Tips to Help Make Assisted Living More Affordable

When we open in the spring of 2019, MorningStar of Rio Rancho will proudly offer the best senior housing in Rio Rancho. Our beautiful 70,863-square-foot community is situated on a 5.5-acre lot and has 51 private assisted living suites as well as 26 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

For residents in assisted living, your monthly fee is based on the size of the suite, location within the building and view, and your level of care (we offer 5 levels) as determined by a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director. The fee for memory care residents is all-inclusive (suite and care) and is one packaged price. 

To help families find ways to make assisted living more affordable, we provide information on a variety of innovative financial options and other often under-used benefits. One such example is to make veterans aware of the “Aid & Attendance” pension benefit. We refer them to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs where they can find out if they qualify. 

Another resource to help pay for assisted living is Long-term Care insurance. To see what expenses, and/or up to what amounts, will be covered under your policy, review your Benefits Summary section to learn about the specifics of coverage, daily benefit, policy limit, and elimination period. 

Many people also overlook life insurance policies as a source for funds. However in some cases, whole life and universal life policies can be used to raise funds through cash surrender, death benefit loans and other means. We recommend consulting your accountant or tax advisor for information on any tax liabilities you may incur. 

Furthermore be sure to ask about MorningStar of Rio Rancho’s Founders Club savings of up to $5,000 (available for a limited time only). Please stop by our onsite Information center at the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road or give us a call. We look forward to meeting potential residents and their families.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. Opening in spring of 2019, we invite you to visit our Information Center to learn more about compassionate assisted living and memory care in Rio Rancho, NM.

Good Balance Can Help Prevent Falls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest statistics show that one in four Americans aged 65 years and older falls each year. The result is that “every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.”

While these are worrisome facts, experts say there are some simple exercises seniors can do to help prevent falls and maintain their independence. Remember a common injury caused by an elderly person falling is a hip fracture that can seriously impact their life. 

Most balance exercises are easy to learn and do, do not require special equipment or a trip to the gym, and can be done anywhere. The Mayo Clinic explains that while many exercises including walking can help maintain good balance, there are specific exercises targeted at improving a senior’s balance and stability. They do caution however that if you have severe balance problems or an orthopedic condition, to get your doctor's okay before starting balance exercises.

Examples of balance exercises include: standing on one foot, walking heel to toe, back leg raises, and side leg raises. To do the standing on one foot exercise, stand behind a sturdy chair; gripping for balance, lift one foot off the floor. Hold for 10 seconds and then repeat with the opposite legs. Repeat the exercise several times and increase the repetition as your strength increases. 

Walking heel to toe is done by positioning the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot. Your heel and toes should be touching. Now select a spot ahead of you and focus on it to help keep you steady as you walk. Try to step forward for as many as 20 steps. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider for other balance exercises.

As one of the area’s top assisted living facilities, MorningStar of Rio Rancho will offer exercise classes to improve balance, strengthen muscles, and increase joint flexibility. Our various enrichment activities and wellness programs are designed to enhance and support our residents’ physical, mental, spiritual and social connections. Please visit our website to learn more about loving, luxurious senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM. 

This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any exercises. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. Opening to residents in the spring of 2019, we invite you to tour our model suites to see firsthand what exceptional senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM looks like. 

Source: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/balance-exercises/sls-20076853

Assisted Living that Offers Unique Ways to Stay Active & Connected

MorningStar of Happy Valley is a gorgeous new assisted living community scheduled to open at the end of 2019. Our entire community is being designed from the ground up to fulfill the various needs of residents in terms of care services, fine dining, and stimulating activities and programs. To ensure residents stay connected and informed, we offer community-wide wireless Internet service, a library equipped with a computer, a chapel/theatre with Wii, and the revolutionary “It’s Never 2 Late” technology. 

iN2L is a state-of-the-art engagement system that combines touchscreen computers with intuitive, picture-based software to provide a fun and easy way for older adults to stay active and connected. Its library is filled with 3,000 areas of interest and is designed to allow a person to effortlessly use a computer regardless of background and physical or intellectual abilities and limitations. Topics covered include engaging social and spiritual connections as well as intellectual and physical stimulation, emotional support and vocational interests. 

Another exciting way to interact with iN2L is to create a “My Page, which is your personal collection of favorite games, email addresses, family photos and your most frequently, visited websites. In this space you can share your history, receive updates and photos from family members, and connect with loved ones through a web cam. 

The iN2L system also has specialized engagement tools for seniors dealing with dementia and other cognitive disorders. A range of programs and games have been specially designed by the experts with the goal to reduce anxiety, engage to refocus, entertain to redirect, or stimulate reminiscing conversations. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley will offer 61 private assisted living suites as well as 27 secure memory care suites for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our parent company, MorningStar Senior Living has senior living communities throughout the Western U.S. including the recently opened MorningStar of Beaverton. Please visit our website for contact information or directions to our onsite Information Center.

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. As one of the top senior living communities in the area, we invite you to contact us or visit our onsite Information Center.

Alternative Medication-free Treatments for Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s Disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and up until recently offered few options in terms of treatment. Typical treatments included prescription drugs to help alleviate symptoms and/or a special device implanted in patients, used to help control tremors. 

However since Parkinson’s affects the whole body, doctors and researchers have been looking at different complementary and alternative methods to treat the many symptoms of the disease. The U.S. News and World Report recently published an article describing some of those different methods of treatment. 

As Parkinson’s occurs when dopamine-producing cells in the brain stem die off, doctors say exercise is key to managing some of the effects of Parkinson’s. Dr. Dean Sutherland, a neurologist and Parkinson’s disease specialist in Sarasota, Florida, explains, “Exercise releases dopamine into the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by taking medication. That helps with motor issues like stiffness, tremors and muscle freezing.”

Other activities that appear to help patients with Parkinson’s Disease include massage therapy to help alleviate stiffness and pain; and acupuncture, which helps some people reduce tremors and also relieves stiff muscles and pain. Physical therapy appears to help patients improve balance and gait as well as flexibility. There are even programs specifically targeted to Parkinson’s patients that focus on teaching them to take bigger steps to avoid common walking problems such as shuffling. 

In addition people with Parkinson’s are discovering that alternative treatments such as singing can help improve voice volume, which in turn, can improve their social interactions. When you can control the volume of your voice to be heard by others, you are more likely to feel comfortable interacting socially. Another thing proving to be helpful to people with balance problems is aqua therapy. Parkinson’s patients have found that being in the water gives them the freedom to move about with the fear of falling. And finally as swallowing can become difficult for some people with Parkinson’s, swallowing therapy is also recommended. 

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our assisted living community will offer a wide range of care services including physical, occupational, respiratory, speech, and massage therapy. Scheduled to open late this year, we will offer 61 suites for assisted living and 27 suites dedicated to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Please visit our website for more.

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Opening at the end of the year, we proudly bring to the area one of the most loving senior living communities. 

Source: health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2019-01-11/medication-free-ways-to-treat-parkinsons-disease

Holiday Gifts for Seniors

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are stumped as to what to buy for an elderly parent and other senior loved ones. Experts suggest you keep in mind they most likely they do not need a lot of “things” but would appreciate something that helps to make their lives easier and/or more enjoyable. 

In fact, do not limit yourself to the idea that gifts have to be something new. Many seniors enjoy getting out and taking them to an activity they love such as a sport’s game (maybe a game of their grandchild’s), a play, or concert is quality time spent together. Another idea is to give them a series of gift certificates for a year’s worth of monthly dinners out with you or for things like haircuts, manicures, a spa day with massage, or even ride services. 

As many elderly adults get cold easily, a comfy, soft throw blanket makes for a good gift. Another thoughtful gift especially for someone with Alzheimer’s is a customized photo blanket. They can be order through several large retailers and are not too expensive. If your parent is a music lover, expand their collection with popular songs from their younger days, and if they don’t already have one, buy them a portable boom box that is easy to use. 

Another gift idea is to get them a phone or simplified tablet that will let them facetime, enjoy family photos, and browse the Internet. Gift baskets filled with favorite foods or new soaps and lotions, non-skid soled slippers or compression socks also are appreciated by seniors. Other ideas include large-print playing cards, puzzles, and adult coloring books with a new set of markers are also fun gifts for seniors. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. Opening in the spring of 2019, we invite you to visit our Information Center to learn more compassionate senior housing in Rio Rancho.

February is American Heart Month

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion state that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women (1 in 4 deaths) in the U.S. The organization is committed to helping people lead heart healthy lives by raising awareness and spreading strategies for preventing the disease. 

Some of their suggestions for prevention include small lifestyle changes such as flavoring food with spices rather than using salt as well as adopting overall healthier eating habits. They recommend staying active (or get active) and maintaining a healthy weight. Also to control cholesterol and blood pressure levels. If you smoke, quit and avoid secondhand smoke. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. Also it is important to manage stress. 

Remember you are at a greater risk for heart disease if you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, are overweight or obese, and are not exercising and following a healthy diet. Genetics may also put you at a higher risk as well as your age. If you had a father or brother with heart disease before age 55 or a mother with the disease before 65, it may indicate a family history. 

The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease. This causes the coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart to become blocked by cholesterol and plaque buildup. Chest pains or a heart attack are a sign of a blocked artery. 

Once the MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living and memory care community opens this spring, residents will be treated to delicious, nutritional meals prepared largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients. In addition they will have a range of wellness programs and activities that support and enhance physical, mental, and spiritual health. As the area’s premier assisted living facilities, we invite you to visit our beautiful model suites. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. Please visit our Information Center and ask for a tour of our stylish model suites to get an idea of high quality senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM. 

Source: healthfinder.gov

How to Help Your Parent Transition into Assisted Living

While we recognize the many benefits of assisted living communities, any change is difficult and moving into assisted living is certainly a big change for most seniors. This is why experts have tips to help families support their loved one during the transition. 

A couple of common problems families encounter are a parent feeling abandoned or frustrated by a perceived loss of independence. Your loved one may also experience problems adjusting to a new routine. They may resent having to downsize and moving from their own home to a smaller apartment. 

Psychologist Dr. Deborah L. Stote explains it will help seniors adjust to their new home if they get encouragement and support from their family during their first days and weeks at the assisted living community. She says seniors “need positive reassurance that they are moving into a new chapter of their lives, rather than ending the life they have always known.” However, Dr. Stote cautions families not to do too much “handholding.” Being too protective can be counterproductive and prevent them from trying to make an adjustment to their new home. 

While transitioning to assisted living can be difficult for some seniors, others quickly realize the advantage of no longer having to worry about their homes’ upkeep or needing to prepare their own meals. Their earlier feelings of resentment or sadness turn into feelings of gratitude as they understand their new home is better equipped to help them maintain their independence and can give them the support and care they need. 

The MorningStar of Happy Valley assisted living and memory care community is scheduled to open in late 2019 and looks forward to filling the niche in the area for luxury senior living. Our staff will be comprised of individuals who feel it is a privilege to serve and consider seniors to be heroes. Also our onsite Information Center is now open and we look forward to meeting potential residents and their families. Please visit our website for contact information and directions to our community. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us to learn more about one of the top senior living communities in Happy Valley. 

Source: assistedliving.com/helping-elderly-aging-parents-adjust-senior-living-01112013/

Our Leadership Team is Ready to Go!

MorningStar of Rio Rancho, the area’s newest senior housing in Rio Rancho, is designed by the award-winning senior living interior specialist, Thoma-Holec Design. However, while we focused on meeting residents’ needs with our gorgeous physical structure, we have also put in place a leadership team that is as professional as they are compassionate. 

Ms. Shannon Barker has been appointed as our Executive Director and will lead our mission of honoring God in our business practices and relationships, valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals, and investing in our team members’ ability to serve well. Shannon recounts how seniors dramatically changed her life and believes them to be the most valued people in our society. She explains that, “To care for those who once cared for me is one of the highest honors. While science and technology have radically changed our world, some of life’s lessons do not change from generation to generation.” She says seniors have decades of experience to share, and she enjoys unlocking that knowledge.

To head up Community Relations, Director Patty Campbell brings fifteen years of experience in community health programs. She relates how her sweet grandma Pearl taught her the importance of always looking for the joy and happiness in any situation. As Patty’s beloved grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, she explains that “MorningStar’s holistic approach through Lavender Sky to thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore with the memory-impaired is why I feel blessed to join the MorningStar family.”

Opening in the spring of 2019, we offer 51 stylish, private assisted living suites in a variety of configurations including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans. We also have 26 secure suites dedicated to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. If you would like to learn more, please give us a call or stop by our Information Center at the northwest corner of Westside Boulevard and Golf Course Road. Additionally ask about our Founders Club Benefit savings of up to $5,000 available for a limited time.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. We will open to residents in the spring of 2019, but in the meantime, visit our Information Center for more information on the finest senior housing in Rio Rancho.

Everyday Tips to Help You Stay Your Healthiest Best as You Age

As we grow older, experts say there are some relatively simple changes we can do to help make the process smoother, and remind us it is never too late to adopt healthier habits. They suggest four main areas to focus on that will make a difference in our overall health. 

First, multiple studies have shown that taking care of our emotional health is important. Many older adults suffer from chronic health conditions (80% have at least one and 50% have two or more) including heart disease or cancer, which can put seniors at risk for depression. When a person’s emotional health suffers, it can negatively impact other aspects of their health. In fact research shows a link between depression and social isolation to “digestive problems, heart failure and weakened immune systems.” Thus it is important for seniors to reach out for help if they feel depressed and to participate in activities that give their lives purpose and maintain or develop social connections. 

The next area to focus on is exercise. Experts say we should look at exercise as more than a way to get stronger and/or to lose weight. Exercise provides a whole range of benefits including helping to boost immunity and preventing muscle loss, as well as improving blood flow and strengthening the brain. 

Another suggestion is to take better care of our hair and skin. Good skin care can help to avoid infections and should include washing with a mild soap while taking care not to “over wash” and moisturizing daily. Also apply sun screen whenever you go outdoors. 

The last area to focus on for better health is nutrition. Did you know that millions of seniors suffer from malnutrition? One of the problems facing the elderly is that as we age, appetites decrease so getting all the nutrients the body requires is challenging. Seniors need to keep in mind that it is not just about how much you eat but what you eat. One thing that appears to help seniors eat better is to make eating a social affair. 

At the MorningStar of Rio Rancho assisted living and memory care community, we make this easy as residents eat nutritional, tasty meals together in our charming dining room. We provide seniors the opportunity to socialize as much as they want by participating in group enrichment activities and wellness programs that stimulate the mind, body and spirit. Please visit our website for more details on the best senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, 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 in a beautiful setting. Please setup an appointment to visit our model suites to a firsthand look at one of the finest assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho, NM. 

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/how-to-make-a-daily-healthy-aging-routine/

Assisted Living May Help Keep You Healthier & Safer

Since most assisted living communities offer access to 24-hour personal care, along with nutrition and wellness services targeted specifically for the needs of older adults, they may present healthier, safer options for some seniors so says A Place for Mom. Residents are able to enjoy healthy social connections as well as peace of mind knowing the support they need to help maintain their independence is available 24/7. 

In fact new research suggests that the support services and programs provided by assisted living communities help seniors to avoid many of the mishaps and problems that are commonplace in the elderly. One such problem way too common in seniors it failing to take medication as prescribed. Skipped doses or too much medication can result in deadly consequences. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that up to 55 percent of older adults are “non-complaint” with their prescription drugs orders, and many are hospitalized each year due to adverse reactions. 

Dehydration is another commonplace problem experienced by the elderly. As we age, our sense of thirst diminishes, which means older adults need to remember to drink even when they are not thirsty. Also some medications may be diuretic, while others cause a person to sweat more, which can result in dehydration. 

In addition poor nutrition is one more problem many seniors face. Some research even suggests loneliness is a significant predictor of malnutrition in the elderly. It can be difficult for older adults who live alone to prepare good, nutritional meals or for their loved ones to supervise daily eating habits. 

At senior living communities such as MorningStar of Happy Valley, we provide the support services and physical environment to help older adults live as comfortably and as safely as possible. All of our assisted living suites are equipped with full handicap-accessible bathrooms. Furthermore residents are served three, delicious meals a day tailored to the changing health needs of older adults. Also we provide 24/7 Care Managers, licensed nurses, scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations and Care Plan reviews, and medication management by Certified Med Care Managers. For more information, please see or website or visit our onsite Information Center. We are scheduled to open in late 2019. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us for more information about one of the area’s best senior living communities. 

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/social-life-for-seniors-why-assisted-living-is-better/

Our Leadership Team is Setting the Bar for Extraordinary Care

As one of the area’s most distinctive senior living communities, MorningStar of Happy Valley will offer a ‘true home’ to area seniors in need of assisted living and memory care. Our community is scheduled to open in late 2019 and is conveniently located three miles from Interstate 205 to the southeast of Portland. 

Set within a picturesque, affluent residential neighborhood, we are pleased to bring our dedicated, loving care to the area. To set the tone for our unwavering commitment to residents, MorningStar of Happy Valley already has an extraordinary leadership team in place. Headed up by Executive Director, Quinn Crandall, who says while growing up, he always empathized with those around him that were weaker and more vulnerable and went out of give way to give love and encouragement. As a young man, his work background included working with inner city youths. Once he discovered the world of senior living, he immediately knew it was a good fit for his service. He quickly discovered that nothing gives him more satisfaction than being able to meet the needs of seniors. 

Another critical component to Happy Valley’s leadership team is Julie O’Neil, our Director of Community Relations. She shares that she always enjoyed spending time with her grandparents and appreciated the way they taught her at a young age to respect and love others, act with kindness, and learn to laugh – even at yourself. Julie loves working for a company like MorningStar that espouses the same value that she learned from her elders growing up – honoring God, valuing seniors, and serving others.

Now that our onsite Information Center is open, we look forward to meeting area seniors and their families. Please visit our website for contact information and directions to what is sure to be one of the area’s finest senior living communities. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “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 are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living in Happy Valley.

Individualized Care from Dementia Care Specialists

It is hard to believe MorningStar at Englefield Green recently celebrated our first-year anniversary as it seems like yesterday that we were opening our doors to welcome residents to their new home.  During the past year, we have been proud to bring the Boise, Idaho area specialized dementia care designed to connect with and nurture the individual regardless of the extent of the memory loss.  Furthermore our unique community was designed to allow residents the freedom to explore their expansive surroundings safely and easily.  

When a family comes to MorningStar at Englefield Green looking for care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, our experienced team is ready to help.  Even before we welcome a new resident to our loving community, we take the time to sit down with them and their family to learn as much as we can about the person including their medical history, background, talents, and personal preferences.  We then use this information to create an individualized care plan that is used to stimulate or calm a resident in response to a particular mood or situation.

Also we use a reimagined philosophy and approach to dementia care we call “Lavender Sky, which we consider to be the next logical step to what MorningStar has always believed and aspired to be as dementia care specialists.  The comprehensive program allows us to introduce a more insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  Moreover as it guides every aspects of our dementia care, all team members (regardless of the positions they hold at Englefield) are asked to attend eight-hours of interactive Lavender Sky training to help give them a better understanding of the disease. MorningStar at Englefield Green feels privileged to offer area families trusted dementia care.  Our community has 50 secure suites in a variety of floor plans for both permanent and short-term residents.  Please contact us to learn more about one of Boise’s most loving, experienced Alzheimer’s care homes.  

MorningStar at Englefield Green embodies the very best in senior living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” that sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting.  Your loved one deserves compassionate dementia care.