Routine Health Screenings Are Important for Seniors

As we age, it is important to stay up-to-date with our health care including routine screenings as many diseases do not show signs of symptoms until the problem is harder to treat. Screenings also allow your physician to compare today’s readings to past tests to look for concerning signs. However, medical experts estimate over half of all adults over 65 are not current with the recommended screenings. 

In many cases our age determines the type of screenings we should get. Some tests are recommended once a year, while others, like a colonoscopy, may be based on past test results and/or on the advice of your doctor. 

Common screenings include annual cholesterol tests to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Cholesterol tests can help “determine your risk for the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).” Your blood pressure should be checked each time you visit a healthcare professional, and if readings are high, it should be monitored. 

Mammograms are a valuable tool to help detect breast cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women 50 to 74 with an average risk of breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. For younger women and those with a higher risk, consult with your doctor. 

Other types of screenings for seniors include annual skin checks to look for signs of skin cancer and bone density tests to check for loss of tissue and bone, which might indicate early signs of osteoporosis. Eye exams are important to screen for cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Hearing tests can help seniors get the help they need if there is a problem. Talk to your doctor about which tests they recommend for you.   

MorningStar of Albuquerque is an assisted living and memory care community with a range of onsite amenities, care services, wellness programs and activities designed for relaxing, stress-free retirement years. Please contact us for more information and to set up a tour.  Not only is our staff happy to answer any questions but our website provides information on our company’s history, vision, and mission as well as what sets us apart from other senior living in Albuquerque, 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 for more information about the senior living Albuquerque offers.

Source: bethesdahealth.org/blog/2021/10/14/senior-health-screenings-promote-a-long-healthy-life/

Memory Care in Phoenix: Strategies for Supporting Seniors With Dementia

Many residents in memory care in Phoenix often struggle with the usual activities of daily living due to their underlying conditions, like dementia. It might be tough for them to keep their spaces clean, interact with others, and perform personal grooming tasks. 

Dementia is undoubtedly a stressful and serious condition, both for those afflicted with it and the people around them, but luckily, there are several strategies you can use to make seniors with dementia feel safe, secure, and loved. With that said, below are some of the best ways to support seniors with dementia who are in memory care in Phoenix:

Patience Is Key

You’ve been told many times that you must be patient with seniors who are struggling with dementia, but there’s merit to that sentiment: Seniors with memory problems, more often than not, can’t help how they feel or act. 

They tend to feel confused and might take out their frustrations on staff members or loved ones, but that is all normal from a medical perspective. That won’t make their condition any less overwhelming to deal with, unfortunately, but it adds context: Remember, your loved one likely doesn’t understand what’s going on. 

How to Handle Your Frustrations

As the lucid adult in the room, it’s your job to support your loved one or residents as best as you can. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to take some deep breaths and remove yourself from a situation should you feel overwhelmed or angry. 

Once you’ve started shifting your mindset, you may find it easier to remain patient and help seniors with dementia work through their feelings. It’s not an easy job, but it must be done. 

Implement Routine and Structure as Much as Possible

Dementia makes life confusing and difficult to navigate, so seniors in memory care in Phoenix thrive on structure and routine. The more stability they have, the better, so use consistent routines whenever possible to make things more manageable for them and yourself. 

These can include eating schedules, grooming rituals, and sets of rules for certain activities. For example, if a senior with dementia wishes to go on an outing, a common rule is that they must go with a staff member or loved one. That creates enough consistency to show them they are safe and taken care of. 

While seniors with dementia might not always respond very well to strict rules and structure, they ultimately rely on it for their well-being, so don’t skip out on consistency when caring for your loved one. 

Use Signs and Flashcards to Help Them Remember Things

The more visual cues that a senior with dementia is exposed to, the more likely they are to remember important things. You may want to label essential everyday objects like their toothbrush or walking shoes so that they don’t have to rely on their increasingly inconsistent memory. They can just read the label and go about their day. 

A Supportive Environment: Memory Care in Phoenix for Seniors With Dementia

Seniors in memory care face lots of challenges each day, but you can follow the above tips to work toward making their care less stressful for both of you.

A Comprehensive Guide to Moving to Assisted Living

Moving a senior parent or loved one to assisted living can trigger some intense feelings. While the transition may feel daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Did you know seniors can actually experience more independence and self-fulfillment in senior living communities? This is because seniors have the space and devoted time to find out who they are again. Below is a comprehensive guide to moving your parents into assisted living. You will find that this process can be easy and heartwarming with the right senior living community. 

Understand Your Loved One’s Needs 

A senior in need of assisted living care may not fully understand why they need to relocate from their home or other private residence. This adjustment can be emotional. However, open communication with your parents is necessary. Discuss the challenges your parents are facing in an understanding and respectful way. Have they been having a difficult time paying bills, stocking the fridge, or keeping up with their medications? If so, assisted living may be the best option to keep your loved one safe and healthy. 

Recognizing the Need for Independence

While it is commonly thought that seniors lose their independence in nursing homes, the opposite is actually possible with senior living communities that value seniors and their goals. In active senior living communities that offer assisted living, seniors get to experience life again and explore their passions with supervision and support. While assisted living offers medication management and caretaker help with some daily activities, MorningStar assisted living communities understand the unique needs and preferences of every senior in the community. Reaffirm to your loved one that assisted living can offer them new avenues to independence and self-discovery. 

Find Award Winning Assisted Living Near You

Contact us today if you want to know about the best senior living community with built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, and modern memory care Nevada has to offer. MorningStar Senior Living Retirement Homes in Sparks, Nevada takes care of the worry and stress of aging, allowing seniors more time to do the things they love. Whether it’s fulfilling a calling, finding a new opportunity through volunteerism, or spending time with friends and loved ones and relaxing, contact us to schedule a tour of our memory care community near you. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar 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.

Designing Dementia-Friendly Spaces: How Memory Care Environments Support Seniors

Dementia is a common condition that many older adults develop as they age. Though dementia is not rare, its symptoms can manifest differently for different people. This is why assisted living communities specifically for memory care in Phoenix will design their private and communal spaces with all kinds of dementia experiences in mind. 

What does it mean for a space to be dementia-friendly? Here are a few ways a memory care facility can help to make their residents with dementia feel more at ease and enjoy the atmosphere. 

Supporting Independence With Careful Design

Depending on how advanced an individual’s dementia is, their independence and motor skills may be significantly affected or hardly affected at all. Dementia-friendly living spaces will make it easy for residents to remain independent for as long as possible. 

This includes plenty of safety measures and visual reminders to avoid confusion or wandering. Additionally, outside spaces are secure yet inviting, allowing residents to enjoy the outdoors independently. 

Keeping Familiarity at the Forefront

Individuals with dementia can become confused easily, especially in situations that are new or different from what they’re used to. Curating a sense of familiarity for residents is important in memory care in Phoenix. Helping residents to feel comfortable in their surroundings can significantly reduce unpleasant dementia symptoms.

Since people with dementia tend to feel more comfortable in settings that remind them of their home, many memory care facilities design their spaces to feel home-like rather than having a medical or institutional feel. 

When individuals feel like they are surrounded by the comforts of home and familiar sights that they can recognize, they’re much less likely to become confused or upset. 

Preventing Overstimulation With Simplicity

A simple design is key for dementia-friendly spaces. Though they should feel like home, they shouldn’t be too visually busy or crowded with decor. Too many colors and patterns or a feeling of messiness or disorder can make older adults with dementia feel overstimulated. 

This can cause them to become upset and irritated or to wander away in search of a more comfortable place, which could be dangerous. 

Creating Areas for Quiet Relaxation

Though you can take steps to make a space as safe, familiar, and soothing as possible, overstimulation and confusion are bound to happen with residents of memory care in Phoenix. When it does, having designated places where residents can go to relax, regain their composure, and feel safe again is crucial.  

Supporting Older Adults With Carefully Curated Memory Care in Phoenix

Dementia can be a difficult reality to face, but there are so many steps memory care facilities can take to make their spaces inviting and safe. This way, symptoms can be kept to a minimum, and quality of life can greatly increase.

How to Host a Successful Holiday Gathering at an Assisted Living Community

Hosting the holidays can be tricky no matter where you are, but it can be especially challenging if you’re hosting at an assisted living community. 

So if you plan to enjoy the holidays with your family at assisted living in Phoenix, there are a few simple ways to make the experience smooth and enjoyable for everyone. Here are some tips to ensure your holiday celebration goes smoothly. 

Plan Your Menu Early

Planning the food is arguably one of the most challenging parts of any holiday celebration. After all, there’s a lot to keep track of, including family favorites, dietary restrictions, and meal preparation. So whether you’re cooking, arranging who will bring what food, or getting it all catered, make sure you put together the menu well in advance.

This way, you’ll dramatically cut back on last-minute food emergencies, and you’ll be able to enjoy the holiday more fully without worrying so much about its most stressful element.

Start Setting Up Days Before

Similarly, you should consider setting up the event area in the days leading up to the event. This may not be possible if you’re hosting the party in a communal area, but if you can, it’s one of the best ways to remove significant stress from the gathering.  

If nothing else, you can start planning how you will arrange your space. This way, if you need more tables or chairs, you’ll be able to get them early instead of figuring out another solution when there’s not enough seating on the day of the party. Plus, if you need help moving tables or chairs into their ideal configuration, you’ll have plenty of time to ask someone for help.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help

Don’t forget that help is just a phone call away from your community for assisted living in Phoenix. The highly qualified staff members at your facility are there to assist you, so reach out to them early on to find out what kind of help you might expect.

This could include moving heavy furniture to prepare for guests, planning and organizing the event, or even assisting on the day to help your guests find parking and get settled.

Create New Holiday Traditions

Holiday get-togethers at assisted living in Phoenix may have already become part of your family’s yearly tradition. However, if this is a new experience for all of you, try not to focus on any old traditions that you won’t be able to carry out this year. Instead, think of some new fun and exciting holiday traditions that make sense in your situation and that your family can experience together.

Enjoy the Holidays in Your Assisted Living Facility 

The holiday season should be fun, easy, and enjoyable. So reduce the stress of holiday hosting by planning ahead and asking for the help you need at assisted living in Phoenix.

4 Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors Living in Retirement Communities

Everyone knows how important it is to follow a healthy diet. But what many people forget is that it’s even more important for seniors to eat healthily, especially in retirement communities. So where do you start? How do you make the most of what your program has to offer? 

Thankfully, many retirement communities in Phoenix have premium nutrition services and healthy dining options. Use this as a guide to learn the best tips for healthy eating after retirement.

1. Load Up on Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain anti-inflammatory antioxidants that help combat tissue damage. This is key when it comes to aging gracefully and maintaining good brain health. 

So load your plate with colorful fruits and veggies every time you eat to make the most of your meals. While indulging in treats is okay occasionally, you should strongly focus on getting your fruits and vegetables each day. 

2. Make Healthy Eating Fun and Enjoyable

While they may have a reputation for being particularly healthy choices, you don’t have to force down Brussels sprouts or spinach if you don’t like them. Healthy eating can still be enjoyable and tasty. For example, if you find out which whole grains, vegetables, and fruits you like the best, you can add them to your meals each day. 

Learn which ingredients make you feel the most satisfied while still delighting your taste buds. Opt for dishes with flavors and textures that bring you happiness instead of making you feel restricted. This way, you’re more likely to stick to a healthy diet.

3. Watch Out for Hidden Sugar 

Some foods and drinks contain a surprising amount of hidden sugars that are damaging to your mental and physical health. So always ask for a menu that includes ingredients if you have diabetes or are sensitive to blood sugar spikes. 

Some foods and drinks that contain more sugar than you’d think include:

• Juice

• Coffee creamer

• Granola bars

• Breakfast cereals

• Packaged fruits

• Salad dressings

• Sweet and savory sauces

If you know what to look out for, you can avoid consuming too much sugar and protect your long-term health. 

4. Research the Community’s Dining Options

Retirement communities in Phoenix offer a wide range of dining options, from cafeteria-style meals to independent restaurants onsite. You may already have settled into a routine in your community, but you may not be aware of all the available options that can help you maintain good health. 

You might even have access to extra services like nutrition counseling. If so, find out how to sign up and get expert meal guidance.

Eating Healthy for Seniors Made Easy

Keep these tips in mind, and you can do a better job of eating right and aging gracefully while living in one of the retirement communities in Phoenix. Finally, as you navigate your new post-retirement eating habits, remember that most things can be enjoyed in moderation.

The Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet for Seniors in Assisted Living

The Mediterranean diet is argued to be the healthiest diet in the world. With its long-trusted benefits, this diet can be beneficial for seniors in assisted living who require a little extra health attention. The variety within the Mediterranean diet keeps seniors satisfied and interested, meaning they will have more energy to explore all that their senior living community has to offer.

Keep reading to explore the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for seniors in assisted living.

Heart Health

The Mediterranean diet is full of healthy fat and protein from fish, chicken, and legumes. These foods offer great heart health benefits, especially to seniors. Fish, like salmon and mackerel, contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 Fatty Acids offer numerous heart-protective benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and reducing artery inflammation.

You can find executive chefs at MorningStar Senior Living. These chefs are dedicated to producing the healthiest options senior living in Nevada has to offer. For seniors in assisted living, monitoring heart health, on top of others, is extremely important.

Weight Management

Whole foods make up the Mediterranean diet. This means people eating this lifestyle diet consume little to no processed foods or fast food. It can be complicated for seniors who need assisted living care and who live alone to eat a whole-food diet. They may forget about buying groceries, feel discouraged in cooking their own meals, and may heavily rely on take-out and fast food. This may lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight. Finding an assisted living community that prioritizes seniors’ health and wellness by implementing diets and lifestyle changes to help seniors live healthier lives.

Find Award Winning Assisted Living Near You

Contact us today if you want to know about the best senior living community with built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, and modern memory care Nevada has to offer. MorningStar Senior Living Retirement Homes in Sparks, Nevada takes care of the worry and stress of aging, allowing seniors more time to do the things they love. Whether it’s fulfilling a calling, finding a new opportunity through volunteerism, or spending time with friends and loved ones and relaxing, contact us to schedule a tour of our memory care community near you.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar 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.