Tai Chi is a Good Exercise Alternative for Older Adults

As an older adult, living a healthy lifestyle requires following a few time-tested tips. Diet and nutrition play a significant role in maintaining both mental and physical health. A daily exercise routine bolsters the immune system, as well as enhances the brain and heart. Simply interacting with other seniors and your loved ones reduces stress and develops memory skills. Of all the options for seniors to live a healthy lifestyle, one option does not receive the attention it deserves, but it should.

Tai chi is a good exercise alternative for older adults that reside at a senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

What is Tai Chi?

You might see a group of residents at our assisted living facility moving about in an exercise room in a slow, symmetrical manner. They most likely are participating in a tai chi routine, which goes back as far as 2,500 years as an exercise routine that originated in China. Based on improving coordination and breathing patterns, tai chi involves slow, repetitive, and low-impact movements. The goal of the exercise routine is to achieve balance with the body and harmony with the mind. Many tai chi experts describe the exercise routine as meditation in motion.

There are five primary tai chi styles: Yang, Chen, Wu, Wu/Hao, and Sun. Each style concentrates on a specific movement while participants maintain a certain posture.

What Are the Benefits of Tai Chi for Seniors?

Tai chi delivers several benefits for participants from any age group, but the exercise routine is the ideal strategy for seniors to maintain mental and physical health. The exercise routine helps older adults improve balance and coordination, both of which diminish as we grow older. Improved balance results from the slow, deliberate movements conducted during any type of tai chi exercise routine. Tai chi is well-known for building strength, particularly in the back and thighs. Slow, deliberate body movements also help seniors sharpen their hand-eye coordination, which allows them to enjoy playing recreational sports such as golf and tennis.

At our memory care facility, we emphasize the importance of tai chi as an effective way to enhance cognitive function and memory. The controlled repetitive breathing patterns relax the mind to help older adults retain cognitive skills, as well as maintain a robust memory. Because of the meditative qualities of tai chi, the exercise routine has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing depression and anxiety symptoms. The exercise routine triggers neurotransmitters in the brain to make them more active. One of the keys to achieving vibrant health for seniors concerns getting enough sleep, which tai chi is considered a highly effective tool for achieving the important healthcare goal.

Getting Started with a Tai Chi Program

As with any exercise regimen, seniors should consult with their doctors before embarking on an extended tai chi program. Let the instructor know your experience level, as well as mention any physical concerns. Make sure to follow the instructor’s suggestions on how to warm up before each session, as warming up the body can help prevent injuries. Do not overexert your body, especially during the first few sessions. Take breaks when your body lets you know it needs to rest.

MorningStar at Arcadia offers a wide variety of classes to help our residents maintain healthy lifestyles, including the centuries-old tradition called tai chi. Learn more about what we have to offer at our memory care facility in Phoenix, AZ by submitting the Contact Us form found on our website.

The MorningStar Foundation

MorningStar of Santa Fe is part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company, whose mission is to “cast a new light on senior living.” We start by creating a true home for the residents in our communities, made possible by a dedicated team who understand the highest expression of living is to share their gifts and talents, time and energy with others. 

The scope of our Vision to love and honor also includes impacting the world for good through the MorningStar Foundation, and offering support to philanthropic initiatives within our local neighborhoods and around the world. One such project is our support to the people of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. We serve not only the children of the Casa Bernabé orphanage but holistically serve the impoverished area. We also are proud to support Lifewater, whose Healthy Village strategy focuses not just on their delivery of a safe water point, but on the villagers’ monitored adoption of hygiene habits in each and every home.

Closer to home, MorningStar’s senior living communities are great supporters of the Alzheimer’s Association. We participate in events throughout the year including the “Longest Day Celebration” (summer solstice), which was held on June 21st this year. Our uplifting celebrations included hosting fundraisers of every sort, balloon releases, games, food and more. Additionally, our communities participate in the “Walk to End Alzheimer's,” either by walking, sponsoring or hosting other creative ways to raise funds. Other efforts include doing our share by volunteering with local nonprofits to help where there is a need. 

If you are looking for exceptional senior living in Santa Fe for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to consider MorningStar.  Our beautiful community offers 56 stylish assisted living suites and 29 suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment.  We also offer short-term stays to see if we are a good fit as well as respite care. Please contact us for availability and pricing. 

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us for more information about the finest senior living Santa Fe, NM offers.

Welcome Home to MorningStar of Albuquerque

At MorningStar of Albuquerque, our goal is to provide residents with a comfortable, inviting home where they can safely age in place. Our services, amenities and wellness programs are all geared toward accomplishing this. Residents also receive the often overlooked benefits of community living such as healthy social connections and peace of mind knowing loving support is available whenever they need it.  

All assisted living residents have an individualized care plan created to help them maintain their independence, and our 24/7 care managers make sure the plan is carried out.  MorningStar’s care managers are dedicated, hard-working individuals who provide loving care to our incredible residents and enjoy building strong relationships with them. 

Many of our daily activities are just plain fun and include movie nights, trivia and card games, craft classes, exercise classes and much more. Our all-day meal service is targeted to seniors’ palates as well as their nutritional needs. We believe food is a healing medicine unlike any other and is the centerpiece of personal wellness that starts with proper diets and healthy choices. When enjoyed in community, it provides far more than physical nutrients but bonds us as family and friends.

We also have a partnership with Genesis Rehabilitation, a leading provider of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy for older adults. The alliance includes full-time, in-house Genesis therapists and expands our resident services in integrated wellness, promoting optimal independence and abundant life for seniors. 

Along with many support services, MorningStar of Albuquerque provides the physical environment to ensure older adults live as safely and as comfortably as possible.  Assisted living suites are equipped with handicap-accessible bathrooms and each unit has an emergency call system. In addition to 48 assisted living suites, we have 21 suites devoted to residents with memory impairment.  Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other senior living Albuquerque offers and why MorningStar is such a great place to call home.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque, NM offers.

Trusted Memory Care at MorningStar of Santa Fe

MorningStar of Santa Fe’s goal is to provide the best senior living Santa Fe, NM offers, which includes experienced care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer's or other dementia-related diseases. MorningStar’s holistic approach to memory care incorporates some of the most respected research-based care programs available.  We are different from other senior communities in that every aspect of our care is designed to accommodate those with memory impairment. 

MorningStar of Santa Fe is equipped to care for individuals from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  While a secure area, our Reflections Neighborhood encourages independence with clear wayfinding and inviting common areas including a 2nd floor sky terrace. Suites are equipped with emergency call systems and handicap-accessible bathrooms. In addition, we offer SafelyYou technology, which can detect and prevent falls for residents with (AI) Artificial Intelligence. Other amenities include housekeeping and laundry services as well as scheduled transportation for doctor’s appointments and special outings. 

Care in our Reflections Neighborhood begins with a high staff to resident ratio. All team members are trained in our “Lavender Sky” program that encompasses our philosophy and approach.  This training gives employees a better understanding of the disease and more tools for effective, compassionate treatments. In addition, residents receive daily health monitoring with access to licensed nurses and other third-party service providers.

Meals are attractively served, and tasty as well as nutritional. Many foods are easily eaten with fingers to accommodate those who may have trouble using a fork and knife. In addition, our wellness programs keep residents purposefully engaged and leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy and animals to heal and comfort whatever the extent of memory loss.

Once a family decides MorningStar is a good fit, we start the process to learn as much as we can about your loved one’s background, talents and personal preferences using a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” This allows us to create a specialized, individualized service plan that calms or stimulates as each unique situation suggests.  Contact us for more information about compassionate and loving memory care in Santa Fe.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Santa Fe, NM offers.

As We Age, Social Connections Have a Big Impact on Overall Health

Most of us know physical exercise is important to healthy aging. It can help us recover from injury, ease chronic pain, fight off depression and boost our energy level; but just as important are social connections. We are social beings and interacting with others has a big impact on our overall health. 

The American Public Health Association reports socialization improves mood, cognition, memory recall, and is associated with healthy behaviors, including exercise. The National Institutes of Health reports elderly adults’ social participation reduces loneliness, depression and stress; and a robust social life enhances quality of life, self-efficacy and self-esteem. 

Michael Rambarose, President and CEO of the Whitney Center, a Life Care community in Hamden, CT, writes, “Socialization is like the secret ingredient that makes a healthy senior lifestyle come together.” Although he is quick to add its psychological benefits shouldn’t be kept secret. He explains, “We encourage the seniors that we serve and work with to make their social lives a priority. The people and loved ones we share life with can give everything else we do more meaning.”

Another positive consequence of socialization in older adults is it keeps the brain sharp and may even decrease the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease or slow it down. At MorningStar of Albuquerque, we understand the importance of community and staying engaged. Through wellness programs and activities promoting physical, intellectual, spiritual and social connections; residents can choose how busy they wish to be each day. 

In addition, we provide senior care and hospitality services along with luxury amenities and a choice of floor plans designed to feel like home. For exceptional assisted living, Albuquerque, NM area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar, the perfect community to age in place comfortably and safely.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Albuquerque, NM offers.

Seniors are More at Risk of Dehydration

With summer bringing hotter temperatures, it is a good time to remind everyone, especially seniors, to protect themselves from dehydration, which happens when our bodies lose more fluid than it takes in. Dr. Samuel Keim, a professor and head of the department of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona, explains one of the reasons adults 70 and older are more at risk for dehydration is “a diminished thirst mechanism and a decreased ability to compensate for high-temperature environments.” He adds this means seniors are less likely to feel thirsty or realize they are becoming dehydrated.

Moreover, many seniors suffer from medical conditions such as respiratory ailments, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease exacerbating the problem. Also medications like anticholinergics or antihistamines disrupt the body’s natural reflexes and reduce its heat tolerance causing a person to sweat less. Other problematic drugs include diuretic medications that increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine or beta blockers that interfere with the body’s natural response to becoming dehydrated.  

Heat-exhaustion symptoms can include fatigue, thirst, profuse sweating, lightheadedness, cramps, nausea and weakness, and need to be addressed immediately as they can lead to heat stroke, which can be deadly. Treatment includes getting the person out of the heat into a cool location and removing heavy clothing. Spraying the person with water and directing a fan on them also helps. Seek emergency attention if the person is confused or fainting but continue to treat the person until help arrives. 

MorningStar of Santa Fe is a beautiful senior living community located on the west side of town with wonderful mountain views and convenient medical facilities, shopping, and other services.  Our residents enjoy a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, and a hospitality and care team who feel called and honored to serve seniors.  For more information about MorningStar’s senior housing in Santa Fe, NM, please contact us or visit our website. 

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior housing Santa Fe, NM offers.

Source: health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/hot-weather-health-tips

MorningStar of Albuquerque Offers Comprehensive, Compassionate Memory Care

If mom or dad, or another loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, you want the finest care for them. MorningStar of Albuquerque is just such a place. As part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company, founded in 2003, we are committed to using best-practices including Montessori-based therapy techniques to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for our residents.

We understand the challenges a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease presents for the whole family and believe it to be an honor and a calling to help. MorningStar’s philosophy and approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.”  By utilizing our extensive understanding of dementia, it provides the tools to empower and equip our team to advance our vision and mission of providing a more insightful way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  

All our employees receive training in the program as we understand knowledge provides greater wisdom and insight into interacting with our most tender residents.  The eight hours of training includes the pathology behind the disease as well as communication techniques, and holistic solutions to dining, safety and challenging behaviors.  

Moving a parent into a memory care community is often a difficult decision to make. However, once a family chooses MorningStar, we are there every step of the way to walk your loved one through the transition. Our first step is to get to know all we can about the individual such as their background, talents and personal preferences by using a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” From there, we create a specialized, individualized service plan in accordance with the family. 

Along with memory care, we offer exceptional assisted living, with a broad range of amenities, wellness programs and activities.  We also welcome residents for short-term stays (30 days or less) for those times when a senior’s regular caregiver needs a vacation or when recovering from surgery or an illness. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about MorningStar’s senior living in Albuquerque.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for family satisfaction second to none. Contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque, NM offers.