Socialization is Important to Our Health & Wellbeing

While children are encouraged to socialize, we often forget it is important for all of us, especially older adults, to socialize.  However as we age, circumstances such as retirement, the death of a spouse, and friends moving away or falling ill can makes it difficult for seniors to maintain healthy social connections. 

The National Institute on Aging recently reported on several studies that appear to suggest a strong correlation between social interactions and the health and well-being of older adults.  The research indicates social isolation and loneliness may have significant adverse effects on the elderly and impact their physical as well as mental health.  Scientists explain that, “Positive indicators of social well-being may be associated with lower levels of interleukin-6 in otherwise healthy people. Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory factor implicated in age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer.”

The studies suggest that socially isolated older adults have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality.  Loneliness may be a contributing factor for elevated systolic blood pressure as well as put older adults at risk for symptoms of depression.

Researchers believe that strong social connections may help to reduce stress and stave off anxiety and depression.  One study even showed a 70 percent slower decrease in cognitive decline in those with a strong social network. 

As one of Billings Montana’s top senior living facilities, the MorningStar of Billings’ community offers a whole host of wellness programs and activities that enhance and support mental, physical, spiritual and social connections.  Each day residents have the opportunity to engage the mind, body and spirit and find ways to learn and contribute.  Please visit our website to learn why our independent living, assisted living and memory care facility is such a great place to call home.

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with a unique mission statement of: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Proving a true home for residents, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  We invite you to setup a tour to experience firsthand the loving atmosphere of one of the area’s top senior living facilities.    

Source:

nia.nih.gov/about/living-long-well-21st-century-strategic-directions-research-aging/research-suggests-positive

Tips for Touring an Assisted Living Community

Just as MorningStar at Arrowhead encourages anyone interested in our community to schedule a tour, so do most other assisted living communities.   This is because you cannot really get an idea of what a community looks like or feels like without seeing it in person. 

In addition to wanting your loved one to be happy in their new “home,” your priorities most likely include finding a community that is well run, clean, and within your price range.   Experts recommend your first step should be to do some research over the Internet and on the phone.  Narrowing down your choices includes considering things such as how convenient will it be for the family to visit and is it located close to a pharmacy, medical facilities and shopping.  Furthermore, find out if the community is accepting new residents, and if not, you may want to go on their waiting list.   

Senior support network Caring.com has a great checklist (it is even printable) of tips to consider for when touring an assisted living community.  To start with, they say you should always listen to your gut instincts.   From the moment you walk through the door, do you get a good feeling?  Regardless of how beautifully decorated, does it feel welcoming and have a home-like atmosphere?  If they offer the service, eat lunch with the residents as it will help to give you a more complete picture of the community.

 

As the best assisted living Peoria AZ has to offer, MorningStar at Arrowhead in nearby Glendale is proud of each and every aspect of our community.  Not only is our community beautifully decorated and designed for residents’ every comfort and need, but we have a staff that is committed to serving seniors and come to work each day with a smile on their face.  Please visit our website to learn more. 

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Arrowhead’s foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, all directed at creating a true home for our residents. Contact us to schedule a tour to fully experience the finest assisted living Peoria AZ area offers.

Source: caring.com/articles/assisted-living-facilities-choosing-the-right-one#research

Touring an Assisted Living Community

Looking for Alzheimer homes in the Colorado Springs area?  At A Place for Mom’s website, the largest assisted living referral service, they offer tips for touring a senior community.  During the tour make sure you think about you or your loved one actually living at the community.   Look around and see if you notice a general feeling of uncleanliness and/or unpleasant odors?  Do staff members seem friendly and are they making eye contact and appear to be listening to residents?  

Be sure to ask about the ratio of staff to residents and what type of training they receive as well as security measures and safety accommodations.    Don’t forget to take the time to meet with the management team and ask them about the community’s mission.  Its also recommended to eat a meal at the community as it will give you a chance to share leisurely time with the residents.  In addition, you get to experience for yourself the community’s cuisine.          

We would like to invite you to set up a tour of MorningStar at Bear Creek in order to experience our beautiful, loving community in person.  As dementia care specialists, our community is set up to provide care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other type of dementia from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.  We feel honored to walk alongside and support each resident and their family as they go through this difficult journey. 

On our website, you will find a convenient link to schedule a tour or give us a call.  As we tailor the tour to your priorities, we recommend you allow at least 45 minutes so you can get a good look at our entire community.  We also invite you to join us for lunch (just let us know when you set up your tour).  If you do want to join us, please set aside at least 90 minutes. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in Alzheimer homes and dementia care with a distinct mission statement of “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 set up a tour to see for yourself our unique approach to memory care.  

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/tips-for-touring-assisted-living

MorningStar at Arrowhead Offers the Groundbreaking iN2L Technology

Residents of the MorningStar at Arrowhead community have the opportunity to participate in a variety of wellness programs and activities as well as receive resort-style amenities.  Along with an on-site chapel/theatre, bistro, salon, fitness room, and more, residents are provided with three daily meals served restaurant style and prepared by our Executive Chef.  We also have a library that includes a computer available for our residents. 

Another new technology we are proud to offer residents is the groundbreaking “It’s Never 2 Late” (iN2L) computer program that combines touchscreen computers with intuitive picture-based software.  The user-friendly technology components are designed so residents can enjoy using a computer regardless of their past experience or physical or intellectual limitations. Offering a library with over 3,000 selections, iN2L users are provided intellectual and physical stimulation, social and spiritual connections, emotional support and vocational interests.  Seniors can easily navigate the web, read online newspapers, play trivia and brain fitness games, take quizzes and virtual tours, participate in Skype web chats and much more.  

In addition each resident can personalize a “My Page” and set it up with their history and email address as well as web and entertainment preferences.  The My Page feature also makes it easy for family members to share their latest photos and news.   We encourage you to come in and ask for a demonstration to experience firsthand the scope of the program.   

The best senior living Peoria AZ area has to offer, MorningStar at Arrowhead is nestled on the north side of nearby Glendale in the popular residential neighborhood of Arrowhead.  Please see our website to learn more about our exceptional community and for contact information, pricing and availability.  

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Arrowhead’s foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, all directed at creating a true home for our residents. Contact us to schedule a tour to fully experience the finest senior living Peoria AZ area offers.

Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The COPD Foundation states that, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis.”  As COPD progresses, it results in increasing breathlessness as the lungs are further damaged.  The damage is permanent and is the 4^th leading cause of death for people 65 to 84 years old.   

Often in the early stages, people mistake the symptoms of COPD with fatigue and getting older.  In addition, many people may have the disease for years before experiencing the symptoms of COPD that includes breathlessness, wheezing, or a chronic cough.  

You may be at risk for COPD if you have a history of long-term smoking, a job that exposed you to dust or chemicals or other indoor air pollutants, second-hand smoke exposure, or lots of exposure to outdoor air pollution.  You may additionally be at risk if you had lots of respiratory infections as a child or have a genetic risk factor for emphysema that is related to a deficiency of the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein in the bloodstream. 

    

COPD is diagnosed with a simple procedure known as a spirometry test that measures how well your lungs are working.  If your results show signs of COPD, you will need to consult with your doctor regarding treatment.  It is important for anyone with COPD to get a yearly flu shot and a vaccine for pneumonia as they can help to prevent some infections.  Good nutrition and staying as active as possible is also important.  

The Mayo Clinic reminds anyone diagnosed with COPD that is not the end of the world.   They say most people have a mild form of the disease and require little therapy other than to quit smoking.  For more advanced cases, there are effective therapies available to “control symptoms, reduce your risk of complications and exacerbations, and improve your ability to lead an active life.”

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 within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best assisted living for dementia residents in Colorado Springs.

As One Resident Says, “Morningstar Is a Wonderful Place to Live!”

As it turns out, not only do we feel that we are one of the area’s finest senior living facilities, but many of our residents and families are glad to tell us they agree!  You cannot imagine how gratifying this is for the entire MorningStar of Billings’ team, as we are dedicated to providing residents with all the care and services they need for carefree retirement years. 

One of the things we always encourage interested families to do is to schedule a tour with us.  We sincerely believe that you cannot experience the loving, warm atmosphere of the Billing’s community without a firsthand view.  Therefore to hear the following from a resident’s family member was music to our ears.  They write, “I walked into a beautiful and clean community. The tour was fantastic and informative. After touring other facilities in Billings, I felt most comfortable having my parents here at MorningStar!”

We were again reminded of how very proud we are of our loving team as we read the words of another family member who writes that her mother has been a MorningStar resident for over a year and a half.   She ends her note by saying, “The quality of her life has improved dramatically. She’s made lots of friends, and is much more active than she was before. I highly recommend MorningStar.”

From the wise words of a resident who sums up the MorningStar of Billings’ experience as “Great apartment, good food, great management, and pleasant residents. A great place to live,” we think it says it all.  We invite area families to visit our website to set up a tour or to inquire about pricing and availability.  Be sure to ask us about our Lifetime Rate offer in memory care (rent & care included) and a Two-Year Rate Freeze (rent only) offer in assisted living.  Both are available for a limited time.   

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.  We invite you to set up a tour to one of Billings’ foremost senior living facilities.        

A Professional Diagnosis is Important if You Suspect Alzheimer’s Disease

Experts say it is important to seek the advice of your doctor if memory problems are seriously affecting your life.  To determine if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, the Mayo Clinic explains, “doctors conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and identify behavior changes. They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment.” 

During your appointment, the Mayo Clinic says expect to be evaluated on:

·         Whether you have impaired memory or thinking (cognitive) skills

·         Whether you exhibit changes in personality or behaviors

·         The degree of your memory or thinking impairment or changes

·         How your thinking problems affect your ability to function in daily life

·         The cause of your symptoms

Tests include neuropsychological tests that are used to access your abstract thinking, problem-solving skills, memory, language usage and other related skills.  Your doctor may also schedule braining-imaging tests.  While these brain scans are not used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, they can detect other conditions such as hemorrhages, brain tumors or damage from a past stroke.  They are also used to establish a baseline in terms of the amount of degeneration seen on the scans. 

Your doctor may also talk with your family to learn more about the types of changes they have noticed and how they have affected who you are now.  All of the information is then used to rule out other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, or depression that may be causing your symptoms.

It is understandable that people are often afraid to go to a doctor once they suspect Alzheimer’s disease.  Furthermore, many people feel that since there is no cure, what is the point?  However, doctors stress once you are diagnosed with the disease, you can start getting the proper treatment as well as consider your care options and plans for the future.

 

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 the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs. 

Source:mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048075