Sun Protection is Still Important for Seniors

Now that summer is here, it is important to apply sunscreen if you are going to be outside for any length of time regardless of your age.  Sometimes seniors mistakenly think since they have never had skin cancer, they probably are not going to get it now.  However the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) warns that older adults have already sustained decades of damage from the sun, which increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

The SCF explains that, “Suffering just five sunburns over your lifetime more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma, and each successive tan or sunburn raises the risks further.”  While it is not known how much damage results in skin cancer, we do know it is important to continue to protect our skin.  

In addition statistics show skin cancer to be on the rise.  Scientists speculate one reason for this is the earth’s ozone layer has depleted, which is allowing increased levels of UV-B to reach the Earth.  This compounds the negative effects of spending too much time in the sun and can cause the development of wrinkles and premature aging skin.  Wearing sunscreen can also help prevent facial brown spots and skin discolorations as well as reduce the appearance of facial red veins and blotchiness. 

The experts stress that sun precautions for seniors is fairly easy.  To start with, stay out of tanning beds.  Use effective sun protection and avoid spending time outdoors between 10 AM and 4 PM when UV rays are the most intense.  Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun-safe clothing and UV-filtering sunglasses.  Sunscreen should be SPF 15 or higher, and if you intend to be out for longer periods, use a water resistance 30+ SPF.  Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming. 

There is no need to worry about a lack of Vitamin D if you always wear sunscreen.  Doctors report you get your vitamin D requirement of 600 IU or 15mcg per day with normal daily outdoor activities of five to 30 minutes two times a week.   

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

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 visit to experience firsthand our beautiful community.

Caregivers for Loved Ones with Dementia Need Support

The Alzheimer’s Association states that the number of adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is increasing and there is now an estimated 5.3 million Americans with the disease.  They add that every 66 seconds someone comes down with the disease.  Among that number includes approximately 200,000 people who are under the age of 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's.   Experts also predicts that as we continue to live longer, the number of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s will  grow to 7.1 million adults by 2025.  Right now it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and currently, cannot be prevented or cured.

These sobering statistics mean that more families are finding themselves in the situation of having a family member with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.  For those who are family caregivers, the Alzheimer's Association found it can take an overwhelming toll on them both physically and emotionally.  Their studies show that close to 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers “rate their stress level as high or very high.”  Approximately 40 percent of family caregivers suffer from depression and required healthcare services related to the emotional and physical toll of their caregiving.

Experts recommend that if you are family caregiver that you reach out for help from a variety of sources including relatives, friends, and local community organizations.  Caregiver support groups can also be helpful as you can connect with other who are dealing with the same problems.  Respite care and day care centers can also give you some relief from the responsibility and difficulties of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. 

Another solution is to contact MorningStar at Bear Creek and learn about our experienced and compassionate memory care.  Our community is devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  Please see our website for more information about the loving approach we take to memory care.

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 the best memory care in Colorado Springs.

Sources: alz.org/facts/overview.asp#prevalence

familydoctor.org/caring-for-a-relative-who-has-dementia/

Fun Activities for Residents as well as Families & Friends

At the MorningStar of Billings senior living community we know how to have fun.  Along with a large range of everyday activities, we also host a variety of special events that are open to our residents’ families and friends. 

One example was our annual “Uplifting Day” in June that raised money to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.  Throughout the day, residents, team members, and families joined together to help wash cars, raffle baskets of goodies and eat delicious purple desserts!   

In July we had a blast proudly wearing our red, white and blues during our 4^th of July Independence Party.  Residents and team members alike enjoyed the day, which included taking selfies in funky USA glasses and stuffing ourselves on a yummy BBQ buffet!

Now that August is here it is time to pull out your Hawaiian shirts as our Luau is returning on Saturday, August 18^th.  We ask all residents to RSVP by Monday, August 13 to let us know whether you plan to attend and if you will bring guests.  Each resident is allowed a maximum of four guests.  As it is MorningStar’s 15^th anniversary, we also plan to have some extra fun activities leading up the Luau.  

Also if you or a loved one is looking for memory care or assisted living options in the area, you will want to know about MorningStar of Billings’ new offer that allows incoming residents to lock in the cost of their rent.  This limited time offer is good on a suite within our memory care or on an assisted living suite and gives residents the security of knowing what their monthly living costs will be.  In memory care, the offer is an all-inclusive Lifetime Rate that includes the rent of the suite as well as individualized care.  In assisted living we are offering a Two-year Rate Freeze on the rent only.  Please call us today for details and availability. 

   

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.      

MorningStar at Arrowhead Offers the Highest Quality Senior Living

With beautiful decor by the award-winning firm of Thoma-Holec Design, MorningStar at Arrowhead has common areas and spacious suites that provide seniors with a lifestyle that is second to none.  Our community offers the highest quality assisted living and respite care as well as compassionate memory care within a warm and loving environment.  We are located on the north side of Glendale AZ near Peoria in the popular residential neighborhood of Arrowhead.

When you visit our website, we encourage you to take a look at our beautiful photo gallery that shows off our beautiful spaces.  Throughout our community, you will find inviting areas to sit and have a chat with friends or family or the perfect spot to find some solitude and just enjoy the day.    Looking at the stunning pictures, can you imagine yourself sitting in our attractive dining room eating meals served restaurant-style and expertly prepared by a professional chef or spending a morning getting pampered in our onsite salon?

MorningStar at Arrowhead has created the perfect physical setting as well as put together a team of devoted caregivers that feel honored to serve to provide our residents with a “true home.”  Our assisted living gives residents the freedom to enjoy their retirement years as we see to it that all of their needs are met. 

For families who are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss, MorningStar’s specialized care offers you peace of mind knowing your loved one is getting the best available care.  We invite you to set up a tour as nothing beats seeing our home in person. 

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 visit to experience firsthand our beautiful community.

Type 2 Diabetes Can be Controlled

A recently published report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than 100 million adults in the U.S. are now living with diabetes or prediabetes.  As of 2015, 30.3 million Americans (9.4 percent of the U.S. population) have diabetes and another 84.1 million have prediabetes.  Rates of diabetes increase as people age, and among those 65 years and older, 25 percent have diabetes.

That means more than one-third of U.S. adults have prediabetes, which is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.   The CDC warns that if prediabetes is left untreated and steps are not taken to make healthier lifestyle choices as many as 15 to 30 percent of those people will have type 2 diabetes within five years.  Furthermore, one of their biggest concerns is the fact that the majority of people with prediabetes do not know it. 

While diabetes may be a common disease, self-management is a very important aspect of how well someone lives with the disease.  Organizations like the CDC and the American Diabetes Association strongly encourage anyone with the disease to get educated and learn about the latest medical therapies and treatment options.  

Your lifestyle can make a difference in managing or reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes including adopting healthier eating habits, increasing your physical activity, and maintaining or losing a modest amount of weight.   If you already have diabetes, these changes can help control the severity of the disease.

If you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, are overweight or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you may be at risk for developing diabetes.  The American Diabetes Association warns that many of the symptoms can be mild and go unnoticed but early detection and treatment of the disease is important and can decrease the risk of developing complications.  They recommend discussing any concerns with your doctor. 

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

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 the best memory care in Colorado Springs.

Source:

cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html

Eye Care Recommendations from the Experts

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says that early signs of disease or changes in vision can start years before they become a real problem.  This is why they recommend “adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should receive a baseline comprehensive eye evaluation at age 40.” 

They also advise that individuals without any risk factors should have an eye exam by an ophthalmologist every 2 to 4 years.  People age 55 to 64 without risk factors should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 3 years.  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.

Getting regular eye exams and being aware of any changes to your vision is important as many age-related eye problems do not show early symptoms.  Furthermore, common health problems including diabetes and hypertension can cause eye-related issues as well as some medications. 

A thorough eye exam will check your visual acuity and peripheral vision, coordination of eye muscles and the pupils’ response to light and color testing.  The ophthalmologist also examines the interior and back of the eye along with the inside and outside of the eyelid.  In addition, eye fluid pressure is measured with a tonometer, which blows a puff of air onto the eye.  The test is used to check for glaucoma and other diseases.

You will additionally be monitored for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease.  This test uses special instruments to examine the back of your eye to detect and monitor conditions affecting the macula.  

Since many eye conditions do not develop symptoms until they are quite advanced, it is important to follow the eye exam recommendations.   Also, the risk of glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration increases as we get older. 

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 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 visit to experience firsthand our beautiful community.

Source: aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101

Learn More About Osteoporosis

While one in four women 65 years and older (one in two women over the age of 80) have osteoporosis, it is not a disease that only affects women.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in ten men older than 80 also have some level of bone loss. 

 

So what is osteoporosis?  Experts state that the disease is the gradual weakening of the skeletal system and causes bones to become weak and brittle.  This results in an increased risk of fractures from falls or mild stresses as the bones thin (a decrease of bone mass and density) and become depleted of bone calcium and protein.

To diagnose the disease, patients are screened using a dual X-ray absorptiometry, also called a DXA or DEXA.  Doctors use the test to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip or total body to help evaluate a person’s risk of fracture.  The noninvasive scan is painless and usually takes only 10 or 20 minutes.

While there are risk factors associated with a greater likelihood of developing osteoporosis, some people develop it without any of them.  Gender, family history, age, body size and ethnicity are risk factors you cannot change but there are other things you can change.   Bone loss can be caused by a lifetime diet that is low in calcium and vitamin D as well as the long-term use of several medications such as glucocorticoids. Lack of exercise, cigarette smoking, and excessive consumption of alcohol can also lead to osteoporosis.

Many doctors would like to see more adults tested at a younger age so if there are any signs of the disease, it can be identified early and treatment and lifestyle changes made years before bones become brittle.  Right now bone mineral density screening is recommended for all postmenopausal women and for men age 50 years and older based on risk factors and on the advice of their health care provider.   

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

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 the best memory care in Colorado Springs.

Sources:

agingcare.com/articles/an-overview-of-osteoporosis-133147.htm

webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20150813/1-in-4-senior-women-in-us-has-osteoporosis-cdc#1