Care Designed for Those with Dementia

If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, you may be coming to the realization that their needs are more than you can manage on your own and are ready for help.  If that sounds like you, it is now time to start researching the various care options in your area. 

One choice is to place your family member in a community specifically designed to serve the needs of those with dementia.  Memory care provides long-term, intensive care that is more specialized and comprehensive than assisted living.  Most are equipped to care for residents at all stages of the disease and include 24-hour supervision.  The facilities are secure to   reduce the risks of wandering and many have features such as color-coding to help residents safely navigate through the hallways. 

You will also find the best memory care communities provide programs that address the needs of residents such as helping to calm or provide stimulation as needed and can actually offer your loved one a better quality of life.  Communities that provide memory care report they are able to reduce medications and medication side effects as well as increase nutrition and wellness.  They also say residents have fewer falls, injuries, and hospital visits; along with more independence and social interactions. Most importantly, memory care communities cite that as many as three-fourths of their residents improve or maintain their level of mental functioning.

If you are in the Colorado Springs’ area, we encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our exceptional community.  MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek is devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s or other types of memory loss.    

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 invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional memory care in Colorado Springs.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-11-4-memory-care/       

Assisted Living May be More Affordable than You Think

As families try to figure out how make sure their parent or another elderly relative gets the proper care, many shy away from the option of assisted living as they think it is too expensive.  However, the opposite may be true.  Assisted living can be less expensive than the costs of trying to cobble together the care your parent needs.  

For instance, if your parent lives alone, their cost-of-living includes yearly taxes as well as a mortgage or rental payment and expenses incurred with routine maintenance and repairs.  They are also responsible for utility bills that continue to rise each year while their income may not be.

Your parent may also be paying for in-home care that cannot only be costly but may not be entirely adequate to ensure their safety 24/7.  Furthermore, if the home requires modifications to accommodate their limited mobility, these changes are typically expensive.  Also, the modifications may result in a lower selling price once you do sell the home.  

If your parent lives by themselves, they may be lonely and feel isolated especially if they no longer drive.  The website, aPlaceforMom.com, states that, “seniors who live alone often experience social isolation and poor nutrition which contributes to cognitive decline, health problems, depression and a lower quality of life.”  They may additionally require assistance to get to doctor appointments, to run errands or buy groceries, prepare meals, etc.

Many folks who tour an assisted living community initially experience sticker shock when they learn the cost of assisted living, but according to the experts, it is a great value.  The aPlaceforMom site has a chart that shows once you add up all the services and amenities included in the cost; it may actually be less than half the cost of getting care for your elderly parent at home. 

We encourage you to visit MorningStar at Arrowhead’s website to learn more about our comfortable, loving community.  When you are there, take a look at our photo gallery, amenities, and our well-designed floorplans.  Please use our online form or give us a call to set up a tour.       

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our exceptional community.

Source: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/seniors-stay-home-or-move 

Seniors and Bruising

You may have wondered why it is as you have gotten older; you seem to bruise more easily and find bruises that you do even remember getting.  There is a scientific explanation for why the problem occurs more commonly in the elderly, and generally bruises do not require treatment and are not serious.   However please keep in mind that significant bruising can be a sign of medical problems and should be discussed with your health care provider.   

According to the Mayo Clinic, a bruise, know in medical terms as a contusion, occurs “when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin's surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury — often on the arms or legs.”   This impact causes blood to leak out of the vessels and look like the black-and-blue-mark we are all familiar with.  As we age, our skin becomes thinner and loses some of the fatty layer that protects our blood vessels from injury, thus making it easier to bruise. 

While most bruises do not require a doctor’s care, Dr. Aarthi Anand, a board certified geriatrician and family medicine practitioner in Los Angeles, suggests applying a frozen compress for up to twenty minutes at a time.  Also if you elevate the bruised area higher than your heart during the first 24 hours of the injury, it will help to reduce swelling and inflammation. 

There are several steps you can take to try to eliminate getting bruised in the first place.  To start, make sure your living space has a clear path to move around in so you can avoid bumping into things as well as help prevent falls.  Another thing you may want to do is to use a cane or walker if you are unsteady when you stand up or while walking. 

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

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 invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional memory care in Colorado Springs.

Sources:mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/easy-bruising/art-20045762

aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/elderly-bruising 

Pets are Good Companions for Seniors

Many studies have discovered that pets can be very beneficial for the elderly.  For example the various tasks that goes along with caring for a dog such as taking them for a walk offers good cardiovascular exercise for seniors.  Additionally petting, grooming and feeding a pet help to keep seniors engaged in life and give them a sense of purpose. 

Pets also offer unconditional love and their loyal companionship can help alleviant loneliness.  Research points to evidence that pet and human interactions can help to lower cholesterol levels, fight depression, and reduce stress, which is why it is so beneficial to the elderly. In fact researchers report that “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.”

It used to be that when someone moved into a retirement community they had to give up their pet.  Now more and more senior living communities have recognized the benefits of pets and allow seniors to bring them.  Pets can even be beneficial to others living in the community and help draw out residents that may not be very communicative.      

At MorningStar of Billings, we could not agree more about the benefits of pets.  Our community is pet friendly and we even have a community pet.  Grace, a Golden Doodle, joined our MorningStar family in 2015 and we all think that she is the cutest dog on the planet.  If no one is around to cuddle with Grace, she is content to sit quietly in her corner and chew on her rawhide rope. 

Please visit our website to learn about the best senior living community in the west end of Billings.  While we offer a country setting, our community is located near shopping centers and medical facilities. Our community has independent living, assisted living and memory care.  

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. 

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

Cataracts are a Common Problem for Seniors

As we age, it is more important than ever to get regular eye exams.  The American Optometric Association recommends that every person over the age of 60 have an annual eye examination.  They also advise that if you notice any changes in your vision, see an eye doctor immediately. 

Cataracts are a common eye problem in older adults and develop as the tissue in the eye’s lens breaks down and clumps together causing cloudy or opaque areas.  Aging or an eye injury can cause cataracts as well as other conditions such as diabetes and the long-term use of steroid medications.

The size and location of the cataract determines how much it interferes with your vision.  If the cataract is only affecting a small part of the eye, you may not even know you have one.  Noticeable symptoms occur as the cataract grows and starts clouding more of the lens and distorting the way light passes through the lens. 

The Mayo Clinic says that cataract symptoms include:

·         Clouded, blurred or dim vision

·         Increasing difficulty with vision at night

·         Sensitivity to light and glare

·         Need for brighter light for reading and other activities

·         Seeing "halos" around lights

·         Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

·         Fading or yellowing of colors

·         Double vision in a single eye

Once a person cannot clear their vision with prescription glasses and the cataract is interfering with normal daily activities including driving at night and reading, surgery is the only effect treatment.  The procedure involves removing the damaged lens and replacing it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens, which becomes a permanent part of the eye.

The surgery is done on an outpatient basis and the person experiences a few days of discomfort.  The complete healing process takes about eight weeks.  If a patient needs surgery on both eyes, the second one is done once the first eye has healed.

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

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 invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional memory care in Colorado Springs.

Sources:

aoa.org/patients-and-public/good-vision-throughout-life/adult-vision-19-to-40-years-of-age/adult-vision-over-60-years-of-age?sso=y 

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/dxc-20215129

MorningStar’s WellStar Program Focuses on the Body and the Mind

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arrowhead, we lovingly provide our residents the amenities and services to ensure their comfort and to make them feel right at home.  We also will provide a range of activities including our creative and enriching WellStar programs consisting of five wellness components – physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, and food philosophy.  Designed to help seniors stay active, engaged and productive, the programs integrates different modalities and senses for both the body and the mind. 

Introduced by our Life Enrichment coordinator, the activities tap into the unique talents and experiences of our residents and includes encouraging residents to start and lead special interest clubs themselves.  Along with recognizing a range of capabilities and a variety of interests, the goal of our activities is to elevate the mood of our residents, reduce pain, and help them to rely less on medications.   

We know that physical exercise is imperative to seniors’ health and we offer a variety of activities for our residents’ enjoyment.  In addition, meeting the spiritual needs of our residents is also important to their wellbeing, which is why a chapel, open to all faiths, is an integral part of our community.  We also offer intellectual wellness with entertaining daily doses of challenging brain games designed to practice cognitive skills and introduce new ideas.  In addition to all of this, is a natural, welcoming atmosphere that encourages socializing and helps to strengthen the bonds of our community. 

      

Last but not least our wellness program includes serving residents healthy, nutritional food.  This is why we have an Executive Chef on staff who prepares the tasty meals that are served in our beautiful dining rooms restaurant style.   

You will find the one thing that sets MorningStar at Arrowhead apart from other senior living communities is the fact that our entire team is working to build a true community and our WellStar programs exemplify that philosophy. Please visit our website to learn more about our community.

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please schedule a tour to experience firsthand our exceptional community.

Learn More About MorningStar at Bear Creek’s Memory Care

MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek is a senior living community devoted to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  At Bear Creek, we are set up to care for those from the early onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. 

Our team has been specially trained in our unique, holistic approach to memory care that begins by treating each resident with the utmost respect and compassion.  We use a variety of techniques to calm and awaken memories, support capabilities and affirm the person’s dignity and value including aromatherapy, music and art.  Even the physical structure of our building is designed to accommodate individuals with memory loss and gives residents the freedom to move safely about and explore their surroundings.

We bring a deep understanding of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to our care and recognize that the essence of the person still exists – our job is to find ways to connect with that essence regardless of the level of memory loss.  Before a person moves in, we meet with them and their family to learn everything we can about the person’s history including their vocation, talents and interests.  This information helps us to develop a trust with the person and create an individualized care plan.  

Please visit our website to learn more about our memory care community.  MorningStar at Bear Creek has 48 suites, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.  If you like what you see, we encourage you to schedule a visit to get a firsthand look at our compassionate, loving community. 

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 invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional memory care in Colorado Springs.