It is Important to Include Stretching Exercises in Your Routine

 

 

Health professionals say it is important to incorporate stretching exercises into your routine especially the older we get as our flexibility naturally decreases. As joints become stiff, and tendons and ligaments tighten up, we become more susceptible to injuries as well as chronic pain and poor posture. In fact, studies show men’s flexibility drops sharply at around 70 years of age.

Stretching exercises are easy to learn, relatively easy to do, and should not take more than five to ten minutes. Urvashi Chogle, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, says the shoulders, hips, knees and spine lose the most flexibility. He explains, "This makes many everyday movements more difficult, such as reaching overhead, squatting, twisting, and bending over."

Of course before you begin any new stretching exercises, you need to consult with your healthcare provider. He or she may have suggestions on how to safely get started or direct you to your local community senior center for classes or other organizations catering to seniors. Additionally, the Internet has a lot of information on how seniors can improve their flexibility with stretching exercises done in a chair, standing up, or if you can, on the floor. Regardless of your level of fitness, these exercises should help improve your range of motion, flexibility and joint stiffness.

At MorningStar at Jordan senior living community, we offer seniors a carefree lifestyle to safely age in place with a range of care services, luxury amenities, wellness programs and activities. Our programs include a range of exercise classes such as chair yoga, gentle stretching and others to help keep you moving. Located in the south-central area of metro Denver, our community offers 55 stylish assisted living suites consisting of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 29 secure memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please contact us to learn more.

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 and memory care.

Source: health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/a-plan-for-easy-stretching

How Music Benefits Those with Alzheimer’s Disease

 

There are lots of stories of regarding people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who may not remember the name of a close relative but can sing a song or whistle a tune they knew before the disease robbed them of their other memories. Experts say this is true even in the very late stages of the disease and is why many long-term care homes offer music to help promote wellness and enhance memory for those with dementia.

Listening to music is a meaningful activity for many with Alzheimer’s and can aid in soothing and calming as well as lifting spirits. It can create a connection for a person who no longer has the ability to speak, and caregivers have seen residents give impromptu hugs and kisses or engage in gentle, rhythmic movements such as rocking in a chair or patting their leg to the beat.

Jörn-Henrik Jacobsen, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, and the University of Amsterdam, published a study in the journal Brain that compared the brain scans of 32 young and healthy men and women with those of 20 people with Alzheimer’s disease. Jacobsen found musical memory may be spared – unlike other parts of the brain – throughout Alzheimer’s disease progression. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America explains, this is because “following the rhythm or beat to music by whistling or singing comes from a part of the brain that doesn’t require cognitive functioning.

At MorningStar at Jordan, a senior community in Centennial, CO, we offer 55 assisted living suites as well as 29 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Every aspect of our memory care addresses the needs of our most tender residents from the physical design of our community right through to our food service. Please visit our website to learn more our beautiful home, our team and our company’s philosophy to caring for seniors.

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 and memory care.

Source:

health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/how-music-helps-people-with-alzheimers-disease?slide=5

Join Our Team of Great Hearts in the Denver Area

 

If you have a felt calling to serve and love the idea of having meaningful relationships with seniors, we invite you to apply for one of MorningStar’s rewarding positions now available in our Denver area communities. Our homes were founded on a Vision statement that reads: In pursuit of excellence, MorningStar resolves to be a company of servant-minded, purpose-driven leaders in our senior communities and throughout the world.

Within each of our communities, we have proudly assembled a team of Great Hearts committed to serving our resident-families, fellow team members, and the wider community. When recruiting new team members, we start by looking for virtues such as kindness, selflessness and character. Our hiring process also includes seeking the type of individuals who do the right thing even when no one is watching; who wish to perfect the art of anticipating needs and going the extra mile, and who intuitively understand that Senior Living, at its best, is love in action. From there, our job is to invest generously in purposeful training and mentoring as well as to provide compensation and benefits to ensure each employee reaches their full potential.

In addition to competitive wages and a generous, sick, vacation and holiday policy, MorningStar offers comprehensive insurance to our employees. This includes health insurance (with deductible options and below average premiums), dental insurance, vision insurance, telehealth coverage (at no cost), life insurance (basic policy at no cost; supplemental policy available at group rates), and supplemental insurance (disability, accident, critical illness). At MorningStar, we strive to make sure our employees are protected against most of life’s unexpected costs.

While educational requirements and skill sets are diverse, the various openings at our communities all need people with a desire to make a difference in someone else’s life. Currently open positions include caregiver jobs in Denver area communities such as Care Managers. Other openings include Concierge, Wellness Director, Dining Room Servers, Cook, Housekeeping jobs and more. If you have a Great Heart, please apply today.

MorningStar Senior Living’s 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 actively recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors. If you would love to serve, please visit MorningStar’s Careers page for information on current openings (including caregiver and housekeeping jobs) in Denver, CO.

Do You Want to Start Exercising Again?

 

If you are a senior who wants to start exercising again, you may not know how to begin. For one thing, you probably realize you are not as fit as you used to be, and are not up to the same degree of physical activity that you once did. And of course, before you begin any new form of exercise, you will need to check with your doctor to make sure you are fit enough, especially if you have osteoporosis, an injury, or balance issues.

Once you get the go ahead from your healthcare provider, stretching is a good place to begin. In fact, studies show that as we grow older our flexibility decreases by up to 50 percent in some joints. Another good thing about stretching is many exercises are appropriate for any level of fitness including ones that can be done sitting in a chair. Stretching can help you maintain your flexibility and mobility as well as loosen up some of your stiffness in your back, neck and shoulder muscles.

Another plus about stretching exercises is that most of them do not require special equipment and can be done anywhere. The Silver Sneakers website recommends that as you stretch, “to breathe deeply, and go slowly. Listen to your body, and never force a movement that causes pain.” They remind seniors it is okay if they cannot bend very far as over time they will loosen up some. Safety is always important and you do not want to hurt yourself. Other exercises especially good for seniors include chair yoga, resistance band workouts, walking, and dumbbell strength training.

At MorningStar at Jordan, a senior living community in Centennial, CO, we offer a whole host of amenities and care services as well as wellness programs that include exercises geared toward our residents. Our community offers a choice of 55 well-appointed, private assisted living suites in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with memory impairment.

This post is intended for informational purposes only. Before beginning any exercise, be sure to check with your healthcare provider.

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 and memory care.

Source: silversneakers.com/blog/stretching-for-seniors-7-simple-moves-for-the-not-so-flexible/

Be an Active Partner in Your Medical Care

 

Experts suggest that a good way to reduce medical errors regarding your care or that of a loved one is to be an active partner in the process whether in a hospital setting, doctors’ office or the pharmacy. The World Health Organization reports “an estimated 10% of patients in high-income countries are harmed while receiving hospital care.” Also, according to a 2021 report in StatPearls, “medical errors result in about 100,000 deaths in hospitals and clinics annually.”

Furthermore, studies show the most harmful errors in primary and outpatient health care settings are related to diagnoses, prescriptions and use of medicines. Mistakes associated with misdiagnoses resulted in delayed treatment for the real problem and having the wrong drugs prescribed.

However, it is important to keep in mind that some medical errors are a result of patients failing to disclose all of the medications they take including prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Another problem is the failure to reveal pertinent details regarding a person’s prior medical history as well as lifestyle habits such as smoking, diet and alcohol consumption.

Medical professionals say to remember the time spent with your doctor is short, so to help prevent errors with care, come prepared to your appointment by putting in writing critical points you wish to discuss. The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore has a QuestionBuilder app available by AHRQ at Google Play or the Apple App store to help you focus on the questions you need to ask during your appointment.

Other things to do before the appointment include putting together a list of medications you take, the dosage, and why you take it. If you worry about forgetting something you were told during the visit, take along a family member or trusted friend. Also ask questions and seek a second opinion if it would make you more comfortable. Most importantly if a medical problem is not getting better; remain persistent in addressing it with your medical team.

MorningStar at Jordan is a graciously appointed senior living community located in historic Centennial in the south-central area of Metro Denver. We proudly offer 55 private assisted living suites as well as 29 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please contact us to learn more about our amenities, care services, availability and pricing.

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 and memory care.

When is the Time to Move to Assisted Living?

 

Sometimes a senior has a fall or another medical emergency that precipitates the need for a change in their living circumstances such as a move into an assisted living community. Other times, the situation is not so clear-cut and is more a case of a senior slowly losing the ability to attend to their daily care needs. We know it is upsetting for families to see their loved one decline, which is why experts offer advice to help determine if an assisted living setting would be an improvement in their lifestyle.

One way to decide if assisted living is right for your parent or another loved one is to take an inventory of what they are having trouble doing for themselves and if assistance would improve their quality of life. For instance, are they having a hard time preparing and cooking meals or need help bathing, toileting, and dressing? Have they stopped driving and spend a lot of time alone? Is your normally tidy parent now letting the household tasks go and/or mail is stacking up unopened and bills not getting paid?

Other factors that indicate the need for more help includes recent falls or burns from using water that is too hot or from cooking. Warning signs also include a history of medication mismanagement or worsening chronic health problems, which could all benefit from the care received in an assisted living community.

At MorningStar at Jordan, we offer 55 stylish assisted living suites with a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In addition, the Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. We make it easy for your retirement years to be carefree with a full range of amenities, care services, wellness programs and activities as well as a staff who feel called to serve seniors. Please see our website for more information.

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 and memory care.

MorningStar’s Denver Communities are Currently Hiring

 

 

At the Denver MorningStar communities, we are guided by a culture we call Radiance and seek those who share our commitment to service. Currently we are recruiting staff for caregiver jobs, medication care manager/QMAP, cook, concierge, dining room server, maintenance assistant, housekeeping jobs and more. Locations include MorningStar of Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan; MorningStar of Littleton; MorningStar of Parker; MorningStar at RidgeGate; and MorningStar of Wheat Ridge.

While our jobs require diverse skill sets, they all need individuals with big hearts who love the idea of helping to improve a senior’s quality of life. For example, as a housekeeper in one of our beautiful homes you will take pride in keeping it spotless for our remarkable residents and delight in hearing their life stories. Moreover, you will appreciate working with a distinguished team committed to serving our resident-families, fellow team members and a wider community here at home and across the globe.

We are proud to support our team members with some of the most generous benefits in the industry. Compensation starts with competitive wages, and bonus or incentive opportunities (depending on position). In addition, employees are eligible for paid holidays, paid vacation, paid sick time, birthday appreciation day, 401k plan availability, health savings account availability, uniforms, training and advancement opportunities. At MorningStar, we strive to make sure our team is paid well for the valuable services they provide our company.

In pursuit of excellence, MorningStar resolves to be a company of servant-minded, purpose-driven leaders in our senior communities and throughout the world. If you are searching for work you can feel proud of and wish to thrive professionally and personally, please visit MorningStar’s “Careers Here” page for a link to openings in the Denver area. There you will find detailed job descriptions and an easy-to-use online application.

MorningStar Senior Living’s 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 actively recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors. If you would love to serve, please visit MorningStar’s Careers page for information on current openings in Denver, CO.