No matter what our age, there are some relatively easy things we can all do to improve our health. One of those suggestions is to develop the habit of eating more slowly. While it sounds like a simple thing, it actually offers a couple of health benefits. It gives our brain the chance to signal we are full, which can help prevent overeating as well as gives us additional time to think about what we are eating and maybe make better choices.
Another easy change is to get in the habit of eating fresh fruit rather than drinking fruit juice as even 100% pure juice loses some of its nutrients once it is processed. Eating fresh fruits are low in fat, sodium and calories and are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and folic acid. Also, fresh fruit fills you up more than juice. Some other recommendations include adding dark leafy greens to your diet and cutting back on sugar. Also, experts advise watching the fat in your diet. Avoid trans fats that have been related to heart disease but remember some fats found in foods such as whole eggs, fish, avocados, nuts and dairy are part of a balanced diet. Doctors additionally say an alcoholic drink (one at most for women and two at most for men) a day may provide benefits for your heart. Other ideas for improving health include reducing our level of stress. Experts say that regardless of what seems to trigger stress; not dealing with it can lead to a variety of serious health conditions including ulcers, heart disease and high blood pressure. Exercising is not only an excellent way to reduce stress but is good for our bodies, and no matter how old we are, we need to keep moving. At MorningStar of Happy Valley, an assisted living and memory care community, we provide healthy, nutritional meals as well as care services and amenities to ensure residents’ comfort, wellness and safety. Please see our website for more information. While you are there, you may read the statement from our CEO which details our defense against the coronavirus to help ensure the health of residents and team members during this difficult time. MorningStar of Happy Valley 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 our assisted living and memory care community.
0 Comments
We all may be eating and drinking foods we consider to be healthy but they may contain far more sugar than we think they do. It can even happen with foods we do not necessarily think of as sweet such as ketchup or barbeque sauce. Also making what we assume is the healthier choice like “low fat” or “light” yogurt may actually contain more sugar than the regular variety. Some low-fat yogurt has over 30 grams of sugar; and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends men consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day. For women, the amount is just 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day.
Another food we think of as healthy is granola. While it is true that the main ingredient is rolled oats, which provides protein, healthy fats and fiber, it also can be loaded with lots of sugar and calories. This is where label reading can help as the Washington Post did a story on granolas and found a single serving can range from one gram of sugar to 14 grams. Another thing to look for are the words “added sugar” as the sugar from dried fruit is not bad for us (more calories for those watching) as is corn syrup or cane sugar. However, do keep in mind that while honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar may be healthier, they still add empty calories. Drinks such as sugared ice teas and flavored coffees also add a lot of sugar to our diets as do some sport drinks and vitamin waters so be sure to read the label. If you want to avoid empty sugary drinks altogether, make flavored waters by adding fruit or vegetable slices. Toss in some lime and cucumber slices to your water or a handful of berries, orange slices, or mint leaves; use your imagination. If you are looking at senior living communities in the Fountain Hills, AZ area, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Fountain Hills. Our community has 63 graciously-appointed assisted living suites along with 28 memory care suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our delicious meals take into account seniors’ dietary restrictions with choices that include low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low fat for our residents to self-manage. Please see our website for more information. MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. We all understand how heartbreaking it is when a senior loses a beloved life partner but recent research now suggests that a surviving spouse may also be at a higher risk for cognitive decline. The study reports that individuals who were widowed with high levels of beta-amyloid plaque ( a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease), were found to decline cognitively three times faster than their counterparts who had not suffered the loss of a spouse. Dr. Nancy Donovan, the study’s lead researcher and chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says, "The associations of widowhood and amyloid were compounded, not simply additive, indicating that widowhood is a specific risk factor for cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease."
While the Alzheimer’s Associations cautions that the study was a small one, practicing geriatrician and internist, Dr. Marzena Gieniusz, of the Northwell Health in Manhasset, N.Y., said she often sees signs of cognitive decline in surviving spouses in her practice. Experts say it could be that mild memory loss was already present beforehand but was not obvious when the person had the support of a loving spouse. Another reason may be the surviving spouse had day-to-day, steady companionship and socialization that helped them stay emotionally engaged. Not only is it easier for many of us to face the world as a couple, but when a spouse dies, the survivor may be more socially isolated, which in itself puts a person more at risk for cognitive decline. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that surviving spouses make an effort to follow the guidelines for decreasing their risk for Alzheimer’s by exercising, engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, eating a healthy diet, managing stress levels and reducing cardiovascular risk factors. Also even if you are avoiding in-person contact due to COVID 19, it is important to stay socially engaged. Remember to make the effort to call a friend, do facetime calls with grandkids and family, write emails and snail mail letters, or join an online support group. If a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, please contact one of the area’s most loving, professional Alzheimer’s care homes. The compassionate team at MorningStar at Englefield Green takes a holistic approach to memory care that is both specialized and individualized. Please visit our website for pricing and availability. MorningStar at Englefield Green 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. Visit our website to learn more about one of Boise’s finest Alzheimer’s care homes. If you are looking for exceptional assisted living, MorningStar of Fountain Hills may be the place for you. For seniors who wish to maintain their independence but require assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living), our 63 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 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 safely accepting new residents, and are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus. We are closely following—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government. 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 Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our whole team is committed to being one of the finest senior living communities in the area and to live up to our unique mission statements as follows:
MorningStar Senior Living’s founder and CEO, Ken Jaeger, began the company out of his desire to create senior living that was defined by the human touch. He said his intention was to “re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.” Seventeen years later, MorningStar has continued to grow and prosper with over 30 communities in 10 states open or under construction. Our team is made up of a group of individuals who do the right thing even when no one is watching and feel privileged to serve seniors. Our compassionate community is filled with love and laughter as we aspire to and nurture our core value of Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness. These are the ways by which we want to offer care and build Family for Life. While we have had to make many changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, as the nation slowly reopens, MorningStar is carefully following suit with each state’s phasing and pacing where our communities are located. We continue to stay abreast of developments and evaluate best practices and innovations in our services to seniors. Please visit our website for a virtual tour of our beautiful community and use our email link to inquire about availability and pricing. MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we provide exemplary service to our residents to ensure their utmost comfort, wellbeing and safety. To achieve this, we recognize it could not be done without the help of our team members who we consider to be the very heartbeat of our community.
Our team consists of a unique group of individuals who have a felt calling to serve. They are the kind of people who do the right thing even when no one is watching, and have perfected the art of anticipating needs and going the extra mile. MorningStar’s team members see seniors as heroes and feel privileged to have a rewarding career that offers both professional as well as personal growth. To direct us in our service, all team members, including our management team, are guided by Radiance, our exclusive brand standard of Service Excellence. The program’s precepts are introduced to every team member upon being hired, and then reiterated and strengthened every day during our daily Huddle. Radiance allows us to take service professionalism to the next level and offers a purposeful way for us to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others. As “Radiance” is like a beam of light, it epitomizes the ways we serve others – with warmth, sincerity, and depth and is reiterated through interpersonal communications and special touches throughout our community. We invite you to take a look at our website to learn more about our Radiance program and MorningStar of Fountain Hills. We offer 63 assisted living suites in addition to our Reflections Neighborhood that has 28 suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. We are certain MorningStar’s well-designed suites and welcoming common areas will impress you from the first but it is our dedicated, loving care team that makes our community a true home. MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. If you are looking for exceptional assisted living or memory care, MorningStar of Fountain Hills may be your answer. We want you to know that we are accepting new residents, and that we have every confidence in the safety protocols we are taking in our aggressive defense against the coronavirus (COVID-19). Please visit our website for lots of information about Morning Senior Living and the Fountain Hills community, including a virtual tour.
The virtual tour will give you a good look at some of our open common areas including our atrium with a water feature, dining rooms, fitness room, theater, salon, patios and more. You will also get a chance to see our well-appointed suites. In addition, we share background on some of the guiding principles of MorningStar Senior Living including our mission statement and core values consisting of Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness. We think it is important for families to know that we have been very deliberate in putting into place a coordinated defense against the coronavirus in every aspect of our operations and have built layer upon layer of protocols as information evolves. MorningStar is following closely—in many cases, exceeding—guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government to ensure the health and well-being of both residents and team members. To give you comfort regarding our care during these unusual times, we would like to share just one of the letters MorningStar has received from our families. They write, “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.” MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. Experts say it is important to seek the advice of your doctor if memory problems are seriously affecting your life. To determine if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, the Mayo Clinic explains, “doctors conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and identify behavior changes. They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment.”
During your appointment, the Mayo Clinic says expect to be evaluated on:
Tests include neuropsychological tests that are used to access your abstract thinking, problem-solving skills, memory, language usage and other related skills. Your doctor may also schedule braining-imaging tests. While these brain scans are not used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, they can detect other conditions such as hemorrhages, brain tumors or damage from a past stroke. They are also used to establish a baseline in terms of the amount of degeneration seen on the scans. Your doctor may also talk with your family to learn more about the types of changes they have noticed and how they have affected who you are now. All of the information is then used to rule out other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, or depression that may be causing your symptoms. It is understandable that people are often afraid to go to a doctor once they suspect Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, many feel that since there is no cure, what is the point? However, doctors stress once you are diagnosed with the disease, you can start getting the proper treatment as well as consider your care options and plans for the future. 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 of Fountain Hills’ 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 assisted living and memory care. Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048075 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 systemic diseases like diabetes, lupus, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.
In the case of stress fractures, they 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 strain 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 Englefield Green’s memory care 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. Looking for one of the area’s top Alzheimer’s care homes? Visit our website. |
Our goal is to allow seniors to enjoy their retirement years by offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, filled with resort-style amenities and activities. Archives
August 2021
Categories:
All
|