The Mayo Clinic has several tips to help people with high blood pressure (HBP) bring their numbers down. They say making simply lifestyle changes could help you avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
The first thing they recommend is maintaining a healthy weight. If you are overweight, check with your healthcare provider regarding diet suggestions. Experts explain being overweight can raise your blood pressure as well as interfere with your breathing during the night (sleep apnea). Just having too much weight around your waistline can also increase your blood pressure. While measurements vary among body types and ethnicities, the Mayo Clinic says, “Men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters). Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (89 centimeters).” Check with your doctor regarding what would be best for you. Exercise is another way to help reduce your blood pressure numbers. Experts say 150 minutes a week or 30 minutes daily can help bring your numbers done by about 5 to 8 mm Hg if you have high blood pressure. Best exercises include walking, jogging, dancing, cycling or swimming. Diet is also important and the Mayo Clinic says the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is a good one for HBP. Other suggestions include reducing your daily sodium intake as well as alcohol consumption, cut back on caffeine and reduce stress. At the MorningStar of Happy Valley senior living community, we provide all the comforts of home including home-cooked meals that are both delicious and healthy. Our nutritional choices include low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low fat for residents to self-manage. Ingredients include using super foods such as acai berries, Omega 3 fats, dark chocolate and dark greens. Our community offers 61 graciously appointed suites for assisted living with configurations that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some as large as 865 square feet). For those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, we have 27 secure suites providing individualized, specialized care. Please call or visit our website to learn more. This blog is for informational purposes only, please consult your healthcare provider with any medical questions or problems. Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20046974
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After a careful search for the best memory care for a parent or spouse, your next step is to support them through the transition phase. Dementia care specialists caution that everyone is different and to factor into the process the person’s personality and unique needs. Also remember most Alzheimer’s care homes are dedicated to providing the best care for the person and do so by including the person’s family into all aspects of decision making.
Experts recommend avoiding trying to explain to the person that “they need more help” as by the time you are looking into 24-hour care, they most likely do not fully understand their situation. Moreover even though the care provided by the community will most likely improve their quality of life, recognize that it will be a challenging process. In addition while it may seem counterintuitive, experts say do not include the person in any of the moving decisions as it will only add to their confusion. Also schedule the person’s move-in at the time of day when they are typically at their best. Other things to do to ease the transition include not bringing too much stuff. A person with Alzheimer’s gets easily confused and having way too many clothes and other items around them is not comforting. Also stay in touch with the home’s management team and ask to be alerted to any troubling behaviors or needs of your loved one. At the MorningStar at Englefield Green memory care community, we want you to know that we understand our residents’ families are still the most important person in their life and that our care services are in conjunction with their wishes. We are proud to be one of Boise’s most professional and compassionate Alzheimer’s care homes; and our holistic approach to memory care is individualized, specialized and encompasses the whole person. 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 for more information on Boise’s most trusted memory care. Source: https://www.seniorlink.com/blog/50-tips-on-transitioning-a-loved-one-to-memory-dementia-or-alzheimers-careyour-blog-post-title-here At MorningStar at Englefield Green, our whole community is committed to providing loving, experienced memory care. Our compassionate, professional team has a good understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and takes a holistic approach to caring for our tender residents.
MorningStar’s memory care is specifically designed to meet the needs of residents throughout the various stages of the disease. Our spacious building has 50 secure suites and is intended to encourage residents to safely explore their surroundings. Suites are offered in a range of configurations and include studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom options. As dementia care specialists, we focus on nurturing and supporting the essence of the individual, regardless of the level of memory loss. In order to create an effective individualized care plan to guide our daily interactions and communication techniques, we meet with the senior and their family to learn as much as we can about the person’s background, talents and preferences even before they join our community. Our specialized care incorporates music, art, dance, and aromatherapy to heal and comfort residents while taking into account the uniqueness of each person. Another thing that makes MorningStar at Englefield Green a special place is our devoted, hard-working team who feels privileged to serve and is made up of men and women who willingly go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents. Our distinct mission statement reads to: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and to Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. Please visit our website to set up a tour of one of the area’s finest Alzheimer’s care homes or to inquire about availability and pricing. MorningStar at Englefield Green 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 within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand one of the finest Alzheimer’s care homes in Boise. At MorningStar at Englefield Green, we understand the devastation families feel when they get a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. We know the path going forward is unplanned for, and we consider it our privilege – our calling to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their family on their unexpected journey. MorningStar at Englefield Green offers experienced, compassionate memory care for those in the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia right through to the most advanced stages.
Our memory care consists of 50 secure suites including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. The community is specifically designed to allow residents the freedom to move safely about their spacious surroundings. Also given the nature of dementia, residents pay one price for their suite and their care regardless of the level of memory loss. As dementia care experts, our unique approach and philosophy to caring for those afflicted with the disease is called “Lavender Sky.” We know the essence of the person remains despite the level of memory loss, and our job is to nurture and support the individual by finding ways to calm or stimulate as the situation demands. Lavender Sky provides the path for us to enter, embrace, and explore the “purple world” of memory loss, and to cross over the physical, emotional, and relational boundaries that would otherwise separate us. Every aspect of our home is designed to provide the comfort, wellness and safety our special residents require including mealtime. We know those suffering from memory loss can sometimes have compromised abilities at the table. We address this by providing a selection of finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about one of Boise’s best Alzheimer’s care homes and to set up a tour. From the moment you walk through the door, you will see why our community is a true home. 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. Researchers says that even if we are not developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, as we grow older, our memory, decision-making, and ability to learn simply begin to wear down. This process is referred to as “cognitive aging” and doctors now say there are evidence-based steps we can take to improve our cognitive functioning.
The recently published study from the Institute of Medicine titled “Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action,” detailed three ways we protect and bolster our aging brain. The study’s authors are Dr. Dan Blazer, chair of the report and professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, and Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart and physician-in-chief at the Mount Sinai Hospital. The report is intended to provide relevant information to both physicians and patients. According to the study, the first thing we can do to help keep our brain healthy (and other parts of our body) is to engage in light exercise every day. Activities such as walking, gardening, swimming or biking help increase the blood flow to the brain, which helps to maintain and improve its functioning. The Cognitive Aging report also found that in order to reduce our risk for or to better manage cardiovascular disease, we need to eliminate unhealthy habits such as smoking and maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure. It recommends that if you do have high cholesterol, you follow your doctor’s instructions and continue to have the necessary blood tests done. The third key to improving and maintaining good cognitive functioning is to consult with your doctor to review the list of medications you are currently taking. Dr. Blazer explains that, “Older adults are sometimes on more medications than they need to be on." He adds, “Many, if not all of them, can potentially affect your cognitive functioning.” At the MorningStar of Fountain Hills assisted living and memory care community, our 24/7 care services include medication care managers/QMAPs, who administer and document regularly prescribed medications per the Medication Administration Record and physician orders. All of our care services, wellness programs and amenities are designed to support the whole person: body, mind and spirit and make MorningStar the perfect place for successful aging. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we exemplify the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “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…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please call to schedule a visit to see firsthand the finest assisted living and memory care in the area. Did you know that studies show many older adults prefer the carefree life offered by senior living? The idea of no longer having all of the responsibilities that come along with owning a home including the repairs and upkeep is very appealing to many seniors. Furthermore, for seniors who still think moving into an assisted living community is a place people go to die, most likely have not visited one of today’s vibrant communities.
There are even studies that suggest moving into senior living may be a healthier option for some than living alone. This can especially be true for seniors after the death of a spouse as many begin to feel isolated and lonely. Not to mention the burden of keeping up with household chores such as cleaning, cooking, laundry or needing to move up and down stairs. Senior living communities offer an individual the opportunity to easily make new friends as well as gives them the time to pursue special interests or to explore new hobbies. Also communities typically provide amenities such as onsite fitness centers in addition to offering a range of exercise classes geared toward the fitness level of older adults. MorningStar of Happy Valley is a new assisted living and memory care community that is set to open by the end of the year. We understand that for some the “MorningStar” name may be new to Happy Valley, but we want to reassure you that MorningStar Senior Living is anything but new. Our senior living communities are scattered throughout the Western U.S. including MorningStar of Beaverton, which opened west of Portland last fall. In addition, we want you know that our community will be staffed by a compassionate, professional team of individuals who are experienced in all facets of senior living and committed to providing our residents a true “home.” Visit our website for contact information and to find out more about our gorgeous new community. You are also welcome to stop by our Onsite Information Center which is open seven days a week. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Happy Valley, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. As one of the area’s top assisted living communities, we feel it is our calling, and our privilege, to provide loving, compassionate memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. With 28 memory care suites, we are equipped to care for your loved one from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Also, our Reflections Neighborhood is a secure environment, designed to allow residents the independence to move freely and safely about in their expansive surroundings.
In fact every aspect of our memory care is tailored to serve the needs of our most tender residents from a team of exceptional caregivers to meals, wellness programs and services. Once your loved one decides to join the MorningStar community, 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 and scheduled outings and events. As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” Our program is another reflection of our Radiance culture and provides us with an insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families. All team members, regardless of their position, receive Lavender Sky training, which includes a deeper understanding of the disease and communication techniques to use with memory-impaired residents. It also includes training in environmental safety and security and holistic solutions to challenging behaviors. Along with memory care, MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers exceptional assisted living. Please visit our website to learn more about our memory care as well as the many resort-style amenities and services we provide to all residents. MorningStar of Fountain Hills 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 loving, compassionate memory care. As one of the top senior living communities Fountain Hills AZ offers, MorningStar of Fountain Hills provides 28 secure memory care suites to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. Our team feels privileged to provide highly specialized, individualized care for seniors in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.
MorningStar’s resident-directed approach to memory care respects the dignity and value of each person and supports choice and independence as much as possible. All of our memory care suites are within our Reflections Neighborhood which is designed to accommodate the needs of our special residents. Memory care residents are able to move freely about in a safe and secure environment that includes an enclosed courtyard reserved just for our Reflections Neighborhood. We also provide three daily meals served in our comfy dining room where residents and staff eat together. In addition, residents are provided 24-hour care with daily health monitoring, and the expertise of a full-time licensed nurse. MorningStar’s memory care comes from a deep understanding of the disease and we create an individualized care plan for each resident based on their background, preferences and abilities. Our compassionate, professional staff uses multi-sensory cues to calm and awaken memories and to support capabilities. All residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of purposeful activities that include music, life skills, art, entertainers and exercise as well as our special events and outings. Please visit our website for more information about MorningStar of Fountain Hills. We understand families feel traumatized by the sobering diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and we want you to know we are here to support you as well as your loved one. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we represent 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 strive to create a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please schedule a tour of our community to see one of the finest senior living communities Fountain Hills, AZ has to offer. It is typically with mixed emotions that a family comes to the realization that their loved one needs more care than they can get at home. When this happens, there are several things to consider as you search for the best memory care.
One of the first things you need to know is that “memory care” is committed to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Assisted living is intended for those that require some extra care with their daily living activities in order to retain their independence and live their lives safely and comfortably. Many assisted living communities have a separate wing devoted to memory care residents and some like MorningStar at Englefield Green is entirely memory care. Memory care staff members should have gone through specialized training in order to understand the disease as well as to effectively care for those with dementia. At Englefield Green all of our team members are extensively trained to care for our tender residents and our community is uniquely designed to encourage and support a resident’s right to choice and independence to the fullest extent possible. You also will want to know the level of care the community is equipped to handle. At Englefield Green, we care for those from the onset of the disease through to the most advanced stages. Other questions should include how secure is the community and what is the staff/resident ratio during the day as well as at night. In addition, do residents receive regular health monitoring, is there a nurse on staff, and will there be a thorough intake process before your loved one joins the community? Ask how meals are handled, and when will you be contacted if there is a problem. We encourage you to visit MorningStar at Englefield Green’s website to learn more about our loving, unique dementia care community. Also, we recommend you set up a tour to see the home-like atmosphere of Englefield Green. 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 upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in 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 dementia care in Boise. Source: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/memory-care-checklist More and more research suggests it is just as important for seniors to stay mentally fit as it is to stay physically fit, and may actually help to keep older adults’ brains healthier. Seniors who engage in meaningful activities also report they feel healthier and happier.
The National Institute on Aging says these types of activities may protect the brain by establishing a cognitive reserve. They explain “they may help the brain become more adaptable in some mental functions, so it can compensate for age–related brain changes and health conditions that affect the brain.” One study called the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) Trial, had good results in improving seniors’ mental skills in the areas they were trained in. The study involved healthy adults age 65 years or older who participated in 10 sessions of memory training, reasoning training, or processing–speed training. The most surprising result of the study is that ten years later most of the participants’ improvements were still noticeable. Brain activities can include reading a book, making a puzzle, doing crosswords or playing trivia and other types of challenging games. Research also suggests that memory improvement is not only accomplished by targeted brain games or memory drills, but can come from undertaking a new skill or hobby. Learning to play an instrument or a foreign language are also great, brain healthy activities. MorningStar of Happy Valley has been designed from the ground up to be a true home for area seniors, and when we open late this year, we will provide an array of resort-style amenities and care services. In addition we will offer meaningful enrichment programs and activities designed to engage residents’ intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional and social connections. Each day, MorningStar’s Life Enrichment team will present creative ways to stay active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory. In addition to our 61 beautiful, private assisted living suites, we will offer 27 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. We are located on the south side of SE Sunnyside Rd., between SE 142nd Ave. and SE 145th Ave, and have an onsite Information Center where we look forward to meeting interested seniors and their families. MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. As what promises to be one of the best senior living communities in the area, we invite you to visit our website to learn more. Source: nia.nih.gov/health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults |
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