Assisted Living Explained

Many people mistakenly assume that “assisted living” is just another term for nursing homes.  In fact, nursing homes are intended for people that require long-term, around-the-clock medical care and supervision and should not be confused with assisted living, which provides residents support for daily care activities.  At an assisted living community, you will receive the care you need to live comfortably and safely while still retaining your privacy and as much independence as possible.   

Assisted living is ideal for anyone who does not require 24-hour skilled medical care but rather just needs more personal care than they can get at home or at an independent living retirement community.  Meals and transportation are provided, and if needed, residents can get help with activities such as showering dressing, and etc.  For the family, they rest easy knowing that a trained, caring staff is available to help whenever a loved one needs it.    

Many assisted living communities offer the privacy of individual suites, while also providing their residents with the security and safety of 24-hour support and quick access to care.  In addition communities generally provide residents the opportunity to participate in social and recreation activities along with wellness programs.  Residents usually eat their meals in a communal dining room and have housekeeping and laundry services available.   

If you would like to see what the best senior living community in Lone Tree CO offers, we invite you to take a look at the gorgeous MorningStar at RidgeGate.  Our community’s assisted living suites offer various levels of assistance with daily living activities as determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with the senior and their extended family.  Along with assisted living, we offer 124 bright suites for independent living as well as 29 secure suites for memory care residents.     

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at RidgeGate, “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 learn more about the finest senior independent and assisted living Lone Tree CO offers.

Awarded for Our Extraordinary and Excellent Service

MorningStar of Sparks is proud to serve seniors, and as such, we strive to provide our residents with a community that feels like a true home.  Our entire staff is trained in Radiance, our proprietary brand standard of Service Excellence, and its concepts are reiterated each day during our group “Huddle.”  This is why we are so gratified to get affirmation of our mission with the receipt of several recent awards. 

We are honored to receive the “Extraordinary Service to Seniors Award” from Senior Outreach Services in recognition of our ongoing efforts to serve seniors within the Reno-Sparks community.  The Senior Outreach Services is sponsored by the Sanford Center for Aging, a division of the University of Nevada, whose mission is to “enhance the quality of life and well-being among elders through education, translational research, and community outreach.”  They accomplish this through programs, services, educational coursework and clinical services that help to improve the lives of Washoe County’s seniors.

Another award we feel privileged to receive is the “Service Excellence Award,” from the website Caring.com.  The award is based on praises and recommendations offered by families and eldercare experts in online reviews submitted to the website.  According to the website, Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Their website contains “original articles, helpful tools, and advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.” 

If you live in the Reno-Sparks area, we encourage you to take a look at our beautiful and loving MorningStar of Sparks’ community.  We offer stylish living for independent seniors as well as for those that require a little help each day with personal care activities.  MorningStar of Sparks’ Reflections Neighborhood is devoted to caring for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.   

MorningStar of Sparks’ unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior communities.  Committed to creating a true home for residents within a gorgeous setting, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  We invite you to schedule a visit to learn more about our exceptional senior living.

How to Find the Best Assisted Living Community

Searching for a senior living community for yourself or a parent can feel like an overwhelming task.  We know you want to make the best choice and there are a couple of things you may want to consider before you take such an important step. 

First, you will want to research the various options in your preferred area.  The Internet is an efficient and easy way to discover what is out there, and you will find several websites that offer a search directory of facilities.  Also you can check with your health care provider for any recommendations they may have. 

Once you have narrowed down your list to several communities in your target location, give them a call to set up a tour.  While on the phone, have a list of questions handy such as are there immediate openings available, and if not, how long is the wait, the price range and what will you see on the tour as well as how much time it will take.   

A community tour is your best opportunity to get a real feel for the place.  You want your future home to have a caring and warm staff and residents that are friendly.  If you are looking for senior living for a family member that is not very mobile, you can tour a few and narrow down the selections so they only tour the top choices.  The Caring.com website has a checklist available for researching and touring a community that you may find helpful.  

At MorningStar of RidgeGate, the thing we brag the most about is our atmosphere of love and community that is built on one relationship at a time.  We are conveniently located in the heart of Lone Tree Colorado, and offer a choice of 124 private independent living suites and 71 suites for assisted living.  Our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of residents with memory impairment.  Please call us for more details.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at RidgeGate, “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 learn more about the finest senior independent and assisted living Lone Tree CO offers.

The Finest Independent Living in Sparks

If you are looking for stress-free living and a refreshing change of lifestyle, MorningStar of Sparks has it all.  With 128 bright suites for independent living, we provide seniors with carefree, comfortable retirement years. 

Independent living provides seniors with a range of benefits including predictable monthly budgeting, activities and programming, and tasty meals they no longer need to cook as well as built-in companionship.  Also as we take care of all the maintenance, both inside and out, and offer weekly housekeeping, which allows our residents plenty of time to pursue their interests.

Our community offers smartly-designed private suites in several floorplans including one bedroom–one bath, two bedroom–one bath, and two bedroom-two bath configurations.  Each unit has high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting, ceiling lighting, and mini blinds as well as private heating & air conditioning controls, basic cable TV, utilities and much more.  

In addition the MorningStar of Sparks’ community has beautifully-appointed, warm and inviting common areas where residents can comfortably gather and enjoy the day.  Even our outdoor area is inviting with a fireside patio and all-season porches. When you visit our website, we encourage you to take a look at our Gallery photos to get an idea of what our community looks like. 

Moreover as a resident, you get resort-style amenities and lots of services including daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef that are served restaurant-style in our lovely dining room.  Also all of our independent living suites are equipped with their own washer and dryer and full kitchens so you can prepare meals on your own whenever you like. 

We are proud to report that MorningStar of Sparks was awarded the Service Excellence Award, which is based on positive online reviews by families and eldercare experts on the Caring.com website.  Please contact us to set up a tour of our exceptional senior living community. 

MorningStar of Sparks’ unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior communities.  Committed to creating a true home for residents within a gorgeous setting, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  We invite you to schedule a visit to learn more about our exceptional senior living.

Does Your Parent Need More Support?

Adult children are often surprised to discover that a parent is not doing well and that they may require additional support to ensure their continued safety and comfort.  According to the experts, there are several signs to look for to help determine if a senior living community is the right answer for your mom or dad.   

The website Caring.com recommends that you consider senior living options if your elderly parent has recently experienced a fall or has had a medical emergency and did not receive the immediate help they required.  Also it may be time to think about it if they suffer from chronic health problems that are getting progressively worse such as COPD, congestive heart failure or dementia?  Furthermore, do they take a long time to recover from an illness?   

Other indications that your loved one is not getting the care they need at home are signs of weight loss and a frailer appearance or if they are neglecting their personal hygiene and are not as well-groomed as they used to be?  It may simply be that preparing meals and taking care of day-to-day personal activities have become too difficult for them.  An empty refrigerator, stacks of unopened mail, and new dents in the car could all be warning signs that your parent would benefit from having more assistance.    

Another advantage to senior living is that it can also provide your loved one with social activities and companionship.  Often seniors live alone, and as many no longer drive, they do not get out on their own. Senior living communities provide residents with an opportunity to live comfortably and securely as well as to enjoy a range of activities and the company of others.  We encourage you to plan a visit to MorningStar at RidgeGate to discover the carefree lifestyle we offer.  

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at RidgeGate, “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 learn more about the finest senior independent and assisted living Lone Tree CO offers.

 

Read What Our Residents and Families Say about Our Community

You do not have to take just our word for it when we say MorningStar of Sparks is the area’s best senior living community but rather read some reviews from actual residents and their families.  Whenever our families let us know we are doing a good job, it affirms everything our wonderful, caring team does every day to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of our cherished residents.    

We are especially pleased to hear praise from a longtime resident who writes, “MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks is the most wonderful senior living center around.  They have never let me down in the two and a half years that I've been a resident.”  They go on to add, “It is run by very nice people and very nice people work for them, you're always taken care of. MorningStar offers plenty of activities to keep you busy, a dining area as well as a lovely landscape. I couldn't be happier living here.” 

Another review from the adult child of one of our residents really touched our heart.  They write, “As a psychologist, I know well that no real improvement in any healthcare facility ever takes place without personal touch, consistent respect and quality leadership.”  She explains that her mother is 101 and may not have been around to celebrate her birthday had it not been for the care and affection of our well-trained and attentive staff. 

In addition letters of appreciation from former residents’ families always mean a lot to us.  One such family expressed their “sincere appreciation for the outstanding kindness and care provided by MorningStar. Without exception, they were proficient and compassionate. They did a superb job in caring for our mother, and we are deeply grateful.”  

Our gorgeous community offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care.  Please visit our website to set up a tour to see firsthand why residents are proud to call our community home.   

MorningStar of Sparks’ unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior communities.  Committed to creating a true home for residents within a gorgeous setting, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  We invite you to schedule a visit to learn more about our exceptional senior living.