What Can You Do to Lower the Risk of Cognitive Decline?

While there is no cure or medical treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s disease there is some encouraging news on how we can slow down the risk of the disease in our own life, even if we have a higher genetic risk. Researchers say that several studies indicate that by following a combination of healthy lifestyle habits we lower our risk of cognitive decline, and the more of them we adopt, the better it is for us. 

The main health habits linked to slowing down the onset of Alzheimer’s include regular exercise, cognitive stimulation, a brain-healthy diet, light to moderate alcohol consumption and not smoking. In fact in one study, researchers from Rush University in Chicago found that participants who “followed four out of five lifestyle behaviors over a six-year period had a 60 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia when compared to people who practiced only one or none of these habits.” 

Another study from the University of California San Francisco reports that people who smoked had twice the risk of developing cognitive impairment as compared to non-smokers or to someone who had kicked the habit. Also, a study out of the UK found that even those with an increased risk for cognitive decline who followed a healthier lifestyle had a 32% lower risk. 

So isn’t it time we all make an effort for better cognitive health as well as improve our overall health? At MorningStar, our goal is to provide the best assisted living Boulder Colorado has to offer. We understand that a healthy lifestyle is important regardless of your age and we do our best to help our residents enjoy life on all levels. We are also blessed to have a team of individuals working for us who are guided by big hearts and feel privileged to serve seniors. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar of Boulder proudly provides 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 create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Boulder Colorado offers.

Source: nbcnews.com/health/aging/can-alzheimer-s-be-stopped-five-lifestyle-behaviors-are-key-n1029441

Learn More About Assisted Living

 

Many families mistakenly think senior living and particularly assisted living is just a more luxurious nursing home. The fact is nursing homes are intended for people who are unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental conditions and require around-the-clock skilled nursing care. Residents may be bedridden or in wheelchairs and receive ongoing palliative and preventative long-term care. 

 

Assisted living is for seniors who are mostly independent but require help with what is known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and include things like dressing, bathing and other personal care activities. In some cases, people move into assisted living knowing that while they do not now need assistance with such tasks, they may need help in the near future. 

 

Assisted living also makes sense for seniors who are looking for more companionship and love the security of knowing they are not alone. As many assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Jordan have an emergency call system in each suite, you can rest easy knowing help is just minutes away. Another perk of MorningStar at Jordan is we offer scheduled transportation so you will never have to worry about getting to your doctor appointments and other important errands. 

 

Moreover, while MorningStar’s suites vary from studios to two-bedrooms, all of our suites are smartly designed to make the most of the space they offer with high ceilings, bay windows (in most units), and both natural and overhead lighting. In addition, residents often tell us what a relief it was to give up their large family homes that were hard to keep clean as well as all of the maintenance required. Residents also enjoy weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services.

MorningStar at Jordan offers the kind of senior living Centennial, CO families have come to count on. We have 55 bright suites for assisted living and another 29 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Visit our website to learn more about our community, our amenities, and our services. We look forward to hearing from you. 

 

MorningStar at Jordan offers the very best in senior living with our distinct 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 to create a true “home” for residents. Please visit our website for more details on the finest assisted living and memory care in Centennial, CO.

Specialized Memory Care in Boulder, Colorado

Along with assisted living, MorningStar of Boulder offers individualized, specialized care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our holistic approach to memory care is designed to affirm the value of the person and to find ways to celebrate the smallest successes. 

Our Reflections Neighborhood is clustered in a separate area of our community and is specifically designed to meet the needs of residents throughout the various stages of the disease. The expansive area houses 46 secure suites and is intended to encourage residents to safely explore their surroundings. 

Normally, mealtimes in the Reflections Neighborhood are as much about Community as they are about Nutrition, with residents and team members eating together. Family style meals allow team members to encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating. During the coronavirus outbreak, however, memory care residents still take meals in the dining room with tables spread out for social distancing. In addition, much of our food is modified out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised eating abilities and include finger foods, texture-modified diets and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look. 

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 of Boulder a special place for memory care is our loving, compassionate 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. Please visit our website for more information.

MorningStar of Boulder represents the finest in 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 within a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living and memory care in Boulder.

This Year, Its Especially Important to Get a Flu Shot

 

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 MorningStar of Jordan’s assisted living, memory care or respite care in Centennial, CO. We define health and well-being holistically and back it up with an array of services and programming that supports the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

MorningStar at Jordan embodies the finest senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We provide a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.  Please contact us for more information about our exceptional assisted living, memory care and respite care.

An Occupational Therapist Can Be an Important Member of Your Healthcare Team

As we age, we can experience health issues such as a stroke or other disabilities that may benefit from the services of an occupational therapist (OTs). When asked, many people have no idea what an OT does; while others think they help individuals find work. Actually, an OT may be an instrumental part of your healthcare team who will work with you to facilitate your best recovery. If you are wondering what the difference is between a physical therapist (PT) and an OT, a PT focuses on restoring or improving movement, strength, and range of motion; while an OT works on improving the motor skills you need to perform daily tasks. 

If a loved one has suffered from a stroke, they may have lost the ability to perform tasks known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which include bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, grooming, etc. The job of the OT is to teach the person how to carry out daily, functional activities despite the impairment in order to improve quality of life and maximize independence. 

For instance, if the stroke caused damage to one side of the body, an OT focuses on therapies that promote motor recovery. One common intervention is to limit or constrain the person’s movement on the unaffected arm, while having them use the affected arm to do repetitive or functional tasks. OTs may also recommend special equipment to improve their patients’ lives such as a wheelchair, walker, electric can opener or toothbrush, a special keyboard for the computer, or eating aids and then teach the person to use them. 

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Boulder, we provide a wide range of amenities and services to ensure the comfort, wellbeing and safety of our remarkable residents. In addition, if one of our residents requires OT, PT or other auxiliary services, we have trusted partners we will recommend. Please visit our website for further information, and email us regarding pricing and availability. 

MorningStar of Boulder represents the finest in 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 within a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living and memory care in Boulder.

Looking for Assisted Living for Your Parent in the Boulder Area?

If your parent lives alone and you are worried that they need more personal daily care than you can provide, it may be time to look into other options. One of those is assisted living, which focuses on providing residents the daily care they need to help them retain their independence. 

Especially now, you want to judiciously make the best, safest choice for your mom or dad. To help you do so, experts offer a few suggestions of things to think about before you begin your search (obviously you want to respect mom or dad’s preferences and wishes). They recommend that while you take into account your parent’s immediate needs, you also give some thought to their future needs. So, find out if the home you are thinking about will be somewhere they can "age in place” and/or if there are limitations in terms of how much care the community provides. 

Your questions should include the level of care services they are licensed for as well as their limitations. For instance, at MorningStar of Boulder our licensing provides us with a range of available care services that makes it possible for us to extend the stay of residents even as health conditions change. 

Unless a resident requires round-the-clock nursing (including the management of acute pain), MorningStar is honored, with the partnership of a hospice agency, to care for a resident through end-of-life. In addition, as a licensed “Directed Level of Care” community, we care for residents within a secure environment (memory care) who, due to compromised cognitive ability, cannot recognize danger and, therefore, cannot respond appropriately and/or cannot express their needs. 

If you are considering assisted living, Boulder Colorado’s MorningStar community encourages you to contact us or visit our website for more information about our exceptional community. We are a true home where the residents are heroes who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect; and MorningStar families know they can trust their loved ones to us.

While we know there are a lot of worrisome stories in the news about COVID-19 among senior living communities, MorningStar of Boulder wants potential families to understand that the care of those beneath our roof is our utmost priority. To that end we are following protocols set forth by the CDC and other organizations in our fight against the virus; and are confident in our ability to safely accept new residents. 

MorningStar of Boulder proudly provides 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 create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Boulder Colorado offers.

Keeping a Connection to Your Grandchildren

 

Even without a worldwide pandemic going on around us, many of us live a distance away from our grandkids and we may only get the chance to see them once or twice a year. While long-distance relationships can be tough and make it hard to feel connected, you do not have to resign your to being left out of your grandkids’ lives just because of proximity. 

 

There are several good ideas to help you stay connected even when you are not there in person such as FaceTime or Skype video calls. For little ones who can get restless pretty quickly, be ready to read a picture book, sing songs or tell silly stories. Along with calls for birthdays and holidays, be sure to do it often enough so you keep up with their quickly changing developmental milestones. If they are older, play games together, discuss a shared hobby, exchange jokes and riddles, ask questions, and then really listen. 

 

Another way to stay connected is to start a family Facebook page. This is an easy, inexpensive way for any family member to post current pictures and to share day-to-day news as well as significant events. It also lets other members add comments. Also, do not forget about snail mail. Kids love receiving mail and answering you back is a good way to get them to practice the art of letter writing. 

 

For grandkids who live close by and were used to seeing you several times a week, they may be wondering when they will see you again in person now that you are social distancing. Experts suggest you talk honestly to your grandchildren about the separation and keep reminding them it is only temporary. Tell them you have not forgotten them and that you will keep calling and they can keep calling you. 

 

MorningStar at Jordan is safely accepting assisted living and memory care residents, confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus. We are closely following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Senior Housing Association and Federal government. Visit our website for contact information and to learn more about MorningStar’s commitment to creating a true home for residents.

MorningStar at Jordan’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 outstanding assisted living, memory care and respite care.

MorningStar at Jordan’s Virtual Assistant

At MorningStar at Jordan, our goal is to provide residents with a true home designed for their comfort, wellbeing and security. Our community offers 55 beautiful assisted living suites with spacious studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options. We also have 29 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In order to effectively reach all families interested in our community in a timely fashion, we have added a Virtual Assistant to our website. 

 

The Virtual Assistant service lets you learn more about our community’s: Pricing, Request a Tour, Ask a Question, See Our Floor Plans, View Virtual Tour, or make a Job Inquiry. You can ask if there is anyone available to talk to at the time of your request or just send a message. If you simply wish to inquire about pricing and availability, you can also use our website link, just give us your name, email address, topic of interest and send along your message. We will happily get back to you within 24 hours.

To get you started, here are a few answers to frequently questions: residents of MorningStar at Jordan must be at least 55 years old, and yes couples are welcome to move in together and share the same suite. In addition, we welcome Companion Living, which is two unrelated people of the same sex sharing a suite in either assisted living or memory care. The benefits of Companion Living are not only the cost-savings but you can both look out for one another. 

 

We are often asked if someone can move in who is not in need of assisted living services, and the answer is yes. MorningStar at Jordan provides a refreshing change of lifestyle with built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, activities and programming, and tasty meals you no longer need to cook. We also give you peace of mind knowing that extended care is close by if the need ever arises. 

 

We want you to know that MorningStar at Jordan is safely accepting new residents, confident in our protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit our website to use our new Virtual Assistant or give us a call. 

 

MorningStar at Jordan offers the very best in senior living with our distinct 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 to create a true “home” for residents. Please visit our website for more details on the finest assisted living and memory care in Centennial, CO.

Join Us and Advance the MorningStar Mission

MorningStar Senior Living is a company of servant-minded leaders committed to advancing a mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team’s ability to serve. Our Denver area communities are currently recruiting men and women who understand the significance of serving others to fill various roles within our homes. Openings are available at MorningStar of Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan; MorningStar of Littleton; MorningStar at RidgeGate; MorningStar of Wheat Ridge; and MorningStar of Parker.

 

We seek men and women with big hearts who would love to work for a company that shares their values and wants to grow professionally as well as personally. As one team member explains, “I first started in assisted living as a part-time job while in EMT school, and was hooked immediately…by the magnitude of need, the powerful sense of family, and the big difference I could make in so many lives. What better career than senior living! In exchange, seniors teach me so much: humility, loyalty, discipline, honor and character. The way they talk about their lives can sound like fiction, but then you look into their eyes and know it is all true.”

From the start, MorningStar’s Founder/CEO, Ken Jaeger, had specific designs on how to foster the ultimate environment for the well-being of seniors as well as an environment where employees would flourish. Thus we are committed to building a team of service professionals who feel called, connected and empowered. Guided by a mission statement that includes investing generously in our team’s ability to serve, we provide all employees training in our proprietary service excellence initiative called “Radiance.” Also, as we provide memory care, team members receive training in Lavender Sky, our holistic approach and philosophy to memory care that helps staff better understand Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.

In addition to training and a generous financial compensation package, MorningStar offers a host of other benefits including comprehensive insurance coverage. This includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, telehealth coverage, life insurance, and supplemental insurance (disability, accident, critical illness). At MorningStar, we strive to make sure our team members are protected against most of life’s unexpected costs.

Our assisted living jobs in the Denver CO area are diverse and require people with a wide range of skills and education. They include everything from care manager to life enrichment assistant, cook, dishwasher, concierge and housekeeping jobs. MorningStar’s website has a Career page with the full list of current openings, job descriptions and an online application. Please contact us with further questions.

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors. If you have a commitment to service, we encourage you to visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on how to apply for assisted living jobs in Denver CO.