Companion Living Fosters Joy at MorningStar

Regardless of age, isolation drains us of our purpose and excitement towards life. Having a close partner or friend nearby while adjusting to a retirement community helps one feel less alone while embarking on a new journey in life. Companionship Living within retirement communities eases the transition of moving to a senior living community and relaxes the financial burden on individuals and families. MorningStar at Arrowhead recognizes the importance of friendship and community and is pleased to offer Companion Living within our retirement homes, assisted living, and memory care.

What is considered a companion? At MorningStar, a companion is defined as any person that holds a strong bond with you that you spend a lot of time with, such as an intimate partner or spouse. Alternatively, suites can be shared by close friends of the same or opposite sex who simply enjoy one another's company and who complement each other well. Perhaps there is someone you have enjoyed past travels with or someone that shares your same interests and ethics that you find as a good roommate.

Besides maintaining close friendships, there are other benefits that come with Companion Living in retirement communities, such as cost-effectiveness. Perhaps the cost is what is holding you back from the decision to move to a retirement community. With Companion Living at MorningStar at Arrowhead, the expenses of a suite can be split between two unrelated people. MorningStar retirement communities in Glendale AZ have floorplans ranging from studios to two-bedroom suites that are spacious for roommate situations. Furthermore, if you do not have a friend or relative to share a suite with, we will carefully pair you up with another senior who shares your interests and background.

Please contact us to learn more about MorningStar at Arrowhead and our Companion Living options. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have and our website also provides information on our company’s history, vision, and mission as well as what sets us apart from other retirement homes Glendale, AZ offers.

MorningStar at Arrowhead proudly provides the very best in assisted living and memory care with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors, and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us for more information about one of the finest retirement homes Glendale, AZ has to offer.

Finding the Best Care for a Loved One with Dementia

Searching for memory care for a loved one that suits the person’s needs as well as the family’s is challenging at best. Knowing the person is dependent on getting the level of care they need for both their wellbeing and safety makes choosing the right home essential. Experts say start by taking your time to think about your loved one’s needs including daily personal care required such as dressing, toileting, bathing, etc. as well as any on-going medical needs. 

Additionally, do they have mobility issues and use a wheelchair or a walker; or do they need assistance eating? If the person is known to wander, you will want a secure home to keep him or her safe including alarms on the doors. Another thing experts say is to let a home know if the person is prone to angry outbursts or other aggressive behaviors. 

Once you have a good idea of your loved one’s needs, now consider if the homes you are looking at are equipped to handle those needs. Ask about living arrangements, dining service, and the level of daily help the person will receive. Moreover, does the home offer exercise programs and other meaningful activities? 

Now inquire about the homes’ experience with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, and the training the staff has in dementia care. What is the home’s philosophy of care and how do they approach difficult situations such as aggressive behaviors? Most of all does the staff seem caring and do residents appear to be content and well-looked after? 

MorningStar at Bear Creek is devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Every aspect of our one-story residential home is geared toward residents’ needs from meaningful activities, trained caregivers, food service, and security. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about MorningStar’s assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek represents the very best in assisted living 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 staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a home-like setting.  Please contact us for more information about our exceptional community.

Does Your Mom or Dad Have Serious Memory Problems?

If your mom or dad is having serious memory problems, we have some suggestions to help you navigate through this trying time.  Medical experts recommend doing some research on Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, in order to educate yourself on how the disease is diagnosed, stages of the disease, and some of what your family can expect if it is.  You may want to visit websites such as the Alzheimer’s Association as well as online support groups for family members dealing with the disease for suggestions on how to best prepare and support your parents.  

Also, remember it may not be dementia as there are medical conditions, reactions to medications, and nutritional and hormonal issues that can cause dementia-like symptoms.  This is why you need to sit down and have a talk with your parents about the problems they are having and the need to make an appointment with their healthcare provider for a full medical exam.   

Experts say when you are ready to have the “conversation,” be honest and try to keep your voice calm.  Pick a time and place where you will not be interrupted and be sure to include in your homework different care options in case they ask.  Also, be ready to talk less and listen more as they may have also been worried about some of the changes they have been experiencing.  However, keep in mind it is common for a person to be confused, in denial, and/or withdraw.  

At MorningStar at Bear Creek in Colorado Springs, we understand a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease is devastating, and we want area families to know we are here to help shoulder the burden. Every aspect of our memory care assisted living addresses the needs of our residents starting with the very design of our community to a wide range of wellness programs, activities and healthy, delicious meals.  Our comprehensive care also includes assisting families to better understand and cope with the disease. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar at Bear Creek represents the very best in memory care assisted living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest”.  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a home-like setting.  Please contact us or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional dementia assisted living.

Overcoming Occasional Lapses in Memory

Every so often most of us find ourselves in a quandary wondering where we put our glasses, cell phone or car keys. As we age, these and other annoying problems like forgetting names of people we just met or forgetting the time of an appointment begin to happen. Lydia Cho, a psychologist and neuropsychologist with Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, says, "These moments may seem like an unfortunate part of aging, but they can happen to people of all ages.” She says it is important to not get too stressed out about them as there are a few things we can do to mitigate occasional lapses in memory. However, more serious memory loss should be checked out by your physician.

Often upon meeting someone, we get more involved in the greeting, our surroundings and looking at their face than making the effort to remember their name. To help remember a person’s name, experts recommend making a connection to the name by repeating it back. Then try to associate the name with that of a celebrity, friend or movie character. You can also connect the name to a place or use a rhyming word. 

Another area many of us have experienced memory lapses is with things like “did we turn off the oven?”, or “forget to lock the door?” Cho says this forgetfulness generally occurs because we did not fully engage in the task. Rather they were done in an absentminded way without really thinking about them. She suggests setting up a common location for easily misplaced items like your keys on a table near the door. For other items not used frequently, focus on where you put them and say to yourself: I am putting the “blank” in the drawer next to the coffee pot.  If you think you will still forget, take a photo. 

For exceptional memory care, Colorado Springs’ MorningStar at Bear Creek provides compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  We offer support to residents as well as their families with an array of services, wellness programs and activities essential to quality of life. Our approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call Lavender Sky and uses a broad range of Montessori-based therapy techniques. Contact us or 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.” 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 the finest memory care Colorado Springs offers.

Source: health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/managing-memory-slip-ups

Independent Living Offers a Care-Free Lifestyle

Looking for the freedom to pursue new interests and hobbies, and to do more than just dream about exciting adventures? Independent living offers a refreshing change of lifestyle and gives you the opportunity to say goodbye to the endless chores and maintenance associated with homeownership. Other often overlooked benefits include built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, activities and programming, and delicious meals you no longer need to cook. 

Independent living communities may differ but many let you enjoy the comforts of home along with an array of luxury services and amenities. These may include housekeeping, transportation, onsite salon and fitness center, and meal plans. In most, residents can lead a lifestyle as active or relaxed as they choose.

At MorningStar of Billings, we allow seniors to enjoy stress-free retirement years, extend their independence and continue the adventure. For the most active seniors, we offer 32 private, free-standing cottages in 2-bedroom, two bath configurations. Each cottage has a one-car garage, fireplace, full kitchen and high-end finishes in floorplans from 1112 to 1236 sq. ft. We offer another 72 stylish independent living suites in our main building with several one and two-bedroom options.

While our operating license does not permit us to extend care to those in our independent living neighborhood, we can arrange for home health agencies to serve you if the need arises. Moreover, if the time comes for a more formal arrangement, you will be familiar with MorningStar of Billing’s assisted living and memory care, and as a member of our community, you will receive priority access. 

MorningStar is conveniently located on the west end of Billings, and while it boasts a country setting, it is close to shopping centers and the medical community.  We are situated on a large campus in a beautiful, park-like neighborhood that offers views of the Rockies.  In addition, Billings has four golf courses and is just minutes away from the historic city of Red Lodge, Montana that offers a whole host of both winter and summer adventures.  Please contact us or visit our website to learn more.   

MorningStar of Billings’ mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide outstanding independent living, assisted living and memory care. 

Dogs and Cats Offer Seniors Love, Emotional Support and Affection

Research has shown that having a pet can improve our mental health, cardiovascular health and PTSD symptoms.  In fact, even if you do not own a pet but just spend some time interacting with animals, it can lift your spirits and decrease stress.  Also, during times of loneliness, many of us feel our pets are more important than ever.   

Pets can teach seniors to live in the here and now as they do, and dogs and cats are great at offering their owners unconditional love, emotional support and affection.  Caring for an animal can be a welcome distraction from life’s other worries and can provide more meaning to our life.  Moreover, how can you feel upset or angry when sitting with a cat on your lap and hearing the relaxing, melodious sound of their purr?  Research has shown that an act as simple as petting a dog or cat has been shown to reduce stress and help regulate our mood.   

Many people believe their pet has the ability to pick up on their emotions and know when they are sad or stressed and need a little “extra love.”   In addition, dogs need exercise so many dog owners are motivated to get outside and exercise, which is always a good thing.  However, experts caution that before you rush out and adopt an animal , think about how much time you have to care for one, and do you have the money to pay for the extra expenses.  Also, if your choice is a dog, are you physically able to provide the animal with the daily exercise they need?  

At MorningStar of Billings, we provide a true “home” for our senior independent living, assisted living and memory care residents.  We also recognize the relationship that exists between a senior and their pet, which is why our community is pet friendly.  Please contact us or visit our website for more information regarding our pet policy and to learn about our various amenities, services, and support we offer to our residents and their families.   

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional independent living, assisted living and memory care in Billings, MT.

Be an Active Partner in Your Medical Care

Experts suggest that a good way to reduce medical errors regarding your care or that of a loved one is to be an active partner in the process whether in a hospital setting, doctors’ office or the pharmacy.  The World Health Organization reports “an estimated 10% of patients in high-income countries are harmed while receiving hospital care.”  Also, according to a 2021 report in StatPearls, “medical errors result in about 100,000 deaths in hospitals and clinics annually.”  

Furthermore, studies show the most harmful errors in primary and outpatient health care settings are related to diagnoses, prescriptions and use of medicines.  Mistakes associated with misdiagnosis resulted in delayed treatment for the real problem and having the wrong drugs prescribed.  

However, it is important to keep in mind that some medical errors are a result of patients failing to disclose all of the medications they take including prescription and over-the-counter drugs.  Another problem is the failure to reveal pertinent details regarding a person’s prior medical history as well as lifestyle habits such as smoking, diet and alcohol consumption.  

Medical professionals say to remember the time spent with your doctor is short, so to help prevent errors with care, come prepared to your appointment by putting in writing critical points you wish to discuss.  The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore has a QuestionBuilder app available by AHRQ at Google Play or the Apple App store to help you focus on the questions you need to ask during your appointment.  

Other things to do before the appointment include putting together a list of medications you take, the dosage, and why you take it.  If you worry about forgetting something you were told during the visit, take along a family member or trusted friend.  Also ask questions and seek a second opinion if it would make you more comfortable.  Most importantly if a medical problem is not getting better, remain persistent in addressing it with your medical team.  

At MorningStar of Billings, our goal is to provide the best senior living in the area, and we offer all the services needed to support and enhance our residents’ physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing. Our beautiful community has a variety of floor plans for both independent and assisted living. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood offers specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. Please contact us to learn more about MorningStar’s amenities, care services, availability and pricing.  

MorningStar Senior Living’s communities across the U.S. have a passionate commitment to serving seniors, earning a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. If you are looking for outstanding independent living, assisted living or memory care, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Billings.