Short-term Respite Care at Bear Creek

Caring for a loved one can be very rewarding, but it can also be stressful especially when it is a long-term arrangement and there is no cure for what ails your loved one.   If you are a regular caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you need to take a break from time to time for your own wellbeing.  One of the tips experts suggest to get the caregiving help you need is to look into respite care.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we offer caregivers the chance to feel comfortable about taking a well-deserved break by providing your loved one with a warm and loving temporary home.  Our entire community is devoted to providing holistic memory care that is designed to nurture the essence of the individual and reaffirm their dignity and value.  In addition we are set up to care for those in the early onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.

As a short-term respite care resident, your loved one will get all of the amenities and services we provide for our permanent residents.  This includes three daily meals prepared by our own Executive Chef that are geared toward encouraging the appetite of those with dementia.  In addition all of our respite care residents participate in our wellness programs and activities, special events and scheduled outings. 

To ensure the comfort and safety of your loved one, we provide 24-hour care, medication management and group transportation.  Furthermore, our respite care suite (subject to availability) is fully furnished so all you need to do is bring your loved one’s personal items.  Please visit our website to learn more about our community and for contact information on respite care as well as our day program.  You deserve a break from your 24/7 caregiving responsibilities.   

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.

Even Moderate Exercise Looks to be Important for Learning and Memory

Decreases in brain metabolism have been shown to be a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and predictive of cognitive decline and the conversion to Alzheimer’s in older adults. Scientists believe that physical activity can modulate brain glucose metabolism but until now it was unclear what level of intensity and duration of exercise was most beneficial.   

Recently the National Institute on Aging published an article that found “even moderate physical activity may increase metabolism in brain regions important for learning and memory.”   The NIA-supported study was led by Dr. Ozioma Okonkwo of the University of Wisconsin.  

Researchers had cognitively normal, late-middle age (average age 64 years old) participants wear an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days to measure their daily physical activity. Afterward, they looked at the amount of time each participant engaged in “light (e.g., a slow walk), moderate (e.g., a fast walk), and vigorous activities (e.g., run).”  The data was analyzed to determine how they “corresponded with glucose metabolism within brain areas that have been demonstrated to be impacted in people with Alzheimer’s.” 

Increasing the levels of moderate physical activity showed an increase in cerebral glucose metabolism across all brain regions examined.  Participants that engaged in light physical activity had no changes to the metabolism in any of the brain regions examined.  Another thing that impacted the amount of brain glucose metabolism was the duration of time spent in moderate physical activity.  Researchers found that the more time a person spent doing moderate levels of physical activity (average 43.3 min/day to average 68.1 min/day), the greater the increase in brain glucose metabolism. 

The NIA says it is encouraging evidence that physical activity may be beneficial for neurometabolic function.  Moreover they say it is a “critical contribution to the efforts to identify the intensity and duration of physical activity that confer the most advantage for combating Alzheimer’s-related changes in mid-life.” 

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:nia.nih.gov/news/moderate-physical-activity-linked-increases-metabolism-across-brain-regions

We Help Make the Transition to Assisted Living Easier

At MorningStar Senior Living of Billings, we know families often go through a range of emotions once they realize their loved one needs more daily help in order to ensure their comfort and safety.  Furthermore moving into a retirement community, especially assisted living is often precipitated by a major life change, which is why we have put together a commonsense decision guide to help families navigate through the process.  

One thing to consider before making any decision is to think about what you are trying to solve, and not just next year, but with an eye to the next 5 to 10 years.  Also keep in mind that the concept of “assisted living” is only a few decades old and is intended to feel like a home – not an institution such as nursing homes of old.  Today’s assisted living is based on the European model and is a new paradigm in wellness and engagement.

Reading through our decision guide, you will find information on the things families should look for in terms of determining whether their loved one needs more help.  It talks about safety issues such as recent falls and balance problems, forgetfulness that could lead to a dangerous situation like leaving the stove-top on, and driving mishaps.  The guide also cautions families to notice things like weight loss, poor hygiene, and failing eyesight.  

Additionally MorningStar has tips to help you narrow down your choices of assisted living communities.  Along with considering location, price, and amenities, one of our most important tips is to take a tour of the community or communities you are most interested in.  Beyond the website and all the promotional materials, a tour provides an up close and personal look at the place you or your loved one is considering making their new home.  On our home page, we have a convenient link to an online form to set up a tour with us.   

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve in order to provide a true home for residents.  Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.      

Best Care Practices for Alzheimer’s Patients

Over the last several decades, there has been an increased awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Along with efforts to develop medications to treat or to cure the disease, there has also been a move to advance best care practices for those suffering from the disease.   

In a recent publication from the Alzheimer’s Association titled the “Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes,” they explore ways that professional caregiving can be more effective.  Their first recommendation is to make sure a resident is receiving proper food and fluid consumption.  They note that “Inadequate consumption or inappropriate food and fluid choices can contribute directly to a decline in a resident’s health and well-being.”   

The next point they discuss is pain management.  They cite the fact that many times people with dementia have trouble communicating pain so it is often overlooked and not treated.  However, the problem with not managing pain appropriately is that it can “result in behavioral symptoms and lead to unnecessary use of psychotropic medications.” 

Another important practice recommendation from the report is that assisted living facilities provide social engagement and meaningful activities for memory care residents.  By engaging in activities, it helps residents to retain their functional abilities and thus provides a better quality of life.   These interactions should be designed to do with residents, not to or for them.   

If you are a family member searching for quality memory care for your loved one, we encourage you to take a look at MorningStar at Jordan’s Reflection Neighborhood.  We have 29 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  Set within a gentle, loving environment, our care takes a resident-directed approach that utilizes multi-sensory cues to calm and to awaken memories, to support capabilities and, above all, to affirm dignity and value.   

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to set up a tour to see firsthand the finest assisted living in Centennial CO.

 

Source:alz.org/national/documents/brochure_DCPRphases1n2.pdf

Senior Living with an Emphasis on Fun

At MorningStar of Fort Collins, we take the job of providing residents with the best senior living extremely seriously.  We also think that extends to making sure we offer a full range of activities that are designed for out and out fun.  In fact we love a reason to celebrate whether it’s birthdays, holidays, or special events and are sure to provide plenty of food, music and good company.   

Take for example the month of March, where we celebrated several birthdays and also had special visits from local musicians.  Our community was treated to several live concerts from Scott Jensen, a very talented singer and guitar player, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.   We also were pleased to have Connie come in twice during the month to play the piano for a group sing-along.  In addition Jim Turner visited on the 19^th with more singing and piano playing that again was a lot of fun for residents and staff alike.   

Speaking of fun, we cannot forget to mention our regular game of Bingo in the Bistro on Fridays and Sundays.  Moreover we offer a Happy Hour every Thursday (including March’s special St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour) from 3:30 to 4:15 in the Bistro.  Here, residents can enjoy a glass of wine or beer, share stories and have a good time.   

This is just a small sampling of what goes on at MorningStar of Fort Collins where we believe seniors’ retirement years should be as carefree as possible.  Programs also include our signature wellness program, WellStar, which is designed to ensure each day enhances health and wellness, stimulates the brain and encourages connection. 

Please visit our website to learn more about the finest senior living in Fort Collins.  Our community has 55 graciously-appointed assisted living suites, with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans as well as another 24 memory care suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.   

MorningStar of Fort Collins provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents in a beautiful setting.  We invite you to schedule a tour to discover one of the area’s top senior living communities.  

Family Members of Bear Creek Residents Express Their Gratitude

The staff at MorningStar at Bear Creek feels privileged to serve our very special residents. As our Executive Director, Shannon Barker explains, “To care for those who once cared for me is one of the highest honors.”  This respect for our residents is what motivates us to lovingly provide our unique brand of care and is why we feel honored to get positive affirmation from families of our residents regarding the care of their loved one. 

We were happy to hear from someone who recently took a tour of our community. They not only write about how beautiful our community is but what stood out the most was “the heartfelt and passionate care your staff so selflessly gives residents.”  In another letter, an adult child of a resident wrote to tell us, “MorningStar has been a delight. I can say with complete confidence that my mother is in the best hands.” 

As we know, facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s alone can be daunting, which is why we feel Bear Creek is here to also provide support for the families of our residents.  This makes the following review of our community especially gratifying as they say, “Our family was delighted to discover MorningStar at Bear Creek, and we are happy to partner with them in the care of our loved one. It is a unique community. For those searching for appropriate memory care options in the Pikes Peak region don’t overlook this gem!” 

Our senior living facility is dedicated to providing individualized memory care to residents with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Bear Creek is a one-story building and offers 48 suites in four floorplans that are designed to provide a secure setting yet allow residents to explore their spacious surroundings freely and easily.  We end our post with another quote from a family member of a resident who says, “I would say there a culture of love and caring here unlike other senior living communities that I have visited.”    

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.

Pets are Welcome at MorningStar

It was not that long ago that seniors moving into an assisted living or memory care community had to leave behind an important companion, their pet.  Today however, more and more communities are recognizing the benefits of pets to the elderly, and many such as MorningStar at Bear Creek, allow residents to bring their pets with them.   

There has been a lot of research that validates the benefits of pets in seniors’ lives.  In fact, A Place for Mom website reports on a study that shows, “just 15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. The result: heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels immediately drop.”  They go on to say that interactions between pets and humans can “lower cholesterol levels, fight depression and may even help protect against heart disease and stroke.”  

Another reason pets can be good for the elderly is that animals live in the here and now and do not think about tomorrow, which for some seniors, can be worrisome.  In addition animals offer unconditional love, emotional support and affection.  This is one reason why pet therapy programs are used in convalescent homes, hospitals, mental health centers and children centers.  Many people participating in such programs experience an improvement in appetite as well as “more social interaction and tactile and cognitive stimulation after interactions with pets.”   

There is also research that indicates pet therapy is beneficial for those suffering from dementia diseases such as Sundowners Syndrome and Alzheimer’s.  The animal’s complete acceptance and non-verbal communication has proven to be soothing for patients.    

Please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek.  But to really see our heart, we encourage you to schedule a visit and see for yourself the warm and inviting atmosphere found at MorningStar.  

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: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living   

agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm