You’re Never Too Old to Make a New Year’s Resolution

Experts explain that New Year’s resolutions are still important for the elderly and can even have a positive impact on their health.  Not only do they offer an opportunity to look forward but they give a person, regardless of their age, real goals and a sense of purpose.

An article in the U.S. News & World Report cites a couple of studies that support this belief.  The first study is from Rush University and found “people who view life with a sense of purpose are two to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer's.”  In a similar study by the University, research suggests that highly organized, self-disciplined people may even be less susceptible to Alzheimer's.  Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association “showed that older adults with a solid sense of purpose tend to retain strong hand grips and walking speeds – key indicators of how rapidly people are aging.” 

To help keep your New Year’s resolutions, you should write them down.  Positive affirmations and an optimistic attitude is a great way to begin the year, and that too is most likely beneficial to our health.  Research from Columbia University showed that individuals who are typically enthusiastic and content are less likely to develop heart disease.   

Resolutions can include eating better and excising more, practical solutions such as making your home safer, or following through on your desire to record and preserve your family’s history.  You could also resolve that this will be the year you finally put together a cookbook of family favorite recipes or to create a memory album.  If loneliness is a problem, resolve that this is the year you make the point to become more social.  This may even include moving into senior living so you are naturally around more people of your age.

At MorningStar of Billings, we offer 32 free-standing cottages and 72 spacious suites for senior independent living.  In addition, we have 70 bright suites for assisted living and 36 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  Our community provides entertaining, fun and meaningful activities and programs as well as all the care services you need to live your life to the fullest.  Please visit our website to learn more about luxury senior living in Billings, MT.   

   

MorningStar of Billings offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “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 to create a true “home” for residents.  We encourage you to contact us for more information regarding unparalleled senior independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Source:health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-12-12/why-seniors-should-make-new-years-resolutions

Signs Your Loved One Needs More Care

It is sometimes difficult for adult children to realize their parent needs more care in order to ensure their safety and wellbeing.  This is why MorningStar of Fort Collins offers a Decision Guide to help families navigate through the process of making the move to senior living, especially assisted living, which is a fairly new paradigm in wellness and engagement. 

Some of the typical signs that indicate your parent needs more help include falling, driving mishaps, and forgetting significant things such as leaving the stove-top on.  Also really take a look at how they are living. Does their home seem a lot more cluttered and less tidy? Is unopened mail piling up? Does your parent suffer from failing eyesight, poor balance or forgetfulness?  Another sign your parent is not doing well on their own is if they look less groomed or appear to be wearing the same clothes for days at a time. 

When you put all of this together, it probably means your loved one is not able to care for themselves as they once did, and it is time to begin discussing alternatives to ensure their safety and wellbeing.  Start by gathering your family together in a relaxed atmosphere and approach the conversation slowly. Remember your first conversation is just a starting point and the decision will most likely be make in stages.  During the conversation it should be noted that getting the care your loved one needs will benefit the whole family. You may even be pleasantly surprised to learn your parent has started to think they need a change. 

We want you to know MorningStar of Fort Collins’s team is ready to help.  Our senior care community consists of 55 private suites specifically designed for assisted living and offers spacious studio, one bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In addition, we have another 24 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the personalized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.   Please visit our website to learn more.

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Fort Collins represents the very best in senior care with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to set up a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community.

Make Sure Your Senior Loved One is Keeping Warm this Winter

As we age, it is important to stay warm and to dress appropriately during the colder months.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains that, “Older adults can lose body heat fast—faster than when they were young.”  They also add an illness or taking certain medications and medical conditions may make it even more difficult for the elderly to keep warm.  Also to try and stay warm, seniors have to burn more calories, which can result in weight loss.    

Making sure an elderly person is warm enough is imperative as they are more susceptible to hypothermia.  In fact, many times the person is not even aware they are experiencing symptoms of the condition.  Early signs of hypothermia include cold feet and hands, puffy or swollen face, pale skin, and shivering in some cases.  The person may also be acting sleeping, angry or confused. 

The NIA recommends if you have to go out in cold weather to wear loose layers of clothing as the air between the layers will help to keep you warm.  In addition, be sure to wear a hat and a scarf as we lose lots of body heat through our head and neck area.  If it is snowy or a cold rain, wear a waterproof coat or jacket, and if you do get damp, change your clothes as soon as you get home.    

At home, the NIA advises seniors to not try and save money by turning down the thermostat.  They say you should keep the temperature at least 68 to 70 degrees and save money by shutting off unused rooms, keeping the blinds drawn, and placing towels in front of drafty doors and windows.  Wear plenty of clothes including socks and slippers and use a throw over your legs or shoulders if you are still cold.  When you go to bed, wear long underwear under your pajamas, and if you are still cold, wear a knit cap.  Another way to generate more body heat is to routinely exercise.  This will also help to increase your appetite.

Caring for the many needs of our special seniors is what MorningStar at Bear Creek does best.  Please visit our website for more information about our exceptional assisted living for dementia patients.

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 patients in Colorado Springs.

Source: nia.nih.gov/health/cold-weather-safety-older-adults

Moderate Physical Activity Shown to Benefit Brain Function

Decreases in brain metabolism have been shown to be a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and predictive of cognitive decline and the conversion to Alzheimer’s in older adults. Scientists believe that physical activity can modulate brain glucose metabolism but until now it was unclear what level of intensity and duration of exercise was most beneficial. 

The National Institute on Aging published an article that found “even moderate physical activity may increase metabolism in brain regions important for learning and memory.”   The NIA-supported study was led by Dr. Ozioma Okonkwo of the University of Wisconsin. 

Researchers had cognitively normal, late-middle age (average age 64 years old) participants wear an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days to measure their daily physical activity.  Afterward, they looked at the amount of time each participant engaged in “light (e.g., a slow walk), moderate (e.g., a fast walk), and vigorous activities (e.g., run).”  The data was analyzed to determine how they “corresponded with glucose metabolism within brain areas that have been demonstrated to be impacted in people with Alzheimer’s.”

Increasing the levels of moderate physical activity showed an increase in cerebral glucose metabolism across all brain regions examined.  Participants that engaged in light physical activity had no changes to the metabolism in any of the brain regions examined.  Another thing that impacted the amount of brain glucose metabolism was the duration of time spent in moderate physical activity.  Researchers found that the more time a person spent doing moderate levels of physical activity (average 43.3 min/day to average 68.1 min/day), the greater the increase in brain glucose metabolism.

The NIA says it is encouraging evidence that physical activity may be beneficial for neurometabolic function.  Moreover, they say it is a “critical contribution to the efforts to identify the intensity and duration of physical activity that confer the most advantage for combating Alzheimer’s-related changes in mid-life.”

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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

 

Source:nia.nih.gov/news/moderate-physical-activity-linked-increases-metabolism-across-brain-regions

Heart Disease in Women

While coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for women, research suggests it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed in women.  Medical News Today explains that CHD occurs when the arteries delivering oxygenated blood into the heart, which pumps it out to other organs, are unable to ‘service’ the heart effectively.”  Doctors also report women are more at risk for developing non-obstructive CHD, which is a condition that causes the arteries going into the heart to be abnormally squeezed by surrounding tissue.

One reason women are often under diagnosed with CHD is the symptoms are so varied in individuals as well as between men and women.  Non-obstructive CHD can also be symptom-less and go undetected for years.  Moreover the symptoms women do experience are more atypical and can include things like “back pain, burning in the chest, abdominal discomfort, nausea, or fatigue — which makes the diagnosis more difficult,” says one researcher.  Another problem is many women wait to get medical attention, and in some cases, not until the disease has progressed, thus delaying the start of treatment.  

Researchers also recognize that most of the CHD studies done in the past have concentrated on men and have under represented women.  Hopefully with this understanding, more women will be included in future research.

MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek provides compassionate and loving assisted living for dementia patients in Colorado Springs, CO.  Our care services include 24/7 Care Managers, Certified Med Care Managers, scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations, CPR-trained team members on every shift, Licensed Nurse onsite 5-7 days/week and on call 24/7, and much more.  We also provide a full range of auxiliary care services to deal with other health concerns on an as needed basis.  Please visit our website for more information.

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 patients in Colorado Springs.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324659.php

Enjoy Your Senior Years at MorningStar

MorningStar at Arrowhead’s goal is to provide seniors with a lifestyle of wellness, comfort and community.  By offering beautiful surroundings, a dedicated care team and a host of amenities and services, our residents enjoy carefree retirement years and have the time to pursue interests both new and old. 

Our first-class amenities start with delicious meals largely prepared from scratch and served restaurant style in our charming dining room.  We also have our own bistro, a fitness room, a general store, and an in-house salon that offers hairstyling, manicures and pedicures.  If you are looking for a massage, we can accommodate you.  In addition, we have a chapel/theatre and a private dining room for intimate dinners. 

Each day, we offer a whole host of wellness programs and activities that are designed to enhance health and wellness, stimulate your brain and encourage connections.  Amidst our beautiful grounds, we have a fireside patio and porches, and our memory care residents have a secure courtyard where they too can safely enjoy the outdoors.  Along with scheduled transportation, we routinely take road trips to a variety of cultural destinations, shopping, restaurants, parks and more.  

We encourage you to visit our website for more details about our remarkable senior living community.  Our property has 60 assisted living suites, in a choice of spacious studios or one and two-bedroom floor plans.  Our Reflections Neighborhood is devoted to providing care for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  If this all sounds good, please schedule a tour!

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. 

MorningStar at Arrowhead Provides Comfort, Wellness and Community

MorningStar at Arrowhead offers the security and comfort to age in place and is designed to provide our residents carefree retirement years.  As a resident, you will have a beautifully-appointed suite to provide you with all the privacy you need as well as the opportunity to make new friends and participate in a wide assortment of wellness programs and activities. 

Both inside and out, you will find a community complete with warm and inviting common areas to sit and enjoy a chat with friends or to enjoy the weather from one of our scenic outdoor courtyards.  If you take a look at our web page’s photo gallery, you will find pictures of our cozy living room, comfortable dining room, our suites, outdoor living areas and more. 

As a resident of MorningStar, you will also discover we have a monthly calendar of meaningful wellness programs as well as creative and social activities to choose to participate in.  We recognize that staying physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things we can all do for ourselves, so our activities include a variety of exercise programs of which you are sure to find some of them to your liking.  Other activities include word and board games, puzzles, book club, Bingo, movie nights and much, much more.  We also have interesting special outings and events as well as scheduled transportation.   

With 60 bright suites for assisted living and 25 secure suites devoted to the individualized, care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, MorningStar at Arrowhead is designed with all the comforts of home.  In case you were wondering, we are pet friendly.  Please visit our website to learn more about the area’s finest assisted living and memory care community. 

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arrowhead represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We invite you to schedule a tour to discover one of the area’s top assisted living and memory care communities.