The Finest Independent Living in Billings

If you are looking for stress-free living and a refreshing change of lifestyle, MorningStar of Billings has it all.  With 32 free-standing cottages and 72 bright suites for senior independent living, we provide residents with carefree, comfortable retirement years. 

Independent living provides seniors with a range of benefits including predictable monthly budgeting, activities and programming, and tasty meals they no longer need to cook as well as built-in companionship.  Also, as we take care of all the maintenance, both inside and out, and offer housekeeping, which allows our residents plenty of time to pursue their interests.

Our community offers smartly-designed cottages and suites in several floorplans including one- and two-bedroom configurations.  Our cottages include a floor plan with over 1,225 square feet of space.  Each apartment has high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting, ceiling lighting, basic cable TV, utilities and much more.  

In addition, the MorningStar of Billings’ community has beautifully-appointed, warm and inviting common areas where residents can comfortably gather and enjoy the day.  When you visit our website, we encourage you to take a look at our Gallery photos to get an idea of what our community looks like.    Moreover, as a resident, you get resort-style amenities and lots of services including meals prepared by our Executive Chef that are served restaurant-style in our lovely dining room.

 

Our spacious independent and assisted living campus offers spectaculars views of the Rockies in a beautiful, park-like neighborhood. The city is home to four golf courses and just miles away from Red Lodge, Montana, with its quaint, historic buildings and a menu of winter and summer adventures.  Please contact us to set up a tour of our exceptional senior living community. 

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for residents.  We invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional senior independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Good Nutrition is Important to Seniors’ Health

The National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Aging states that, “1 in 4 older Americans have poor nutrition.”  They explain that malnutrition puts them at risk of becoming overweight or underweight as well as cause weaken muscles and bones.  

Poor nutrition also leaves you more vulnerable to disease and makes it harder to manage the diseases you may already have such as heart disease and diabetes.  An unhealthy diet can even jeopardize a senior’s immune system and make them more susceptible to colds and flus.     

Furthermore, as many seniors experience a decrease in their appetite, they need to increase the nutrient density of their food, not necessarily portion size.  This means eating a well-balanced diet chock-full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as well as more fiber.   Avoid foods high in processed sugars, saturated and trans fats, and salt.  Eating alone can also decrease a senior’s appetite so make meals a more social occasion and serve foods that taste as good as they look and smell.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, an assisted living dementia care community, we recognize that good nutrition is vital to seniors’ health. Starting with having our own Executive Chef, our meals are largely prepared from scratch and include the freshest ingredients.  MorningStar’s chef even uses “super foods” such as acai berries, Omega 3 fats, dark chocolate, and leafy, dark greens. In addition, out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised abilities at the table, food is geared toward their needs.  Our delicious nutritionally-balanced meals include easy-to-eat finger foods as well as texture-modified pureed meat and vegetables. 

Family style meals shared by residents and team members encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating.  Many of meals include offering dishes from serving bowls and platters as a way to help residents connect to memories of family meals throughout their lives.  Please visit our website for more details on all of the amenities and services offered at MorningStar at Bear Creek. 

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 dementia care in Colorado Springs.

Source: healthline.com/health/healthy-eating-for-seniors

Study Shows a Link Between a Loss of Smell and Alzheimer’s Disease

A study has revealed a link between a declining sense of smell and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease.  Researchers found that neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s has a notable effect on the brain circuits that process our sense of smell.

The 2016 study was conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital and involved a group of 183 participants of which 70 were cognitively normal and 74 tested normal on cognitive tests but were concerned about their cognitive abilities.  Another 29 had MCI and 10 had been diagnosed with possible Alzheimer’s.  Those who performed more poorly on the olfactory tests were found more likely to have the variant of the APOE gene, related to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.  One of the study’s authors, Mark Albers, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, states, “There is increasing evidence that the neurodegeneration behind Alzheimer’s disease starts at least 10 years before the onset of memory symptoms.”  Furthermore, he stresses the benefit of an early diagnosis as the individuals can begin appropriate therapeutic treatments. 

Dr. Albers continues, “If these results hold up, this sort of inexpensive, noninvasive screening could help us identify the best candidates for novel therapies.”  In addition identifying the disease early may also be instrumental in helping to develop effective treatments that will delay and slow the progress of the disease.    

MorningStar at Bear Creek is a specialized assisted living dementia care community that provides the Colorado Springs area with compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Our 48 suites include studio and one-and two-bedroom floor plans and all of the amenities and services required to provide the best care. 

To get a first-hand look at our loving home, we suggest you schedule a tour.  If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, we are here to help. 

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 dementia care in Colorado Springs.

Source: universityhealthnews.com/daily/memory/losing-sense-of-smell-is-early-sign-dementia/ 

Need the Best Senior Living in Glendale AZ?

Look no further!  MorningStar at Arrowhead is a beautiful, vibrant senior living community located on the north side of Glendale in the northwestern part of the Phoenix Valley.  Our community offers 60 graciously-appointed assisted living suites consisting of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 25 secure memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.   

We want you to know there are several things that set our community apart from the others and that we strive to provide residents with the best of the best.  Whether it is our gorgeous interiors and exteriors, a host of wellness programs and activities, or most importantly a responsive staff that is honored to serve seniors, we feel MorningStar offers unparalleled senior living.  Our goal is to provide residents with the care they need to lead more comfortable, healthier lives and give them a place they are proud to call “home.”   

Our location makes it easy to get to hospitals, banks, shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants and more, and among our many services and amenities, we provide scheduled transportation.  MorningStar at Arrowhead also gives families peace of mind knowing their loved one is receiving the care they need with an individualized care plan, 24/4 Care Managers, a full-time licensed nurse, and other services. 

Amenities include three daily meals prepared largely from scratch by our trained Executive Chef and served restaurant-style in our charming dining room.  At MorningStar we feel breaking bread together offers far more than physical nutrients – it helps to bond us together as family and friends.  Our community also has plenty of common areas that are perfect for entertaining family and friends, chatting with another resident, or just quietly reading a book.  In addition, our community has a fireside patio, bistro, library, chapel/theatre, private dining room for intimate dinners and more.

We encourage you to visit our website where you will find much more information regarding the best senior living in the Glendale/Peoria area.  While you are there, set up a tour to come in and experience our community firsthand. 

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. Call to schedule a visit to our exceptional community.

Scan Makes It Possible to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is identified by the buildup of toxic plaques of amyloid protein in the brain, and until recently, there was not a medical test to diagnosis the disease; it had to be done post mortem.  Now a type of scan known as amyloid PET imaging has made it possible for researchers to detect Alzheimer’s disease on living people.

The recent study was a nationwide trial with over 11,000 participants who had MCI (mild cognitive impairment) or dementia symptoms and beneficiaries of Medicare insurance.  While still evaluating all of the results, researchers report that in “more than 60 percent of participants, amyloid PET scans caused doctors to change their minds about medical management. This was more than twice the number that the investigators had been expecting.” 

To do the scan, the person first gets an injection of a chemical tracer that travels to the brain and sticks to any amyloid plaques that may be present. As the scan is performed, the tracer allows the amyloid plaques to be seen.  The test is not broadly available as insurance companies are not willing to pay for the expensive procedure but that should change over time.   

While some people may be uncomfortable with the idea of taking a test to determine if they have Alzheimer’s, researchers say it can be a good thing for several reasons.  If the amyloid PET scan rules out Alzheimer’s, doctors can re-evaluate the person and try to figure out if their symptoms are a result of a medication side effect, depression or something else. 

If the scan does indicate Alzheimer’s, the person can be given the proper medication and treatments, and along with their family, have time to prepare for the future.  The lead author on the study, Gil D. Rabinovici, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, says that, "We were impressed by the magnitude of these results, which make it clear that amyloid PET imaging can have a major impact on how we diagnose and care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline."

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 dementia care in Colorado Springs.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324877.php

Special Events at MorningStar of Billings

At MorningStar Senior Living of Billings, our goal is to provide seniors a true home where they can enjoy their retirement years as carefree as possible.  As such, our community offers all kinds of activities and entertainment in an atmosphere that fosters companionship, socialization, and just pure fun. 

For example, by taking a quick look at the special events and activities in June, you can see our residents will have an opportunity to thoroughly enjoy themselves.   Our Big Summer Kick-Off 2019 will be held this month. The High Country Cowboys from Red Lodge will be performing outside under a big tent in the parking lot and gift baskets will be available to win. All proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Furthermore, we are pleased to announce our participation in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day event on June 21st.  On the longest day of the year and the summer solstice, thousands of people will join together to show their love for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. As a part of the day’s activities, we at MorningStar will be raising funds by hosting a car wash from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along with other special activities taking place that day.

Another event for our MorningStar residents and their families in June is the Pancakes with Pop breakfast on Father’s Day.  This special meal will be held on the outdoor patio to celebrate all of our fathers and grandfathers. 

This is just a sampling of some of the special events that are in addition to our regularly scheduled activities that take place every month at MorningStar of Billings.  Our beautiful community offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care.  We invite you and your family to schedule a tour to come and discover why so many seniors are glad to call us home. 

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for residents.  We invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Those with Alzheimer’s Disease are at Risk for Heat Related Illness

Along with the arrival of summer, come the hotter temperatures.  While many of us look forward to this time of year, it is important to note that extremely hot weather can be hazardous for our elderly loved ones and especially for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. 

Experts explain that the reason seniors are more susceptible to heat related illnesses is a combination of factors such as: “alteration in fluid balance, inability to afford air conditioning or other cooling methods, medications that cause an increased susceptibility to heat stroke (as a result of interruption in normal fluid balance), and more.”  In fact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that heat-related deaths in seniors are most likely under reported each year. 

For someone suffering from Alzheimer’s, extreme heat can heighten the symptoms of Alzheimer’s including confusion, irritability and dizziness.  The risk of heat-related illness in people with dementia can be exacerbated by their being under or overweight, and/or having blood pressure and circulatory issues.  The Huff Post’s AlzLive Blog warns caretakers that many medications including those targeted to treat Alzheimer’s can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate heat. 

There are several things you can do to help the person stay cool and avoid a heat-related illness.  To start with, make sure they drink plenty of fluids (avoid sugared drinks and tea and coffee).  Stay indoors during the hottest times of day and have your loved one wear lightweight, light colored clothing.  Use air conditioning and make sure their bedding is lightweight and clean.  Experts say most importantly remember the individual might not be able to express their discomfort so it may be up to you to notice any changes or distress they are experiencing. 

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we are a team of compassionate, professionals who feel privileged to serve our most “tender residents.”  We also consider the care and support of our residents’ family members to be part of our job as we know how traumatizing a diagnosis of dementia can be for the entire family.  Please visit our website to schedule a tour of one of the area’s best Alzheimer homes. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in Alzheimer homes 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 contact us to learn more about our exceptional community. 

Sources:alzu.org/blog/2015/08/15/tips-for-avoiding-heat-related-illnesses-in-seniors-with-alzheimers-disease/, huffingtonpost.ca/alzlive/hot-temperatures-alzheimers-senirs_b_9616558.html