Does Your Parent Need More Care?

Often families are caught unaware when an aging parent has a fall or another event that immediately signals they need more assistance in their daily life.  You many feel like a neglectful son or daughter for not noticing the changes happening before your eyes, but many seniors routinely deny they need help as they fear losing their independence.  However getting the proper care can actually help make them feel more independent as they know they can live their life without worry and help is available when they need it.   

Experts cite several common signs that may indicate your parent needs more assistance including changes in the way they live.  For incidence if your mom was always a good housekeeper, and now her home is looking un-kept, or your dad who always took pride in his appearance, now looks as if he is not bathing regularly.  Significant weight loss may also mean a senior is not eating well and/or having trouble preparing meals. 

Watch for signs your parent is having trouble walking or appears unsteady and is having difficulty getting up from a seated position.  Other changes are signs of confusion or uncertainty performing familiar tasks.  A dangerous side effect of poor memory can be seniors forgetting to take medications or not following their doctor’s care plan.  Errands can also be difficult to do as many seniors are uncomfortable driving and many stop driving altogether. 

While assisted living was a relatively new concept when it first began around 25 years ago, today it is the fastest growing care option for seniors who are able to live independently but require a little assistance.  At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan, we provide assistance with “activities of daily living” (ADLs) such as: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and more.  Our community, located in the Denver suburb of Centennial, offers a total of 55 private assisted living suites and 29 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. 

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.   Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.    

MorningStar’s Holistic Approach to Memory Care

MorningStar at Bear Creek is a senior living community devoted to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Our specially trained staff provides personalized care for residents using a holistic approach to palliate symptoms and revive joy.  

Our 48 suite secure and loving memory care community can provide the care your family member needs at the onset of the disease through to the most advanced stages where the highest level of care is required.  The creative side of our care begins with learning about each resident.  We interview the family to get a thorough understanding of a person’s history and use that knowledge to aid in their care and to develop a trust between the resident and our staff.  To help control adverse behaviors associated with the disease, we use a variety of multi-sensory cues, including aromatherapy, to calm and to awaken memories, to support capabilities and to affirm the individual’s dignity and value.  

Popular activities with our residents include music memories, trivia, crafts, and movies starring some of the great actors of all time such as John Wayne, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.  Our wide scope of activities means that regardless of interest, residents are sure to find something they like to do.  Whether it is joining a sing-a-long, jewelry making, or having the opportunity to attend church service, MorningStar is a great place to call home. 

We know a prognosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia is frightening, which is why we work closely with our families to help them understand what is happening to their loved one.   MorningStar at Bear Creek is proud to be a resource center for Colorado Springs. Please contact us to learn more about MorningStar at Bear Creek including day programs and respite care (short term). 

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 all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, and we are 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.

Specialized Care for Alzheimer’s and Dementia-related Diseases

At MorningStar Senior Living at Bear Creek, our community is dedicated to the specialized care of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  We take a holistic approach to our care, which starts with the utmost respect and compassion for each resident, borne out of a deep understanding of the many pathologies known collectively as dementia, including the most prevalent, Alzheimer’s disease. 

The goal of MorningStar’s methods is to affirm dignity and value of each resident and to support choice and independence as much as possible.  By interviewing family members, we gather together a complete history of a resident’s preferences, abilities and idiosyncrasies and use that information to create trust between staff and residents. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek offers 48 suites in a setting specifically designed to enhance our residents’ freedom and fully accommodate the disposition and behavior of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Residents of our community have a wide selection of meaningful wellness programs as well as purposeful activities which help maintain respect and dignity.  Our programs include a variety of exercise options, music, life skills, art, and entertainers.  

Our warm and loving community at Bear Creek also offers residents the freedom to safely and securely enjoy the outdoors with an exterior courtyard, fire-side patios and strolling paths.  As we are pet-friendly, our strolling paths are a great place for residents to take their dog for a walk.   Visit our website to learn more about our community. 

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 all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, and we are 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.

Checking Your Blood Pressure is Especially Important for Seniors

The older you become the more likely it is that you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP).  Hypertension is a blood pressure reading of over 140 (upper number or systolic pressure), and higher than 90 (lower number or diastolic pressure).  Systolic pressure is the number measured when your heart beats and diastolic is the number when your heart is at rest between beats.   You can have HBP for years and not experience any symptom which is why it is known as the silent killer.  HBP is the blood pushing against artery walls more forcefully (higher pressure) which is how damage is caused over a period of time.   People with HPB are at an added risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and other serious complications.

Blood pressure should be checked on several different occasions over a period of a couple of weeks.  Blood pressure can be checked at home with a home blood pressure measurement device or monitor. It is important that you know how to use the monitor correctly and that the cuff fits you properly. For example, a cuff that is too small may give you a reading that is higher than it actually is.

Once it is established that you have suffer from hypertension, there are a number of things you can do to improve the situation.  It is recommended that you:

•  Limit your intake of sodium (some studies suggest no more than a teaspoon a day)
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Control your weight, and if you have a high BMI, try and reduce your weight
•  Follow the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension which is a low-fat diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and grains

There are several different categories of drugs that are used to treat hypertension.  Sometimes a doctor may prescribe a combination of drugs.  Even with taking the medications, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle. 

For informational purposes only, please consult your health care provider if you have any questions regarding your health.

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.   Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.    

Sources: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/high-blood-pressure/

nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodpressure/symptomsanddiagnosis/01.html

Services to Meet Your Every Need

MorningStar at Jordan’s assisted living is just the place for seniors who require a little assistance with their daily personal care and wish to live in a community with a home-like atmosphere.  You will find a wealth of amenities such as delicious, nutritional meals as well as an on-site chapel, theatre, library (including multiple computers and newspapers), salon, general store and much more.  Every day our residents are treated to a choice of daily activities that include games, scrapbooking, art classes, writing groups, flower arranging movie nights, sing-alongs, and a variety of physical activities to name but a few.    

In addition we provide a wide range of professional clinical services to meet your health needs like having a full-time licensed nurse on staff and 24-hour Care Managers.  Each shift also has a CPR trained staff member.  We have Certified Med Care Managers and each resident has their care plan reviewed periodically as well as scheduled health and wellness evaluations.   

The MorningStar community offers the convenience of pharmacy services and onsite dental and podiatry services.  Furthermore, we partner with home health agencies to provide our residents with nursing, therapy, and social work services if needed.  As a resident, you will have a choice of physicians and receive scheduled visits.  We also provide diabetic management, oxygen administration, and catheter and colostomy care as well as palliative and hospice care and much more.        

All of our resident-centered clinical assistance is done through the full authority of our license from the Department of Health with the goal of providing each resident with a higher quality of care at a lower cost.  Please visit our website for more information about the extensive services provided to MorningStar residents.   

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.   Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.      

Strokes – Learn the Warning Signs

More than 140,000 people die each year from a stroke in the United States and it is the third leading cause of death according to The Internet Stroke Center.  In addition they report that approximately 795,000 people suffer from a stroke each year, which means on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke.  Strokes are also the leading cause of serious, long-term disabilities and a stroke can take up to two years or more to recover from.  Statistically almost three-quarters of all strokes are in people over the age of 65. 

The National Stroke Association recommends that “FAST” is a simple way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke.  By having the information you need to quickly identify the signs of a stroke and calling 9-1-1 for help, you can improve a person’s chances for a better recovery.   They also advise that you note the time you first noticed the symptoms as this can determine the course of treatment.   

To identify the warning signs of a stroke using FAST includes:

F   FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?    

A  ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?  

S  SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?    

T  TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. 

The experts at the WebMD website advise that if a loved one has suffered from a stroke, you should take the time to educate yourself on their condition and prognosis.  One way to do this is to take advantage of hospital run programs to learn as much as you can about strokes and the rehabilitation process.  Also they caution that you should check with your insurance and Medicare coverage to find out what expenses are covered and what your responsibilities will be.  

This post is for informational purposes only, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.   Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.       

Sources:

strokecenter.org/patients/about-stroke/stroke-statistics/

stroke.org/understand-stroke/recognizing-stroke/act-fast

webmd.com/stroke/features/stroke-recovery-tips-for-the-caregiver  

Helpful Tips to Organizing Your Paperwork

It is especially important for older adults to make sure their paperwork is up-to-date and organized.  This is necessary for not only your own wellbeing but so a family member (be sure to let them know where it is) can access the required documents in the event of an emergency.  Your organization should include all financial and medical records as well as legal documents.   

To help you get started, several websites offer downloadable forms including personal medical history forms.  Update this form as needed to reflect changes in your or your loved one’s health and medications and include a family health history.  Your paperwork should also include information regarding your Social Security benefits and Medicare.   

Financial documents should include information on stocks, bonds, and mutual fund investments.  You will also want to list all bank accounts and safety deposit boxes as well as credit card accounts.  Include in your financial records any mortgage obligations and other liabilities and debts along with the deeds and titles to property you own.  Don’t forget to add property tax information and your most recent tax return.  In addition record the location of all of your valuables.     

Your legal documents should include your Will, a Power of Attorney and an Advance Medical Directive.  These documents cannot be signed by someone who is incapacitated so it is important to do it before the need arises.  An Advance Medical Directive can include a Living Will that allows you to state the type of treatment you may or may not wish to receive if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.  You may want to include a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care that allows you to designate a person to make decisions for you in the event you are unable. 

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan, we offer 55 beautiful, all-inclusive private suites for assisted living and 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care for those with memory impairment.  Please visit our website to learn more about our loving community and use our online form to setup a tour. 

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest.”  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.   Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.   

Sources: stretcher.com/stories/15/15nov23e.cfm

sageminder.com/Caregiving/CaregivingBasics/OrganizedCaregiver.aspx