MorningStar at Englefield Green is unique from many other Alzheimer’s care homes as we were built from the ground up to cater to the specialized needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Starting with our community’s physical design, which enhances residents’ freedom to explore our expansive surroundings safely and easily, we look for creative ways to connect with and nurture each individual, regardless of the level of memory loss.
To aid us in this endeavor, we are staffed by a dedicated team that feels it is their calling, their privilege, to serve our tender residents and to provide a level of care that affirms their dignity and value. Each team member is trained in Radiance, our Service Excellence program, which is an attitude of the heart and is the way we deliver service – with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. Our team also goes out of their way to get to know our residents, to really listen to their stories, and in many cases, treat them like they would their own moms and dads. We encourage you to take a look at our touching Twice the Story video series that showcases these special relationships that develop between residents and our team members. At MorningStar, we believe these friendships testify to the fact that we need to support one another, and through these special connections, we come away changed for the better. MorningStar at Englefield Green’s offers 50 secure suites in a variety of floor plans for permanent and short term stays. Please visit our website to learn more about the area’s most trusted memory care as well as to inquire about availability and pricing. While major disruptions like COVID-19 cause many hardships and sorrows, often they give rise to innovation. While the MorningStar senior living communities have always been purpose-built to protect all those who dwell beneath our roofs, we have stepped up our rigorous protocols with Electrostatic Disinfecting Technology. This emergent weapon in our fight to protect is harmless but it is deadly against infectious disease! Contact us to learn more. 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. Please contact us; your loved one deserves the finest memory care!
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The National Council on Aging (NCOA) states that, “falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors’ safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs.” They report one in four adults over the age of 65 fall each year and account for more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency rooms annually, and result in over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
However, they say falls do not have to be an inevitable result of aging. Rather with some practical lifestyle adjustments as well as public campaigns on how to reduce the problem from the NCOA and other organizations, the number of yearly falls can be reduced. The NCOA’s evidence-based Falls Free® National Action Plan was updated in 2015, and includes “goals, strategies and action steps to increase physical mobility, reduce the impact of medications as a falls risk factor, and improve home and environmental safety.” The National Institute on Aging explains some of the steps seniors can take to help protect themselves from a fall. The first thing is to stay physically active. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking or climbing stairs improves muscle strength and keeps joints, tendons, and ligaments more flexible. Another fall-prevention tip is to have your eyes and hearing tested. If you need glasses, wear them, and if you have a hearing aid, wear it. In addition, ask your healthcare provider if your medications have side effects that can make you dizzy or sleepy. It is also important to get enough sleep and to limit the amount of alcohol you drink as even a small amount can affect your balance. Stand up slowly, and have your blood pressure checked if you feel dizzy. If you feel wobbly when walking, use an assistive device such as a cane or walker. A physical or occupational therapist can help you choose the right device and teach you how to safely use it. During wet or icy conditions, use extra caution when walking, and always wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes. Lace-up shoes give you the ability to adjust the amount of support you need, but do not buy shoes with soles that are too thin or too thick. Around the house, wear shoes or slippers with non-slip bottoms. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, our goal is to be one of the area’s best senior living communities, and the safety and comfort of our residents is our highest priority. Please visit our website for more information, availability and pricing. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Fountain Hills, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our exceptional community. Sources: ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/ nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures People with Alzheimer’s may express feelings of agitation and anxiety, which can be caused by the frustration that comes with the inability to get others to understand what they need. However experts say there are some tips to help circumvent or prevent getting into situations that can become emotionally charged.
If you feel the person is starting to feel anxious, it could be the environment they are in. If this is the case, remove them to a quieter place and encourage them to rest or use soothing rituals that have worked in the past. Often a noisy room including having a TV on can act as just such a trigger. If that is not the problem, check to make sure the person is physically okay and that they are not hungry, thirsty or need to use the bathroom. Also make sure they are not too hot or cold. If they are still able to communicate, get down to their eye level and ask them in simple words to tell you what they need. Another approach is to distract them by taking a walk or putting on music and encouraging them to dance. While trying to calm the person down, make sure you do not raise your voice. Remain speaking in a calm voice and give the person the time to try and express the problem. If you feel the person is experiencing lots of periods of anxiety and agitation, it is a good idea to discuss it with their health care provider. Also make sure you have a good support system to share your experiences with and perhaps learn something from other caregivers. If you or a loved one is suffering from dementia, please contact one of the area’s most experienced Alzheimer’s care homes. MorningStar at Englefield Green takes a holistic approach to dementia care that is individualized and encompasses the whole person. Please visit our website to learn more about what a specialized care plan can do for your loved one. 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 the area’s most trusted memory care. Source: alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/anxiety-agitation Have you been searching for something for your elderly mom or dad that would provide some comfort and help ease their feelings of loneliness and isolation? While you may think now is not the best time for them to assume the responsibilities of a new pet, you may want to take a look at one of the many “robotic pets” in the marketplace.
We know there has been a lot of research that supports the idea pet ownership is beneficial to seniors and a loving pet is a great companion. Now researchers have also discovered that robotic pets may provide the elderly with many of the same benefits live animals do. A 2017 study found that the interaction between older adults and animals, whether real or robotic, helped lower blood pressure, eased anxiety, reduced feeling of loneliness and improved the overall quality of life. The advantage of a low-maintenance robot dog or cat is they are easy for seniors with little to no tech savvy to “care for.” The realistic pets do little tricks such as a robotic dog who wags its tail, raises its eyebrow when you pet it, has a heartbeat, and makes a barking noise. For people with dementia, robotic pets have helped ease agitation and anxiety and seem to have a calming influence. In fact New York’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) was so impressed with the pets that they implemented a program to distribute mechanical dogs and cats to a number of seniors with the aim of easing loneliness. The DFTA’s Commissioner, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez explains, “For the older person, social isolation really has a devastating effect on their health.” If you are looking for exceptional senior living, MorningStar of Fountain Hills encourages you to contact us or visit our website for more information about our exceptional community. Along with 63 assisted living suites, MorningStar of Fountain Hills offers 28 secure suites dedicated to the specialized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We are still accepting new residents during this difficult time of the coronavirus outbreak, confident in our protective protocols. MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our loving assisted living and memory care community. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we not only provide some of the best assisted living in the area, but also experienced memory care. Our Reflections Neighborhood has 28 secure memory care suites dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. MorningStar’s compassionate team expertly provides the care your loved one requires for their utmost comfort, wellness and safety.
Our holistic approach to memory care is done through our program we call “Lavender Sky.” By utilizing our extensive understanding of dementia, it provides the tools to empower and equip our team to advance our vision and mission of providing a more insightful way to support the memory-impaired and their families. All of our employees receive training in the program as we understand knowledge provides greater wisdom and insight into interacting with our most tender residents. The eight hours of training includes the pathology behind the disease as well as communication techniques, and holistic solutions to dining, safety and challenging behaviors. Through Lavender Sky, our caregivers thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the “purple world” of dementia as they crossover the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. By exploring each of our residents’ life stories including their history and preferences, we create an individualized care plan. We also involve and engage family members in how to follow our lead. Please visit our website for more information regarding experienced, compassionate memory care. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we do not consider serving our memory care residents to be depressing but rather offer hope to families as we strive to find ways to elevate and celebrate each resident’s life. We look forward to meeting you. MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our loving assisted living and memory care community. MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Fountain Hills was designed to create a true home for our residents and provide a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. From the moment you walk through the door, you are sure to be impressed by our beautiful architecture and inviting common areas including an atrium with a water feature, fireside patio and porches.
Along with our compassionate care services, resort-style amenities, and wellness programs and activities, residents have a choice of smart floor plans that are sure to meet a variety of preferences and needs. Within our 63 assisted living suites, we offer floor plans that include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations with some over 800 sq. ft. You will find all of our suites have lots of lighting, high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting and mini blinds and all that is missing to make it home is your own furnishings and personal items. Each suite is equipped with a kitchenette, a handicap-accessible bathroom, a 24-hour emergency call system, and a private heating & air conditioning system. Your monthly fee includes cable TV and utilities, weekly housekeeping and laundry and linen services. We do trash removal and spot cleaning daily. Moreover, if you are wondering, we are pet friendly! Please visit our website to view stunning photos and for more information about one of the finest senior living communities in the area. In addition to assisted living, we have 28 secure suites devoted to the care of those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. MorningStar of Fountain Hills represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation 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. Contact us to learn more about our loving assisted living and memory care community. We are told COVID-19 is more dangerous for seniors but as with most things nothing is absolute and there have been inspiring stories about very elderly Americans beating the disease. One of those people is William “Bill” Lapshies, who at 104 years old contracted the disease in early March and on April 1st was declared virus-free.
Doctors are seeking answers to why some people are asymptomatic or experience a milder form of the disease, while others do not, and want to learn more about what makes some more vulnerable. One answer may be that as we age, our immune system functions decline, a process that the medical field refers to as immunosenescence. Insoo Kang, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of allergy, immunology and internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, states that, “Immune cells, especially CD8+ T cells [a type of white blood cell], change with aging. We see fewer naive CD8+ T cells, which are needed to recognize newly emerging microorganisms like the COVID-19 virus. It happens to everyone on some level, just not at the same rate." Doctors hope by better understanding why our immune system declines with age, they may be able to find ways to slow the decline and raise people’s immune reserves for the next illness they may encounter. In addition, research suggests there are steps we can take to strengthen our own immune system and include exercising, eating well, managing our weight, controlling stress levels and getting vaccinations. Atul Butte, M.D., distinguished professor of epidemiology, biostatistics and pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, feels sure that “the COVID-19 pandemic will, in the end, teach us more about our health vulnerabilities — individually and as an aging population.” The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Fountain Hills, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our exceptional community. Source: aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-immunity-age-risk.html?intcmp=AE-HP-TTN-R2-POS4-REALPOSS-TODAY Several studies indicate life-long learning is good for seniors’ brain health and starting a new hobby or learning a skill late in life can help to boost a person’s memory. In one study from the University of Texas at Dallas, researchers found that older adults “who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills.” They theorize that when seniors mentally challenge themselves with new skills such as playing an instrument, learning to operate a computer, or being taught to quilt, networks within the brain are being strengthened.
Neurologists in another study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland discovered that a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings suggest that older adults who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts millions of Americans. Other research out of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School appear to support these findings. Their study relied on interviews as well as brain scans of participants, and findings indicate that seniors who have had a higher level of intellectual stimulation throughout the course of their lives, showed a marked delay in the onset of memory-related problems and other Alzheimer’s type symptoms. At MorningStar of Fountain Hills, we believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless, and feel it is our privilege to provide seniors an environment where they can be productive and engaged. Our Life Enrichment Team presents creative ways to stay active and enhance health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection. While we have had to temporarily suspend group activities due to the coronavirus, as the nation slowly reopens, MorningStar is carefully following suit with each state’s phasing and pacing where our communities are located. We are closely watching new developments and continue to evaluate best practices and innovations in our services to seniors. Please visit our website to learn more about one of the top senior living communities in the Fountain Hills, AZ area. The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Fountain Hills, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our exceptional community. The Alzheimer’s Association says that six in 10 people with dementia will wander. The danger with this is someone with Alzheimer’s may not remember their name, their address or how to get home. Furthermore the more agitated the person becomes when they feel lost and disorientated, the less able they may be to tell someone something that could help get them safely back home.
Experts say anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia that is mobile is at risk for wandering. Even if the person is in the early stages of the disease they may still get disorientated; but thankfully there are strategies to help keep your loved one safe. To start with it is important to have a plan in place in the event that it should happen to your parent or another loved one. Find out if your area has a ”Safe Return Program” and enroll them in it and have them wear a GPS locating device at all times. Also learn to recognize the warning signs of a potential wandering such as: has the person forgotten how to get to familiar places, talks about going home even when they are home, gets confused as to where familiar places in the home are, and acts nervous or anxious in crowded areas. Tips to help prevent wandering include creating and sticking to a routine, identifying the times when wandering is most likely to occur, and try to make sure all of the person’s needs are met so they don’t feel the need to go out. In addition reposition door locks out of the line of sight and make sure car keys are not left out. You can buy a device that sounds an alarm when a door or window is opened; and never leave the person locked in at home or in a car alone. Alzheimer’s care homes such as MorningStar at Englefield Green are designed with a secure environment that encourages residents to safely explore their surroundings. Our residents can freely move about our home but we have special security features to prevent them from wandering out of our community. In addition our dedicated staff is trained to keep residents engaged and safe. 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. If you are looking for one of the area’s most trusted Alzheimer’s care homes, please give us a call. Source: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering?gclid=CjwKCAjw57b3BRBlEiwA1ImytmBGP_hmFyQiC87yf4nZ93JrSIhk7rKy4nAvAxmvhccxsXOsRpO_WhoCzcgQAvD_BwE https://www.agingcare.com/articles/when-is-it-time-to-place-a-loved-one-with-dementia-188309.htm |
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