The Risk of Falling is a Serious Concern for Seniors

 

The Mayo Clinic reminds older adults it is important they take proper precautions to prevent falls. Medical conditions, the resulting medications needed, and a more sedentary lifestyle can result in weaker muscles and balance problems that can lead to a fall. Also please keep in mind, a fall for an older adult can cause injuries that are very serious such as a broken hip, head trauma, or in the most severe cases, death.

However, the solution to preventing falls is not to stop moving. The medical experts at the Mayo Clinic explain being inactive is bad for our health regardless of how old we are and it is vital that we keep moving. To that end, they suggest a commonsense six-part plan to keep seniors safely mobile.

Their first recommendation is to set up an appointment with your doctor. Bring to the visit a list of all your medications, and be prepared to discuss with your doctor any side effects of the drugs that may put you more at risk for a fall such as anti-depressants or sedatives. It may be possible to eliminate or substitute the medication for something else. Also, talk to your doctor about whether you have fallen and if it was due to your medical condition.

In addition, discuss with your healthcare provider what type of exercise would be best for you. Typically walking, swimming and something like tai chi are gentle exercises that are safe for most; and offer the benefit of strengthening muscles, improving balance, and gait.

Other ways to lessen your risk for a fall begins by reviewing your home with an eye to fall prevention. Start by checking hallways and stairways for adequate lighting, and add more if needed. Secure loose rugs and make sure you have wide clear paths for walking around your home. Wear proper fitting shoes with nonskid soles and use assistive aids like a cane or walker if needed to help maintain your balance. Install grab bars and railings where needed.

MorningStar at Arrowhead’s goal is to be one of the finest retirement communities Glendale offers, and our beautiful home is designed from the ground up to serve our residents’ every need. Our number one priority is our residents’ safety and wellbeing. We provide 24-hour care, a licensed nurse on call 24/7, and provide suites equipped with wall-to-wall carpeting, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, emergency call systems and more. Please visit our website for more information.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other retirement communities Glendale, AZ offers. 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 beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arrowhead provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.

Source: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/fall-prevention/art-20047358

MorningStar’s Holistic Memory Care in Colorado Springs

 

 

If a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, MorningStar at Bear Creek is ready to help. We understand the heartbreak a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease brings with it and wish to share the burden. Our comprehensive memory care supports residents and their families with services, wellness programs and activities essential to quality of life. MorningStar’s holistic approach is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and uses Montessori-based therapy techniques. As dementia care specialists, we feel it is our privilege – our calling – to walk alongside residents during this unexpected and challenging journey.

Once the decision is made to join our MorningStar family, we meet with the individual and their family to learn as much as we can about their background, talents and personal preferences. Aiding us in this process is a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” From there, we create a specialized, individualized care plan to calm or stimulate as needed.

The Bear Creek community is designed from the ground up to ensure a safe, secure environment in which residents can explore and maintain a sense of independence. Common areas are warm and inviting and meals are thoughtfully prepared and attractively served to encourage residents’ appetites. Purposeful, meaningful activities connect with and nurture the individual, whatever the level of memory loss may be.

Another thing that makes MorningStar at Bear Creek a special place is our devoted, hard-working team who feels privileged to serve and is made up of men and women who willingly go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents. Our distinct mission statement reads to: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and to Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well.

For exceptional memory care, Colorado Springs’ MorningStar at Bear Creek encourages you to contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “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. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and encourage you to learn more about the finest memory care Colorado Springs offers.

Got Your Eye on a Certain Assisted Living Community?

Finding the right assisted living community for you or a loved one should be a process. Experts suggest before you even begin the search you consider not only the person’s immediate needs but what type of care they may require over the next several years. This reduces the chance of having to move into a another community setting in a few years when the home you decided on was not up to the care now needed. Other things to take into account are location, cost, size of the community and amenities and services.

The Internet is a great tool to begin the search for the ideal home. Most senior living communities have lots of information on their websites including FAQs, pictures and virtual tours, reviews from families, the management team, and the company’s history and philosophy. Due to COVID, senior living communities had to stop the practice of offering tours of their home but check to see if they have started them up again.

In the meantime, the home’s staff will be glad to answer any questions you have so think about what you want to know and write it down as you may forget. A Place for Mom offers a whole check-sheet on questions to ask of the home such as staff-to-resident ratio and the type of training caregivers receive.

Another thing you will want to know is how the monthly fee is determined. Many assisted living communities based costs on the type and location of the apartment and the level of care the person requires. Ask about the process for creating a care plan and how it is updated. Does the home offer 24/7 caregivers and is a nurse on staff and/or on call 24/7. If mom or dad is having trouble keeping track of their medications, does the home offer medication management.

Ask about any additional move-in fees or contractual obligations when you move out. If there is a waiting list, what is the typical period before an apartment becomes available?

As one of the area’s finest senior living facilities in Billings, MT, MorningStar of Billings offers a range of options for independent living and assisted living. For senior suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, we provide compassionate, professional memory care. Located in the west end of the city within a country setting, our community is located near shopping centers and medical facilities. Please visit our extensive website to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you.

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living

Do You Want to Remain Mobile in Old Age?

 

A study from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) trial concluded that if you want to remain mobile and healthy in old age, you should start walking. Furthermore, it says even if you are already well into old age, it is not too late to reap the benefits.

The 2½ year trial included more than 1,600 men and women between the ages of 70 and 89, of whom none had exercised regularly; and all were relatively frail. The study authors say half of the participants took part in a daily exercise plan that included walking in addition to strength and balance exercises. The other half of the group did some gentle stretching routines and took part in healthy aging educational workshops.

Researchers found that those who were assigned to the exercise group were “28% less likely to have become disabled (defined by the inability to walk about 400 yards without help) compared to those in the education group. They were also 18% less likely to have had any episode of physical disability.” The study’s authors believe the results would be even more marked if those in the “healthy aging workshops” had not discovered the benefits of exercising on their own.

Walking is easy to do and does not require special equipment other than a pair of good walking shoes. If you are a senior who wants to start exercising, medical professionals say consult your healthcare provider, and slowly and gradually work your way toward longer distances.

At MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek, we understand how devastating it is when a loved one receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another memory loss disease, and we want you to know we are here to help. MorningStar leverages the power of dance, music, art, exercise, animals and aromatherapy in order to heal and comfort, and provides meaningful wellness programs and activities that engage our residents. Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other memory care Colorado Springs offers.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “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. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and encourage you to learn more about the finest memory care Colorado Springs offers.

Source:

health.harvard.edu/blog/walking-exercise-helps-seniors-stay-mobile-independent-201405287173

Pets are a Great Benefit to Seniors

 

Several studies over the last couple of decades have provided evidence suggesting pet ownership offers a range of health benefits for seniors. One of the most consistent findings is the fact that owning and caring for a pet may help seniors feel less lonesome, and with almost 1/3 of all seniors saying they are lonely, this is a good thing. In one study of pet owners ages 50 to 80: “88% said their pets help them enjoy life; 86% said their pets make them feel loved; and 79% said their pets help reduce stress.”

In addition to a pet’s unconditionally love, caring for the animal provides an older person with a sense of purpose as their pet needs to be feed and cared for daily. For example, a dog encourages seniors to get outside and exercise both themselves and the animal. Studies show pets can help improve seniors’ cardiovascular health and their mental and emotional health. Other studies have shown benefits such as improved mobility, a longer life span, pain relief and a better heart attack recovery.

While a pet can be a loving companion, it is important to pick one suited to the person’s physical health and their budget as vet bills can be costly. Cats and dogs make loyal friends but you may enjoy putting together and caring for an aquarium of exotic fish or raising songbirds. Whatever the choice, a pet is sure to bring a smile to the person’s face and help to keep them engaged on a daily basis.

MorningStar of Billings’ various senior living options meet the needs of area seniors with 5-star amenities, wellness programs and activities. In addition to compassionate assisted living and memory care, we are the area’s top choice for independent living. Our community is situated on a beautiful, park-like campus but near shopping centers and medical facilities. Please visit our website for more information regarding trusted assisted living and memory care as well as independent living Billings’ active seniors’ love.

Source: aplaceformom.com/resources/pets-for-seniors

Atrial Fibrillation

 

The Mayo Clinic explains atrial fibrillation or a-fib is “an irregular and often rapid heart rate that occurs when the two upper chambers of your heart experience chaotic electrical signals. The result is a fast and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.” The danger of a-fib is it can increase your risk for heart failure, stroke and other heart-related diseases. Symptoms of a-fib include shortness of breath, heart palpations, fatigue and weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness.

A person with the condition may experience episodes that come and go, while others have it on-going. Medical experts say a-fib is not generally life threatening but it is a serious condition and sometimes requires emergency medical treatment. One such emergency is the potential to develop blood clots in the upper chambers of the heart. These type of blood clots can circulate to other organs and cause ischemia (an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles).

Doctors say along with medications and treatments, patients should try to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Recommendations include quitting smoking, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight and consuming alcohol in moderation or not at all. They also say if you have sleep apnea get treatment for it and to exercise regularly. It is important to keep cholesterol and triglycerides in a healthy range, and be sure to get recommended vaccinations especially if you have heart disease.

At MorningStar of Billings, we are honored to provide the area with independent living, assisted living and memory care. As the pandemic is waning, we are back to all-day, restaurant-style dining with increased room capacity and greater accessibility to all amenities and common areas. Residents now enjoy in-person family visits with fewer restrictions, a calendar of activities and engagement (including entertainers and group outings) and same-day personal outings without strict quarantine protocols. We expect to continue in the same forward-moving direction over the next few months. Please visit our website to learn more about one of the most trusted senior living facilities in Billings.

Can Lifestyle Intervention Protect Brain Health?

 

The Alzheimer’s Association is partnering with the Wake Forest School of Medicine in a first-of-its-kind intervention trial called the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER). The two-year clinical trial wants to learn if lifestyle interventions that simultaneously target multiple risk factors can protect cognitive function in older adults between the ages of 60-79 who are at increased risk for cognitive decline.

The national study hopes to “create a new and healthier ‘normal’ through lifestyle changes.” While research has already shown that a healthier lifestyle protects our bodies’ overall health, scientists now want to know if it can also protect the health of the brain from future memory problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

The U.S. Pointer study is currently being conducted at sites in North Carolina, California, Illinois, Texas and Rhode Island, and is the first study of its kind to be done on such a large group of participants from across the United States. Additionally, it is part of a worldwide consortium of other similar research including the 2014 Finland study of healthy older adults at increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The “FINGER Study” (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) reports that “a two-year combination therapy simultaneously targeting physical exercise, a healthy diet, cognitive stimulation, and self-monitoring of heart health risk factors had a protective effect on cognitive function.”

MorningStar at Bear Creek offers 48 memory care assisted living suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our loving community is staffed by a team of individuals who understands the unique needs of each resident and delivers that care with compassion and thoughtfulness. Please visit our website or contact us for more information.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, 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 contact us for more information about Colorado Springs’ finest memory care assisted living.

Source: alz.org/us-pointer/overview.asp

Looking for Assisted Living in Glendale, AZ?

 

If you are looking at retirement communities in Glendale that offer assisted living, we encourage you to consider MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arrowhead.

MorningStar at Arrowhead provides residents a full range of care services, wellness programs and activities designed to support the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Our home’s décor is a credit to the work of the award-winning specialist in senior living interiors, Thoma-Holec Design. Filled with spacious, beautifully-appointed common areas both inside and out, amenities include a cozy fireside patio and porches, bistro, fitness room, general store, chapel/theatre, and library. Chef prepared meals are served restaurant-style in our bright, airy dining room.

However, our stylish design does not stop at the door of our private suites. Each one offers a range of features including lots of lighting, wall to wall carpeting, high ceilings, and large windows as well a kitchenette. For residents’ peace of mind and safety, our suites are also equipped with an emergency call system to ensure help is there if the need arises as well as handicap-accessible bathrooms. Cable TV and utilities are included in your monthly fee as well as weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services, and daily spot cleaning and trash removal.

All assisted living residents are provided with 24/7 care managers who help assist them with the Activities of Daily Living (dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, transferring and more). Access to a licensed nurse is available onsite throughout the week and on-call around-the-clock. We also offer medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. Moreover, we want to reassure you and your family that we periodically re-evaluate care plans and make changes as needed.

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.

At the heart of our community, and what we are most proud of, is our team of loving, responsive caregivers who feel privileged to serve. Please visit our website for contact information. We are happy to answer any questions and look forward to hearing from you.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other retirement communities Glendale, AZ offers. 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 beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arrowhead provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.

Are You Concerned About Your Elderly Parent Who Lives Alone?

 

 

If you are worried about an elderly parent who lives alone and may not be getting the kind of personal daily care, meals, or company they need; it may be time to consider assisted living. At MorningStar at Arrowhead, we specialize in providing care for seniors who need a little help with their day-to-day personal care activities but do not require 24-hour medical care.

We have seen first-hand how the transition to assisted living eases the stress of either or both the senior’s life or the family caregiver’s life. Moreover, we recognize that senior living at its best allows residents to not only survive but to thrive. We achieve this with a wide range of care services, fine dining, and meaningful wellness programs and activities. In addition, residents enjoy built-in companionship as they make new friends with fellow residents and our truly loving staff.

To give families a good idea of what services are provided with assisted living, we are happy to answer questions. Also, we suggest you take a look at our website where you will find a lot of information. A good place to start is our Decision Guide under the “First Steps” tab. Here we go over things to look for that may indicate your parent needs more help such as recent falls, unexplained weight loss, poor balance, and/or poor personal hygiene. From there, take a look at our FAQs for more details.

Under our “Wellness” tab we go over our dining services, life enrichment programs, and clinical care services. We also like to direct interested families to “Our Heart” to read a little background on how MorningStar Senior Living began and what its mission and precepts are all about.

While you will discover our company was founded on Judeo-Christian tradition, we honor all faith systems and worldviews as we believe it is our responsibility to respect residents’ spiritual preferences. In fact, our goal is to meet a resident’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs as part of creating a comfortable home and compassionate care.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other retirement communities Glendale, AZ offers. 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 beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arrowhead provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.