Do You Suspect It Might be Alzheimer’s?

Have you recently noticed some signs of memory loss or confusion in a parent or another loved one? Are you worried it may be the beginning of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia? We understand this may be a touchy subject to broach with your loved one, which is why experts recommend you do your homework first and learn about the common signs of the disease. 

The Alzheimer’s Association explains that Alzheimer’s can cause changes in cognitive abilities, executive function and behavior. Those afflicted may start having memory problems along with difficulty completing familiar tasks. They may also become confused as to time and place. Other problems involve a marked change in their judgement and trouble with language skills and abstract thinking. Mood swings or changes in personality can also signal Alzheimer’s. All of these are common signs that can point to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia but only a specialist can make a diagnosis. You should ask your parent’s healthcare provider for a recommendation to a neurologist who will perform test to eliminate other causes for the behavior. 

If you are looking for senior living in Santa Fe, we encourage you to take a look at the MorningStar of Santa Fe assisted living and memory care community. While we are brand new to the area, MorningStar Senior Living has communities throughout the Western U.S. including MorningStar of Albuquerque and MorningStar of Rio Rancho in New Mexico. Along with 56 bright suites for assisted living, we have 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please contact us for more information about our compassionate, loving community, our team looks forward to meeting you and your family. 

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. Please visit our website to learn more about unparalleled senior living in Santa Fe.

Assisted Living at MorningStar of Sparks

MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks offers Sparks and Reno assisted living, independent living, and memory care.  While memory care is all-inclusive, the cost of an assisted living suite is determined by the level of care the resident requires. 

MorningStar’s assisted living has five levels and uses a simple point system, which factors into account the cost and time it takes to provide each service.  Whether it involves help with personal daily care activities such as grooming, bathing and toileting, or medical assistance, we come up with a cumulative score that places you within one of our five levels. 

Before an assisted living resident even joins our community, our Wellness Director meets with them and their family to go over their medical history and discuss their needs.  From there, we create a care plan approved by the resident that ensures their comfort and safety.  In addition, we offer daily health monitoring and periodically review a resident’s care plan to make sure it is still up-to-date.    

We provide dedicated 24-hour Care Managers, a CPR-trained staff member on every shift, and a full-time nurse onsite and on call 24-7.  We also have Certified Medication Care Managers, pharmacy services and much more.  For your safety, each suite has an emergency call system. 

Assisted living residents enjoy three delicious daily meals expertly prepared by an Executive Chef and served restaurant style in our lovely dining room.  In addition, a range of convenient services including a full salon offering manicures and pedicures, fitness room, library, and bistro.  For entertainment, residents enjoy our on-site theatre and a full calendar of wellness programs and activities. Please visit our website to learn more. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other Reno assisted living communities.  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 amidst a peaceful setting.  Please contact us to set up a tour of the finest senior living in the Reno/Sparks area.

Our Clinical Services Help Manage Chronic Health Conditions

If you are considering assisted living, and like many older adults suffer from a chronic health condition, MorningStar of Santa Fe’s community is designed to help you better manage it. We define health and well-being holistically, and as such, offer a range of services and programming that supports the whole person – body, mind and spirt. Both our Enrichment team and our Wellness Care team play an important role in making our community the best choice for senior living in Santa Fe. 

We are pleased to offer assisted living residents the many benefits provided by our centralized, mobile Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This ensures an accurate record of assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records). The EHR system not only allows us to maintain accurate, legible and complete demographic and medical information on residents, but enhances privacy and security of the data. 

Some of our services to residents include a licensed nurse on call 24/7 and onsite throughout the week, and CPR-trained team members on each shift. We also offer 24-hour Care Managers and medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. Our team does routine Care Plan reviews as well as scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations. 

In addition MorningStar of Santa Fe offers care services such as mechanical lift assistance, diabetic management, oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care and more. Residents receive scheduled physician visits (with a choice of physicians), pharmacy services and onsite dental services and podiatry. Please visit our website’s Care Services page to see our entire list of services. 

MorningStar of Santa Fe pueblo-style community is scheduled to open soon and will offer 56 bright suites for assisted living and 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please visit our website or our onsite Information Center for pricing and availability. 

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. We invite you to give us a call or visit our onsite Information Center to learn more about the best senior living in Santa Fe.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

While we have all heard a lot about Alzheimer’s and may even know someone suffering from the disease, we may not be aware of the common signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s. Many people think that forgetting things is a sign of Alzheimer’s, while others too readily accept certain symptoms of Alzheimer’s as just getting older. 

The Alzheimer’s Association has a website full of useful information and resources for families dealing with the disease and publishes a list of the 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's. One of the first signs they say is a symptom of Alzheimer’s is not occasional forgetfulness but forgetfulness that disrupts daily life. For example the person is having problems retaining recently learned information and trouble remembering important dates or events, or they are asking the same questions over and over again. 

People in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may have more difficulty doing things they used to do easily such as paying bills or following recipes. Even driving to well-known locations or remembering the rules of a favorite game can be troublesome. Other signs include feeling confused about the passage of time and finding it harder and harder to keep track of dates, time and seasons. 

Experiencing vision problems such as judging distances and determining color or contrast as well as problems following or partaking in a conversation are also common signs of the disease. Other signs can include changes in personality and mood, and withdrawing from social activities the person used to enjoy. 

For the full listing and description of the 10 common signs of Alzheimer’s, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website. If a loved one has Alzheimer’s, we encourage you to learn more about our Phoenix senior living community, MorningStar at Arcadia. Our community lovingly cares for those in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. 

MorningStar at Arcadia’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 seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best Phoenix senior living possible.

Source: alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

Worried that Assisted Living is Too Expensive?

When it becomes apparent that your parent or another senior loved one needs more care than they are getting at home, you may worry that assisted living is just too expensive. At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we understand the concern but want families to know we can help direct them to often overlooked sources of funding. 

However first, we want you to remember that our assisted living community offers a whole new lifestyle. Monthly fees will include the necessities and much more including a fully equipped private suite, daily meals, and transportation services. Additionally each suite includes Cable TV and utilities as well as an emergency call system. We also supply a full range of meaningful wellness programs and fun activities and entertainment. 

One of the sources of income we discuss with potential residents and their families includes the generous “Aid & Attendance” Pension issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs. The monthly benefit pays for assisted living to qualified veterans, as well as their surviving spouse. We will direct you to a local resource that can help ease and quicken the application process for “Aid & Attendance.

We also remind seniors to take a look at their Long-term Care insurance policies. They can help to protect your personal assets by paying for senior care up to the amounts set forth in the policy. To determine your LTC policy’s coverage, check the Benefits Summary section for specifics on the type of coverage, daily benefit, policy limits and elimination period. Keep in mind premiums may be tax deductible, and benefits from tax-qualified plans are non-taxable, which makes this option even more attractive. 

Another source of funding to help with assisted living costs can be to leverage your life insurance policies. Many whole life and universal life policies build a cash reserve through interest-earning excess premiums known as the policy’s “cash value”. 

Before taking advantage of any of these funding methods, please consult with a financial advisor. MorningStar of Santa Fe’s team is ready to answer questions regarding pricing and availability of our beautiful assisted living and memory care community. 

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. We encourage you to contact us for more information regarding unparalleled senior living in Santa Fe.

MorningStar at Arcadia Welcomes Pets

At our Phoenix senior living community, we recognize pets offer seniors great companionship with their limitless affection and unconditional love. In fact multiple studies have found pets to be especially beneficial for the elderly and can even help to “reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity.” Pet ownership can combat feelings of loneliness and offer solace from the loss of a spouse or another loved one. 

In an article from AgingCare.com entitled, The Healing Power of Pets for Elderly People, several experts weigh-in on the various benefits of pet ownership for seniors including a New Jersey psychotherapist. Dr. Jay P. Granat discusses some of the intangibles pets offer to the elderly such as the fact that “dogs—and other pets—live very much in the here and now.’ He explains that animals do not worry about tomorrow, which can be scary for the elderly and being around an animal with that sense of “now” can rub off on people. 

Along with providing companionship to seniors, studies have found that depression is less likely for older adults who own a pet and patients with heart problems can do better when they are responsible for a pet. Psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld, who brings her golden retriever mix to her New York City office, relates how people with memory loss interact with her dog and access memories from long ago. She explains “having a pet helps the senior focus on something other than physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or aging."

MorningStar at Arcadia knows it is a big decision for seniors to give up their family home and move into senior living. Furthermore it would be very painful to be forced to leave a beloved pet behind, which is why we are proud to be a pet friendly community. Please visit our website to learn about the best assisted living and memory care in Phoenix. 

MorningStar at Arcadia’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 Phoenix senior living community. 

Source: agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm

Tips to Help Make the Transition to Assisted Living Easier

At the MorningStar of Santa Fe assisted living and memory care community, we understand seniors may feel anxious when facing a move into assisted living. Often the decision is necessitated by a sudden change in the person’s ability to continue to live safely at home. Even if the decision is of a more gradual nature, it is still a big change; but there are things family member can do to help make it a smoother transition. 

One thing experts agree on is that you need to remember to include your senior loved one in on the plans. This starts with including them in the process of choosing the community - remember it will be their new home. When you forget to ask for their input, it can make them feel as it they are losing their independence. While it is time consuming to visit senior living communities, we suggest you only take your parent with you after you have narrowed the choices down to a couple. Be sure to encourage their opinion and make sure they have an opportunity to ask questions during the community’s tour. 

Another thing your loved one will most likely need is help with the moving process. If they are still living in the family home, they will have to do lots of downsizing, which in itself can be stressful. Trying to decide what is important to keep, what to give away to family or friends, and what to donate or sell is not easy. Keep in mind the move to their new home will be smoother if they have familiar furnishings and treasured mementos around them. Also while respecting their feelings, gently remind them their new home may be smaller and they do not want to be overwhelmed with too much “stuff.” 

While we finish the last few touches to MorningStar of Santa Fe in preparation for our Opening Celebration, we want area families to know we are here to answer any questions regarding the best senior living in Santa Fe. We invite you to meet our friendly team in the Information Center next door to our construction site or give us a call. 

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 give us a call or stop by our onsite Information Center for more details on the finest senior living in Santa Fe.