Along with all of the health concerns regarding COVID-19, medical experts remind the general public that the best defense against contracting the flu is to get an annual flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says while wearing a mask is “an important preventive measure against airborne viruses such as the flu, there is no guarantee that they will prevent transmission completely.” So even if you are wearing a mask whenever you are out in public and/or unable to socially distance, experts stress you should still get vaccinated against the flu.
Part of the reason flu spreads so easily is a person can be contagious anywhere from 1 day before and up to 7 days after the individual is symptomatic, which means the spread of influenza can occur before the person is aware they have the virus and for days thereafter. Moreover, the flu can be transmitted indirectly by coming into contact with infected surfaces. Therefore, some of the same procedures we have adopted with COVID-19 such as regular hand washing and sanitizing shared surfaces will help reduce the spread. Also, mask wearing is not a guarantee against the transmission of the flu but can help reduce community spread. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot appropriate for the person’s age and health status (with some exceptions) every season. For the most up-to-date medical advice, please talk to your health care provider about the flu vaccination. If a loved one requires help with daily personal care activities or is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, we invite you to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Beaverton, Oregon offers. MorningStar of Beaverton defines health and well-being holistically and backs it up with an array of services and programming that supports the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Please see our website for more information. MorningStar of Beaverton’s 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 the finest memory care and assisted living Beaverton, Oregon offers.
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Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can be a very stressful job. If you think it is time to consider other care options, rather than feeling disappointed in yourself, remember the job of a caregiver is tough and it may be in yours as well as your spouse, mom, or dad’s best interest to move them into memory care.
If caring for a loved one requires more effort on your part than you are able to give physically or mentally, please reach out and get the help you need as your own health and wellbeing may be aversively impacted. Also, experts stress that while there is no downside to placing someone in memory care in the earlier stages of the disease there could be drawbacks to waiting too long. Remember the more advanced stages bring with it a significant decline in everyday functioning. Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Happy Valley offers 27 secure suites for the care of residents with memory impairment from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Our Reflections Neighborhood is staffed by a team of individuals who through purposeful training and experience are dementia care specialists. Our team understands the unique needs of each resident and delivers that care with compassion and thoughtfulness. Additionally, every aspect of our home has been designed to accommodate those needs. Keep in mind as the disease progresses; it becomes very difficult for a family to keep up with the increasing needs as the person requires more and more assistance with daily care activities such as bathing, toileting, and eating. Other signs of advanced dementia include reduced mobility, wandering, and falling, which may require home modifications. Professional memory care homes such as ours are equipped to deal with these issues and have 24/7 caregivers available. So rather than feel like you let your loved down by not caring for them yourself, placing them in a multi-faceted community designed to attend to their changing needs may be the most loving thing you can do. Please visit our website for more information about MorningStar and our Happy Valley community. While you are there, be sure to read the COVID-19 update from MorningStar’s CEO detailing our defense in the fight against the coronavirus to keep our communities safe. 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. Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living and memory care in the Happy Valley–Clackamas area. The National Breast Cancer Awareness month was started in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. It was kicked off by Betty Ford, who was herself a survivor of breast cancer with a week-long event. Symbolized by a pink ribbon, its goal is to educate women about breast cancer and the benefits of early detection including promoting mammograms as an important tool in the fight against breast cancer.
If you have wondered about the origin of the pink ribbon, it was first introduced in the national campaign in 1992 by the Estée Lauder cosmetic company. It handed out 1.5 million ribbons that year as a visual reminder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today many of us wear a pink ribbon in October as a way to promote awareness and early detection and treatment as well as to support survivors and those who died from the disease. The event is observed in countries across the world as each year there are approximately 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer (IARC Globocan, 2008). It is the most common cancer in women worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, major treatment advances of recent years have made surviving breast cancer way more promising than it used to be. In fact studies now report a 5-year survival rate of 99 percent for women diagnosed in Stage 1 of the disease. However doctors are quick to add that every case is different. At the MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living and memory care community, we support the health and wellbeing of all of our residents. Available care services are broad, and in addition, each resident has a 24/7 care manager and access to an onsite nurse. Please visit our website to learn more about our holistic approach to senior living in Rio Rancho, NM. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Your loved one deserves the most trusted senior housing Rio Rancho offers! Please see our website. Source: who.int/cancer/events/breast_cancer_month/en/ Studies have suggested a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes but researchers do not yet fully understand the connection. Moreover, while not all of the research has confirmed a link, researchers say that people with diabetes, especially type 2, appear to be at higher risk for eventually developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
One of the things not yet known is whether taking steps to prevent or control diabetes helps to reduce your risk of cognitive decline. However, we do know that one of the complications of diabetes is damage to the body’s blood vessels as well as the fact that diabetes is one of the risk factors for vascular dementia, which causes a reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain. Scientists first suspected a connection between Alzheimer’s and diabetes when they realized that the changes in the brain were very similar; and it has been hypothesized that each of these conditions may fuel the damage caused by the other. With new research, experts hope to get a better understanding of the connection between the two diseases. “That link may occur as a result of the complex ways that type 2 diabetes affects the ability of the brain and other body tissues to use sugar (glucose) and respond to insulin.” We also know that diabetes increases the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may eventually lead to full blown dementia. In addition, MCI can also appear years earlier in people who later are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. If you are looking for an exceptional senior living community, MorningStar of Happy Valley encourages you to visit our website for more information about our loving home. Along with 61 assisted living suites, MorningStar of Happy Valley offers 27 secure suites dedicated to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in assisted living and memory care 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 finest senior living community in Happy Valley, OR. Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-and-alzheimers/art-20046987 Now may be the time to consider moving your parent into assisted living as a way to ensure they get the daily support they need in a safe, comfortable environment. Assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Happy Valley provide all of the comforts and care residents need to thrive!
Assisted living also provides peace of mind if your mom or dad has poor balance or failing eyesight, which can increase the likelihood of a fall, and not having help close at hand can be dangerous. In addition, if a parent no longer drives, it may be difficult for them to get groceries and other necessary supplies including prescription medications or to see a doctor. MorningStar of Happy Valley provides assisted living residents help with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to help maintain their independence. Residents and their families take comfort knowing our trained care managers are there to help them navigate through any changes in their health condition. And if you wondered, couples can live together in their own suites, surrounded by their own treasured possessions, or a suite can be shared by friends who enjoy one another’s company. Another thing you will no longer have to worry about is whether mom or dad is getting enough good, healthy food to eat. MorningStar’s daily meals feature the freshest ingredients and are prepared using the highest quality produce, often homegrown and locally sourced as we know there is nothing like fresh foods to stimulate the senses and the appetite. Finally, MorningStar wants you to know that during this time of the coronavirus outbreak, our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families and our staff; and we could not be more vigilant in our defensive approach. We are staying abreast of its real time status and closely following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure the health and well-being of all beneath our roof. Please see our website for more information. 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. Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living and memory care in the Happy Valley–Clackamas area. If you are looking for senior housing, Rio Rancho’s MorningStar of Rio Rancho is one of the best places to start. Offering 51 private suites for assisted living with a choice of studio; one-bedroom, one bath; two-bedroom, two-bath floor plans, we also offer all of the amenities and services to ensure your every comfort. For those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases, we have a private wing with 26 secure memory care suites.
You may recognize the MorningStar name. In addition to a number of senior housing communities throughout the Western U.S., we have two other homes in the area, MorningStar of Albuquerque and MorningStar of Santa Fe. Both communities also offer assisted living and memory care. Located in a northern suburb of Albuquerque in the culturally-rich city of Rio Rancho, our community offers a high-desert climate as well as spectacular vistas and serene surroundings. Residents enjoy the mild climate in expansive outdoor spaces that include beautiful courtyards featuring artwork and trellises, strolling paths, resident gardening areas, and a barbecue with outdoor kitchen and fire pit. In addition our location is just a block from the Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and a variety of shops, banks and restaurants. As a resident in our assisted living wing, your care plan will be based on a thorough assessment of your medical history and personal preferences, and routinely evaluated to ensure it is relevant to your care needs. Range of services include assisting residents with the activities of daily living (ADLs) as well as life enrichment and hospitality services, which we consider to be important to one’s overall health. Also families get peace of mind knowing trained care managers are there to help navigate any changes in the health and wellbeing of their loved one. Please visit our website for contact info and give us a call today to inquire about availability and pricing or connect with us online. We look forward to meeting you and your family. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the area the finest senior living with a mission built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Our community is situated with a beautiful setting and is a true home for residents. Please visit our website for pricing and availability on exceptional senior living in Rio Rancho, NM. The Reflections Neighborhood at MorningStar of Happy Valley is unique from many other senior communities as it is specifically designed to cater to the specialized needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Starting with our 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. 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 our residents and team members, 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. In addition to memory care, MorningStar of Happy Valley has 61 private assisted living suites that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Please visit our website for more information about our loving senior living community as well as to inquire about availability and pricing. MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in assisted living and memory care 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 finest senior living community in Happy Valley, OR. If you or a loved one is experiencing some mild memory problems or were recently diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), you may find yourself wondering what that means for the future. MCI is defined as the fine line between what we think of as normal memory or thinking and dementia. Dr. Scott M. McGinnis, an associate neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, clarifies it by explaining, “We diagnose dementia when a person has changes in memory and thinking that significantly interfere with functioning in usual activities.” He cites examples such as getting lost driving to familiar places or having difficulty writing a check.
MCI is diagnosed when a person has changes in their memory and thinking that goes beyond normal aging but does not qualify as full-blown dementia. Medical experts explain that MCI may be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease but are also quick to add that not all cases of MCI result in Alzheimer’s but rather may increase the person’s risk. In fact MCI is caused by other things including medications and infections. Doctors suggest one way to cope with MCI is to get into the habit of writing out a list of “to do’s” each day and checking it throughout the day. Some people want to know more and thus pursue medical tests that can identify if they will develop Alzheimer’s eventually, while others wish to take a more wait and see approach. Whatever your decision, medical professionals say it may be helpful to learn as much as you can about MCI as a way to help you cope. In the short time MorningStar of Rio Rancho has been open to residents (since early 2019), we are proud to have earned a reputation for providing senior living Rio Rancho, NM families trust. In addition to our 51 beautiful, private assist living suites, we have 26 secure suites for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory impairment. Our memory care wing is designed to care for those from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Please visit our website to learn more. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Please give us a call to set up a tour to see firsthand what the best senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM looks like. Source: health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/5-ways-to-cope-with-mild-cognitive-impairment The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a report that found almost 41% of US adults have avoided getting medical care because of concerns about Covid-19. The survey, which was conducted online during the last week of June reports that even 12% avoided urgent or emergency care. Doctors say the decline in getting proper healthcare since the start of the pandemic has resulted in increased deaths.
While delaying or avoiding routine medical care may not directly have the same negative impact of not getting emergency care, medical experts explain that it interferes with managing chronic conditions as well as detecting new conditions. It also interrupts routine care such as vaccinations. Moreover the group that most often postponed routine or urgent care was those most at risk for complications from COVID-19 due to preexisting conditions, and would have greatly benefitted from care for those conditions. After learning a lot about dispensing care in the time of COVID-19, many doctors have gone back to in-office visits along with telemedicine visits. In fact, medical providers around the country are trying to determine the right balance of being seen in person or seen remotely, and how it may vary from one specialty to the next. For instance, Robert Bart, a physician and chief medical information officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says the Center is working “with our specialists and primary care physicians along disease states to figure out how care should be delivered for patients who have diabetes or lupus.” However right now, doctors stress the most important thing for patients to remember is to continue routine care and to take the proper steps to deal with medical emergencies. MorningStar of Rio Rancho offers all-inclusive, compassionate senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM. With 51 private assisted living suites and 26 secure memory care suites dedicated to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, we help to make sure you get the care you need when you need it! Please visit our website to learn more. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best 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 in a beautiful setting. Visit our website to learn more about compassionate, loving senior living in Rio Rancho, NM. Source: cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6936a4.htm statnews.com/2020/09/01/telehealth-visits-decline-covid19-hospitals/ While many of us understand that high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is dangerous, we may not know how high is too high? Even if you thought you knew the “numbers,” you may be unaware that the American Heart Association (AHA) lowered the guidelines in November 2017. Now the threshold for a healthy blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg, and experts say that means more than 100 million Americans, or 46 percent of us, now have high blood pressure.
However, the good news is doctors say hypertension can be effectively managed and by taking action, we can usually bring our levels down into a normal range. If you already know your numbers are high or are unaware of what your BP is, medical professionals recommend tracking your BP at home to reduce your risk. Please remember hypertension is called a “silent killer” for a reason, and most likely you will not know you have it unless along with your medical provider, you track it. Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers – systolic over diastolic. Systolic is the top number and indicates the pressure of the heart pumping blood to the rest of the body. The lower number, diastolic measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. The AHA states a hypertensive crisis is when blood pressure levels reach 180/120. The individual may experience symptoms of a headache, shortness of breath, nosebleeds and acute anxiety. Doctor’s explain a “hypertensive emergency encompasses an elevated blood pressure reading and symptoms of chest or back pain, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking,” and requires immediate medical attention. There are several things you can do to reduce your BP. While your doctor will determine if you require medication, simple lifestyle changes include getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, moderating your use of alcohol and limiting the amount of salt you consume. If you are looking for assisted living or memory care in the Happy Valley, OR area, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Happy Valley. Offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community along with beautifully appointed common spaces and well-designed suites, we are confident you will be impressed. Please visit our website for more information. MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in assisted living and memory care 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 finest senior living community in Happy Valley, OR. Source: health.usnews.com/conditions/heart-disease/high-blood-pressure?int=hp_condition_guide_section_health |
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