Exercises to Improve Balance

If you are a senior, having good balance can help to prevent falls and maintain your independence.  Falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 years and older, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age.  By age 80, over half of seniors fall annually. 

Some of the reason for this is a decline in seniors’ overall physical fitness as well as chronic diseases, certain medications, and surgeries.  One example is diabetes, a common disease in the elderly that can lead to peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage and cause numbness in the hands, feet, and other parts of the body.  Medications that lower blood pressure may cause faintness or dizziness, and hip replacements and knee surgeries can result in the elderly being unsteady on their feet. 

 

While many exercises help with balance including something as simple as walking, experts recommend that older adults incorporate exercises into their daily routine that are specifically designed to improve balance.  Most balance exercises can be done at home without any special equipment and only take a few minutes to do.  

The National Institute on Aging offers several balance exercises on their website.  One example is to put the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot.  Your heel and toes should touch or almost touch.  Focus on a spot ahead of you as this will help to keep you steady as you walk.  Now take a step and put your heel just in front of the toes of your other foot.  They suggest trying to do 20 steps. 

MorningStar at Jordan knows it is important for our residents to stay as active as possible, which is why our monthly calendar includes exercises designed to help residents improve their flexibility, balance and muscle and joint strength.  We also have other classes and activities designed to enhance residents’ mental, social and spiritual connections.  Please visit our website to learn more about our exceptional assisted living home.

Please check with your doctor before starting any new form of exercise.   

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: go4life.nia.nih.gov/exercise-type/balance

Working as a Housekeeper? Why Not Join Our Team & Make a Difference?

Are you a hardworking housekeeper who is looking for a career that will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others?  At Denver’s MorningStar senior living communities, housekeepers are an essential part of our team and encouraged to develop caring relationships with our cherished residents and to help to make a difference in their lives.  

As you clean their homes, you will enjoy hearing their life stories and learning about the significance of their treasured mementos and photographs.  You will also feel good knowing you have contributed toward keeping our beautiful communities spotless as well as earned the appreciation of our residents.

Our housekeeping jobs are true careers and allow you to grow both professionally as well as personally.  We promote from within whenever possible and are proud of our diverse workforce.  All employees receive competitive wages and comprehensive healthcare plans including medical, dental, and vision, as well as vacation, sick time and holiday pay.  MorningStar also strives to respect shift preferences and to present predictable schedules to enable a healthy work-life balance. 

At MorningStar, we are intentional about creating a culture defined not only by what we do but by the kind of people who are bringing it all to life – a team of dedicated, loving individuals.  Our homes provide independent living, assisted living and memory care.  Please visit our website to learn more about our housekeeping jobs in Denver’s exceptional senior living communities - MorningStar of Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan; MorningStar of Littleton; MorningStar at RidgeGate; MorningStar of Wheat Ridge; and Parker Senior Living by MorningStar.  Take the first step toward becoming part of a dedicated team that feels privileged to serve seniors – the most heroic, wise and fascinating segment of our society!

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 information on a variety of positions including housekeeping jobs in our Denver communities.

How to Help a Loved One Manage Their Medications

It is no wonder that some elderly adults get confused with their medications and often miss doses or take too much of a medication. According to 2010 statistics, “medication usage among elderly patients in the US is eye-opening: more than one-third of prescriptions drugs used in the US are taken by elderly patients; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9-13 prescriptions a year (including new prescriptions and refills).”  In addition the average elderly patient takes more than five prescription medications; and the average nursing home patient takes seven medications.

If your elderly parent is on several medications, do you know if they are managing dosages appropriately?  A quick look in their medicine cabinet or wherever they keep their medications should give you a good idea.  If they have outdated bottles of pills mixed in with current prescriptions or un-opened bags from the pharmacy, chances are they are not doing a good job. 

Experts warn it can be a sensitive topic to broach with your loved one, but if you start slowly, you should be able to help them get things sorted out and organized.  Begin by listing all of the current medications they take including over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins. Your list should include medicine they take every day and things they use occasionally.

Now take the list to their pharmacist to see if the combination of what they are taking is safe to do so.  Many drugs can poorly interact with one another or be redundant. Check with their doctor to see if they still need to take a particular drug or is it just getting refilled over and over again.  If it helps, get a new pillbox that better fits their need. There are many choices including color coded and multiple holders. If medication management continues to be a problem, you may need to look into getting more help for your parent. 

At MorningStar of Boulder, our assisted living and memory care community is designed to provide the utmost care for our residents.  From healthy daily meals to wellness programs and activities, we have a whole range of services and resort-style amenities to ensure their comfort and wellbeing.  Our care services include care managers, access to licensed nurses, and medication care managers. Please visit our website to learn more about our 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.

Source:health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/how-to-help-aging-parents-manage-medications?onepage

Socialization is Important for Seniors

As we reach our senior years, research indicates socialization is more important than ever.  In fact, a Harvard University study shows that “elderly individuals, who had active social lives, were happier, healthier and more likely to live longer, than elderly people who did not have an active social life.”  Results suggest that “loneliness can deter an elderly person’s life, while socializing can enrich it.”

Seniors who regularly socialize are less likely to become depressed and are better-equipped to get help if they experience mental health problems.  Also older adults with a variety of social support are more likely to regularly exercise, which has been shown to keep the mind active and help slow down memory loss as well as improve overall health.  In addition, strong social support can help maintain a senior’s self-esteem and sense of worth.   

As we socialize, our brains are mentally engaged, which improves our cognitive functions and may prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  Activities we do with friends can be fun and stimulate our mind such as playing cards, Bingo, and word or trivia games as well as something as simple as carrying on a conversation. 

MorningStar at Jordan offers 55 private assisted living suites and 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Our beautiful community has plenty of common areas to sit and relax or enjoy a pleasant conversation with a friend.  To keep residents entertained or as busy as they want to be, our monthly calendar is loaded with a wide range of activities and wellness programs including daily exercise classes, games, live entertainment and special events.  If you are looking for senior living residences in the Centennial, CO area, please visit our website to learn more.   

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.

Sources: healthfully.com/543831-the-importance-of-elderly-exercise-socialization programs.html

www.negeriatrics.com/blog/how-socialization-can-benefit-the-elderly

Searching for a Career You Can be Proud Of?

MorningStar senior living communities in the greater Denver area have a unique culture that starts with a mission statement of:

·              Honoring God in our business practices and relationships — a commitment to strong moral values and ethics;

·         Valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals — a commitment to creating a community that promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle, while providing security and independence;

·                Investing generously in our team’s ability to serve well — a commitment to hiring and retaining employees who use creative minds and compassionate hearts to serve residents.   

In addition we define our homes’ atmosphere with core values that include love, kindness, honesty, goodness, fairness and respect.  All of our team members are trained in Radiance, our proprietary initiative that drives the way we deliver service to our residents – with depth of purpose, sincerity and warmth.  In turn this fosters an environment where each employee is considered an integral part of the team and is encouraged to use their special talents to reach their full potential.  We also have a policy to promote from within whenever possible, which provides opportunities for career advancement.       

So whether you are in one of our essential housekeeping jobs or a hands-on care manager, everyone at MorningStar works together to create senior living communities that are true homes for our residents filled with love, compassion and laughter.  Our Denver communities in Arvada, Centennial, Littleton, Lone Tree, Wheat Ridge, and Parker are seeking extraordinary individuals with a felt calling to serve to fill a variety of assisted living jobs.

You will find the MorningStar website’s Career page has an “Assisted Living Jobs – Denver” link that will take you to all of our job opportunities at our different communities.  Moreover you will find detailed job descriptions and a convenient online application.  We look forward to you joining our team of service professionals and helping us build true homes for our beloved seniors.   

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.  For a rewarding career, visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on assisted living jobs in Denver.

Looking for the Best Assisted Living for Your Parent?

If you have started searching for assisted living for a parent, you know if can be overwhelming.  You are probably looking for a place that fits their budget, care needs, and lifestyle preferences.  Moreover you know it is not a decision to make lightly as you will not want to move mom or dad out of a place after just a few months.  That is why the experts suggest that if the circumstances allow that you take your time and you get it right. 

The Internet has several checklists and suggestions on what to look for when searching for senior living communities including questions to ask when talking to the staff.  One thing everyone agrees on is that it is a good idea to take a tour of the place. 

Questions you will want to ask include suite sizes and configurations such as studios or one- and two bedrooms, and what is the availability.  If you plan to have both of your parents move in, ask if they can share a suite. Also, if applicable, find out if the community supports Companion Living (where two people of the same sex share a suite).  You will also want to learn more about the care services your loved one will receive. Will they have access to care 24/7? How close is the community to a medical care facility and how are medical emergencies handled?  Does the staff receive any type of special training? Do any of the caregivers have CPR training?

Location is another thing to consider as you will want a place that is convenient to all of the family and friends that will want to visit.  Be sure to ask if you will be allowed to visit at any time or is there a set schedule when residents can receive visitors.   

MorningStar of Boulder looks forward to answering all of your questions.  As one of the top assisted living companies in the nation, MorningStar’s care team works hard to give our residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community second to none.  Our beautiful Boulder community offers assisted living and memory care along with a wide range of resort-style amenities and care services.

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.

MorningStar of Boulder is Pet Friendly

At MorningStar of Boulder our goal is to provide one of the best senior retirement homes in the Centennial, CO area. We offer 48 modern, private assisted living suites in a variety of floor plans to meet our residents’ preferences and needs.  In our Reflections Neighborhood, we provide another 46 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

As you will see from our website, our Gallery photos highlight the exquisite beauty and comfortable, home-like setting of our community.   Along with the smart design and safety features found in each suite, MorningStar of Boulder is also pet friendly. We recognize that our residents do not want to leave behind their four-legged family members when they move into assisted living.  We also know that animals offer tremendous benefits to seniors’ wellbeing. 

Research has found that being around animals is good for seniors as they not only provide loyal companionship and decrease feelings of loneliness but provide health benefits as well.  Studies show that dogs are especially good pets for seniors as they require them to be more physically active than their non-pet owning counterparts.  Other studies find “having a pet can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as decrease stress.”  Moreover, “Pets have proven to increase serotonin levels, which make us feel good, and decrease cortisol levels, which leads to stress.”

If you are interested in joining our MorningStar of Boulder family, we ask that you speak to us regarding our pet policy as we do assert our right to assess an animal’s appropriateness for our community on a case-by-case basis.  We do have some restrictions on breeds and also charge a one-time nonrefundable pet fee. Contact us to schedule a tour and discover for yourself why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home”.

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: seniorliving.org/assisted-living/pets/