Socialization is Beneficial to Seniors’ Health and Wellbeing

Studies show that socialization is a key component to a senior’s overall health and can help to reduce stress and anxiety and maintain cognitive health as well as improve longevity.  Conversely older adults who are isolated have been found to be more at risk for a range of health problems including cardiovascular disease and depression. 

Researchers also found that the more social a person is the more likely they are to exercise on a regular basis.  This is important as older adults are susceptible to a number of health conditions, including osteoporosis, heart trouble, cancer and chronic illnesses that can benefit from exercise. In addition daily exercise can prevent muscles and bones from deteriorating in old age.  A good way for older adults to exercise is at a community class designed for seniors as you have the opportunity to socialize and to stay motivated. 

Senior living communities such as MorningStar of Billings provide seniors a healthy lifestyle designed around comfort, wellness and community.  Our mission is to care for residents’ physical, emotional, spiritual and wellness needs within a loving, secure setting. MorningStar’s monthly calendar consists of a range of exercise classes, arts and crafts projects, and enjoyable, challenging games.  We also have fun celebrating holidays and hosting special events and outings. 

MorningStar of Billings offers 32 cottages and 72 spacious suites for senior independent living along with 70 assisted living suites for those needing help with daily activities.   Our Reflections Neighborhood has 36 suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment.  Please visit our website to learn more.

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.

Source:

actsretirement.org/latest-retirement-news/blog/2017/12/12/the-importance-of-socializing-for-seniors/

Trusted Memory Care at MorningStar of Billings

When a parent or spouse is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, there are many challenges a family goes through.  It is traumatizing get a diagnosis of the disease both for the individual as well as for the entire family.  As you come to terms with the devastating news, you are likely left with lots of questions including what will happen in the future and who will be there to provide the type of care your loved one will need.

At MorningStar of Billings, we want you to know we are here to help.  Our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community is located on the west end of town in a beautiful, park-like neighborhood near shopping, restaurants and medical facilities.   As dementia care experts, we provide specialized, individualized care to each resident and are equipped to care for those from the onset of the disease all the way through to the most advanced stages. 

Our holistic approach to memory care focuses on nurturing and supporting the essence of the individual regardless of the extent of the memory loss, and our team of compassionate caregivers feels privileged to serve seniors.  All of our 36 memory care suites are in a separate area we call Reflections Neighborhood.  This spacious neighborhood is specifically designed to allow residents the independence to safely explore their surroundings.

 

Every aspect of our dementia care addresses the unique needs of our residents starting with the very design of our community to a wide range of wellness programs and activities and healthy, delicious meals.  We encourage you to visit our website for contact information or to set up a tour of our loving 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 independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Several Types of Cancer are Now Very Treatable

While it is never good to receive a diagnosis of cancer, today there are several types of cancer that are very treatable.  Research shows that, “The cancers with the highest 5-year relative survival rates include melanoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and breast, prostate, testicular, cervical, and thyroid cancer.”  However keep in mind that although these cancers are now relatively “curable,” success rates still depends on detection and treatment in the early stages. 

Although hesitant to call a patient cured, doctors say with the proper treatment in many of these cases all signs of the disease can be removed and the patient is considered to be in remission.  Survival rates for cancer are based on a 5-year period where the patient remains free of the cancer. 

One of the common cancers for men is prostate cancer.  Doctors now say if the disease is caught in stage 1 or stage 2, the man has a 99% relative 5-year survival rate.  Prostate cancer can grow very slowly or not at all, so in some cases doctors just monitor the disease.   

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common serious disease in women right after heart disease.  Today survival rates for stage 0 and 1 breast cancer are 99-100%. At stage 1, the cancerous tumors are typically less than 2 cm. in size and have not spread to other parts of the body.   

Another of the cancers on the list is Melanoma, a cancer of the skin.  When caught at stages 1A and 1B respectively, the 5-year survival rate is between 92 to 97%.   To detect problems early, doctors recommend regular checkups and screenings to find skin cancers and other diseases.  If you have any questions or concerns, please schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.   

MorningStar at Arrowhead is an assisted living and memory care community located in Glendale, AZ.  We provide the support services and physical environment to help seniors live as comfortably and as safely as possible.  In addition to 24/7 Care Managers, licensed nurses and medication management by Certified Med Care Managers, we do scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations and Care Plan reviews.  Please visit our website to learn more.  

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. We invite you to schedule a tour to discover one of the area’s top assisted living and memory care communities.  

Source:  medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322700.php

The Connection between Alzheimer’s Disease & Diabetes

Studies have suggested a connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease but researchers do not yet fully understand the connection.  Moreover while not all of the research has confirmed a link, researchers say that people with diabetes, especially type 2, appear to be at higher risk for eventually developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  

One of the things not yet known is whether taking steps to prevent or control diabetes helps to reduce your risk of cognitive decline.  However we do know that one of the complications of diabetes is damage to the body’s blood vessels as well as the fact that diabetes is one of the risk factors for vascular dementia, which causes a reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain.  

Scientists first suspected a connection between Alzheimer’s and diabetes when they realized that the changes in the brain were very similar; and it has been hypothesized that each of these conditions may fuel the damage caused by the other.   With new research, experts hope to get a better understanding of the connection between the two diseases.  “That link may occur as a result of the complex ways that type 2 diabetes affects the ability of the brain and other body tissues to use sugar (glucose) and respond to insulin.”

We also know that diabetes increases the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may eventually lead to full blown dementia.  In addition, MCI can also appear years earlier in people who later are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. 

 

MorningStar at Bear Creek is proud to offer professional, loving dementia and Alzheimer’s care, and our beautiful community was specifically designed to serve the needs of those suffering from memory impairment diseases. As dementia specialists, we 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. Please contact us 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 dementia and Alzheimer’s care in Colorado Springs.

Source:mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-and-alzheimers/art-20046987

Think You are Too Old to Pump Iron?

Think you are too old to pump iron?  Research shows that for the majority of seniors who still do exercise, their regimen only includes aerobic exercises such as walking, biking, jogging or swimming.  While these types of exercises are important to our overall health, an article published by the U.S. News & World Report explains why seniors can benefit from strength training.  They state that fitness professionals as well as healthcare providers report everyone from 18 to 80 needs to do both cardiovascular and strengthening exercises.

Recent research suggests that the benefits go beyond just building better tone and an improved shape as studies link “not just aerobic exercise but strength training with a reduced risk of death from all causes.”  This is why the American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommends that even older adults follow their guidelines and do some level of strength training at least two days a week.  As Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski, an associate professor of medicine, pediatrics and public health sciences at the Penn State College of Medicine points out “very good evidence [is available] to show that 80-year-olds are just as able to improve their muscle mass as 50-year-olds. And this can be done reliably over a very short period of time – something as short as two to three months."

At MorningStar of Billings, our goal is to provide the best senior living in the area, and we take our residents wellbeing very seriously.  We have range of wellness programs and activities that support and engage our residents including physical activities, a fitness room and a swimming pool.  One look at our monthly calendar and you will see a variety of exercise classes available along with many other entertaining and meaningful programs. Please visit our website for more information and to set up a tour of our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care 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 independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Source:

health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/articles/2018-06-26/could-pumping-iron-help-you-live-longer 

MorningStar of Fort Collins’ Extensive Care Services

The MorningStar of Fort Collins senior care community is a true destination for successful aging.  By defining health and well-being holistically, our home provides services and programming that support the whole person - body, mind and spirit.   Together our Life Enrichment programs and our Wellness Care services complement one other to ensure each resident get the best care. 

As a testament to the full scope of our services, we look for creative solutions within the full authority of our license through the Department of Health to help extend the stay of the resident if they experience changes in their health.  These solutions can yield a higher quality of care at a lower cost to the family and provide a welcomed continuity of care for the resident.    

We are also proud that our assisted living residents benefit from our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.  This centralized mobile station ensures accurate, onsite assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records).  In addition, record keeping is not only accurate but legible as well as offers complete demographic and medical information at hand. It also enhances confidentiality of residents’ data.  

Our broad care services include 5 levels of care for assisted living residents based on a point system and determined after a thorough evaluation with our Wellness Director, a licensed nurse.  Residents have 24-hour care managers; a CPR staff member on every shift and access to a licensed nurse either onsite or on-call 24/7.  MorningStar’s services also include medication management by certified med care managers as well as care planning reviews and scheduled health and wellness evaluations. 
To address specific health needs, we offer mechanical lift assistance, oxygen administration, and diabetic management.  Furthermore, we provide transportation to medical appointments as well as pharmacy services, onsite dental and podiatry services and more.   

Please visit our website for information on pricing and availability or to set up a tour to see firsthand the finest senior living in Fort Collins, CO.  Our community includes 55 bright suites for assisted living and another 24 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

MorningStar of Fort Collins offers the very best in senior care 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.  Please visit our website for more details about the finest assisted living and memory care in the area.

MorningStar of Billings Offers Assisted Living at Its Finest

If you are considering assisted living, we encourage you to take a look at MorningStar of Billings.  Along with beautiful surroundings, we have meticulously seen to it that every detail has been paid to ensure residents the most carefree retirement possible.  In addition, we are proud to have a care team who feels called to serve seniors and help us to create a true home for our residents.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of assisted living, it is built on a European social model, and offers a new paradigm in wellness and engagement for those seniors who need a little support with personal daily care activities.  At MorningStar of Billings, new residents and their families sit down with our Wellness Director to create a care plan designed around their special needs and safety.  The resident will have around-the-clock Care Managers as well the services of our full-time licensed nurses on call 24/7 and onsite 5–7 days/week.

  

Among our many services, we have a CPR-trained staff member on every shift, medication management by Certified Med Care Managers, care planning reviews, and scheduled health and wellness evaluations.  All assisted living residents receive three daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef that are both tasty and nutritional and served restaurant style in our dining room.  In addition, MorningStar of Billings offers scheduled transportation along with a whole host of enrichment programs to support and entertain residents. If you are wondering, are also pet friendly.

   

Along with our assisted living suites, MorningStar of Billings also offers a senior independent living option with free standing two-bedroom cottages and suites with one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has secure suites dedicated to memory care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Please visit MorningStar of Billings’ website to learn more about our beautiful senior living community as well as our wellness programs and activities. 

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.