We have all gone through the ups and downs of dealing with a pandemic over the last 8 months or so. Just when we think things are getting better, your community has a resurgence of COVID or your family is struggling with a job loss or other problems. Experts say this is why it is important to keep ourselves mentally fit and to remember that constant stress can also have an impact on our physical health. Stress is linked to a wide range of health problems including heart disease as well as affects our mood, sleep and appetite.
An article by Harvard Medical Publishing says doctors are not sure exactly how chronic stress affects the heart but speculate it may likely trigger inflammation, which is a “known instigator of heart disease.” While we may not fully understand the role stress plays in our health, doctors say we do know that stress can cause people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease including poor eating habits and a lack of energy for healthy habits such as exercising. It is also believed that not handling stress well can lead to other unhealthy heart behaviors like drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs, and smoking. The article suggests a few changes in our way of thinking may help individuals deal with stress better. The first piece of advice is to stay positive and to find ways to add laughter into your life. “Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries, and increase "good" HDL cholesterol.” Other tips include practicing meditation and exercising. Both help reduce blood pressure and stress. Another key suggestion is to unplug and escape from the world for a period of time each day. Do something that gives you pleasure such as listen to music, take a warm bath or work on a hobby. Another good way to reduce stress is to get out and enjoy nature. MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior living with a unique 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting. Visit our website for pricing and availability at the most trusted independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO offers. Source: health.harvard.edu/heart-health/5-ways-to-de-stress-and-help-your-heart
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To provide the utmost comfort, wellness and community to all of our residents, MorningStar of Arvada not only provides resort-style amenities, life enrichment programs, and a full range of care services but also has a staff that feels it is a privilege to serve seniors. This has helped us to distinguish ourselves from other senior living communities and to create a sense of family and a true home for our residents.
Each MorningStar of Arvada’s employee is hired for their character and kindness and is the type of person who will routinely go the extra mile to meet our residents expressed needs as well as unexpressed ones; and understand that senior living at its best is love in action. From our care managers to management, concierges, food servers, nurses and others, our team makes a point to get to know our residents and love hearing their fascinating life stories. When a team member is hired, regardless of position, they receive training in Radiance, our service excellence initiative that is much more than a customer service program but rather an attitude of the heart. Radiance guides the way we dispense our service - with sincerity, depth of purpose, and warmth. While visiting our website, also take a look at the video series we call Twice the Story. Showcasing the tender relationships that spring up between residents and team members throughout MorningStar communities, it testifies to the fact that we need to lean upon and lean into each other regardless of where we are in life and what our differences may be. Our beautiful community offers lots of choices for seniors interested in independent living or assisted living with 112 bright suites that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. We also provide 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Please visit our website for contact information and to learn about availability and pricing. MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior living with a unique 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting. Visit our website for more information on the area’s most compassionate assisted living and memory care as well as independent living in Arvada, CO. Along with assisted living, Beaverton, Oregon’s MorningStar community offers 38 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to accommodate the needs of our residents and encourages and supports their independence while keeping them safe.
Our holistic approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia. Providing loving support for our residents, we enter with insight and intentionality as we step into their “purple world” and cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. We also embrace the world of dementia, which begins with accepting the diagnosis, as difficult as this can be. Utilizing MorningStar’s extensive experience, we have developed a deep understanding of the brain disease, regardless of the type of dementia, and embrace the changes needed to ensure the finest care. This includes embracing our own communication style to calm or stimulate and physically embracing our tender residents as we recognize the power of touch. However most importantly, we embrace hope. Lavender Sky’s last component is exploration, and is approached each day with a wide range of purposeful, individualized solutions. Acknowledging that the essence of the person lies beneath the fog of the disease, we explore a person’s life, history and preferences to create a personalized care plan. At MorningStar of Beaverton, we also feel it is our job to help support our residents’ families. Along with education, we show them how to follow our lead and enter into the world of their loved ones. Please contact us for more information about our experienced, compassionate memory care. MorningStar of Beaverton’s mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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, we provide the finest memory care and assisted living Beaverton, Oregon offers. At MorningStar of Beaverton, we not only provide some of the best assisted living Beaverton Oregon offers, but also experienced memory care. Our Reflections Neighborhood has 38 secure memory care suites dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. MorningStar’s compassionate team expertly provides the care your loved one requires for their utmost comfort, wellness and safety.
Our holistic approach to memory care is done through our program 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 of 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. Through Lavender Sky, our caregivers thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the “purple world” of dementia as they crossover the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. By exploring each of our residents’ life stories including their history and preferences, we create an individualized care plan. We also involve and engage family members in how to follow our lead. Please visit our website for more information regarding experienced, compassionate memory care. We do not consider serving our memory care residents to be depressing but rather offer hope to families as we strive to find ways to elevate and celebrate each resident’s life. We look forward to meeting you. MorningStar of Beaverton’s mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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, we provide the finest memory care and assisted living Beaverton Oregon has to offer. There are many misconceptions about the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. As traumatizing as it is for a family to learn a loved one has Alzheimer’s, it is also important to sort through the various truths and myths regarding the disease.
One mistake many people make when they or a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is to think their life is over. In reality, a person can live a productive life for many years. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is important and should include a nutrient-rich diet and routine exercise. Experts also note it is important to stay socially connected and engage in activities that challenge the brain. As medication is more helpful in the earlier stages, getting a proper diagnosis is vital. People also fear that if a parent had Alzheimer’s, they will get it. The facts are that “familiar Alzheimer’s disease accounts for less than 5% of all cases of Alzheimer’s disease.” Furthermore, remember Alzheimer’s is not only a disease of the elderly. While there are many fewer cases, it does occur in people as young as their 40s and 50s. Another common myth is the belief that dental amalgam fillings containing a small amount of mercury caused the disease. Studies have shown no such correlation between the two. Others believe aluminum pans are responsible, and while a few studies suggest a small possibility, most experts think the link is questionable. Some people think memory loss is a natural progression of aging, but the truth is while many of us experience some decline in memory, if the loss is disrupting your day-to-day life, you need to see a healthcare provider. Another thing to remember is a diagnosis of dementia is not necessarily better than being told a person has Alzheimer’s, it is just another form of the disease. At MorningStar of Beaverton, an assisted living facility in the Portland, OR area, we provide compassionate and loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We take a holistic approach to memory care that is individualized and encompasses the whole person. Please visit our website for more information. MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility. Sources: alz.org/news/2018/senate-takes-bold-steps-in-fight-against-alzheimer alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Myth-and-reality-about-Alzheimer-s-disease Many people think they rather not know if they will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease in the future. However medical experts say that not knowing causes a delay in available treatments that are most effective in the earliest stages of the disease or before the onset of symptoms begin. Moreover up until now most people had to wait months and sometimes up to a year or more to get a diagnosis; and even then, a true Alzheimer’s diagnosis wasn’t possible until brain tissue was examined during an autopsy. Instead doctors used a “series of cognitive tests, brain imaging scans, and bloodwork to help them rule out other conditions and make an educated guess.”
Now JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), published an extensive article at the end of July regarding a ground-breaking new blood test that was presented at this years Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020. Researcher explain that the test identifies the protein ptau-2017, a biomarker for Alzheimer’s, and has had results that beat out several other biomarkers scientists have currently be testing for. In fact Jessica Caldwell, PhD, the director of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention Center at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, says, “This test is predicting which people have Alzheimer’s dementia at 96 percent accuracy, and also predicts who has brain amyloid among people who have no memory problems at 90 percent accuracy. This is really remarkable!” Doctors say with better testing that we might be able to lessen the severity of the disease with earlier interventions. And while the test is not available yet to doctors, experts say it is as a big step toward learning more about the disease and getting closer to a cure. In the meantime, if you feel you are having memory problems, talk to your doctor about it. MorningStar at Golden Ridge’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. We are in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Peoria, AZ. Source: wellandgood.com/blood-test-alzheimers-disease/ Along with dealing with a pandemic and seeing to the wellbeing and safety of our residents, their families, and team members, while keeping the day-to-day operations of a senior living community going, our management team has been pretty busy! And we could not be any prouder of their commitment to supporting our MorningStar family.
Starting at the top, our Executive Director of MorningStar of Arvada’s gorgeous community, Cheryl Davis, is committed to maintaining a culture that not only serves, but leads with kindness, honesty, love and humility. To assist her, she looks for individuals who radiate these qualities and are united in their efforts to build genuine, loving relationships. Cheryl explains it has paid off big time as MorningStar has assembled an amazing team of people who truly provide the most genuine, loving care possible. Jen Weinrauch, our Wellness Director, says she owes everything to her grandparents and great-grandparents that not only raised her but taught her the value of family and hard work. While this is Jen’s first preventative medicine nursing position, she loves it more than she thought possible. It may be because she says she has never worked for a company that encourages team members to develop real affection and lasting friendships with its residents. Rounding out our management team is John Bachofer, our Director of Community Relations. John first worked in assisted living as a part-time job while he was in EMT school and was immediately hooked by the magnitude of need, the powerful sense of family, and the big difference he could make in so many lives. Also he realized early-on that seniors were teaching him so much including humility, loyalty, discipline, honor and character. John says while some of our residents share stories that may sound like fiction, one look into their eyes and you know the stories are true. MorningStar of Arvada offers all-inclusive independent living, assisted living and memory care. Through a whole range of resort-style amenities and Life Enrichment programs, our residents lead a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and security. Please visit our website to learn more about our community and our commitment to serving others. MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior living with a unique 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting. Visit our website for more information on the area’s most trusted independent living, assisted living and memory care in Arvada, CO. MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Beaverton was designed to create a true home for our residents and provide a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. From the moment you walk through the door, you are sure to be impressed by our beautiful architecture and inviting common areas including an art studio, bistro fireside library, courtyards, and sunrooms.
Along with our compassionate care services, resort-style amenities, and wellness programs, residents have a choice of smart floor plans that are sure to meet a variety of preferences and needs. Within our 66 assisted living suites, we offer floor plans that include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations with some over 950 sq. ft. You will find all of our suites have lots of lighting, high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting and mini blinds and all that is missing to make it home is your own furnishings and personal items. Each suite is equipped with a kitchenette with a full apartment refrigerator, a handicap-accessible bathroom, a 24-hour emergency call system, and a private heating & air conditioning system. For added convenience, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites include a washer and dryer. Your monthly fee includes cable TV and utilities, weekly housekeeping and laundry and linen services. We do trash removal and spot cleaning daily. Moreover, if you are wondering, we are pet friendly! Currently we are safely accepting new residents, and are confident in our protocols and procedures in fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19). As the nation slowly reopens, MorningStar of Beaverton is judiciously following Oregon’s guidance in terms of phasing and pacing. We continue to stay abreast of developments and evaluate best practices and innovations in our services to seniors. Please visit our website to view stunning photos and for more information about the finest assisted living Beaverton Oregon has to offer. In addition to assisted living, we have 38 secure suites devoted to the care of those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Beaverton Oregon offers. Experts say while many people think snoring is related to sleep apnea, actually up to one-half of all adults snore but only 2 to 4 percent of snorers have the sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In fact there are several reasons why your spouse is keeping you up half the night with his/her snoring. And yes, even though many people think women do not snore, the truth is that although more men snore, one in four women snore at least a few times a week. Pregnancy and menopause can make it worse.
The Mayo Clinic explains that snoring is cause by a number of things including growing older. When a person snores, their throat muscles and tongue relax and start to vibrate as they breathe. Sleeping on your back (side sleepers are less likely to snore), being overweight, or consuming too much alcohol before bed makes a person more likely to snore. Having a mouth with a low, thick soft palate, and an array of nasal problems like chronic congestion and a deviated nasal septum also causes snoring. The use of sleeping pills worsens snoring as the mouth relaxes even more. The Mayo Clinic cautions that OSA is a serious condition and if you have any of the following symptoms you should see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. These include breathing pauses during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, restless sleep, gasping or choking at night among others. Also it could be a sign of OSA if your snoring is excessively loud followed by periods of silence as breathing stops or nearly stops. The MorningStar of Arvada senior living community offers carefree retirement years with 112 bright independent living and assisted living suites in various configurations including spacious studios and one- and two-bedroom floor plans. For those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia-related diseases, we provide 29 secure memory care staffed by a team of dementia care specialists who truly understand the disease. Please visit our website for availability and pricing, and read our protocols for dealing with COVID-19 and how we are safely accepting new residents into our beautiful community. MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior living with a unique 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting. Visit our website to learn more about unsurpassed independent living and assisted living as well as memory care in Arvada, CO. Several studies indicate life-long learning is good for seniors’ brain health and starting a new hobby or learning a skill late in life can help to boost a person’s memory. In one study from the University of Texas at Dallas, researchers found that older adults “who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills.” They theorize that when seniors mentally challenge themselves with new skills such as playing an instrument, learning to operate a computer, or being taught to quilt, networks within the brain are being strengthened.
Neurologists in another study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland discovered that a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings suggest that older adults who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts millions of Americans. Other research out of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School appear to support these findings. Their study relied on interviews as well as brain scans of participants, and findings indicate that seniors who have had a higher level of intellectual stimulation throughout the course of their lives, showed a marked delay in the onset of memory-related problems and other Alzheimer’s type symptoms. At MorningStar of Beaverton, we believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless, and feel it is our privilege to provide seniors an environment where they can be productive and engaged. Our Life Enrichment Team presents creative ways to stay active and enhance health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection. While we had to temporarily suspend group activities due to the coronavirus, as the nation slowly reopens, MorningStar is carefully following suit with each state’s phasing and pacing where our communities are located. Please visit the photo gallery on our website to see why when we say MorningStar of Beaverton is more like a resort community than an assisted living facility, we are not exaggerating. MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility. |
At MorningStar Senior Living we strive to create a true home where you can enjoy your retirement years as carefree as possible. Offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, our care team is committed to giving residents a quality of life that other senior living communities simply cannot match. Archives
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