Seniors and Depression

Statistics show that depression in seniors is common; however, it is not a normal part of aging and should not be treated as such.   Many of the challenges seniors go through in the later stages of their life including the death of love ones, retiring from the workplace, and having one or more serious health problems or disability can result in a person developing depression.  While an estimated 6 million adults age 65 years and older have late-life depression, only 10% of those affected are treated for it.

Experts say there are several reasons why depression goes untreated in the elderly including the fact that symptoms are displayed differently from those in younger people. For example many seniors do show signs of sadness, the most common symptom of depression, and many are unwilling to share their feelings with anyone.  Seniors with depression often complain of feeling tired, have trouble sleeping and may be grumpy and irritable. Depression can even cause symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s such as confusion and attention problems.

In some cases symptoms of depression are misdiagnosed as being the result of medical conditions and/or from the side effects of medicines they take to treat the conditions.  The National Institute on Aging says depression can “co-occur with other serious medical illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease.” Furthermore they explain that depression can make these conditions worse and treating the depression can help older adults better manage their other health conditions.

If you think you have depression or that a loved one is suffering from the condition, you need to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider.  It can be treated but your doctor needs to rule out other medical conditions that may be causing the depression. Typical treatment for depression includes medication and psychotherapy.

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 schedule a tour to experience firsthand the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Steps to Take to Help Prevent Falls

We have all heard stories or may have had an older relative take a fall that lead to serious injuries, hospitalization, or in the worst case, a fatality.  In fact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the fatal fall rate for people 65 years and older jumped 31 percent from 2007 to 2016, making falls the leading cause of injury-related death among people in this age group.  Falls are so common in the elderly that every 11 seconds an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that many falls are preventable and publishes a one-page guide called “Take Control of Your Health: 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall.”  Their first tip is to find a balance and exercise class that is specifically designed to help older adults built strength and improve their balance and flexibility.  

NCOA also recommends talking to your doctor about your fall threat.  Ask if any medications you are taking have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or other issues that could increase your risk for fall.  Moreover be sure to share any recent falls you may have had with your healthcare provider as well as your family.

Fall prevention includes having your vision and hearing tested annually.  If you need stronger glasses, get them and be sure to wear them. The next step is to do a survey of your home both inside and out to ensure you do not have unsafe areas that increase the likelihood of a fall.  Search the Internet for a checklist of things to look for in your home to improve safety. The NCOA suggests enlisting the aid of your family to help you keep your home safe for everyone.

MorningStar of Santa Fe’s assisted living and memory care comprehensively answers the demand for luxury senior housing in Santa Fe, NM.  Along with our architecturally stunning building and resort-style amenities, we are most proud of our loving team of caregivers with a felt calling to serve.  Please visit our website to set up a tour of our 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.  For more information, please give us a call or visit our website to set up a tour of the area’s finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Source: ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOA-Falls-Free-Infographic-680pixels-0917.pdf

Wondering if Assisted Living is Affordable?

Many seniors and their families fear assisted living is too expensive but once you actually look into it, you may be surprised to discover it can actually be less costly than trying live on your own.  At MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks, we offer families a great deal especially when you consider all of the resort-style amenities and top-quality services we provide.   

To help ensure assisted living is within reach of our community, one of the jobs we take seriously at MorningStar of Sparks is to help our families find resourceful ways to make assisted living affordable.  We help you explore innovative financial solutions and often under-used benefits that may be available to you beyond traditional retirement savings and investments. 

 

If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, you will want to carefully read through your policy to determine what type of expenses it covers.  You will find specifics regarding daily benefits, policy limits, and the elimination period under your Benefits Summary.

Another way we help families make assisted living more affordable is let them know they may be eligible for often untapped Veteran Benefits.   Please refer to our Veterans page for a full explanation of the generous “Aid & Attendance” Pension issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

We remind seniors to think about leveraging life insurance policies or selling their home to pay for assisted living.  We also offer Companion Living, in which two unrelated people of the same sex may share a suite as well as expenses.  Please visit MorningStar of Sparks’ website to learn more about our Greater Reno assisted living.  In addition, our beautiful community offers independent living and memory care. 

MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care options. 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.

Wellness Programs & Activities Designed to Keep You Engaged

Now that MorningStar of Santa Fe is up and running, so too is our Life Enrichment Team who is busy providing our residents with a whole range of engaging, entertaining wellness programs and daily activities.  To get a feel for a day in the life of a resident at our beautiful community, please take a look at our monthly calendar posted on our website.

For example, during a day in April, our residents had a choice of activities that included joining the 9:00 AM Walking Club, participating in the 10:30 Chi Gong class, and after lunch, attending the 1:30 Matinee Movie.  Later that afternoon, you could try your hand at the 3:30 Horseshoe Toss, and after dinner, join the group for a 6:00 Nightcap Social. During the month, residents did Chair Yoga, enjoyed a live music concert, or had fun in an Arts & Crafts Class.  If Bridge is your thing (or you have always wanted to learn), join the Bridge Club or get involved in the art of Flower Arranging. Other activities that go on around MorningStar are game nights, trivia contests, and a range of physical exercises perfected for our residents.

During the month of April, MorningStar of Santa Fe also has a Backyard BBQ planned, a trip to the International Folk Art Museum, a meeting of our Resident Council,  and a couple of relaxing scenic drives. So whether you are a knitter or want to learn, take part in a cooking demonstration, join the Garden Club, and much, much more, we either have it on the calendar or encourage our residents to go ahead and start a club.

MorningStar of Santa Fe is a step above other senior housing and offers everything seniors need to ensure their comfort, wellness and safety.  We have 56 bright suites for assisted living and another 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Please visit our website 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 set up a tour or call for pricing and availability to all-inclusive senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Thinking About Assisted Living for Your Parent?

At MorningStar of Albuquerque, we understand there are all sorts of emotions that occur when a family begins to look into assisted living for a parent or a loved one.  Often it is a complete learning experience as many people do not know what assisted living offers and how it differs from a nursing home.

Assisted living is a fairly new concept and is designed for seniors who want to maintain their independence but need a little help with daily living activities.  Based on the European social model, it creates a new paradigm in wellness and engagement, and we believe that the structure and society offered in assisted living communities introduces a return of healthy routines and healthier lives.
Our recommendation for opening a conversation about making some changes in the way your parent is living should be done when everyone is gathered and relaxed.  Also remember nothing has to be decided on all at once, and while it should ultimately be a family decision, the person involved needs to be given a voice.

We also understand that searching for the most suitable senior living community is difficult as there are many factors to consider.   We suggest that once you narrow down several choices, you set up tours to experience the communities firsthand. The child of the person or healthier spouse should do the tours, and not more than two a day, as there is a lot of information to take in.  

Assisted living communities like MorningStar of Albuquerque are designed to allow seniors’ their independence and give them the opportunity to stay socially active.  We have put together a “Conversation Guide” that goes into even greater depth regarding helping families to make the transition. When you contact us, please ask for a copy.

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 learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer.

Resort-style Amenities Included in Your Monthly Fee

Now that MorningStar of Santa Fe is open, we have had a lot of enquires and interest from area seniors and their family members.  FAQs include how our pricing is structured as well as availability. In assisted living, fees are based on the level of care a resident requires.  For memory care residents, we offer all-inclusive pricing, which means suite rental and care, whatever the level of need, is one price.

To calculate your level of need in assisted living, you and your family will meet with our Wellness Director and go over your medical history and personal preferences to create an individualized care plan.  This sets the basis of your Care Level (we have five) and your monthly fee accounts for the costs and time to provide the needed services. These can include help with daily personal care activities (grooming, bathing, toileting, etc.) and medical assistance.

If you are concerned the cost of assisted living may be too high for your means, we want to remind you that senior housing can be very cost-effective as there are many things you will no longer pay for out-of-pocket.  This includes the costs of your monthly utilities. At MorningStar your monthly fee includes cable TV & utilities, laundry facilities, and three daily meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef. In addition we have scheduled transportation every week for rides to medical appointments as well as transportation to organized activities and cultural events.

Assisted living residents also have access to a full-time Licensed Nurse and our loving 24-hour care staff.  Our wellness programs and activities engage and support our residents’ mental, physical, spiritual and social connections and allow the opportunity to continue to learn and grow.  

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, the care, comfort and wellbeing of our residents are the foremost considerations for everything we do.  Our dedicated team, the heartbeat of our community, delivers service that represents the mission and philosophy of MorningStar Senior Living - honoring God and valuing seniors as gifted and contributing individuals.

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 give us a call or visit our website for contact information regarding the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Now that You have Decided to Move to an Assisted Living Community

Now that the hard decision is over and you or a parent has decided that moving into assisted living makes the most sense for your/their needs, you may need to downsize a houseful of furniture and decades of belongings.  While this can seem like an overwhelming task, take a deep breath, try to relax and read some tips from organizing experts.

Organizing your approach to the task should be your first step and begin by cataloging a list of your furniture and possessions.  Now create lists for the things you want to keep, items you want to give to family or friends, and items to sell.  Anything left over should go on a list to donate.
Before you get too far ahead of yourself, you will also need to remember that your apartment in the assisted living community may be smaller than your present home.  This means you will not need a whole household full of furniture!

It may be helpful to measure the size of the suite and create a floor plan to give yourself a realistic idea of how your furnishings will fit in your new place.  If the unit is a studio or a smaller, one bedroom, you do not want to be so crowded you cannot safely move around. You may even want to buy a smaller couch or coffee table that is better suited to the size of your new home.  Also bins and shelving help keep items organized and easy to get to.

Furthermore, keep in mind that your new life at a senior living community will be much easier as you will no longer be responsible for preparing meals and maintaining a home.  At MorningStar of Albuquerque, we cook and serve the meals as well as provide light housekeeping, daily trash removal, and laundry and linen services.

MorningStar of Albuquerque provides residents with a home that is both beautiful and accommodating. We offer 48 assisted living suites in a variety of configurations including spacious studio, one bedroom, and two bedrooms floor plans.  The Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

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 learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer.