Innovative, Interactive Software Designed for Seniors

As part of MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek’s individualized, resident-directed care, we are now pleased to be able to offer our residents the user-friendly, interactive software called “It’s Never Too Late” ® (iN2L).  This unique, person-centered technology makes it easy for anyone to use a computer, regardless of prior experience or abilities, and is designed specifically for the continuing entertainment and education of seniors. 

Simply to use, iN2L provides customized activities that are based on a person’s interest and background, which are used to enhance cognitive function, socialization and quality of life.  Also a Wii-like functionality offers interactive physical as well as cognitive activities. The personalized program allows each resident to have his or hers own “page” on the system, and is setup to display their photos, videos, stories, music, games and even websites.  The resident’s page can even be customized remotely through a family portal to give family members an opportunity to add personal updates, information and current pictures.  

With over 3,000 application and content items, the highly adaptable nature of the system makes it easy to adjust activities and content to a resident’s unique abilities and interests. 

Along with an array of brain exercises, educational and travel videos, interactive games, puzzles, word games, history, news topics and trivia, the iN2L software also offers safe and easy Internet access, email, and Skype. 

Set in the picturesque foothills of the Rockies, MorningStar at Bear Creek lovingly provides care for seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our community consists of 48 suites, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community.

Source: in2l.com/ 

Award for Arrowhead’s Interior Design

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead is one of MorningStar’s three Valley of the Sun senior living communities.  Newly open in the fall of 2015 and conveniently located on the north side of Glendale, the property’s gorgeous interior was designed by the firm of Thoma-Holec Design, the award-winning specialist in senior living interiors.

 

We are excited to report that after intense scrutiny by a panel of 20 jurors that included architects, designers, industry providers and consultants, MorningStar at Arrowhead received Honorable Mention in the 2016 “Environments for Aging” Design Showcase.   This is quite an honor as there were hundreds of entries nationwide and only four projects were singled out to be worthy of an Honorable Mention.  According to Thoma-Holec, the goal of the design team was to elevate and celebrate the lives of residents and create an environment that “exudes dignity and respect” offering both residents and staff a setting to build families for life. 

 

In addition MorningStar at Arrowhead was also honored with an Award of Merit from the Pacific Coast Builders Association’s (PCBA) “Gold Nugget Awards.”   These awards are designed to recognize those who improve our communities through “exceptional concepts in design, planning and development.”  The PCBA is a division of the National Home Builders Association, and the Grand Prize in this category will be awarded during the organization’s national conference in June.  We will keep you posted on the results. 

 

MorningStar at Arrowhead is pleased to offers 60 private assisted living suites on two levels.  Residents has a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some over 600 square feet).  In addition we have 25 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases in our Reflections Neighborhood.

 

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

Should You Have a “Medical Power of Attorney?”

A power of attorney is simply a directive that names someone you trust to act as your agent in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself.  A medical power of attorney, also called an “advance directive,” names someone to specifically act on your behalf in regards to any medical matters. 

If you or a family member is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, it is important to have a medical power of attorney.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the kinds of medical decisions covered by a power of attorney for health care includes: doctors and health care providers, types of treatment, and care facilities.  The designated medical power of attorney may also need to make some end-of-life decisions such as issuing a “do not resuscitate” (DNR) order or not consenting to a feeding tube when a person reaches the later stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia. 

The website, WebMD suggests that a person entrusted to be your medical power of attorney should be someone “who is not intimidated by medical professionals and is willing to ask challenging questions,”   They also add that the person needs to be able to put aside their own feeling about a medical option and be ready to carry out your wishes. 

Drawing up a legal power of attorney for health care does not require an attorney, and if it is appropriate, the same person can be named as your financial and medical power of attorney.  As forms are state-specific, be sure to use the right form for your state.   Once you have filled it out, it will probably need to be witnessed, and in some cases may also need to be notarized.  When you have completed the process, let your family and anyone else involved in your care, including your doctor and hospital, have a copy of the form.  

MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community.

Sources: 

alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-legal-documents.asp

webmd.com/palliative-care/advance-directives-medical-power-attorney 

Many Seniors Suffer from Loneliness

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), “18 percent of seniors live alone, while 43 percent report feeling lonely on a regular basis.”   They also found that people 60 years or older who reported being lonely had a 45% increase in a risk of death.  Furthermore, seniors who felt isolated had almost a 60% increase in the risk of mental and physical decline than those seniors who had more social contact.  

 

There are many reasons that seniors attribute to their feelings of loneliness: retirement, death of a spouse and other family members, and a lack of mobility.  Another factor leading to isolation for some seniors is that more people are choosing to not have children, which reduces the number of family members with a stake in their well-being.

 

A 2009 report taken from data gathered by the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project found that “seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report also having poor physical and/or mental health.”  As such, loneliness is also linked to a faster cognitive decline as well as a greater risk for depression. 

 

Assisted living communities such as MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead offer seniors not only the security and comfort to age in place but also companionship along with a wide assortment of creative, thoughtful activities.   A quick look at our monthly calendar shows a steady stream of activities such as exercise classes, cards, word and puzzle games, movie nights, bible study, crafts, bingo, restaurant-style dining and much more.  Contact us to learn more about our beautiful home-like atmosphere and the comfort, wellness and community we offer to our residents.     

 

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

Sources:  aplaceformom.com/blog/10-17-14-facts-about-senior-isolation/

agingcare.com/Articles/loneliness-in-the-elderly-151549.htm

Sharing Fun, Meaningful Activities and Special Events

At MorningStar at Arrowhead, our residents and staff work hand-in-hand to create a loving, warm community.  Part of our family-like atmosphere comes from making memories and celebrating life’s special moments together.  Each month our calendar is filled with daily activities as well as an array of special programs. 

To help raise awareness for the memory-impaired, our community recently took part in the Alzheimer’s Association’s “Longest Day of the Year - Up with Hope, Up with Awareness, Up with Compassion” event on June 20th.  Residents were encouraged to wear purple in recognition of the sunrise-to-sunset daylong affair.  Our Uplifting Day of FunRaising started with a Purple Pancake Breakfast (flapjacks topped with brain enhancing blueberries and blueberry smoothies).  From there we had a bake sale featuring tasty creations by our residents, and then followed with an Art Show & Sale.  We also did a commemorative purple planting in honor of our memory-impaired residents and finished up the day with a viewing of the award-winning movie, “Up.”

Other examples of activities and special events at MorningStar in the month of June included outings to area places such as the Black Bear Diner, Cabin Coffee, Cabela’s, and Casino Arizona.  Some of our themed days in June included Timberland Tea Time, Tin Can Shootout and Fishin’ for Fun! 

If carefree retirement years amid beautiful surroundings, resort-style amenities, and fun-filled and meaningful activities sound good, MorningStar at Arrowhead is the place for you.  We encourage you to schedule a visit to our community to find out for yourself why our residents are proud to call it home. 

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

The Value of Life Skill Stations in Memory Care

MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek uses a range of resident-directed approaches to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  One technique we have found that helps us to connect with our residents is to set up life skill stations as a way to awaken dormant memories and to take them back to significant moments in their lives in order to find joy in the present. 

Life skill stations can be something as simple as a rack of vintage hats or baby dolls resting comfortably in a corner.  Illustrating the power of this technique is a poignant story one of our caregivers relates regarding a resident who, upon arriving at Bear Creek, could not find comfort and had difficulty fitting in.  After a long discussion with the man, our staff member learned that the gentleman had been a bike shop owner and avid cyclist back in Germany. 

Filled with this information, the next day our caregiver brought in her own bike, a tire repair kit and a few tools to set up an informal bike shop.  Making a few “adjustments” to the bike such as deflating the tire, taking off the chain and raising the seat, the staff member brought in the resident.  The man broke into a smile and got busy repairing the bike.  Soon he was happily riding around our outside trails.  

This is just one example of how Bear Creek’s caregivers go the extra mile to connect with our residents and to affirm their dignity and respect.  Whether it is through the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy, or animals, our goal is to heal and comfort while taking into consideration the uniqueness of each person.  Set up a tour to take a look at all of the ways we work to make our residents feel right at home!

MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community.

What is “Assisted Living?”

Many people mistakenly assume that “assisted living” is just another term for nursing homes.  In fact, nursing homes are intended for people that require long-term, around-the-clock medical care and supervision and should not be confused with assisted living, which provides residents support for daily care activities.  At an assisted living community, you will receive the care you need to live comfortably and safely while still retaining your privacy and as much independence as possible. 

 

Assisted living is ideal for anyone who does not require 24-hour skilled medical care but rather just needs more personal care than they can get at home or at an independent living retirement community.  Meals and transportation are provided, and if needed, residents can get help with activities such as showering dressing, and etc.  For the family, they rest easy knowing that a trained, caring staff is available to help whenever a loved one needs it.   

 

Many assisted living communities offer the privacy of individual suites, while also providing their residents with the security and safety of 24-hour support and quick access to care.  In addition communities generally provide residents the opportunity to participate in social and recreation activities along with wellness programs.  Residents usually eat their meals in a communal dining room and have housekeeping and laundry services available. 

 

If you would like to see what one of the best assisted living communities in the greater Phoenix area offers, we invite you to take a look at the gorgeous MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead.  Our community provides various levels of assistance with daily living activities as determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with the senior and their extended family.  For all of our residents, MorningStar’s around-the-clock Care Managers are there to meet needs and to ensure the utmost safety. 

  

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

Eye Care Recommendations from the Experts

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that “adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should receive a baseline comprehensive eye evaluation at age 40. Individuals without risk factors aged 40 to 54 should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 2 to 4 years.  Individuals without risk factors aged 55 to 64 should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 3 years.”  They add that seniors 65 years and older without risk factors should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 2 years as the incidence of unrecognized ocular disease increases with age.

Since many age-related eye problems do not exhibit early symptoms, getting regular eye exams and being aware of any changes to your vision is critical.  In addition it is important to remember that other health problems such as diabetes and hypertension as well as some medication can cause eye-related issues.    

Your exam should include a check of your vision, coordination of eye muscles, peripheral vision, pupil response to light and color testing.  Also the doctor will examine your eyelid inside and out along with the interior and back of the eye.  A measurement of your eye fluid pressure will also be done that consists of a puff of air onto the eye with an instrument called a tonometer.   This is used to check for glaucoma and other diseases.

Furthermore, you may be monitored for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) disease.  This test includes trying to detect and monitor conditions affecting the macula by examining the back of your eye using special instruments.  If you do not already have an eye doctor, see your health care provider for a referral.  

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please consult with your health care provider if you notice any changes in your vision.

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area.

Source:  http://www.aao.org/clinical-statement/frequency-of-ocular-examinations--november-2009