Why Go it Alone?

 

We know it can be a difficult decision to move from your family home but admit it, now that the kids are all living on their own, doesn’t it feel like there’s a lot of empty space? While a 2017 survey found that 20 percent of seniors over 80 wish to remain in their current home, approximately 40 percent would like to move somewhere they can safely age in place. Half of those respondents said they would love a place in an urban setting with easy access to the city’s offerings.

Especially given the danger that COVID-19 presents to older adults, senior living communities can be a safe bubble and provide seniors with the knowledge that they are not alone. At the MorningStar of Billings senior living community, our focus it to keep all those beneath our roof safe, while at the same time, provide a range of services that makes life just that much easier for residents.

For instance, our excellent food service is under the direction of Executive Chef, Jim Carlson, who has been passionately feeding our residents delicious, nutritional meals for almost 6 years. Jim‘s menus offer independent and assisted living residents foods they are accustomed to as well as comforted by…the traditional fare of their generation. Also a daily meal service means as a resident, you will no longer have to prepare and cook your own meals or get out and shop for the ingredients.

As an assisted living resident, you will be provided with a range of care services designed to help you maintain your independence. In addition we provide our own scheduled transportation service, which means if you have stopped driving, you will no longer have to rely on public transportation. MorningStar of Billings residents know they will not have to miss an important doctor’s appointment or be unable to take care of errands.

Moreover our community offers wellness programs and activities (some may be curtailed due to COVID) that help residents keep in shape physically as well as mentally, spiritually and socially. Please visit MorningStar of Billings’ website for more information on the area’s top-rated independent living, assisted living and memory care. Come join our family!

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. Visit our website to learn more about trusted assisted living and independent living.

MorningStar at Arrowhead Offers Extensive Care Services

 

The MorningStar at Arrowhead assisted living 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 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. Residents have 24-hour care managers; a CPR trained 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.

For the area’s finest assisted living, Glendale AZ area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar at Arrowhead. Please visit our website for a virtual tour of our beautiful community and use our email link to inquire about availability and pricing. While you are there, you may read the statement from our CEO regarding our coordinated defense in the fight against the coronavirus to ensure the health of both residents and team members during this difficult time.

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 contact us for more information about the finest assisted living Glendale AZ offers.

A Good Night’s Sleep is Essential to Every Aspect of our Lives

 

Research clearly shows that getting enough sleep each night is important to our good health and well-being. In fact doctors say it is as vital to one’s health as is regular exercise and eating a balanced diet, and the benefits extend into most every aspect of our lives. 

While scientists are unable to directly link lack of sleep to weight gain, evidence suggests that it may interfere with our body’s ability to regulate food intake correctly. One study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, a publisher of high-impact research reports, commentaries, perspectives, and reviews, found that sleep patterns do affect the hormones responsible for appetite. 

Getting enough sleep should also be an essential part of an athlete’s training regimen as adequate sleep helps to improve both physical and mental performance. A good night’s rest has been proven to refuel athletes and give them more intensity and energy as well as faster speed. Doctors recommend an average of 7 to 9 hours for most adults and up to 10 hours for athletes. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds that getting proper sleep each night allows the body’s blood pressure to regulate, and helps to reduce sleep apnea and promote better overall heart health. A study even suggests that inadequate sleep can result in a reduced ability to empathize with others, while another found a link between lack of sleep and depression. Others report inflammation and sleep may be linked including a recent study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology that suggests “a link between sleep deprivation and inflammatory bowel diseases.”

To get a good night’s sleep, experts recommend going to bed around the same time each night and to avoid sleeping in later than you need to. Try to get plenty of exercise during the day and reduce stress with exercise or other therapies.

If you are looking for a relaxing, carefree lifestyle, and a comfy new home to lay your head in each night, we invite you to take a look at our beautiful senior living community. Located in the west end of Billings, the largest city in Montana, MorningStar of Billings is situated in a beautiful, park-like neighborhood that offers spectaculars views of the Rockies but is still near to shopping and medical facilities. We offer 32 cottages and another 72 bright suites for independent living as well as 70 suites for assisted living. We also provide 36 secure suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. Visit our website to learn more about why residents say our community is so special.

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 visit our website to learn more about Billings’ first choice for assisted living and independent living. 

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325353

Many Seniors Suffer from Chronic Foot Pain

 As we age, many seniors suffer from chronic foot pain that includes stress fractures, tendonitis, fat pad atrophy, plantar fasciitis, acute and chronic osteoarthritis and more. Sometimes the problem can be the result of old injuries, or in the case of women, wearing high heels or shoes with too small of a toe box. Other foot problems may be caused by systematic diseases like diabetes, lupus, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Stress fractures are more commonly found in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis but men can also suffer from them. If you are at risk, experts recommend strengthening your bones by exercising, and if you are overweight, by dieting. They also say to talk to your doctor to ask if you should be on a medication. 

While osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by the mechanical wear and tear on joints and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints, both can cause tenderness, pain, or stiffness and swelling in the feet, and make mobility more difficult. Sometimes RA even causes alignment changes that result in foot deformities. 

Another common problem especially for seniors is fat pad atrophy. Even if you have put on a few extra pounds with age, the one place you do not want to lose fat or a cushioned padding is on the bottom of your feet. Fat pad atrophy causes pain in the ball of your foot and heel and can be eased by extra cushioning or custom-made foam shoe inserts. In the most extreme cases, filler injections are used to replace the fat pad. 

Also the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons report that approximately 2 million patients each year are treated for plantar fasciitis that occurs when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes irritated and inflamed. Plantar fasciitis is typically the result of repetitive stain to the ligament of the sole of the foot and is caused by walking, running, jumping, or poor footwear. Treatments include icing to reduce pain and inflammation, stretching exercises, and shoe inserts. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with a mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are committed to creating a true home for residents in an ideal setting. Contact us to learn more about the best assisted living for dementia patients in Colorado Springs.

An Easy Exercise with Many Benefits

The Arthritis Foundation says that walking is an excellent aerobic exercise that is easy on the joints and easy to do.  There is no need to drive to the gym or to buy special equipment but rather just lace up your most supportive walking shoes and hit the road.

Experts say that walking offers several benefits such as improving the heart rate, lowing blood pressure and strengthening the heart.  A study from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that “women who walk 30 minutes a day may reduce their risk of stroke by 20% and by 40% when they step up their pace.”  They also found that post-menopausal women who walk one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks.  

  

If you have started walking as a way to help you lose weight and don’t see results yet, keep in mind that walking at a brisk pace burns approximately 200 calories in just 30 minutes, and that adds up over time.  In fact, a study out of the University of Tennessee found that women who walk had less body fat than their counterparts who didn’t walk. 

Walking especially offers benefits for seniors such as strengthening muscles, which in turn support the joints.  Stronger muscles in the legs and abdomen reduce the stress we put on our joints, and also helps with balance thus reducing our risk for falls.  Movement such as walking circulates the joint fluid and sends nutrients and oxygen to the joint cartilage.

Another bonus of walking according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in New York, is it can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis.  In post-menopausal women, just 30 minutes of walking each day reduced the risk of hip fractures by 40%.  Other benefits of walking for older adults appear to include a slowing of cognitive decline, improved sleep and a longer 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. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Glendale AZ offers.

Source: arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/12-benefits-of-walking

Send a Gift Basket to Your Elderly Loved One

If you have an elderly relative living alone or in a senior community and they are isolating themselves from the coronavirus, you probably would love to do something to brighten their day but just not sure how.  One idea is to send them a gift basket filled with goodies to eat and drink, gifts to entertain, and items to make their lives a little easier or more pleasant. 

For your coffee drinking parent or grandparent, a bag of gourmet coffee and a nice new mug is one way to start your basket, or add a collection of teas that include decaffeinated and herbal options.  Are they a chocolate lover or prefer salty snacks?  Adjust your selection to include high-end chocolates and other delightful treats or a nice selection of crackers and cheeses.  For a book lover, add a novel you think they would enjoy or a coffee table book on famous gardens, architecture, maps, photography or wherever matches their interest.   A collection of classic movies is also something many seniors would enjoy. 

Now pack the basket with items such as jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, word-search books, a new coloring book and fresh colored pencils or markers.  If they have low vision, include large-print playing cards and books.  If your loved one is feeling anxious or having a hard time sleeping, give them a weighted blanket.  While they come in many sizes, it is suggested you choose one that is 10% percent of their weight.   For example, if they weigh 150lbs, buy a 15lb blanket, and if they do not have a blanket that exactly matches 10% of their weight, you can go up a couple of pounds.  

If you are looking for outstanding senior living, MorningStar of Fort Collins may be your answer.  Our beautiful community has 55 stylish assisted living care suites for those who need help with the activities of daily living.  In our Reflections Neighborhood, 24 secure suites are devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  Please visit our website for more information.          

MorningStar of Fort Collins’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with resort-style amenities, MorningStar of Fort Collins offers residents the best assisted living home in the area.

At MorningStar at Arrowhead, We Offer a True Home

The MorningStar story began with a vision from our Founder/CEO, Ken Jaeger, who wanted to re-create senior housing that was defined by the human touch and felt much like his grandmother’s house – “a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.”   Out of this loving concept that focuses on the power of relationships, came three mission statements upon which MorningStar was founded: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals;  and Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well.   

Following these precepts, MorningStar at Arrowhead is committed to providing residents with a lifestyle of comfort and wellness with a care team that feels honored to serve seniors.  Our beautiful community offers a choice of 60 well-appointed, private assisted living suites in a variety of floorplans.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 25 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with memory impairment.

While the country slowly gets back to normal and continues to reopen, we want you to know that MorningStar at Arrowhead will still be closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government.  This includes prohibiting non-essential visitors and vendors from entering our community. Also all team members who interact with residents must follow strict protocols regarding hygiene and protection, and we will continue the daily screening of staff for symptoms and prevent those who are ill from coming to work. 

Currently we are safely accepting new residents; however it is being done in conjunction with a thorough screening process.  New residents move directly into their private suite, where they will remain for a 14-day quarantine period; and staff entering the room will wear full personal protective equipment. 

Remember our first commitment is to the safety of all those in our care.  Listen to what one resident’s daughter writes about her experience, “Although it is difficult not being able to visit our loved ones, I am so grateful for the proactive stand you are taking. Our parents could not be in a better place.” 

If you are looking for outstanding senior living, Glendale AZ’s MorningStar at Arrowhead encourages you to contact us or visit our website for more information about our loving home.

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the best in assisted living and memory care 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 contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Glendale AZ offers.