MorningStar of Boulder is Designed for Your Comfort & Wellbeing

 

MorningStar of Boulder’s goal is to be one of the best retirement communities Boulder has to offer, and we are committed to the comfort, wellbeing, and safety of our remarkable residents.  To accomplish this lofty goal, our approach takes into account every aspect of senior living from the design of our gorgeous community to a broad range of care services, amenities, and wellness programs.  In fact, Ken Jaeger, MorningStar Senior Living’s Founder, had specific ideas on how to foster the ultimate environment for the wellbeing of seniors and it is the guiding spirit in which our community operates on.

Add to that, our dedicated team members who are the heartbeat of our community and the kind of people who come to work each day with a smile on their face.  They understand it is a privilege to serve and many come to know and treat our residents as they do their own moms and dads.  As a true home, we consider our residents, their families and team members to be part of the MorningStar of Boulder’s family.      

And as a loving home, we don’t want you to think that with everything going on in the world, we have forgotten how to have fun.  Nothing could be further from the truth as you will see when you take a look at our home page or Facebook.  For example, we had a great time saying goodbye to the “dog days of summer” with a visiting pet dog parade.  It was so much fun and the residents talked about the dogs for days!

MorningStar of Boulder offers 48 private assisted living suites and 46 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Please see our website for more information about our exceptional community.  While you are there, you may read the statement from our CEO which details our defense against the coronavirus to help ensure the health of residents and team members during this difficult time.

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 for more information about one of the finest retirement communities Boulder CO offers.

Brain Games for Seniors

 

We all know that even as seniors, physical exercise is important to maintaining healthy bodies but medical experts want us to remember that mental exercise is also essential to good brain health. Luckily there are many fun and entertaining ways to exercise our mind and include an array of games on our tablets or computers as well as ones that only need pen and paper. Games like Sudoku, mahjong, chess, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and solitaire are enjoyable and challenging ways to improve memory and stimulate the brain.

Moreover, there is good evidence that supports this claim such as the study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The research team conducted a long-term study that found seniors who did crosswords four days a week had a 47 percent lower risk of dementia than those who only did them once a week.

Also, while there is the perception that chess is only for those who are very intelligent, it turns out the skills used to play a good game of chess are ones we all should cultivate as they may make us smarter. Experts says chess encourages “concentration and focus around ‘if then’ thinking, which is useful when making decisions.” The game forces you to think a few steps ahead and that type of thinking can be especially helpful for older people who are navigating options in life and could use a little help with creative thinking.

The good news is that many of these types of games are free or cost very little and even the Internet offers lots of options. To play a game of solitaire, you only need a deck of cards but playing on your tablet offers many different varieties of games of which some may be new to you. Crossword and Sudoku books as well as jigsaw puzzles can be ordered online and are very reasonably priced for the amount of entertainment you get. They also make great gifts for seniors.

We want you to know that MorningStar at Jordan is safely accepting new residents, and we are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus. Our senior living 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 and other forms of dementia. We encourage you to visit our website for contact information and to learn more about MorningStar’s mission of servant-leadership.

MorningStar at Jordan 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 exceptional assisted living and memory care community in Centennial, CO.

Source: sixtyandme.com/keep-your-brain-buzzing-with-these-free-brain-games-for-seniors/

Become a Valued MorningStar Team Member

 

The MorningStar senior living communities in the Denver area have a variety of positions open to those who love the idea of doing work that matters. As a valued team member at one of our homes, you will receive competitive wages, comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision, and vacation, sick and holiday pay. You will also be working for a company that believes in a healthy work-life balance and that works hard to respect shift preferences and offers flexible scheduling.

In addition, MorningStar wants all of our team members to be equipped with the knowledge required to do their jobs well and take pride in their work. To that end, we invest in comprehensive employee training programs such as: O2 (Orientation & Onboarding); Lavender Sky (Dementia Care); Radiance (Culture, Customer Service); Inhabit (for the Community Relations team); Brain Boosts (for the Reflections care team); and Relias Video Courses (paid to view from home). This training enables our team to be the best at what they do, and do each job with confidence.

Our assisted living jobs in the Denver area are varied as are the required qualifications but most importantly we are looking for exceptional individuals. Some of our positions are caregiver jobs while others are essential to the smooth operation of our communities. Current open positions include Care Manager, Server, Director of Community Relations, Medication Care Managers/QMAP, Housekeeping jobs and more.

Please join us in building a team of service professionals who feel called, connected and empowered; and who recognize the value of investing in each other as well as our resident-families. All team members are encouraged to explore their unique talents and have opportunities for advancement as we promote from within whenever possible.

We also want you to know that our MorningStar homes have taken every precaution to protect our residents and team members during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes safely recruiting and hiring Great Hearts to join our MorningStar family. Please visit our website’s Careers page for more information.

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.

Guidelines for Care Before and After Surgery Have Evolved

Like most everything else, standard procedures and guidelines for care before and after surgery have evolved in an effort to promote and speed recovery.  Dr. Charla Fischer, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Spine Center in New York City, suggests you think of surgery as a marathon or race.  She says, "The surgery itself is just the first part of the race – there is also the recovery after.”  So what you do before a planned surgical procedure and what you do after can all be part of a better outcome and even includes diet and exercise.   

One example is a change in the way a person is treated after surgery in many hospitals.  Now, rather than limiting patients to ice chips and intravenous fluids, they are served a meal.  In addition, people are encouraged to get up and move as soon as the night following surgery, which appears to hasten recovery.  However, doctors warn that people should be screened before surgery for conditions such as malnutrition, anemia, diabetes and pain, and if it is found they have any, it should be addressed.  

Also, find out what exercises would be helpful and doable before and after surgery, and what is not recommended.  Ask about your hospital’s rehabilitation program or the availability of a physical therapist.   After surgery, stay hydrated and be sure to eat a protein-rich diet and lots of fresh vegetables.  Another thing that will aid your postoperative recovery and overall health is to stop smoking.   

As a bigger percentage of surgeries are in people over 65 years of age, your doctor will let you know the type of screening that is required before surgery.  It will most likely include things such as cardiac health, functional status and history of falls, frailty and other factors.  

MorningStar of Boulder is a beautiful senior living community offering assisted living, memory care and respite care for seniors recovering from surgery or illness.   Please visit our website for more information about MorningStar and the many resort-style amenities and services we provide.

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.     

Source: health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/tips-for-recovering-from-surgery

Nutritional and Tasty Meals in Our Reflections Neighborhood

 

Along with 55 assisted living suites, MorningStar at Jordan has another 29 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Starting with the actual physical design right through to our holistic, compassionate care, every aspect of our memory care is designed to provide the best for our most tender residents including our food service.

Many individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have trouble using a fork and knife to eat with, which is why many memory care homes resort to serving finger foods like chicken nuggets, fish sticks, french fries and purees. The problem with this is while the food may be easy to eat; it is not very nutritional and lacks variety.

This is why the MorningStar communities have modified our memory care food service to one that avoids overly processed meals, and is both tasty and nutritional. Our menus consist of foods like pastas and other edible items wrapped in puff pastry sheets, egg roll wrappers and turnovers that are easy for residents to pick up and eat.

Our Chef also utilizes techniques such as mixing and molding soft, pureed food to resemble its pre-blended form. For example, residents might be served something that looks like blueberry French toast but is really a French toast puree that has been shaped and molded with binding agents. Also in normal times, we routinely welcome families to come and join us for a meal, and hopefully will be able to resume this tradition soon.

We want you to know that our entire dementia care team is honored to walk alongside the memory-impaired (and their families) on this unexpected journey. Please visit our website for more information. While you are there, be sure to read the update on COVID-19 from our Founder/CEO, Ken Jaeger.

MorningStar at Jordan represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve in order to provide a true home for residents. Please visit our website for more information about outstanding assisted living and memory care in Centennial, CO.

Another Reason to Get Flu and Pneumonia Vaccinations

Not only do flu shots NOT make a person more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease, a myth that has been around for years, but recent research has found evidence that flu and pneumonia vaccines may actually protect you from Alzheimer’s.  This year’s 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference presented two studies that dealt with this very idea.  

The first study was from the University of Texas where they went through millions of medical records in a national database with the goal of finding factors that appeared to affect a person’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.  Albert Amran, a medical student of the McGovern Medical School at the university’s Health Science Center in Houston and an author of the study, relates that one of the commonalities was getting a flu shot.  Researchers took into account other risk factors for Alzheimer’s such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, education, and income as well as the number of prescriptions a person filled as a way to check their overall health.  Even after all that, Amran explained they found that “People who got at least one flu shot had a 17% reduction in risk, and people who got regular vaccinations saw their risk drop another 13%.

The other study presented at the conference was by a team of researchers from Duke University and the University of North Carolina.  Svetlana Ukraintseva, an associate research professor in the Biodemography of Aging Research Unit at Duke's Social Science Research Institute of Medical Records, said the team studied the medical records of more than 5,000 people at least 65 years and older.  In her presentation to the Conference, she stated they discovered individuals who had a “pneumonia vaccine before the age of 75 was at least 25% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's.” 

While scientists are uncertain why flu and pneumonia vaccinations appear to protect seniors from Alzheimer’s, they have some theories.  One may be the fact that flu and pneumonia adversely affect the brain so protecting a person from the disease protects their brain from damage.  Another theory is that getting the flu or pneumonia can result in a general weakening of the immune system and ultimately allow more bacteria and viruses into the brain, putting them more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.   

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:npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/07/27/894731147/flu-shot-and-pneumonia-vaccine-might-reduce-alzheimers-risk-research-shows

Did You Sleep Well Last Night?

Research clearly shows that getting enough sleep each night is important to our good health and well-being. In fact, doctors say it is as vital to one’s health as is regular exercise and eating a balanced diet, and the benefits extend into most every aspect of our lives.

While scientists are unable to directly link lack of sleep to weight gain, evidence suggests that it may interfere with our body’s ability to regulate food intake correctly. One study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, a publisher of high-impact research reports, commentaries, perspectives, and reviews, found that sleep patterns do affect the hormones responsible for appetite.

Getting enough sleep should also be an essential part of an athlete’s training regimen as adequate sleep helps to improve both physical and mental performance. A good night’s rest has been proven to refuel athletes and give them more intensity and energy as well as faster speed. Doctors recommend an average of 7 to 9 hours for most adults and up to 10 hours for athletes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds that getting proper sleep each night allows the body’s blood pressure to regulate, and helps to reduce sleep apnea and promote better overall heart health. A study even suggests that inadequate sleep can result in a reduced ability to empathize with others, while another found a link between lack of sleep and depression. Others report inflammation and sleep may be linked including a recent study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology that suggests “a link between sleep deprivation and inflammatory bowel diseases.”

To get a good night’s sleep, experts recommend going to bed around the same time each night and to avoid sleeping in later than you need to. Try to get plenty of exercise during the day and reduce stress with exercise or other therapies.

If you are looking for a relaxing, carefree lifestyle, and a comfy new home to lay your head in each night, we invite you to take a look at MorningStar at Jordan’s beautiful assisted living and memory care community. Offering senior living residences with stylish, smartly-designed suites, we are located in historic Centennial, CO, in the south-central area of Metro Denver. We are conveniently located near shopping, restaurants and health care facilities. Our community was meticulously built from the ground up to address the needs of our residents and to provide a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Contact us or visit our website to learn why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home.”

MorningStar at Jordan represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve in order to provide a true home for residents. Please visit our website for more information about outstanding assisted living and memory care in Centennial, CO.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325353