Misconceptions about Senior Living Communities

There are many misconceptions about senior independent and assisted living communities.  Regardless of what you think you know; the truth is every senior community has a unique personality and the best way to really get to know a place is to visit it firsthand.   Krystal Chan, a Partner Services Projects Manager at A Place for Mom, notes that, “You can visit two communities down the street from one another that offer the same care and services, they may even look identical to one another, but that feel very different. Just because your loved one didn’t like one community, doesn’t mean the next one won’t feel right.” 

In terms of assisted living, you will find that the level of care varies from community to community as well as from state to state as requirements and regulations differ.  Some states have a tiered level of licensing so facilities with higher level licenses can provide more care.  

One thing that surprises a lot of people is that many senior living communities allow pets.  In fact, as research continues to solidify the benefit seniors get from caring for an animal, many communities wholeheartedly welcome pets into their community.   

Another misconception about assisted living is that it is very expensive. In a Cost of Senior Care Survey from A Place for Mom, it cites the fact that assisted living is often less costly than home health or nursing home care.  In addition they report that “more seniors are purchasing long-term care insurance to help plan for and finance their long-term care needs.”  Furthermore, other programs such as one for Vets and their spouses offer assistance to help off-set the cost.   

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, we invite you to schedule a tour to learn more about Phoenix’s best assisted living community.

Source:

aplaceformom.com/blog/things-you-didnt-know-about-assisted-living

 

Seniors Benefit from Pet Ownership

Research continues to show a strong correlation between pet ownership and a number of benefits to seniors.  Everything from helping the elderly to stay physically active, to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, providing companionship and making depression less likely are attributed to having a pet.  In fact there are several studies that indicate that patients with heart problems do better when they are responsible for a pet.  

Not only do pets offer lots of affection and unconditional love but they can also help seniors cope with the loss of a loved one.  In an article from AgingCare.com, a New Jersey psychotherapist, Dr. Jay P. Granat, discusses some of the other intangibles that pets offer to the elderly.  He states that, "Dogs—and other pets—live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. By having an animal with that sense of now, it tends to rub off on people."  

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque, we wholeheartedly agree that pets provide many benefits to seniors, which is why we are proud that our community is pet friendly.  Dedicated to making your retirement years carefree, we offer 48 beautiful assisted living suites on two levels, with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 21 suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.    

Please see our website for more details and to learn about MorningStar of Albuquerque’s quality assisted living and memory care community. 

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.

Sources:petsfortheelderly.org/articles.html

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

Life with Alzheimer’s Disease

If you have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you are not alone.  It is estimated that 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and one in nine people age 65 years and older has the disease.  As a way to help families impacted by the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a variety of resources and services. 

 A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s brings with it a range of emotions. Learning that you have a disease with no cure and no way to control what is happening to you can create feelings of anger, denial, depression and resentment as well as fear.  Another common emotion is isolation and the feeling that no one else understands what you are going through.  There can even be a sense of relief at finding out what is happening to you and having those concerns validated.   

The Alzheimer’s Association counsels that it helps to try and come to terms with your diagnosis and the emotions you are experiencing as a way to help you to move forward.  They explain that, “once you make the commitment to take care of your emotional needs; you may find that you can rise to the challenge and face your diagnosis.”    

You will find helpful coping tips on their website to make it easier to deal with what you are going through.  One of their most important suggestions is to have good support whether it comes from joining a support group, sharing concerns with family and friends, or talking to a counselor or member of the clergy.  They also say to continue to do the activities you enjoy for as long as you are able.  Finally they remind individuals to take time to “feel sad, mourn and grieve.”   

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia, we are proud to offer our memory care residents an atmosphere of safety and well-being, while encouraging choice and independence to the fullest extent possible.  Our Reflections Neighborhood is comprised of 30 suites all clustered on the second floor of our community and devoted to providing a secure, gentle home where each resident is treated with dignity and love. 

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, we invite you to schedule a tour to learn more about Phoenix’s best assisted living community.

Source: alz.org/i-have-alz/i-have-alzheimers-dementia.asp

One of the Best Things Seniors Can Do is Stay Active

Being physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself, so says the National Institute of Health (NIH).  They go on to say that, “even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that accompany aging.”   

One of the benefits of staying physically active is that it not only provides long-term health benefits, but also can improve the health of older adults who are already suffering from diseases and disabilities.  In fact, researchers have discovered that regular exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.  It can also be beneficial for those dealing with conditions such as high blood pressure, balance problems and walking difficulties. 

The NIH advises that being inactive is in itself risky for your good health.  While you need to consult your health care provider before you begin to exercise, studies show that if seniors take it “too easy” it can impact their ability to do things on their own.  They state that, “lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.”   

Another reason why it is important to exercise regularly is it can help to elevate your mood and relieve stress.  Furthermore, research points to the fact that exercise may help seniors improve or maintain cognitive function.  The NIH says the type of mental activities that improve with exercise is the ability to shift quickly between tasks and an easier time with planning activities.   

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. 

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, we invite you to schedule a tour to learn more about Phoenix’s best assisted living community.

Source: nihseniorhealth.gov/exerciseforolderadults/healthbenefits/01.html

Technological Advancements that May Improve Seniors’ Lives

A recent article in the U.S. News and World Report discusses several technological advancements under development that may benefit the lives of older adults.  One example they cite that is already available is remote health monitoring systems that permit patients to take their own vital signs and send them to their medical provider.  Additionally shoe insoles with GPSs inserted in them have also been developed as a way to track someone with Alzheimer’s.

Still in the early stages of development, self-driving cars may help to improve the lives of seniors.  We know that driving is something that many seniors start to feel uncomfortable doing, but giving it up can often mean a loss of independence.  Experts predict self-driving cars will be widely available in as little as ten years.   

Another interesting technological development already available in Denmark is edema socks that detect and signal swelling of the feet and edema.  SmartSox is a similar concept under development that will be a used to “detect excessive pressure, heat and misplaced joint angles that could cause foot ulcers. This is useful because people with diabetes often lose sensation in their feet and can't always feel such changes.”

Also while not currently being produced, a group of researchers have developed a vibrating shoe insole to improve balance and stability and may reduce falls by as much as 70 percent.  Along those same lines, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are trying to create a shirt with built-in sensors that will be able to administer CPR.

No article on technological advancements would be complete without the mention of robots.  For years, researchers have been working on robots that will have the required artificial intelligence to serve as health care aides.   In fact as soon as next year, England, Greece and Poland will be testing robot caregivers.   

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 give us a call and schedule a tour to learn more about Phoenix’s best assisted living community.

Source:money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/retirement/articles/2015/12/09/7-tech-advances-that-will-change-seniors-lives   

Statistics Show More Seniors Living to Celebrate 100 Years!

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show than more and more seniors are living to celebrate their 100th birthday.   A 2014 CDC report indicates that the number of centenarians in the U.S. is 72,197, which is up 43.6 percent from only 14 years ago in 2000.  Back then the number was 50,281.  Even farther back in 1980, statistics report that there were 32,194 American centenarians.  Looking ahead, experts note that we may have as many as 387,000 centenarians by the middle of the century.  Among today’s centenarians, more than 80 percent of them are females.

Experts point to the fact that the reason why so many seniors are living longer is attributed to getting better medical care as well as living a healthier lifestyle.  One of the contributors to the study, Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrician and director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston Medical Center, reports that genetic research shows close to “17 percent of the U.S. population has traits that increase their chances of living past 100.”   He predicts that baby boomers will significantly increase the number of centenarians as they grow older.     

The report reiterates that in the past people were susceptible to a number of diseases that no longer constitute as big of a threat.  In addition the study states that the primary causes of death in centenarians are: heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, cancer, influenza and pneumonia.

Our goal at MorningStar AssistedLiving and Memory Care at Arcadia is to offer seniors a chance to fully enjoy their retirement years by providing a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community with an array of incredible amenities and activities.  Furthermore, once you see our community firsthand, we are confident you will be impressed with our beautiful private suites and gorgeous common areas.

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.

Sources:usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/articles/2016-01-21/more-americans-are-living-to-be-older-than-100, reuters.com/article/us-usa-centenarians-idUSKCN0UZ2IR

Balance Exercises Can Help Prevent Falls

We know that each year more than one-third of people age 65 or older suffer a fall and many of those incidents cause serious injuries or in some cases even death.  This is why preventing falls is extremely important for the elderly, and balance as well as strength excises can help to prevent falls.   

  

The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends 5 simple exercises that do not require any special equipment other than a chair (and someone to assist you if needed) that can improve balance and increase lower body strength. The series of exercises include the following:  standing on one foot; walking heel to toe; balance walk; back leg raises; and side leg raises. 

These easy-to-do exercises can be done throughout the day and only take a few minutes to do each of them.  For further instructions on how they should be done, the NIH website offers a video on each exercise.  In addition the NIH recommends that seniors try to do three other types of exercises that focus on improving endurance, strength and flexibility. 

At MorningStar at Arcadia, we recognize the importance of exercising, and as such, provide our residents with a full calendar of daily activities that includes a variety of well-designed exercise programs.  With our large range of classes, there is something that is sure to please everyone.  Our calendar includes: group exercises, moving and grooving, morning strength, balance and posture, flex and stretch, relaxation and chair exercises.  Other opportunities for exercising include activities such as our walking group.  We encourage you to take a look at our fun-filled calendar to see all of the different activities and outings MorningStar residents participate in.       

*This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Before beginning any exercises, please consult with your health care provider.*

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:nihseniorhealth.gov/exerciseandphysicalactivityexercisestotry/balanceexercises/01.html