom, the largest assisted living referral service, recommends that you start evaluating the place from the moment you walk through the door. Ask yourself, does it look clean and orderly as well as smell fresh? Inquire about housekeeping services and how often private suites are cleaned, the costs involved, general maintenance of the community, and security. If you can, come during an activity so you can join in the fun. This will give you a good idea of the staff’s friendliness around the residents. Also arrange to eat lunch at the place as it will not only provide you with a firsthand taste of the food but allow you to leisurely enjoy time with other residents. At MorningStar of Sparks we are committed to provide the best senior living Reno-Sparks offers, and the wellbeing and comfort of our residents is our highest priority. We are proud to offer 128 bright suites for independent living and 80 for assisted living for those who need help with the activities of daily living. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood is devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Visit our website to conveniently schedule a tour or give us a call. We look forward to meeting you and your family. MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “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 the finest senior living Reno-Sparks has to offer. Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/tips-for-touring-assisted-living
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Now that fall is here, many of us are looking forward to the cooler temperatures. However, along with the changing color of the leaves, fall can also trigger allergies and asthma symptoms for many sufferers as pollen and other particulate matter can be quite common during these months. Since we all spend more time indoors during the cooler months, it also increases the spread of viruses. As seniors we have a higher risk of catching a cold, the flu, an acute ear infection or bronchiolitis.
The Arthritis Foundation also reports “cooler temperatures can lead to greater joint pain” and explain that a “drop in atmospheric pressure has been linked to greater discomfort among those living with arthritis.” Another common fall illness is Raynaud Syndrome, which is associated with symptoms such as poor circulation, numbness and swelling. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds everyone to get a flu vaccine before the flu starts spreading in your community as it takes about two weeks for the protective antibodies to develop in the body. They recommend everyone over the age of 6 months should plan to get vaccinated by the end of October. In addition, even though air temperatures are cooler, we still need to remember to stay hydrated and to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated can help ward off infections and give us all more energy. Your body’s cells, tissue, and organs need water to work properly, and it is used to maintain temperature, remove waste and lubricate joints. Looking for the best senior living Reno – Sparks has to offer? We encourage you to consider MorningStar of Sparks. We have stylish living for independent seniors as well as for those that require a little help each day with personal care activities. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we devote 32 secure suites to the individualized care for residents with memory impairment. MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “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 the finest senior living Reno-Sparks offers. Source: clinicalkey.com/info/blog/5-common-fall-illnesses/ We all know that life changes can be fraught with anxiety and fear and moving into assisted living is certainly a major change for many seniors. However, experts say there are several things families can do to help ease the transition period. One of those things is to help your loved one make a comfortable home in their new suite. Julia Bailey, a senior associate and interior design project manager with Denver-based OZ Architecture, explains that, "Moving into assisted living often can feel like a loss of independence and privacy for your loved one, but thoughtful interior design can go a long way toward improving happiness and well-being for the resident, as well as improving overall functionality of the new living space." Ms. Bailey cautions that you need to remember to let your loved one have a say in how their new home will be decorated including the personal mementos and photos they want to bring with them and which ones they want to display. Trigging happy memories with sentimental items is a big step toward making their new place a real home. Also accent pillows and pictures are an easy way to add a lot of color and attractiveness to their place. Please keep in mind safety concerns when placing furniture and avoid using area rugs that can become trip hazards or overcrowding a room and not leaving enough space to easily navigate. Install hand rails where needed and make sure there is easily accessible lighting in the bathrooms and hallways if the person is getting up at night. Helping your loved stay organized can improve the home’s safety as well as the aesthetic. Consider any mobility issues the person may have and make sure frequently used items are within easy reach on a shelf. Chairs and sofas should be firm and stable. At MorningStar of Albuquerque, we have 48 private bright suites for assisted living and another 21 secure suites for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We are committed to provide the best senior living Albuquerque offers, and invite you to set up a tour to see our exceptional community. 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 learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer. Source: health.usnews.com/health-care/best-assisted-living/slideshows/decorating-tips-for-assisted-living Along with fall’s changing leaves and cooler temperatures, it also signals the start of the flu season, which means you need to start thinking about getting your annual flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older gets a seasonal flu vaccine each year by the end of October.
The flu season begins to increase in October, and typically peaks between December and February but can last as late as May. Also as it takes about two weeks after your vaccination for the protective antibodies to develop, it is important to get it early in the season. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the various viruses that are in the vaccine. The CDC stresses it is especially important for people 65 years and older to get a flu shot as they are at greater risk for serious complications that can result in hospitalization and, in some cases, even death. This is because seniors’ immune systems are generally weaker than those of younger adults. Complications of flu can include: bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. The CDC also recommends people 65 years and older get a flu shot approved for their age group and not a nasal spray vaccine. Additionally you need to know that last year’s flu shot will not protect you from this season’s flu virus. Not only has your immunity from last year’s shot started to wane, but each year the viruses change so you need the protection of the new antibodies. The flu shot you receive this year has been designed to protect against the flu viruses that researcher have determined will be the most common in the 2019- 2020 flu season. MorningStar of Sparks offers a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Please visit our website to learn more about the best senior living Reno-Sparks has to offer. MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “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 the finest senior living Reno-Sparks offers. Our MorningStar of Santa Fe assisted living community offers residents a full range of care services, wellness programs and activities designed to support the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Together MorningStar’s Enrichment team and our Wellness Care team play a large role in why our beautiful community is the best choice for senior living in Santa Fe.
To start with, all assisted living residents are provided with 24/7 care managers who help assist them with Activities of Daily Living (dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, transferring and more). Also they have access to a licensed nurse onsite throughout the week and on-call around-the-clock; and every shift has an employee who is CPR certified. We also offer medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. Moreover we want to reassure you and your family that we periodically do Care Plan reviews and update residents’ care plan as needed. Our centralized, mobile Electronic Health Record (EHR) system ensures accurate records of assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records). The system maintains accurate, legible and complete demographic and medical information on residents as well as enhances privacy and security of the data. Other clinical care services provided by MorningStar include mechanical lift assistance, diabetic management, oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care and more. We provide scheduled physician visits, a choice of physicians, pharmacy services, and onsite dental and podiatry services. This wide scope of care services is reflective of the full authority of our license through the Department of Health and helps to extend the stay of our residents even when health conditions change. We also pride ourselves on finding creative solutions that can result in higher quality of care at a lower cost for families. For a full list of care services, we encourage you to visit our website and take a look at our Care Services page. 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. Please visit our website to learn more about the best senior living in Santa Fe. When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is devastating news for all. Family members may quickly start experiencing feelings of grief as they recognize their life is about to be changed by the disease and are uneasy about what the future will hold. Most are left with questions about what to expect next.
As Alzheimer’s begins to take away the person we know and love, the Alzheimer’s Association explains that, “you'll mourn him or her and may experience the different phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance.” They remind us that feelings of grief do not come in a specific order but rather we go in and out of the various stages. Feelings of denial include unrealistically hoping the person is not ill or expecting them to get better. Others try to convince themselves their loved one has not changed or try to normalize and make excuses for their behaviors. Anger may include being frustrated with the person or feeling abandoned. You may also experience feelings of resentment with the demands of caregiving and/or resent others who are not helping with care. Guilt includes having unrealistic thoughts about what you should have done or feeling guilty if you do not visit every day. A spouse that is well and still able to enjoy life may feel guilty that their husband or wife is no longer able to do so. Others may have negative feelings such as wishing the person would die or go away. The Alzheimer’s Association says you need to face both your positive as well as negative feelings. They also say to be prepared to go through feelings of loss more than once as the disease progresses. Remember your grief is a part of your journey, and if you need help, talk with someone about your feelings. At MorningStar of Albuquerque, our goal is to provide the best senior living Albuquerque offers, which includes compassionate and loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our memory care residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and spend each day in an atmosphere that celebrates and elevates their lives. Please visit our website for information on pricing and availability or to set up a tour. 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 learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer. Getting a good night’s sleep is important no matter what your age is including seniors as it impacts both our physical and mental health. HelpGuide.org explains that not getting enough sleep can contribute to negative health conditions and put you at risk for heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, stoke and diabetes. Research has found that insufficient sleep can cause the release of insulin that leads to an increase of fat storage and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. It may also make people more susceptible to depression, fatigue, and premature aging of the skin. Other problems can include an impaired attention span as well as difficulty in problem solving, reasoning and concentration. In addition experts suggest chronic fatigue may contribute to weight problems and even breast cancer in women. However when we routinely get good sleep, it can improve concentration and memory formation. Help Guide reports that restful sleep gives the body time to repair any cell damage that may have occurred during the day and to refresh our immune systems, which may help prevent disease. So how much sleep do we need? Studies find healthy adults should get around 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep each night; however, it is less about the actual hours and more about whether you feel rested. Tips to improve your sleep habits include limiting caffeine late in the day and avoiding alcohol before bedtime. If you are hungry, eat a light snack that avoids sugary foods and those high in refined carbs. Also avoid drinking liquids about an hour and half before bed. At the gorgeous MorningStar of Santa Fe senior living community, our 56 assisted living suites offer residents comfort, safety and wellbeing. We also have another 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. MorningStar is a private pay community and we do not accept Medicaid. Please visit our website to learn more about luxury senior living in Santa Fe. 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 encourage you to contact us for more information regarding unparalleled senior living in Santa Fe. Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/how-to-sleep-well-as-you-age.htm Are you and your family beginning the search for senior living and trying to determine the services offered at different communities? If you live in and around Santa Fe, we want you to know that MorningStar of Santa Fe is worth a look!
While only open since the beginning of the year, we are not new to senior care. MorningStar Senior Living was founded in 2003 with the intention of providing senior living defined by the human touch. As Founder/CEO Ken Jaeger explains, “I wanted to re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.” In addition we have two New Mexico communities that include MorningStar of Albuquerque, and MorningStar of Rio Rancho. We truly believe that the more you get to know about our loving home, the more you will discover just how different we are from other senior living communities. One of those things is that we view seniors as heroes who have gone through a lifetime of trials and tribulations and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. MorningStar accomplishes this mission by hiring a team of service professionals who have a felt calling to serve and are drawn to the idea of working with seniors. This means our staff treats our residents much like they would their own moms and dads and greet residents by their names, learn their preferences, and ask with real interest, about their families. Our loving team is comprised of people who go the get mile to meet the needs of our residents (even their unexpressed ones), and do the right thing even when no one is watching. After all, our goal is to create a true home for our residents. Please visit our website to learn more about unsurpassed senior living in Santa Fe. (MorningStar of Santa Fe is a private pay community and does not accept Medicaid) 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. Situated on the west side of town, we invite you to visit our website for more details about the finest senior living in Santa Fe. MorningStar of Santa Fe is a gorgeous senior living community that offers the area assisted living as well as memory care. While we opened in early 2019 ((we are not new to New Mexico; see MorningStar of Albuquerque), our exceptional team is experienced in serving seniors and understands what it needed to provide our resident with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.
In fact all facets of our community were designed from the ground up to compassionately and professionally serve our residents and we start with 24/7 care managers and access to licensed nurses and certified medication care managers/QMAPs. MorningStar’s care managers help our residents retain their independence by providing assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting and eating as well as other medical assistance. These dedicated individuals were hired for their big hearts and a desire to serve seniors. MorningStar’s medication care managers/QMAPs also play an important role based on statistics from a recent National Institute of Health study. It reports that 40% of seniors aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications, and 90% take at least one prescription. In addition it found that 55% of those seniors are improperly taking their medications. Our certified med managers oversee both the ordering and dispensing of medications to our residents. For residents’ safety, our entire community is handicap accessible with wide doorways, spacious common areas and hallways, and each suite is equipped with handicapped-accessible bathrooms. In addition all 56 of our assisted living bright suites have a 24-hour Emergency Call System. Our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure suite devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and is designed to encourage our tender resident to easily and safely explore their spacious surroundings. To encourage residents to stay active and productive physically, intellectually, spiritually and socially, we offer wellness programs and activities. For comfort and convenience, we provide a wide range of luxury amenities. Visit our website for availability and pricing of unsurpassed senior living in Santa Fe. 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. Please visit our website for more details about the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM. At MorningStar of Albuquerque, we regularly have questions about our community from area seniors and their family members. FAQs include how our pricing is structured as well as availability. In assisted living, fees are based on the level of care a resident requires. For memory care residents, we offer all-inclusive pricing, which means suite rental and care, whatever the level of need, is one price. To calculate your level of need in assisted living, you and your family will meet with our Wellness Director and go over your medical history and personal preferences to create an individualized care plan. This sets the basis of your Care Level (we have five) and your monthly fee accounts for the costs and time to provide the needed services. These can include help with daily personal care activities (grooming, bathing, toileting, etc.) and medical assistance. If you are concerned the cost of assisted living may be too high for your means, we want to remind you that senior housing can be very cost-effective as there are many things you will no longer pay for out-of-pocket. This includes the costs of your monthly utilities. At MorningStar your monthly fee includes cable TV & utilities, laundry facilities, and three daily meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef. In addition, we have scheduled transportation every week for rides to medical appointments as well as transportation to organized activities and cultural events. Assisted living residents also have access to a full-time licensed nurse and our loving 24-hour care staff. Our wellness programs and activities engage and support our residents’ mental, physical, spiritual and social connections and allow the opportunity to continue to learn and grow. MorningStar’s mission is to provide the best senior living Albuquerque offers, and the comfort and wellbeing of our residents are the foremost considerations for everything we do. Our dedicated team, the heartbeat of our community, delivers service that represents the mission and philosophy of MorningStar Senior Living - honoring God and valuing seniors as gifted and contributing individuals. 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 learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer. |
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
June 2023
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