Senior Living Communities Embracing a Culture of Love & Civility

Working in one of our assisted living jobs gives you the chance to join our loving, compassionate MorningStar “family.”  We seek individuals with a felt calling to serve, and who desire a career that allows them to grow professionally and personally. 

Our MorningStar Senior Living communities in and around the Denver area are beautiful residential homes offering independent living, assisted living and memory care.  With mission statements of:  honoring God in our business practices and relationships; valuing all seniors as gifted, contributing individuals; and investing generously in our team members’ ability to serve well, we take pride in creating a workplace where excellence can flourish.  

Along with supporting the essential work our team does in ensuring our residents’ wellbeing, we recognize that the way we conduct ourselves at our workplace also defines who we are.  This is why MorningStar asks our employees to take the time to be “radically relational and to build warm, genuine connection with each and all of those we serve.” 

As a way to create a culture of love, kindness, honesty, goodness, fairness and respect (our core values) and to cast a new light, we request our team members set an example of decency, good manners and polite conversations.  Our Code of Civility defines a commitment to one another by working as a team and remembering that everyone plays a vital role in our success.  It also cautions us to reject gossip and to embrace appreciation.  MorningStar believes that incorporating civility into our day-to-day lives helps to build relationships and inspires us to do the right thing even when no one is watching. 

Please visit our website’s Careers page for more information regarding a whole host of assisted living jobs including Care Managers, Medication Care Manager/QMAP, dining room servers, housekeeping jobs, and more.  Some of these openings are full or part-time as well as evenings and weekends.  We look forward to hearing from you. 

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.  Please visit MorningStar’s Career page for more information on rewarding Denver area assisted living jobs.

Driving Safety as You Age

Older drivers can still be good, safe drivers, but there are some things to consider both for your safety and the safety of others.  The Mayo Clinic recommends that seniors stay as active as possible in their day-to-day life which helps to maintain overall strength, flexibility, and range of motion.  Drivers need to be able to turn and look over their shoulder and move their head with ease.  They must be able to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and legs need to be strong enough to apply pressure to the gas pedal or brake. 

A senior’s peripheral vision can decrease with age or from certain medications and other eye problems may cause drivers to have trouble seeing in the dark or experience blurred vision.  Hearing problems can interfere with detecting sounds of sirens from emergency vehicles or approaching cars.  Be vigilant about scheduling vision and hearing tests regularly as part of your wellness care and follow your doctor’s advice as to how often they should be done.  Many problems can be corrected if caught early enough.   

Remember that certain medications can cause drowsiness so make sure you know the side effects of your prescription drugs and do not drive if you are feeling sleepy.  It may be a good idea to limit trips in the car to daylight hours and when the weather is good.  Keep in mind that a person’s reaction time slows with age as do their motor skills.  You may need to re-evaluate your driving every so few months, especially if you find yourself having incidences of accidents that almost happen. 

The MedicineNet website has some safe driving tips for seniors:

Planning before you leave:

·         Plan to drive on streets you know.

·         Limit your trips to places that are easy to get to and close to home.

·         Take routes that let you avoid risky spots like ramps and left turns.

·         Add extra time for travel if driving conditions are bad.

·         Don't drive when you are stressed or tired.

While you are driving:

·         Always wear your seat belt.

·         Stay off the cell phone.

·         Avoid distractions such as listening to the radio or having conversations.

·         Leave a big space, at least two car lengths, between your car and the one in front of you. If you are driving at higher speeds or if the weather is bad, leave even more space between you and the next car.

·         Make sure there is enough space behind you. (Hint: if someone follows you too closely, slow down so that the person will pass you.)

·         Use your rear window defroster to keep the back window clear at all times.

·         Keep your headlights on at all times.

MorningStar at RidgeGate’s 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 community. 

We Not Only Serve Seniors but Serve Local & Global Communities

MorningStar Senior Living is a unique company that is dedicated to providing unsurpassed senior living in the Western U.S. including at our six Denver area communities.  We proudly provide true homes for our residents with high quality independent living, assisted living and memory care, and each of our beautiful residential homes are filled with lots of love, compassion, laughter and dignity.

In addition we have discovered our residents also teach us how to live by reminding us that life’s deepest satisfaction is found in service to others.  As MorningStar is devoted to improving the lives of seniors, the most obvious places for us to expand service is to the Alzheimer’s Association and other like-minded senior-focused not-for-profit organizations.  One of the things all of our communities participate in is the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” and our “Longest Day” celebrations that help to raise funds and awareness for the disease. 

Moreover, Ken Jaeger, MorningStar’s Founder/CEO, understands how to inspire others to live a life of selfless giving with words such as, ““Don’t wait to serve. Serve now, Today.  Get involved somewhere, anywhere.  It will make you a better person (and if you work for MorningStar, it will make you a better team member).”  This is why MorningStar Senior Living considers it our responsibility as a company, and as individuals, to also invest our time and talents in charitable projects around the world.  One example is working to help Nicaraguan orphans by building and continuing to support the Casa Bernabe.

Our MorningStar Denver area communities are located in Arvada, Centennial, Littleton, Lone Tree, and Wheat Ridge, Colorado and are seeking exceptional individuals to fill a variety of assisted living jobs.  For information on job descriptions and qualifications as well as an online application, we invite you to visit our website.  Openings include caregivers and other support positions such as food servers, cooks, maintenance assistances, and housekeeping jobs.   

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 wish to serve, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on how to apply to assisted living jobs in Denver.

Facts about Alzheimer’s Disease

Currently Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.  For older adults, it is ranked third and is just behind heart disease and cancer.  There are several forms of dementia but Alzheimer’s is the most common.  Other types of dementia include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia.  

Alzheimer’s disease is named after a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer.  In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer began observing a 51-year-old female patient at the Frankfurt Asylum who had a range of strange behavioral symptoms, including a loss of short-term memory.   Throughout the next five years of her life, Dr. Alzheimer studied the women.  Upon her death, he examined her brain where he discovered “many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary, or tau tangles).  These plaques and tangles in the brain are still considered some of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Researchers now believe Alzheimer’s disease begins about a decade before the first symptoms appear such as memory loss and other cognitive problems.  During this period, toxic changes begin in the brain that includes abnormal deposit of proteins, which form amyloid plaques and tau tangles.  In addition healthy neurons stop functioning, lose connections with other neurons, and die.

While symptoms vary, the early stages of Alzheimer’s include a decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment.  As the disease progresses, memory problems increase as well as symptoms such as “wandering, getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, and personality and behavior changes.”  Most people are diagnosed with the disease in this stage. 

MorningStar at Jordan understands the devastation a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is for a family.  Our assisted living and memory care facility has 29 secure suites in the Reflections Neighborhood to provide compassionate care to seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to 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 to set up a tour to see firsthand the area’s finest assisted living and memory care facility.

Source: nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

Stay Warm this Winter!

As we age, it is important to stay warm and to dress appropriately during the colder months. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains that, “Older adults can lose body heat fast—faster than when they were young.” They also add an illness or taking certain medications and medical conditions may make it even more difficult for the elderly to keep warm. Also to try and stay warm, seniors have to burn more calories, which can result in weight loss. 

Making sure an elderly person is warm enough is imperative as they are more susceptible to hypothermia. In fact many times the person is not even aware they are experiencing symptoms of the condition. Early signs of hypothermia include cold feet and hands, puffy or swollen face, pale skin, and shivering in some cases. The person may also be acting sleeping, angry or confused. 

The NIA recommends if you have to go out in cold weather to wear loose layers of clothing as the air between the layers will help to keep you warm. In addition be sure to wear a hat and a scarf as we lose lots of body heat through our head and neck area. If it is snowy or a cold rain, wear a waterproof coat or jacket, and if you do get damp, change your clothes as soon as you get home. 

At home, the NIA advises seniors to not try and save money by turning down the thermostat. They say you should keep the temperature at least 68 to 70 degrees and save money by shutting off unused rooms, keeping the blinds drawn, and placing towels in front of drafty doors and windows. Wear plenty of clothes including socks and slippers and use a throw over your legs or shoulders if you are still cold. When you go to bed, wear long underwear under your pajamas, and if you are still cold, wear a knit cap. Another way to generate more body heat is to routinely exercise. This will also help to increase your appetite. 

Caring for the many needs of seniors is what MorningStar of Boulder does best. Please visit our website for more information about one of the area’s top senior retirement homes. We offer both assisted living and memory care. 

As one of the nation’s finest assisted living companies, MorningStar of Boulder represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. For serene, comfortable senior retirement living, please visit our website to setup a tour. 

Source: nia.nih.gov/health/cold-weather-safety-older-adults

Rave Reviews from Our Most Important Critics!

At MorningStar of Boulder, we are committed to providing the area with the finest senior retirement living. This is why our entire team is so gratified when we receive glowing feedback from our residents and their families as having our service recognized means we are doing our jobs well. 

One family writes to let us know, “Our uncle has made friends, gotten stronger and healthier, and re-engaged in life through the care and concern of MorningStar of Boulder. It is a relief to my husband and I to know he is being well cared for, and that we can be family again (instead of caregivers).”

We were also happy to hear from the sisters of a resident regarding her care, “My sister and I want to thank you for the excellent care our elder sister received from MorningStar. The staff was all very helpful, kind and loving. We are pleased she had a lovely place to spend her last year. You should be very proud of your team. We will be very pleased to recommend MorningStar to anyone. God bless!” 

It is especially important to us to get feedback from families of our most tender memory care residents who cannot always speak on their own behalf. One letter is from the daughters of a resident who write, “What we experienced at MorningStar of Boulder far surpassed anything we dreamed of. With our father’s dementia you were determined to finding a way to make it work. The creativity you brought to the situation kept us hopeful through tough times. Because of your loving and caring commitment, we were able to be daughters and just love him.”

Our MorningStar of Boulder residential home is beautifully situated on the southeast side of the celebrated mountain town of Boulder and offers assisted living as well as memory care. Please contact us to learn more about our “passion to serve seniors,” and if it sound like what you are looking for, go ahead and setup a tour. 

As one of the nation’s top assisted living companies, MorningStar of Boulder represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. While there are many senior retirement homes in the area, we are uniquely one of a kind!

MorningStar’s Companion Living

While seniors have discovered the many benefits of senior living residences, MorningStar at Jordan understands that for some older adults the cost may be too high to comfortably afford.  This is why we consider it part of our job to help area seniors find creative ways to make the move to assisted living possible.

One of the things we offer to make it more affordable is “Companion Living.”  Whether you wish to move into assisted living or memory care, Companion Living allows two unrelated people of the same sex to share the expense of a suite.  Furthermore, if you do not have a friend or relative to share a suite with, we will carefully pair you up with another senior who shares your interests and background. 

The advantage of companion living also goes far beyond economics as companionship is important for a person’s health and wellbeing. We believe we are designed by our Creator for relationships, and that isolation can drain us of energy and purpose.  When a senior loses their life partner after being married 40, 50, or 60 years, it can be a very lonely existence.  A companion can help to diminish those feelings of loneliness and help the person to reconnect. 

Offering built-in companionship, the Companion Living program can additionally help to ease the transition of moving into a senior living community.  Also, as roommates naturally look after each other’s interests, they may be the first one to notice changes in health or abilities.

Please visit our website to get an idea of the various amenities and services we offer as well as to set up a tour of our gorgeous community.  We are certain MorningStar’s well-designed suites and welcoming common areas will impress you from the first but the thing we are most proud of is our dedicated, loving care team.     

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living residences with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst 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 to set up a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community.