It is Easier to Improve Your Health than You Think!

Seniors often feel it is too late to make a difference in their health or that it may be too complicated to do so.  The truth is that taking better care of your physical health can be quite simple and enjoyable and may help you feel like a new person.

Our first piece of advice is to make sure you are managing your medical conditions, diseases and ailments in the most effective manner.  This includes making sure you are receiving the best medical care for your medical issues as well as learning about and practicing activities that can help you better manage your conditions.  Such as did you know that certain types of exercises can reduce your blood sugar and may even eliminate the need to take insulin?  Also making small changes to your diet may not only help you take off a few extra pounds but relieve pain in your back and knees.  

Furthermore enough cannot be said about the benefits of regular physical activity regardless of your age or state of health.  Exercises for seniors should include daily or weekly routines to improve balance, flexibility, aerobic conditioning, and muscle strengthening.   However before you integrate an exercise activity into your life, please consult with your health care provider. 

Another aspect of improving our physical health is to practice good nutrition.  Seniors can benefit from eating well and drinking plenty of water.   Changing to a healthier diet will give you more energy and help you lose weight and prevent or alleviate the severity of illnesses. 

Lastly experts say it is important for people of any age including seniors to get enough sleep.  A good night’s sleep will help you feel more energetic during the day, and it is recommended seniors 65 years and older get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. 

At MorningStar of Billings senior living community, we are honored to provide seniors with nutritional, tasty daily meals.  We also provide our residents with peace of mind knowing that others are around in the event of an emergency.   Please visit our website to see more about the resort-style amenities and services we provide to ensure the comfort, wellness and community of our residents. 

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 schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek Welcomes Pets

Many studies have discovered that pets can be very beneficial for the elderly.  For example the various tasks that goes along with caring for a dog such as taking them for a walk offers good cardiovascular exercise for seniors.  Additionally petting, grooming and feeding a pet help to keep seniors engaged in life and give them a sense of purpose. 

Pets also offer unconditional love and their loyal companionship can help alleviant loneliness. Research points to evidence that pet and human interactions can help to lower cholesterol levels, fight depression, and reduce stress, which is why it is so beneficial to the elderly. In fact researchers report that “15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.”

It used to be that when someone moved into a retirement community they had to give up their pet.  Now more and more senior living communities have recognized the benefits of pets and allow seniors to bring them.  Pets can even be beneficial to others living in the community and help draw out residents that may not be very communicative.      

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we could not agree more about the benefits of pets.  Our community is pet friendly and we often have visiting animals to our community.  Our care leverages not only the power of animals but also music, dance, art, and aromatherapy to heal and comfort residents.

Please visit our website to learn about our exceptional community.  Designed by the award-winning firm of Thoma-Holec Design, our in-house amenities include a fitness room, bistro, salon and two great rooms where residents gather and dine as a family.  As soon as you step through our door, you will discover a warm and loving atmosphere that feels like a true home.

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 for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best memory care in Colorado Springs.

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living     

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

In spite of all of the research done on Alzheimer’s and dementia, there is still no single test used to diagnose the disease.  Rather the Alzheimer’s Association explains that a diagnosis is made based on “a careful medical history, a physical examination and diagnostic tests, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior associated with each type.”

In some cases, a person with signs of the disease may be referred to a neurologist or geri-psychologist to ensure an accurate diagnosis.  Laboratory testing includes blood tests and brain imaging, which are used to rule out other causes that may be contributing to dementia-like symptoms.  Other conditions doctors are looking for are signs of depression, drug interactions, thyroid problems, excessive use of alcohol and vitamin deficiencies.  If memory loss does stem from any of these other causes, it can be dealt with and generally reversed. 

Although Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, the Alzheimer’s Association emphasizes the importance of getting an early diagnosis as it gives someone a better chance of benefiting from available treatments.  If you need the name of a physician who is experienced in Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases, contact your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for a referral.  In addition, the organization offers a worksheet that you can fill out beforehand to help prepare for your visit with your physician. 

Another reason why it is beneficial to understand what is happening to you or your loved one is that it not only can lessen anxieties, but also provides your family more time to prepare for the future.  Knowing what lies ahead also offers the individual an opportunity to be involved in future plans such as living options, care, transportation and financial matters. 

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique 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 privileged to create a home infused with warmth and love.  Schedule a tour to learn more about our individualized, resident-directed approach and the best memory care Peoria AZ and the surrounding area has to offer.

Source: alz.org/alzheimers_disease_diagnosis.asp

The Benefits of Independent Living

While some seniors feel strongly about remaining in their homes after retirement, other seniors have discovered the many benefits of moving into an independent living community.   MorningStar of Billings invites you to take a closer look at some of the advantages.

To start with, for many seniors the family home starts to feel pretty empty once the kids have moved out.  In addition you are still stuck with all of the upkeep and maintenance of the home including snow removal, lawn care and the costs of repairs and replacement.  Senior living on the other hand, means no more concerns about maintenance inside or out. 

An independent living community also offers the security of predictable budgeting, which allows you to know just what your monthly expenses will be as most are included in your monthly fee.  It also solves another problem many seniors face - loneliness.  As we age, older adults can have difficulty getting out and about, and may be at risk for “losing their social ties and falling prey to the health problems that come with loneliness.”  An independent living community offers the advantage of a private apartment and the chance to socialize whenever you choose with built-in companionship. 

Independent living communities such as MorningStar of Billings additionally provide residents with activities and programming that ensure you are never bored.  Whether you want to attend an exercise class, play cards or a board game, get a haircut, or catch a movie, independent living gives you the chance to do it all on-site. 

Moreover it is typically less stressful for seniors to make the transition to independent living before they “need” to move into assisted living.  Selling your home and moving can be stressful and it is much easier to do while you are still healthy. 

Please visit MorningStar of Billings website for more information regarding our independent living, assisted living and memory care.  We feel privileged to provide seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  

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 schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere.   

Should You Get a Screening Test for Alzheimer’s Disease?

With more and more research coming to light in terms of genetic links to a variety of diseases including Alzheimer’s, we are faced with the dilemma of whether we want to know about it beforehand.  Dr. Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Neurology Department in New York, says that dealing with the knowledge of an impending disease like Alzheimer’s years before a person is ill may not be productive.  He states that, “While genetic testing predicts risk, it certainly does not diagnose whether dangerous plaques or other symptoms of Alzheimer’s already exist in the brain,” and “implementing prevention measures early-on may be a better option than genetic testing”

  

So what does genetic testing for Alzheimer’s tell a person?  For one thing, even if the ApoE4 gene is discovered, a person may be at risk for Alzheimer’s but not necessarily develop the disease.  Issues such as inflammation, obesity and other factors may need to be present before the disease can occur.  So if you get a positive result for the ApoE4 gene, it has not taken into account these other factors.

Researchers say a better solution is to focus on tests that can detect the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s.  Right now a test is available but it is very expensive.  The advantage to discovering pre-Alzheimer’s in people still in their 40s or 50s is that early intervention and treatments can be started. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek provides the area with quality, compassionate memory care.   We have 48 secure suites and can care for someone in the early onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.  Please visit our website to learn about our individualized care as well as pricing and availability 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 for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/should-you-rely-on-an-at-home-genetic-test-for-alzheimers/ 

Wonder if Senior Living is Affordable? Contact Us!

Many seniors and their families fear senior living is too expensive but once you actually look into it, you may be surprised to discover it can actually be less costly than trying live on your own.  At MorningStar Senior Living of Billings, we offer families a great deal especially when you consider all of the resort-style amenities and top-quality services we provide.   

Another point of view regarding the affordability of senior living in Montana comes from a “Cost of Senior Care Survey,” which was published a few years ago by the largest senior referral website, A Place for Mom.  It states the “eight most affordable states for assisted living — based on the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment — were, in order of least to most expensive, Montana, South Dakota, Idaho, Oklahoma, Mississippi, North Dakota, Indiana and Tennessee.”

To help ensure senior living is within reach of the Billings’ community, one of the jobs we take seriously at MorningStar of Billings is to help our families find resourceful ways to make senior living affordable.  We help you explore a wide berth of innovative financial solutions and often under-used benefits that may be available to you beyond traditional retirement savings and investments.  

If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, you will want to carefully read through your policy to determine what type of expenses it covers.  You will find specifics regarding daily benefits, policy limits, and the elimination period under your Benefits Summary.

Another way we help families make senior living more affordable is let them know they may be eligible for often untapped Veteran Benefits.   Please refer to our Veterans page for a full explanation of the generous “Aid & Attendance” Pension issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

We remind seniors to think about leveraging life insurance policies or selling their home to pay for senior living.  We also offer Companion Living, in which two unrelated people of the same sex may share a suite as well as expenses.  This opportunity is available in independent living, assisted living and memory care. 

Please visit MorningStar of Billings to learn more about our beautiful independent living, assisted living, and memory care community.  Our website has a convenient link to inquire about pricing and availability as well as to set up a tour. 

 

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 schedule a tour to experience firsthand our comfortable, home-like atmosphere. 

Source:   

aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-5-13-most-affordable-assisted-living-and-healthcare/  

What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

There is often confusion between the definition of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is not a specific disease.  Rather it is the overall term used to describe a wide range of symptoms that cause a decline in memory and other cognitive skills that reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.  

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for up to 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases, while vascular dementia, which is caused by the damage from a stroke, is the second most common cause.  Other types of dementia may be a result of Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, and a person may have more than one form of dementia.  Thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, brain tumors, medication side effects as well as depression, excessive alcohol us and even infectious diseases can cause dementia-like symptoms; however in these cases, once the problem is correctly diagnosed, it is reversible.  This is why health care providers state the importance of getting a professional evaluation to determine the cause of your or your loved one’s symptoms.  

In addition getting an accurate diagnosis at the onset of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia allows the person to receive the maximum benefit from the available treatments.  Furthermore, it gives the person time to plan for their future.   

At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Fort Collins, we offer 55 suites for assisted living and 24 secure suites devoted to the individualized care for residents with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  Located on the southwest side of the city directly across from Warren Lake, we are convenient to hospitals, banks, shopping, and restaurants.  We offer residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community and provide a whole range of resort-style amenities and wellness programs.

MorningStar of Fort Collins represents the very best in senior living with a mission “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is one built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting team members with a felt calling to serve.  We invite you to schedule a tour to discover the finest assisted living in Fort Collins.

Sources:.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp

well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/ask-well-is-dementia-the-same-as-alzheimers-disease/?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fask-well&action=click&contentCollection=well&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=12&pgtype=collection