For everyone involved, a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related disease is heart wrenching. As a family, you are faced with many difficult decisions and that includes deciding what type of living arrangements will best suit your loved one.
At MorningStar Memory Care at Englefield Green, we are committed to providing the best dementia care in the Boise area. So, what is it that sets us apart from other memory care communities? To start with Englefield Green was specifically designed to serve the needs of those suffering from memory impairment diseases. Our community, newly opened in the fall of 2017, was built to allow residents the freedom to explore their expansive surroundings as independently as possible while at the same time ensuring their safety. When people visit MorningStar at Englefield Green for the first time, they discover a loving home filled with warm and inviting common areas. Our spacious community has four fireside living rooms, secure courtyards, a life enrichment room, bistro, library, theater (including Wii), and a full salon. In addition, all residents are encouraged to participate in a full range of daily wellness programs and activities designed to support and engage their physical, intellectual, spiritual, and social connections. We also offer musical entertainment and sing-alongs as well as planned outings such as scenic drives or walks around the neighborhood. However, beyond all of our beautiful well-designed surroundings, activities and programs, we are most proud of our caring and loving staff. Please contact us to learn more about our exceptional community. As dementia care specialists, we feel privileged to walk alongside our residents and their families on this unexpected journey. 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.
0 Comments
The Mayo Clinic reports on research that suggests listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. They explain the reason may be that “musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer's disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.” Listening to music can help relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and reduce agitation. Music can bring back memories to those even in the most advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimers.net quotes neurologist Oliver Sacks, who says, “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory… it brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.” When music is incorporated into the everyday activities of someone with dementia, it can help them to recall memories of that activity and improve cognitive ability over time. Research has shown that some of the last two abilities in Alzheimer’s patients are musical abilities and the appreciation of it, which is why it is such an effective way to try and reach the essence of the person. It has also been found to help those in the more advanced stages of the disease to express and share emotions with their caregivers through dancing or moving along with the rhythm. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America says, “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function and coordinate motor movements.” MorningStar of Fountain Hills is one of the top assisted living communities in the area offering dedicated memory care. As dementia care specialists, our training and experience has given us a deep understanding of the disease. Our holistic approach includes leveraging the power of dance, music, art, exercise, animals and aromatherapy to heal and comfort. Please contact us to learn about our assisted living and memory care community. 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 in the area. Sources: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/music-and-alzheimers/faq-20058173 alzheimers.net/why-music-boosts-brain-activity-in-dementia-patients/ medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321677.php If you are considering assisted living, and like many older adults suffer from a chronic health condition, MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ community is designed to help you better manage it. We define health and well-being holistically, and as such, offer a range of services and programming that supports the whole person – body, mind and spirt. Both our Enrichment team and our Wellness Care team play an important role in making our community the best choice for senior living in the Fountain Hills area.
We are pleased to offer assisted living residents the many benefits provided by our centralized, mobile Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This ensures an accurate record of assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records). The EHR system not only allows us to maintain accurate, legible and complete demographic and medical information on residents, but enhances privacy and security of the data. Some of our services to residents include a licensed nurse on call 24/7 and onsite throughout the week, and CPR-trained team members on each shift. We also offer 24-hour Care Managers and medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. Our team does routine Care Plan reviews as well as scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations. In addition, MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers care services such as mechanical lift assistance, diabetic management, oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care and more. Residents receive scheduled physician visits (with a choice of physicians), pharmacy services and onsite dental services and podiatry. Please visit our website’s Care Services page to see our entire list of services. MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers 63 bright suites for assisted living and 28 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please contact us for more information, pricing and availability. 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 in the area. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we strongly believe that older adults still have a lot to contribute and are eager and open to learning new ideas and pursuing new interests. This is why in addition to our exceptional care services; our community offers an inspirational and engaging life enrichment program. Our Life Enrichment is designed to stimulate your brain, enhance health and wellness, and encourage social connections.
Headed by our talented Life Enrichment team, our assisted living calendar is filled with optional activities that use creative ways to stay active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory. We tap into our residents’ unique talents and experiences, and if we do not already have one, encourage residents to take the lead in establishing special interest clubs. From art classes, to physical activities such as total body workout, poetry readings or writing classes, and live music, MorningStar of Fountain Hills is committed to engaging the mind, body and spirit each day. We also take outings to cultural destinations, casinos, scenic drives, out to lunch and more. We suggest you take a look at our monthly calendar, Life Around Our House and Upcoming Events on our website to get a better idea of the fun and entertainment enjoyed by MorningStar residents and their families as well as our staff. MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers 63 private assisted living suites studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations (some as large as 870 square feet). In addition, we have 28 secure memory care suites dedicated to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. All of our suites are ready to move into and just need your furnishings and personal items to feel like home. Please contact us for information on pricing and availability. MorningStar of Fountain Hills 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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. Do you think all senior living communities are pretty much the same? If so, it may surprise you to learn that MorningStar of Fountain Hills is committed to a distinct mission statement that guides the way we do business and how we deliver our care services.
It reads as follows:
MorningStar Senior Living was founded in 2003 by Ken Jaeger, who after fifteen years of working in the industry was determined to start his own brand of senior living. It would be one that was defined by human touch and lovingly meet the residents’ social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. MorningStar communities were thus created as a true home for seniors – one in which the sense of family prevails and residents are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Most importantly communities are staffed by individuals who have a felt calling to serve and view seniors as heroes. Those values have served our company well for over the past 15 years, and we now fast forward to November 2016 when MorningStar of Fountain Hills opened as MorningStar’s third community in the Phoenix area (today there are four). Fountain Hills’ warm and welcoming community was designed from the ground up to be a place where residents are proud to call “home.” Our two-story building has 63 assisted living suites in a variety of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans. In addition, we offer 28 secure suites dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Please visit our website for more information. 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 in the Fountain Hills area. If you or a loved one has started to slow down a bit and needs a little help with day-to-day activities or could benefit from more companionship and socialization, assisted living may be the answer. Sometimes older adults resist the idea of assisted living as they think they will lose their independence and freedom but this could not be further from the truth. Making the move to an assisted living community like MorningStar of Fountain Hills actually improves the quality of life for many seniors.
If you are picturing dark and dreary assisted living facilities like your grandparent’s nursing home years ago, you need to update yourself to today’s modern senior housing available in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. We suggest visiting MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ website and follow the link to our Gallery where you will find stunning interior and exterior photos. Also follow our links to a list of amenities and floor plans. While at our website, we suggest you take a look at our monthly calendar of wellness activities and special events to get an idea of the daily goings-on. For example, on a Tuesday in June, assisted living residents could enjoy a scenic drive, catch up on current events, go to a Total Body Workout class, attend a Weekly Praise & Worship Service, play Bingo, and join our Inklings Writing Club all before dinner! Activities are optional but participating can sure be fun and most likely you will be missed if you do not join in. MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers 63 assisted living suites on two levels, with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In addition, we have 28 secure suites devoted to the care of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Visit our website to learn more about our exceptional community. 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 in the area. For years research has suggested children should have limits placed upon their daily screen time, and now a large study suggests the same may be true for older adults. A published report from the University College London in the United Kingdom indicates that older adults who spent at least 3.5 hours a day watching television experienced a greater decline in verbal memory. The study’s data was taken from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), which included 3,662 participants age 50 years and older.
Participants answered researchers’ questions in 2008-2009 and then again in 2014-2015 regarding the time they spent watching TV. Afterward they were given a series of tests that measured verbal memory and fluency. Results showed adults who watch 3.5 or more hours of TV daily had an “average decline of 8–10 percent in word- and language-related memory over the 6 years the study covered. This is compared with a lower 4–5 percent average decline in those who watched fewer hours of TV per day over the same period.” For the verbal memory tests, participants were asked to memorize and then recall lists of words within a given time. The verbal fluency tests required them to list as many examples, such as animals, they could in a given amount of time. The semantic fluency of the study’s participants did not seem to be affected. It was noted that most of the studies involving the effects of TV watching have been done on children and little to no studies on older adults. One of the study’s co-authors, Dr. Daisy Fancourt, who works in the Department of Behavioral Science and Health says, "Much less attention has been paid to the effects of television viewing at the other end of the lifespan, despite it being hypothesized for over 25 years that watching excessive television could contribute to the development of dementia." At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, residents have a whole lot more to do than just watching TV. Our assisted living and memory care community provides the care services residents’ need as well as a range of wellness programs and activities designed to enhance health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection. With such a broad range of activities, we are sure you will find something of interest, such as exercise classes, reading and writing groups, painting classes, trivia and card games, arts and crafts, entertainment and much more. Please call or visit our website for more information. MorningStar of Fountain Hills 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. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324598.php The Alzheimer’s Association reports on studies that show “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.” This condition is often referred to as sundowning or sundowner’s syndrome. Those providing Alzheimer’s care to a loved one should be aware of the syndrome and know that there are coping strategies.
In addition to the anxiety and agitation, other symptoms for the syndrome include anger, depression, pacing, fear, restlessness, hallucinations, paranoia, wandering and violence. The cause of sundowning is not known but researchers speculate that the condition may be triggered by a number of factors such as fatigue or an overreaction to the day’s sensory stimulation. Some think that sundowning could be the result of anxiety caused by the inability to see well in the dark. Another reason may be hormonal imbalances that occur at night. Also, because people with sundowner’s symptoms experience a disruption in their sleep-cycles, that can create more behavioral problems. The Alzheimer’s Association advises that any sleep disturbances should be discussed with a doctor but experts do offer some helpful tips to cope with sundowner’s syndrome. One of the suggestions is to keep the home well-lit during the evening hours. They also recommend scheduled meal times and bedtimes. If the person needs a nap, it should be taken early in the day. Furthermore, doctor appointments and other activities should be scheduled for the morning or early afternoon as it allows for plenty of downtime before evening. Furthermore, the person’s biggest meal should be at lunch and only a light dinner. It is important to avoid nicotine and alcohol, and any caffeine consumption should be restricted to morning hours. At night, help keep the person safe by providing nightlights and make sure doors are windows are locked. If wandering is a big part of their sundowning behaviors, use door sensors and motion detectors. 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 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. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, and offers loving, compassionate Alzheimer’s care in a beautiful residential setting. We encourage you to schedule a tour to see our exceptional community. Sources: agingcare.com/Articles/sundowners-syndrome-133187.htm alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/sleep-issues-sundowning |
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
|