At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we understand there are all sorts of emotions that occur when a family begins to look into assisted living for a parent or a loved one. Often it is a complete learning experience as many people do not know what assisted living offers and how it differs from other senior housing Rio Rancho NM offers.
Assisted living is a fairly new concept that started in the late 1990’s and is designed for seniors who want to maintain their independence but need a little help with daily living activities. Based on the European social model, it creates a new paradigm in wellness and engagement, and we believe that the structure and society offered in assisted living communities introduces a return of healthy routines and healthier lives. It is estimated that more than one million Americans are living in senior care communities and that number is expected to almost double by 2030 as people are living longer. Most assisted living residents moved into a community from their own home, family residence or an apartment while others move in after a hospital or rehabilitation stay. Our recommendation for opening a conversation about making some changes in the way your parent is living should be done when everyone is gathered and relaxed. Also remember nothing has to be decided on all at once, and while it should ultimately be a family decision, the person involved needs to be given a voice. We also understand that searching for the most suitable community is difficult as there are many factors to consider. We suggest that once you narrow down several choices, you set up tours to experience the communities firsthand. The child of the person or healthier spouse should do the tours, and not more than two a day, as there is a lot of information to take in. Assisted living communities like MorningStar of Rio Rancho are designed to allow seniors’ their independence and give them the opportunity to stay socially active. We have put together a “Conversation Guide” that goes into even greater depth regarding helping families to make the transition. When you contact us, please ask for a copy. MorningStar of Rio Rancho represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement – “to honor, to value, 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 within a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the best senior housing Rio Rancho NM offers. Source: ascseniorcare.com/assisted-living-statistics-a-deeper-dive-into-the-demographics/
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According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), one out of every four Americans aged 65 and older falls every year and the majority of these falls occur at home. There are several reasons why seniors are more susceptible to a fall and there are steps you can take to help decrease the likelihood of it happening.
Many elderly adults experience a general overall decline in their physical fitness resulting in reduced muscle strength, decreased bone mass, loss of balance and coordination, and reduced flexibility that make them more susceptible to a fall. Another common problem shared by many seniors is impaired vision. This can make it more difficult to detect fall hazards such as steps, thresholds, and obstacles and changes in the ground. Certain types of medications, especially the side effects, can cause drowsiness, dizziness or low blood pressure, which can all increase the risk of a fall. Also keep in mind it is not just prescription drugs but over-the-counter medications can contribute to balance problems as well. Other factors that make seniors more susceptible to falls are chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis as well as surgical procedures including hip or knee replacement. The NIA recommends installing night lights in the hallways and bathrooms and to have a light switch and phone within reach of the bed. Keep walkways free of clutter and avoid using throw rugs and area carpets. Use hand rails when going up and down the stairs, and if you have a pet, make sure they are not underfoot. In the bathroom, install grab bars in the tub and near the toilet, and use non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our loving assisted living and memory care community makes residents’ safety and wellbeing a priority. We provide 24-hour care, a licensed nurse on call 24/7, and provide suites equipped with full, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, an emergency call system and more. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. Daylight Saving Time ends in early November, and when it does it can be especially tough on individuals who suffer from the condition known as sundowner’s syndrome says author Rick Phelps who is afflicted with the condition. He explains that when we lose so much daylight and are faced with the typically dreary, dark cloudy days of winter, those with sundowner’s can get further confused.
The Mayo Clinic describes sundowner’s syndrome as “a state of confusion at the end of the day and into the night.” They explain that it is not an actual disease but rather a symptom of Alzheimer's and typically peaks in the middle stage of the disease. In fact the Alzheimer’s Association says that, “As many as 20 percent of persons with Alzheimer's will experience increased confusion, anxiety and agitation beginning late in the day. Others may experience changes in their sleep schedule and restlessness during the night.” Researchers do not understand the exact cause of sundowning but it appears to be triggered by a number of factors including fatigue or an overreaction to the day’s sensory stimulation. The inability to see well in the dark or hormonal imbalances that occur at night could be the cause of some of the anxiety people experience. Furthermore, since many people with the syndrome do not get a good night’s sleep that can trigger behavioral problems. In addition to anxiety and confusion, the condition can also result in aggression, anger, depression, pacing, fear, restlessness, hallucinations, paranoia, wandering and violence. Experts offer some tips to better cope with sundowner’s syndrome such as keeping your home well-lit during the evening hours and following a strict schedule for meals and bedtimes. They recommend that activities be scheduled in the morning or early afternoon to give the person plenty of time to unwind before evening. Sleep disturbances should be discussed with the person’s health care provider. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Englefield Green, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other assisted living communities. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, and offers loving, compassionate care in a beautiful residential setting. We encourage you to schedule a tour to see for yourself the finest memory care unit in Boise. MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ mission is to provide the best assisted living and memory care possible. To ensure we meet our standard of service excellence, each of MorningStar’s team members from caregivers to dining servers or housekeepers go through our proprietary service excellence “Radiance” training. In addition, its precepts are reiterated during our daily “Huddle.” Radiance celebrates an attitude of selflessness, which issues from a deep and sincere place as does a beam of light, and is the framework that guides the way we deliver service – with warmth, sincerity and depth.
As one team member from a MorningStar community writes, “Radiance training is absolutely phenomenal!” She says she appreciates the fact that it helps team members to be their best at work as well as in their personal lives and creates an environment where residents are treated with the utmost care. Another team member shares: “People always ask me why I love my job so much. For me it’s not always about money, but the difference you can make in someone’s life. MorningStar has done so much for me in the short time I have been here. Not only am I changing residents’ lives but they are changing mine.” We believe Radiance is the evidence of our resolve to be a place that is not only distinguished by compassion and care, but by service professionalism as its presence and influence is felt throughout our community. Under its teachings, residents are treated as family members, and as such, our priority is to respond to their expressed and unexpressed needs and wishes. Please contact us for more information about our assisted living and memory care as well as all of the services, amenities and programs we offer residents. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. Studies show that for many older adults in need of a little daily assistance, life is easier in assisted living. The reason so many of them say they prefer assisted living to living on their own, is it actuals helps them to feel more – not less – independent. In fact, senior living communities such as MorningStar of Fountain Hills are designed to provide seniors a lifestyle of comfort, wellness, and community.
When you live in your own home, you have the constant worry of upkeep and unexpected repairs, or you may be a person who no longer feels comfortable driving and have given it up altogether. This makes running errands, grocery shopping and getting to doctors’ appointments difficult. Moving into assisted living means you no longer have to spend time worrying about maintaining a home, and communities such as MorningStar offer scheduled transportation. Meal prep is another thing that is often difficult for the elderly, and as a result, many older adults who live alone do not eat as well as they should. Also when you no longer have a job and do not drive, living on your own can be lonely. At assisted living communities, you have your own private nest but people around whenever you feel in need of company. MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ monthly calendar offers a full range of wellness programs and entertaining activities to keep you as busy as you like. Senior living communities also offer the benefit of making seniors feel safer without the worry of home intrusions. At MorningStar, you will have peace of mind knowing that around-the-clock help is just a push of a button away. Additionally all suites are equipped with full handicap-accessible bathrooms. MorningStar of Fountain Hills is located in a scenic desert community east of Scottsdale at the corner of Paul Nordin Parkway and Verde River Drive. Our community includes 63 assisted living suites, as well as 28 secure memory care suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please visit our website to learn more. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our mission is to provide seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. To ensure residents the finest assisted living and memory care, we define health and well-being holistically and back it up with an array of services and programming that support the whole person in mind, body and spirit.
Wellness is enhanced through our Life Enrichment wellness programs and activities as well as through our Wellness Care Team. At MorningStar, we have the expertise and authority to provide the level of resident care that can extend the stay of residents in spite of changing health conditions. To this end, we pride ourselves on working hard to create solutions for residents and their families that result in higher quality of care at lower costs. Assisted living residents are thoroughly evaluated by our Wellness Director when they join our community, in order to create a care plan that is appropriate to their needs. In addition, we do routine Care Planning Reviews and Scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations to make sure residents continue to get the right amount of assistance as they need it. Our care services include 24-hour Care Managers and a CPR trained staff member on every shift, Licensed Nurses on call 24/7, medication management by Certified Med Care Managers, and palliative/hospice care. We also offer oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care, diabetic management and more. Our residents are provided transportation to medical appointments, pharmacy services, and onsite dental and podiatry services. Please visit our website to read the full list of all of our services, and if you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to give us a call. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we understand the important of gathering together as a community to “break bread” each day. We believe food is a healing medicine unlike any other, and when our residents sit down to a delicious meal served restaurant-style, it creates lasting bonds and fellowship within our “family.”
We recognize that good nutrition is especially important to the wellbeing of seniors, which is why food is prepared largely from scratch and feature the freshest of ingredients from high-quality producers and/or are locally sourced. MorningStar’s meals are prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef, Grant Larsen. As a resident, you will be treated to seasonal menus and special holiday feasts such as those we enjoy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, Chef Larsen modifies menus and recipes to accommodate residents’ changing needs and tastes. Moreover, you can easily self-manage any dietary restrictions as we offer a wide selection of low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, and low-fat foods. MorningStar of Fountain Hills also believes that nutrient-rich ingredients can help stimulate the appetite and support brain health. This is why we prepare meals using BrainWise super foods that contain a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Super foods include acai, leafy dark greens, dark chocolates, berries, and fish, nuts and other foods high in Omega 3 fats. For our memory care residents, food is as much about Community as it is about Nutrition. To encourage appetites, our team members sit and share meals with residents and many are served “family style” as they are in private homes. Much of our food is modified out of respect for residents’ somewhat compromised eating abilities and include finger foods, texture-modified diets and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look. Please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar of Fountain Hills. You will find links to set up a tour or for pricing and availability. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. How many of us have just left a doctor’s office when we realized we forgot to ask several relevant questions we had been thinking about. This is why physicians suggest we take the time to prepare for each of our doctor appointments to ensure the best health outcome.
Keep in mind the estimated time spent with the doctor is only about 7 minutes, so you need to be ready to communicate your concerns. One of the first things to do to save time is create an updated list of all of the medications you are currently taking regardless of which healthcare provider prescribed it. You can even bring the bottles with you so there are no questions about dosage. Remember to include any over-the-counter drugs you take. Next, prepare a list of questions you have starting with the most important ones first. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends questions such as, “Do you have a new symptom you want to ask the doctor about? Do you want to get a flu shot? Are you concerned about how a treatment is affecting your daily life?” If you recently had lab or blood tests done, be sure to ask about the results. As many older adults worry they will forget the answers to their questions or treatment information, it may be helpful to bring along another pair of ears. If you are having trouble following instructions regarding your care plan, ask to have the instructions repeated. If you suspect a medication you are taking is giving you problems, be sure to bring it up with your doctor. If you are prescribed new medications, do not wait until your next appointment to let your healthcare provider know if you are experiencing side effects. If you or a loved one is looking for assisted living or memory care in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area, we invite you to consider MorningStar of Fountain Hills. We have 63 graciously appointed assisted living suites and 28 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for our residents. Please schedule a visit to our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. Source: nia.nih.gov/health/how-prepare-doctors-appointment Forgetfulness is a natural part of aging; however, it is important to recognize the difference between normal forgetfulness and serious memory loss. As we grow older, we may experience problems with things like finding our keys or glasses, remembering names or certain words, and taking longer to learn new things. In most cases this is just mild forgetfulness, and there are things we can do to help sharpen our memory.
Experts recommend that activities such as taking a class, playing cards and word games, or volunteering can all help to improve mental acuity. Also it may be helpful to use memory tools such as calendars and to-do-lists, and to eat well, get plenty of rest and limit your alcohol intake. Tricks like always putting away your day-to-day items in a designated place can be helpful. As depression along with some medications and health conditions can adversely affect memory, it is important to consult with your doctor if problems continue or worsen. The Alzheimer’s Association advises that the type of memory loss that disrupts a person’s everyday life is not normal. From their list of ten signs of Alzheimer’s disease, they state that one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering newly learned information. Further signs of serious memory problems involve difficulty with daily activities such as driving, shopping, and following conversations. A person may start having trouble following directions; be confused about time, people, and places; and become lost in familiar places. Other signs include changes in personal hygiene and attire as well as not eating well. If you have questions regarding these and the other warning signs found on the Alzheimer’s Association website, they advise consulting your physician. They state that, “early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.” This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. The mission statement of MorningStar at Englefield Green, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other Alzheimer’s care homes. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, and offers loving, compassionate care in a beautiful residential setting. We encourage you to schedule a tour to see for yourself the finest memory care in Boise. Source: alz.org/national/documents/checklist_10signs.pdf |
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
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