MorningStar Offers Assisted Living at its Best

When we open in the fall of 2018, MorningStar of Santa Fe will bring to the area unparalleled senior living.  Along with our beautiful 56 assisted living suites and 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, we proudly offer a range of activities that embrace the physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs of seniors.   

Our Life Enrichment program will present creative ways to enhance the health and wellness of our residents as well as to stimulate the brain and encourage social connections. While we obviously do not have a monthly calendar posted on our website yet, taking a look at other MorningStar communities will give you an idea of the wide range of daily activities that a resident can choose to participate in.   

As an example, our assisted living calendar will probably include some type of a morning exercise class targeted to seniors such as a stretching class, yoga, aerobics, or open gym.   Mid-morning may include a scheduled shopping trip, a group walk, or crafting activity.  After lunch, residents may be offered the opportunity to view a movie in our onsite theatre, listen to live music or join a sing-along, take part in an art class, or play Bingo or a game of Bridge.  Furthermore, many of the games and activities we will offer, while entertaining and fun, are designed to stimulate the brain and keep it healthy.   

However, the feature we are the proudest of is that our team will do all that is needed to make MorningStar of Santa Fe feel like a “true home” to our residents.  Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful community and how you can be a part of it.    

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Situated on the west side of town, we invite you to drop in to our Information Center or give us a call to learn more about the finest assisted living in Santa Fe.   

Beautiful Private Suites with a Variety of Well-designed Floorplans

MorningStar at Arcadia is a gorgeous senior living community in the heart of the Valley in the beloved residential neighborhood of Arcadia, which makes it a convenient location for Scottsdale, Phoenix and Paradise Valley families.  Our exceptional community was designed by the nationally renowned firm of Thoma-Holec Design and won First Place in the Senior Living Category at the National 2014 ASID Design for Excellence Awards for its beautiful, contemporary décor.   

Our 80 private assisted living suites are spread out over three levels and include a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom floor plans (including penthouse suites). For memory care, our Reflections Neighborhood offers 30 suites devoted to the specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  

When you visit our website, we encourage you to take a look at our suites’ floorplans.  As you will see, each one is well laid out and accommodates the various needs of our residents. In our one-bedroom assisted living units, sizes range from 437 sq. ft. to 493 sq. ft.  Two-bedroom assisted living floorplans start at 587 sq. ft. and go all the way up to 1,280 sq. ft. in our largest units.  

Please remember that couples are more than welcome to live together in a suite. Also we recognize many seniors have been in marriages for 50 or 60 years and may have lost their spouse.  To them, it is often more comfortable to share a suite with a friend as it provides steady companionship and helps them feel less lonely.   MorningStar at Arcadia allows two unrelated people of the same sex to share a suite in both assisted living and memory care. 

Along with our beautiful suites, our community has warm and inviting common areas that are perfect to sit and enjoy the day while chatting with friends.  These include a large, relaxing outdoor courtyard, complete with fireplace and fountain and as well as a bistro, theatre, chapel, library and more.   Please visit our website to set up a tour of our loving community.  

MorningStar at Arcadia’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  Set in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia invites you to schedule a tour or give us a call to learn more about the best Phoenix area assisted living community.

 

The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Eye Care Recommendations

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says that early signs of disease or changes in vision can start years before they become a real problem.  This is why they recommend “adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should receive a baseline comprehensive eye evaluation at age 40.” 

They also advise that individuals without any risk factors should have an eye exam by an ophthalmologist every 2 to 4 years.  People age 55 to 64 without risk factors should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 3 years.  Seniors 65 years and older without risk factors should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 2 years as the incidence of unrecognized ocular disease increases with age.

Getting regular eye exams and being aware of any changes to your vision is important as many age-related eye problems do not show early symptoms.  Furthermore, common health problems including diabetes and hypertension can cause eye-related issues as well as some medications. 

A thorough eye exam will check your visual acuity and peripheral vision, coordination of eye muscles and the pupils’ response to light and color testing.  The ophthalmologist also examines the interior and back of the eye along with the inside and outside of the eyelid.  In addition, eye fluid pressure is measured with a tonometer, which blows a puff of air onto the eye.  The test is used to check for glaucoma and other diseases.

You will additionally be monitored for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease.  This test uses special instruments to examine the back of your eye to detect and monitor conditions affecting the macula.  

Since many eye conditions do not develop symptoms until they are quite advanced, it is important to follow the eye exam recommendations.   Also, the risk of glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration increases as we get older. 

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please consult with your health care provider if you notice any changes in your vision.

MorningStar at Arcadia’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  Set in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia invites you to schedule a tour or give us a call to learn more about the best Phoenix area assisted living community.

Source: aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101

Enjoyable, Meaningful Activities and Special Events at Arcadia

At MorningStar at Arcadia, our staff works alongside with residents to create a loving, warm, and inviting home.  Our family-like atmosphere includes making memories and celebrating life’s special moments together.  Each month our calendar is filled with daily fun-filled activities, wellness programs and special events.     

From exercise programs targeted to our residents such as Chair Yoga, to pray meetings, trivia games, Bingo, karaoke, movie nights and much more, residents stay engaged and look forward to each day.  For example, a typical day on our calendar includes the following activities and programs: Flex and Stretch class, Catholic Communion, A Colorful Mind, Cookies and Milk Social, Nail Spa, Hand Massages, and a Western Movie-in. 

 In February alone, we undertook special lunch outings that included a trip to the local Olive Garden Italian restaurant, a trip to Manuel’s Mexican Food and a couple of hours at the Paradise Valley Mall for lunch and shopping.  We even did a dine-in Subway meal one day.  

Another recent addition to our activities include, “Putting on the Green” where residents have the chance to practice their putting skills and improve their scores to win prizes.  For the New Year, residents, staff and families enjoyed a New Year’s NOON celebration that included champagne and apple cider as everyone counted down for the big toast. 

If carefree retirement years in beautiful surroundings, resort-style amenities, and fun-filled and meaningful activities sound good, MorningStar at Arcadia is the place for you.  Our community offers 80 assisted living suites on three levels, with spacious studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom floor plans (including penthouse suites). For memory care, our Reflections Neighborhood, located on the second floor, offers 30 suites devoted to the specialized care of residents with memory loss from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related disease.  Please contact us to schedule a visit to our community to find out for yourself why our residents are proud to call us home.   

MorningStar at Arcadia’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  Set in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia invites you to schedule a tour or give us a call to learn more about the best Phoenix area assisted living community.

 

Get to Know the Area’s Best Senior Living Community

Although MorningStar of Albuquerque may be one of the newer senior living communities in the area, it has been quick to earn a reputation as the best.  So what sets us apart from other assisted living and memory care communities?  As you will learn, quite a lot! 

To start with, we have a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that is not just words but the guiding philosophy of how we dispense service.  Our team is comprised of individuals who feel privileged to serve seniors and routinely met not only residents’ expressed need but also their unexpressed ones.  Creating a true home for our residents, our community thrives on an atmosphere of love and builds a family for life.   

Our community is designed for residents’ comfort with beautiful suites that have wall-to-wall carpeting, high ceilings, lots of windows and ceiling lights, and mini-blinds.  All you need to do is to bring your furnishings and personal items.  We are also pet friendly.  

Another unique aspect to MorningStar of Albuquerque is our life enrichment programs.  Every day our calendar is filled with meaningful programs and fun activities designed to engage residents physically intellectually, spiritually and socially.  Along with our in-house programs, we regularly get on the bus and set off for adventures including cultural destinations, scenic drives, or a trip to the local shopping mall.  And we haven’t even mentioned the three tasty meals our residents get each day prepared by our own Executive Chef.   

To accommodate resident’s needs, we offer 48 private assisted living suites on two levels and in a variety of configurations including spacious studio, one-bedroom and two bedroom floor plans with units as large as 700 square feet.  Our Reflections Neighborhood, which is dedicated to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory impairments, has 21 secure suites.  Please visit our website to set up a tour to see firsthand why seniors are proud to call us home.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Albuquerque, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 schedule a tour and see for yourself the finest assisted living Albuquerque has to offer.

Celebrate Heart Month by Making Changes for a Healthier Heart

The American Heart Foundation encourages everyone to celebrate Heart Month by learning ways to decrease your risk for the disease and to make changes for a healthier heart.  While heart disease is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Foundation, it is one of the most preventable. 

Their advice includes: making heart-healthy choices; knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease; getting regular check-ups; and working with your physician to help you follow these recommendations.  In addition, they advise everyone to encourage their family and friends to have check-ups and lead heart-healthy lives.   

Many of the things we can do to improve our heart health are easy and some are actually enjoyable.  One of the easiest things to do is to eat more dark chocolate, which the experts say can help to restore flexibility to the heart’s arteries.  It also can prevent white blood cells from clinging to blood vessels.

Other recommendations include getting active and experts say seniors should engage in regular moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week.  Eating a balanced diet that consists of lean proteins and unsaturated fat, whole gain carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables is also important.  Another heart healthy tip is to maintain a normal, healthy body weight.  In addition, avoid smoking and get enough sleep as sleep deprivation puts an extra strain on the heart.

At MorningStar at Arcadia, we could not agree more with these healthy heart tips and offer seniors a lifestyle that integrates them into our community’s daily routines.  Our meals are largely prepared from scratch and use many heart healthy foods including dark chocolate!  Furthermore, our wellness programs and activities provide moderate exercise programs that keeps our residents moving.  Please contact us to set up a tour of our beautiful assisted living and memory care community.  

MorningStar at Arcadia’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options.  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.  Set in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia invites you to schedule a tour or give us a call to learn more about the best Phoenix area assisted living community.

Source: theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts/reducing-your-risk/