Gardening is Both Fun and Healthy for Seniors

Research has shown gardening to be an effective low-impact exercise for seniors.  Along with providing a moderate amount of aerobic exercise for aging adults, gardening can offer benefits to your mental and emotional health.  To keep it accessible to the elderly for whom lifting and bending can be difficult; it is smart to incorporate a few modifications such as raised garden beds as well as using various ergonomic tools.

One of the best things about gardening is it stimulates all of the senses and offers an excellent excuse to get outside and soak up some vitamin D as well as boost serotonin levels in your brain.  Serotonin is a chemical that improves your mood and helps you to feel calm and centered.  In addition to relieving stress and anxiety, gardening gives seniors a sense of purpose and accomplishment with its beautiful or edible finished product.  It also is an enjoyable way to use of all of your motor skills and improve endurance and strength.

Working in a garden has also proven helpful to those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  Gardening can help recall pleasant memories from the past and remind a person of healthier times.  Experts advise not to give someone with dementia a sharp tool. 

If seniors plan to get out and garden, they need to protect themselves against pests and the elements.  It is recommended that seniors avoid the heat of the day and apply plenty of sunblock and wear protective clothing including sunglasses and a hat.  They should have shady areas available with benches or chairs so they may easily take a break as needed.  It is also important to remember to drink plenty of fluids as dehydration can be a problem. 

Among our many services and amenities at MorningStar at Jordan, we offer residents the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and create something beautiful with our resident gardening beds.  Please visit our website to learn more about the finest assisted living home in Centennial CO. 

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. 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 offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area.

MorningStar of Boulder is Designed as a True “Home”

If you or a loved one needs more care, you may be looking at what assisted living companies have to offer in the Boulder area.  If you would like the freedom to enjoy your retirement years without many worries, we invite you to consider MorningStar of Boulder.  Located on the southeast side the city, our community is nestled at the foot of the majestic Rockies and conveniently located to hospitals, banks, shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores as well as services in Longmont.

For assisted living, we offer 48 stylish, private suites in a variety of configurations.  From spacious studios to one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans, our suites are meticulously designed so all you need is to bring your furnishings and personal items.  Each unit offers high-end finishes and includes lighting, high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting and mini blinds.

For memory care residents, our Reflections Neighborhood has 46 secure suites that are devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Our holistic approach to memory care is designed to affirm the value of the person and to find ways to celebrate the smallest successes.

Furthermore, MorningStar of Boulder provides a whole host of wellness programs and activities to engage residents intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.   If you take a look at our monthly calendars posted on our website, you will see a variety of daily activities that are inspirational and motivating as well as just plain fun. If all this sounds like something you or a loved one would be interested in, we invite you schedule a visit to see why our residents are happy to call MorningStar of Boulder “home.”    

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest”, sets us apart from other assisted living companies. 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 see for yourself the best assisted living in Boulder Colorado.

What Does it Mean to Be a MorningStar Caregiver?

While some of our jobs at the MorningStar Denver senior living communities require specific education and experience, we consider virtues such as kindness and selflessness to be just as important.  In order for us to provide the type of service our MorningStar brand of Service Excellence requires, we are looking for individuals with a felt calling to serve and who would love to make a difference in the lives of seniors, our society’s true heroes. 

Our care managers are one example where a big heart is an essential job requirement.  Indispensable to our communities, care managers are dedicated, hardworking individuals who love working directly with our residents to provide the necessary care needed to ensure their comfort, safety and wellbeing.  As a Care Managers, you will be encouraged to build strong relationships with residents as you assist them with their activities of daily living.

You will also enjoy being in a loving, family environment that offers the support of fellow team members who all work toward the goal of strengthening our MorningStar family.  In addition you are encouraged to use your unique talents to improve the lives of our residents.  Your responsibilities will include protecting residents’ privacy and dignity as well as encouraging and motivating them to participate in occupational and physical therapies or other programs that promote their wellness.  As a seasoned employee, you will also be asked to help to orientate new care managers.

Along with care managers, our various assisted living jobs include medication care managers/QMAP, life enrichment coordinators, wellness nurses, concierges, cooks, dining room servers, maintenance assistants, housekeeping jobs and more.  MorningStar’s openings include full and part-time positions, and as we operate 24/7, they also include some evening and weekend team positions.  We invite you to visit our website and read through our job descriptions and to take advantage of our convenient online application. 

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.  Not just a job – but a rewarding career.  Please visit MorningStar’s website for information on assisted living jobs in Denver.

Memory Loss May be Slowed by Being Socially Engaged

According to an article published by the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, it reports socials connections may be key to preserving memory.  The study, led by Elizabeth Kirby, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience at the university, explains their findings influence "a body of research in humans and animals that supports the role of social connections in preserving the mind and improving quality of life.”   

The university’s research involved studying a group of mice 15 months to 18 months old, which is the period in a mouse’s life when it starts to have significant memory decay.  For three months, some mice lived in pairs while others were housed in groups of seven.  The researchers put the mice through a series of trials each day that tested their recognition and memory skills.  Consistently the mice housed in larger groups improved their performance on the tests, which researchers believe may suggest they “used their hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory.”  

The study is important for humans as our hippocampus declines with age as it does in mice and other animals, and helps to identify the impact of social connections on brain health.  Kirby says seniors should “think about your living situation as you age. If you have the privilege of choosing where you live, make the choice that lets you be socially engaged as long as possible."

At MorningStar of Boulder, we recognize the importance of strong social connections and offer an array of wellness programs and activities that encourage social as well as physical, intellectual and spiritual connections.  Please see our website for more information on why our community is a step above other senior retirement homes.  

MorningStar of Boulder represents the finest in senior retirement homes 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.

Source:usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-05-31/study-a-social-circle-is-key-to-protecting-the-aging-mind

New Hope for Seniors with Neurological Diseases

Over the next fifteen years, the elderly population in the U.S. is expected to grow by 40 percent.  With that growth, experts expect the rate of neurological diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and strokes to grow at an unprecedented rate.   In fact Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase threefold and affect up to 16 million people. 

To meet these challenges, researchers such as those at the Cleveland Clinic, a world leader in the treatment of neurological diseases, have approached the fight with a combination of cutting-edge technology, multidisciplinary teamwork, and clinical research.  For example, they are one of only a few centers in the world conducting the first-ever study of an immunotherapy that targets Parkinson’s disease.  Dr. Hubert Fernandez, director of the Center for Neurological Restoration at Cleveland Clinic, says, “It’s a treatment that works by stimulating the body’s natural defenses to help break down the abnormal clumps of protein found in the brains of Parkinson patients.”

In terms of Alzheimer’s, research is focused on improved treatments for symptoms as well as ways to treat the disease itself.  Dr. Leverenz, a director of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Cleveland, explains that medications include “an antibody that attacks amyloid deposits, the sticky, neuron-destroying protein plaques found in the brains of people with disease.” 

Other advances include a FDA approved stent retriever for stroke victims.  The device removes large clots from the blood vessels leading to the brain.  Also there has been promising results using surgically implanted electrodes in the cerebellum of stroke survivors who suffer from long-term paralysis.  Using a combination of the electrodes and therapy, patients have had restored movement. 

At MorningStar at Jordan, we proudly serve the needs of our residents by providing the finest assisted living home in the Centennial CO area.  Our community offers 55 bright suites for assisted living and 29 secure suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please visit our website to set up a tour of our beautiful community.

   

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. 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 offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area.

Source:washingtonpost.com/brand-studio/cleveland-clinic/keeping-your mind/?noredirect=on

MorningStar at RidgeGate is a Step above Other Senior Living Communities

Our goal is to provide the best independent and assisted living Highlands Ranch CO and the surrounding area has to offer.  With exceptional architecture and award-winning design, MorningStar at RidgeGate has common areas and spacious suites that provide seniors with a lifestyle that is second to none. 

When you visit our website, we encourage you to take a look at our beautiful photo gallery that shows off our spectacular interior spaces and suites.  Throughout our community, you will find inviting areas to sit and have a chat with friends or family or the perfect spot to find some solitude and just enjoy the day. Looking at the stunning pictures, can you imagine yourself sitting in our attractive dining room eating meals served restaurant-style and expertly prepared by a professional chef or spending a morning getting pampered in our onsite salon?

MorningStar’s independent living option lets our residents enjoy a carefree lifestyle.  Independent living residents enjoy two daily meals, twice monthly housekeeping, life enrichment programs, and full access to onsite amenities such as a saline swimming pool with hot tub, community store, fitness center, theater, art studio and more.  

Our assisted living gives residents the freedom to enjoy their retirement years as we see to it that all of their needs are met.  MorningStar at RidgeGate has created the perfect physical setting as well as put together a team of devoted caregivers that feel honored to serve to provide our residents with a “true home.”

For families who are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss, MorningStar’s specialized care offers you peace of mind knowing your loved one is getting the best available care.  We invite you to set up a tour as nothing beats seeing our home in person. 

MorningStar at RidgeGate offers the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We create a true home for residents with a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.  Please schedule a visit to see the finest independent and assisted living Highlands Ranch CO and the surrounding area offers.

Take an Active Part in Your Health Care

Many people are reluctant to take up their doctor’s time by asking a lot of questions.  However health providers say taking an active part in your health care can help your doctor to better treat you.  Also since it is easy to forget any questions you may have, experts suggest doing your homework and preparing beforehand.  

If you are new to a doctor, you should write down your medical history and bring it to your appointment.  For all of your appointments, bring a list of the medications you are taking including the dosages and strength of the medications as well as all vitamins and herbal supplements.  

Also take the time to write down any questions you have for the doctor.  This way you are less likely to forget and can use your time with the doctor more efficiently.  Be sure to share any health concerns you have and remember this is not the time to be embarrassed.   Describe your symptoms clearly and let them know if you are experiencing any side effects from your medications.  

If your doctor says something you do not understand, speak up and let them know so they can explain it better.  If they suggest you may have a medical condition you are unfamiliar with, ask them to write down the name. You may want to bring a family member with you to help you remember things and to write down answers to your questions.   

Remember it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions.  If you have forgotten something or have further questions, you should call the office and request to speak to a nurse or leave a message for the doctor.  If a new medication or change in the dosage is causing problems, be sure to let the doctor know.

At MorningStar of Boulder, we provide transportation to medical appointments along with an array of other services to ensure your wellbeing and comfort.  Please see our website to learn more the area’s finest senior retirement living.

MorningStar of Boulder offers the very best in senior retirement living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  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 see for yourself our exceptional community.