5 Anti-Alzheimer’s Habits

Alzheimer’s is a very frightening diagnosis to receive, whether you’re a senior who lives independently, or in assisted living. While there are no fool-proof ways to completely prevent Alzheimer’s, there are many things you can do to keep from contributing to your chances. 

Avoid Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body overall, and can also increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. If you smoke, start doing everything you can to quit now, and stick to quitting. If you’re already a non-smoker, always be aware of secondhand smoke around you to avoid it. 

Eat a Healthy Diet

What we fuel our body with is what helps it function. Bad fuel equals sub-par functioning in some way or another. This is why what we eat is so important. Speak with your doctor and/or a licensed nutritionist about what you need more of, and what you need to avoid in your diet. This will help your body become healthier, and allow it to function more efficiently. 

Stay Active

Even if you don’t have a lot of energy or time, there are still ways that you can stay active. Proper exercise helps strengthen your body, and this strength also translates into your body’s systems, such as the nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, and more. Staying active gives your body that much of an advantage to prevent many diseases, not just Alzheimer’s.

Exercise Your Brain

Keeping your brain busy, engaged, and solving problems is how you exercise it. Our cognitive functions are a bit like muscles in that the more we use them, the stronger they become. Try or learn something new every day, work on brain teasers, do puzzles, switch up your routine, etc. to keep your brain active and engaged. If you live in an assisted living community, ask staff and family for some brain games and activities so that everyone can try them! 

Drink Sparingly

Drinking to excess is similar to smoking—it has no value to your body, and can actually cause life-threatening damage. Alcohol slows down the body’s functions and processes, including cognitive function. Consistent heavy drinking over time is hard on your brain, as well as the rest of your body; so stick to none or one small glass of red wine a day.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living Phoenix, AZ has to offer. 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 beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.

(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/alzheimers-prevention/faq-20058140)

3 Winter Fun Ideas for Seniors

Winter is a beautiful time to get into a joyful spirit and have fun with family and friends. For seniors, this can be one of the best times to get together with their loved ones and celebrate holidays. Here are 3 awesome winter fun ideas for seniors; whether you are in independent or assisted living!

Carol Karaoke 

Karaoke is a fun way to let loose and enjoy yourself with just about any group of people. Whether you know the words or not, it’s always nice to be able to just be silly with loved ones. A bonus of karaoke is that you can go with a theme, and do funny renditions of Christmas carols, or other holiday songs you may know. Karaoke is not only fun, it also requires some movement and reading; so it’s an amazing way to get your mind and body moving too!

Recipe Sharing

Winter time is a time of cozy, homemade meals with loved ones for most, but each family has different recipes. This is a wonderful opportunity to share a bit of your family’s traditions/culture with your friends! Try organizing a potluck with friends where everyone brings a family favorite along with a recipe written down for guests to take with them. This is a perfect way to share meaningful memories, delicious food, and even some family history. Nothing brings people together quite like food, and winter is the best time to share your most comforting recipes. This can even work in an assisted living community where everyone can meet each other’s families while trying their favorite foods!

Card Making

There are few things more special than receiving a handmade/handwritten card in the mail. However, many people simply don’t make cards anymore. This is a great opportunity to let your creativity shine, and try your hand at card making! Just about anyone can make a card, and there are no right or wrong ways to do it; so grab some supplies and give it a go! Paper, pens, markers, stickers, buttons, photos, colored pencils, scissors, glitter, stamps, popsicle sticks, and much more can all be used for card making; so don’t worry about not having enough of any one thing to use.

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 true homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Phoenix has to offer.

3 Ways Seniors Can Protect Their Vision

Vision is something not many of us think about until an issue arises with it. However, you can support your vision at any age—even as a senior in assisted living in Phoenix! Being proactive about protecting your vision is a great way to help your vision stay at its best for as long as possible. 

Keep Up With Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are the best way to gauge where your vision health is at, and what you can do to improve it. Everyone’s eyes are different, and have different needs, so speak with your optometrist about ways that your vision specifically can be improved/supported. For some, it may be helpful to wear glasses only when needed, and others may need to keep their glasses on all the time. It all comes down to the way your vision works. 

Limit Screen Time

Screens are something we don’t get much time away from these days—even our watches have screens now! However, this doesn’t make limiting screen time impossible. Make sure you are spending at least a couple hours a day not staring at some type of screen. Try going for walks, reading more paper books, playing board/card games, being creative, etc. instead of looking at bright, busy screens all the time. Another helpful tip if you do just have a lot of screen time is to try blue light lenses. These are special lenses (or a special coating) that helps reduce the side effects of glare from screens on our eyes. Ask your optometrist for recommendations. 

Wear Sunglasses

Direct sunlight can do a lot of damage to your eyes over time. This is why sunglasses with UV protection are so vital whenever you are outside on sunny days. They protect your eyes from being damaged by the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and you still get all the vitamin D the rest of your body needs from the sun. If you are a senior living in Phoenix, talk to your optometrist about whether they offer prescription sunglasses, or clip-ons for your regular glasses if you already have them. 

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 to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living in Phoenix, Arizona.

Seniors Need to be Aware of Financial Scams

Each year thousands of elderly seniors fall prey to ruthless schemes that rob them of their money and identity. The sad part is that it is often a result of a senior’s trusting nature or feelings of isolation and loneliness; or in some cases, a senior may have cognitive issues that impair their judgement and decision-making skills.

Experts explain there are several reasons why seniors are more susceptible to fraudulent schemes starting with the fact they tend to be very trusting. Our elderly population was typically raised to be polite and agreeable to others, which in turn can make them more susceptible to fraud. Lonely seniors can easily be preyed upon as they are willing to stay on the phone and engage in conversation with a stranger.

NCOA updates the public to current scams targeting seniors so if you have a parent or other elderly loved ones who may be at risk, look at the information and discuss the various schemes used with them. One scam frequently used is for a thief to call unsuspecting victims and pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They have many angles such as saying the individual has unpaid taxes or their Social Security or Medicare benefits are in danger of being cut off. They then demand payment (in the case of unpaid taxes) or ask for personal identifying information, which is then used to commit fraud. These impersonators often “spoof” the actual phone numbers of the government agency, or call from the same area code for Washington, DC, tricking the victim into believing the call is legitimate.

The NCOA says there are ways to avoid getting scammed such as never giving out your personal information to anyone but a trusted family member, friend or your professional financial advisor. In addition, never make big financial decisions without consulting with one of those trusted people. Also, do not give out personal PIN numbers, or Medicare and other financial information over the phone unless you initiated the call or know the person.

Other commonsense advice includes being wary of high-pressure salespersons, never signing a contract until you understand it entirely, and to be suspicious of unexpected announcements of winning money, trips, or other prizes. Experts say it is most likely a hoax. Always take your time when making financial decisions and do not give blanket approval to a vendor for medical equipment and other purchases.

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.

Source: ncoa.org/article/top-10-financial-scams-targeting-seniors

Trusted Memory Care at MorningStar of Albuquerque

Are you the adult child or spouse of someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia?  At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque we understand the anguish and heartache that families go through seeing their beloved mom, dad, or spouse change before their eyes. 

If the diagnosis is recent, you are most likely wrestling with lots of questions including what the future will bring and who will be there to provide the level of care the person will probably need.  We hear you and want you to know our experienced team is here to help with holistic memory care that focuses on nurturing and supporting the essence of the individual regardless of the extent of the memory loss. 

MorningStar’s memory care revolves around comforting and caring for our most tender residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. We start with a physical space designed to enhance residents’ quality of life with safe, inviting common areas encouraging independence. Residents stay active with a gentle flow of activities including art, dance, physical exercise, special events, and scheduled outings.

Once a resident joins our MorningStar family, we sit down with them and their family to get to know as much as we can about them including their history, vocation, talents, and preferences. From there we create a daily routine designed to stimulate or calm as a situation requires. Residents are also treated to tempting meals consisting of finger foods and family-style dining for a stress-free, companionable dining experience. 

As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.”  All team members, regardless of their position, receive Lavender Sky training, which includes a deeper understanding of the disease and communication techniques to use with memory-impaired residents.  It also includes training in environmental safety and security as well as solutions to challenging behaviors.  For trusted memory care or assisted living Albuquerque, MN seniors and their families can count on, please contact us for more information.

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 memory care and assisted living Albuquerque, NM offers.

Welcome Home to MorningStar of Santa Fe

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe is committed to the comfort, wellbeing, and safety of our residents.  Once you learn more about our community, we are sure you will agree that MorningStar of Santa Fe is senior living at its best.  In fact, the MorningStar Senior Living Company was founded by Ken Jaeger as the fulfillment of his dream to create senior housing defined by the human touch and a sense of family.  We believe our community has achieved that dream and is a true home for our remarkable residents.  

To ensure we meet our residents’ needs, we are deliberate about the individuals we hire to become part of our distinguished team.  Every new employee is carefully vetted and chosen for virtues such as kindness, selflessness, and character.  We look for people who are committed to perfecting the art of anticipating needs and willingly go the extra mile to serve.  

Once team members are hired, they are trained in “Radiance,” which is much more than just a customer service program but rather an attitude of the heart.  With a tagline of “Service Becomes Us,” it is used to guide the way we deliver service – with sincerity and depth of purpose.  Also, its precepts enhance the loving atmosphere of our home.

We encourage you to visit our website and view our virtual tour that shows off our beautiful spaces as well as background on some of the guiding principles of MorningStar Senior Living.  Throughout our community, you will find inviting areas to sit and have a chat with friends or family or the perfect spot to find some solitude and just enjoy the day.    Looking at the images, can you imagine yourself sitting in our attractive full-service dining room eating delicious meals created by our Executive Chef or watching a favorite film in our comfortable theater? 

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers 56 stylish, private assisted living suites in a variety of floor plans to meet our residents’ preferences and needs.  In our Reflections Neighborhood, we provide another 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please visit our website for more information about the finest senior housing in Santa Fe, NM.

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 to learn more about the finest senior housing Santa Fe, NM offers.

Learn More About Assisted Living at MorningStar of Albuquerque

Many families mistakenly think senior living and particularly assisted living is just a more luxurious nursing home.  The fact is nursing homes are intended for people who are unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental conditions and require around-the-clock skilled nursing care.  Residents may be bedridden or in wheelchairs and receive ongoing palliative and preventative long-term care.    

Assisted living is for seniors who are mostly independent but require help with what is known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and include things like dressing, bathing and other personal care activities.  In some cases, people move into assisted living knowing that while they do not now need assistance with such tasks, they may need help in the near future.  

Assisted living also makes sense for seniors who are looking for more companionship and love the security of knowing they are not alone.  As many assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Albuquerque have an emergency call system in each suite, you can rest easy knowing help is just minutes away.   Another perk of MorningStar of Albuquerque is we offer scheduled transportation so you will never have to worry about getting to your doctor’s appointments and other important errands.  

Moreover, while MorningStar’s suites vary from studios to two-bedrooms, all our suites are smartly designed to make the most of the space they offer with high ceilings, large windows and both natural and overhead lighting.  In addition, residents often tell us what a relief it was to give up their large family homes that were hard to keep clean as well as all the maintenance required.  Residents also enjoy weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services.

Located on the northeast side of town, MorningStar of Albuquerque has wonderful mountain views and is convenient to medical facilities, shopping, and other services.  We have 48 stylish suites for assisted living and another 21 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. For more information on exceptional senior living in Albuquerque, please visit our website. 

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 Albuquerque, NM has to offer.