Tips to Help Your Loved One Transition to Senior Living

 

 

Many times a move to assisted living is precipitated by a fall or a medical emergency that causes a family to realize mom or dad needs more care than they are presenting getting living alone. In these cases, it means there is not time for planned strategies for where or when the person will make the move. Instead they quickly leave behind a beloved home, while coming to terms with a recent loss of mobility or needing assistance with personal daily care activities. This can be very traumatizing for many seniors, and experts offer tips to help families and mom or dad cope with the sudden change.

One of the first things they suggest when looking into the area’s senior living facilities is to make sure that the community is equipped to care for your loved one’s needs. Moreover as today’s move is hard, another move in a few years will be at least as hard if not more so, which is why you must evaluate if the facility is also able to provide for their future needs.

Another thing senior living experts want you to know is that it typically takes around three to six months for a person to fully adjust to assisted living. While some people adjust much quicker, if your parent is not one of them, remember why the family decided to place mom or dad in a home in the first place. This includes providing a safer, healthier environment for them and giving everyone involved peace of mind.

At MorningStar of Billings, we know families often go through a range of emotions when they realize a loved one needs more daily help in order to ensure their comfort and safety. It is why we put together a commonsense decision guide to help families navigate through the process. It also includes warning signs of a loved one who needs more help such as recent falls, balance problems, weight loss, and poor hygiene.

We invite you to take a look at our website where you will find lots of information including our Decision Guide, FAQs, floor plans, list of amenities and more. Our beautiful community offers independent living, assisted living and memory care.

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 contact us to learn more about one of the area’s top-rated senior living facilities in Billings, MT.

Experienced, Loving Memory Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

Are you the adult child or spouse of someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? At MorningStar at Bear Creek, a memory care assisted living community, we understand the anguish and heartache that families go through seeing their beloved mom, dad, or spouse change before their eyes.

If the diagnosis is recent, you are most likely wrestling with lots of questions including what will the future bring and who will be there to provide the level of care the person will probably need. We hear you and want you to know our experienced team is here to help with holistic memory care that focuses on nurturing and supporting the essence of the individual regardless of the extent of the memory loss.

As dementia care experts, we provide specialized, individualized care to each resident and are equipped to care for the person from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Our community was designed from the ground up to give residents the freedom to safely explore their surroundings. Secure private suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.

Every aspect of our memory care is tailored to serve the needs of our tender residents from a team of exceptional caregivers to meals, wellness programs and services. Once your loved one decides to join the MorningStar family, we sit down with your family to learn as much as we can about their personal preferences, medical history and background in order to create an individualized care plan. Every resident receives 24-hour care, daily health monitoring, access to a full-time nurse, and participates in daily activities. Visit our website for contact information and give us a call, email, or use our Virtual Assistant for immediate help.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our 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 amid a lovely setting. We invite you to schedule a visit to discover the area’s finest memory care assisted living.

What is Assisted Living?

 

Many families mistakenly think senior living and particularly assisted living is just a more luxurious nursing home. The fact is nursing homes are intended for people who are unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental conditions and require around-the-clock skilled nursing care. Residents may be bedridden or in wheelchairs and receive ongoing palliative and preventative long-term care.

Assisted living is for seniors who are mostly independent but require help with what is known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and include things like dressing, bathing and other personal care activities. In some cases, people move into assisted living knowing that while they do not now need assistance with such tasks, they may need help in the near future.

Assisted living also makes sense for seniors who are looking for more companionship and love the security of knowing they are not alone. As many assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Arrowhead have an emergency call system in each suite, you can rest easy knowing help is just minutes away. Another perk of MorningStar at Arrowhead is we offer scheduled transportation so you will never have to worry about getting to your doctor appointments and other important errands.

Moreover, while MorningStar’s suites vary from studios to two-bedrooms, all of our suites are smartly designed to make the most of the space they offer with high ceilings, large windows and both natural and overhead lighting. In addition, residents often tell us what a relief it was to give up their large family homes that were hard to keep clean as well as all of the maintenance required. Residents also enjoy weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services.

MorningStar at Arrowhead offers the kind of senior living area families have come to count on. We have 60 bright suites for assisted living and another 25 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other assisted living Glendale, AZ offers and why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home.”

MorningStar at Arrowhead proudly provides the very best in senior living 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 to learn more about the finest assisted living Glendale, AZ has to offer.

Looking for Assisted Living in Fort Collins?

 

If you are looking for exceptional assisted living, MorningStar of Fort Collins may be the place for you.  For seniors who wish to maintain their independence but require assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living), our 55 assisted living suites are equipped with all of the modern conveniences and safety features.  Available in a variety of well-designed floor plans, suites have wall-to-wall carpeting, high ceilings, lots of windows, ceiling lights, and mini-blinds.  

In assisted living, we offer various levels of support with the ADLs (we have 5 levels in all), and your care plan is determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director, and in agreement with you and your family. Various auxiliary services, both medical and non-medical, are priced a la carte.  However, regardless of your level of care, all assisted living residents have access to around-the-clock Care Managers to ensure your safety as they compassionately meet your expressed (and even unexpressed) needs.   

Why we believe our assisted living care to be different from that of other communities is by the type of individuals who make up our team.  When we set out to hire a new staff member, we look for virtues such as character, kindness and selflessness as we believe these are more important than education or experience.  Moreover, many of our “Great Hearts” come to us for a job as they love the idea of working for a company with core values that include Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness! 

Currently we are accepting new residents, and are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus. We are adhering to the changing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and regulatory authorities to ensure the safety of both residents and team members.  Visit our website for contact information and to learn more about MorningStar’s commitment to delivering service with sincerity, warmth and depth of purpose.    

MorningStar of Fort Collins’ 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 an outstanding assisted living home for residents. 

Research has Shown that Pets Can Improve Your Health

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 isolation and uncertainty, many of us feel our pets are more important than ever.

The great thing about pets is they offer unconditional love and loyal companionship. 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 that you 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?

For the area’s finest senior living, Glendale area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar at Arrowhead, a true destination for successful aging. We understand how important our residents’ furry friends are to them, which is why we are pet friendly. Our gorgeous community has 60 assisted living suites, and another 25 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about all of our services and amenities.

MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the best in assisted living and memory care with a unique 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 to create a true “home” for residents. If you are looking for exceptional senior living, Glendale AZ’s MorningStar at Arrowhead may be your answer.

Alzheimer’s Disease May Cause Changes in Personality and Behavior

 

If your parent, spouse, or another loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you may have become concerned over some of the changes in the person’s behavior and actions. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends that the more you understand the disease, the better equipped you will be to understand and cope with the various changes in the personality and behavior of your loved one.

Common worrisome behaviors include getting easily upset, worried and angry as well as frequently misunderstanding what he or she sees or hears. The person may start hiding things or believe others are hiding things from them. They may imagine things that aren’t really there or have a hard time sitting still and spend lots of time pacing. Another very distressing behavior is hitting you or other people. Your loved one may act depressed and stop caring how they look by resisting bathing and/or changing their clothes.

The NIA say one way to help mitigate the person’s agitation and unsettling behaviors is to take a look at their surroundings. If there is a lot of noise and distractions going on around them, limit the noise by turning off the TV or radio and remove them from a loud group of people, which can be very confusing for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s. Other common items around the home may increase confusion such as mirrors or walking over a change in floor surfaces (carpet to wood, etc.).

To help the person stay calm and feel safe, doctors advise sticking to a simple, daily routine. When you need to ask the person something, limit it to one question at a time and speak clearly to them looking directly into their eyes. Other tips include using humor whenever you can, don’t raise you voice and avoid arguing with them.

MorningStar at Bear Creek in Colorado Springs provides compassionate, individualized care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our community is equipped to care for seniors in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. As dementia care specialists, our team lovingly creates a daily routine that stimulates or calms in response to particular moods or situations. If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, we want you to know we are here to help.

MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in senior living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 our unique approach to dementia care.

Source: nia.nih.gov/health/managing-personality-and-behavior-changes-alzheimers

Medical Experts Cite Some Questions they want Patients to Ask

While many of us leave our doctor’s office or log off from a telemedicine visit wishing we had asked this question or that, and we are not alone. Healthcare providers also say there are questions they wish their patients would be more proactive about asking. These types of question can include deciphering test results or explaining what a new medication will do for them, why they need it, and how to take it. In fact many healthcare professionals think “a curious patient is a healthy patient.”

One of the areas doctors say patients should ask more about is preventive care. This would include what vaccines and routine tests are appropriate for our age as well as tests based on our own personal medical history. This would include advanced genetic testing for certain conditions such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer or colon cancer. In addition since most of us do it, check with your doctor about which medical websites they trust for accurate information on the web.

Professionals say patients with high blood pressure need to know how hypertension can affect them and should ask questions regarding the lifestyle changes they need to take. Also they need to know what symptoms to watch out for and how they can monitor their own BP from home.

Other good questions to ask your physician includes if they have experience treating someone with a disease or cancer like yours. Dr. Jack Jacoub, an oncologist and medical director at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in California, explains that, “Experience is critical in managing complex cancer cases." Lastly don’t hesitate to let your doctor know about a fear you have regarding any symptoms or pain you may be experiencing. Ask for an explanation of what might be causing the problem and ask about any test they think you should have done. Eliminating our fears and finding the answer to a health problem can be very reassuring.

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 contact us to learn more about trusted assisted living and independent living in Billings, MT.

Source: health.usnews.com/conditions/slideshows/questions-doctors-wish-their-patients-would-ask?slide=10&src=usn_nl_yourhealth