MorningStar at Arcadia offers Assisted Living at Its Finest

When searching for senior living options, many people are not entirely sure what the term “assisted living” means.  We will try and clarify.  One of the first things to know is assisted living is not just another word for a nursing home.  Nor does it offer the same level of care and typically is not as expensive.

So, what is assisted living?  Assisted living is designed for seniors who want to retain their independence but require some assistance with daily personal care activities.   While not all assisted living communities are the same in terms of the level of care, a typical assisted living home provides services for activities like bathing and dressing as well as prepared meals.

At assisted living communities such as MorningStar at Arcadia, we create individualized care plans for each resident after talking with them and their family. Furthermore, during the course of your stay, your care plan will be regularly reviewed to ensure it addresses your needs.  Also, regardless of the level of care, all residents receive the assurance of having 24/7 onsite Care Managers who help to ensure their safety and meet their every need.

As a resident of MorningStar, you will get three daily meals that are meticulously prepared largely from scratch by our Executive Chef.  Each meal is nutritious as well as delicious and recipes are modified to address a number of different dietary restrictions including low sodium or low fat, sugar-free, no sugar, and vegetarian options.  

In addition, our assisted living residents will have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities and programs that are designed to promote physical, intellectual and spiritual wellness.  Please visit our website for contact information to learn more about MorningStar at Arcadia’s beautiful community.

Our 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 our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia offers residents an exceptional assisted living home.

A Reminder to Take Care When Walking Around the Community

MorningStar of Sparks wants to remind residents and visitors alike they need to remember that throughout our community a number of residents use walkers, electric or manual wheelchairs, and oxygen.  While these are necessary medical devices that help to keep our residents independent and functioning, we want to caution everyone that they can also be fall hazards to you as well as to others.

It is especially important to be careful when you move along the corridors at busy times including going through the dining room or during other social gatherings and events.  We have noticed that sometimes oxygen hoses are not wrapped up and may be lying on the floor where they can become trip hazards to others.  Another thing to look out for is wheelchairs parked with their foot pedals sticking out into the walk ways. 

Also remember if you are traveling in an electric wheel chair you need to take care when backing up or moving through crowds.  In other words, we all need to be aware when we move around the community and keep our eyes open for objects on the floor and around us to help prevent falls.     

The team at MorningStar additionally wants to remind all residents to enjoy the upcoming summer and to remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.  Also remember to dress appropriately when going outside – wear sunblock, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and long sleeves.  Stay in the shade whenever possible and avoid the heat of the day.  

We invite you to visit MorningStar of Sparks’ website to learn more about our Greater Reno assisted living and independent living community.   Along with exceptional architecture and design, our graciously-appointed common areas are extensions of our private suites, and include a bistro, library, expansive gathering places, general store, fitness room, fireside patio, and all-season porches.

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

Why Choose MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks?

Looking for the best senior living Reno or Sparks offers?  What sets MorningStar of Sparks apart from other communities?  To start with, we offer seniors a wide range of senior living options that start with our comfortable independent living with private suites and beautiful common areas.  MorningStar’s assisted living is designed for those who want to maintain their independence but require some help with their day-to-day personal care activities.

We are also proud to provide quality, compassionate memory care.  Our Reflections Neighborhood offers a holistic approach to caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Our dedicated care team is trained to assist those at the onset of dementia, as well as those in the more advanced stages.

However the thing that really sets us apart from other area senior living communities is our unique mission statements.  MorningStar Senior Living was founded by Ken Jaeger, whose intention has always been to provide senior housing that feels like a loving home (just like his grandmother’s) and offers a sense of “family.”  Our mission statements start by honoring God in all of our business practices and relationships; valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and investing heavily in our teams’ ability to serve well.

MorningStar of Sparks’ extraordinary team is another reason we stand out from the rest.  Our team selection starts with heart, and we specifically seek out individuals who have a felt calling to serve and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure residents receive first-class care and services.  Furthermore, we train our entire team in our culture we call Radiance, which lovingly guides the way we deliver service. 

We invite you to visit our website for more information.  While you are there, follow our link to inquire about availability and pricing or to set up a tour to see firsthand our beautiful community.  We want you to know that for a limited time we are offering special pricing as “our anniversary gift to you.”

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “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 Reno/Sparks has to offer.

Having a Pet Offers a Range of Benefits to Seniors

It turns out that being a pet owner can provide a range of benefits to seniors including helping them to live longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives.  One clinical study done several years ago tracked heart disease survivors after they were discharged from the hospital.  Studying survivors’ medical histories, lifestyles, families, and relationships, it found that, "The presence of a pet was the strongest social predictor of survival...not just for lonely or depressed people, but everyone - independent of marital status and access to social support from human beings." 

Another study done by the American Psychological Association found pets provide an important source of social support to their elderly owners.  Researchers explain that senior pet owners “fared better on several well-being (e.g., greater self-esteem, more exercise) and individual-difference (e.g., greater conscientiousness, less fearful attachment) measures.” 

It may be the benefits come from the fact that pets offer unconditional affection and companionship.  Also a pet requires seniors to stay engaged in the day-to-day process of caring for the animal as they need to feed, groom, walk and clean up after their pet. 

      

If you are thinking of getting a pet for an elderly family member, it is recommended that you consider the person’s physical health and personality.  AgingCare.com says you should also take into account the following: has the person owned a pet before; does the animal have a good temperament; and will owning a pet cause a financial hardship?   

MorningStar of Sparks is committed to provide the best senior living Reno or Sparks offers, and we understand that our residents do not want to leave behind their pet when they move into our community.   Please give us a call to learn more about our pet guidelines as well as to schedule a tour of our exceptional community.

 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “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 Reno/Sparks has to offer.

Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21728449, petsfortheelderly.org, agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm

All-inclusive, Compassionate Memory Care

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we understand the devastation families feel when they get a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.  We know the path going forward is unplanned for, and we consider it our privilege – our calling to walk alongside the memory-impaired and their family on their unexpected journey.  MorningStar’s newly opened senior housing offers assisted living as well as experienced, compassionate memory care for those in the early onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia right through to the most advanced stages.

Our memory care is in a separate wing we call Reflections Neighborhood and consists of 29 secure suites.  The area is specifically designed to allow residents the freedom to move safely about their spacious surroundings.  Also given the nature of dementia, residents pay one price for their suite and their care regardless of the level of memory loss.

As dementia care experts, our unique approach and philosophy to caring for those afflicted with the disease is called “Lavender Sky.”  We know the essence of the person remains despite the level of memory loss, and our job is to nurture and support the individual by finding ways to calm or stimulate as the situation demands.  Lavender Sky provides the path for us to enter, embrace, and explore the “purple world” of memory loss, and to cross over the physical, emotional, and relational boundaries that would otherwise separate us.   

Every aspect of our home is designed to provide the comfort, wellness and safety our special residents require including mealtime.  We know those suffering from memory loss can sometimes have compromised abilities at the table. We address this by providing a selection of finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.  

MorningStar of Santa Fe invites area families to contact us for more information and availability and pricing.  To see firsthand our loving care, we encourage you to set up a tour of the finest senior housing in Santa Fe.

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 for more information on compassionate senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

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