MorningStar Offers Trusted Memory Care in Colorado Springs

For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, MorningStar at Bear Creek provides care from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  While a secure building, our community encourages independence with clear wayfinding and inviting common areas including two spacious living rooms, a gathering room with a double-sided hearth and aquarium, bistro, courtyards, patios and strolling paths.

Suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. For residents’ safety, suites are equipped with emergency call systems and handicap-accessible bathrooms with walk-in tubs. Other amenities include housekeeping and laundry services as well as scheduled transportation for doctor’s appointments and special outings. 

All MorningStar team members are trained in our “Lavender Sky” program that encompasses our philosophy and approach to memory care.  This training gives employees a better understanding of the disease and more tools for effective, compassionate care. In addition, residents receive daily health monitoring with access to licensed nurses and other third-party service providers.

Meals are served family-style, and tasty as well as nutritional. Many foods are easily eaten with fingers to accommodate those who may have trouble using a fork and knife. In addition, our wellness programs keep residents purposefully engaged and leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy and animals to heal and comfort whatever the extent of memory loss.

Once a family decides MorningStar is a good fit, we start the process to learn as much as we can about your loved one’s background, talents and personal preferences using a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” This allows us to create a specialized, individualized service plan that calms or stimulates as each unique situation suggests.  Contact us to learn more about trusted memory care in Colorado Springs. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” 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.  Please contact us for more information about the finest memory care Colorado Springs has to offer.

Sleep Problems Increase Your Risk for Stroke

A study published in the journal Neurology reports analyzed data from more than 4,500 people participating in INTERSTROKE, a large international case-control study of patients who have experienced a stroke. One of the findings from the study is “people who slept less than five hours a night on average were three times more likely to have a stroke than those who got seven hours of sleep — the recommended minimum for adults.” They also found sleeping more than nine hours a day accounted for a two-fold increase in risk for stroke. 

Doctors say the study is in line with other research linking poor quality of sleep to high blood pressure as well as impairments to blood vessels, both risk factors for stroke. A director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern Medical School, Dr. Phyllis Zee, explains things like fragmented sleep and sleep apnea impact a person’s ability to regulate metabolism, blood pressure and inflammation as well as increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Again all risk factors for stroke. 

Experts say there are steps we can take to improve our quality of sleep. One of the first things is to make your bedroom a room of rest and not the place where you watch TV or read books. Make sure the room is dark at night, and maintain a regular bedtime. Get in the habit of waking at the same time each day. Avoid drinking alcohol at least three hours before bedtime, and expose yourself to morning light. Studies show it may be more beneficial to exercise early in the day.  

MorningStar at Bear Creek is devoted to individualized care for those with mild to advanced memory impairment.  Our community is designed to accommodate the needs of our residents and encourages and supports their independence while keeping them safe.   If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, please visit our website for more information about our experienced, compassionate memory care in Colorado Springs.  

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We create a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the finest memory care Colorado Springs offers.

Source: cnn.com/2023/04/05/health/sleep-problems-stroke-study-wellness/index.html

Grieving for a Family Member With Alzheimer's Disease

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is upsetting news for all.  Family members may quickly start experiencing feelings of grief as they recognize their life is about to be changed by the disease and are uneasy about what the future will hold.  Most are left with questions about what to expect next.  

As Alzheimer’s begins to take away the person we know and love, the Alzheimer’s Association explains that, “you’ll mourn him or her and may experience the different phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance.”  They remind us that feelings of grief do not come in a specific order but rather we go in and out of the various stages.

Feelings of denial include unrealistically hoping the person is not ill or expecting them to get better.  Others try to convince themselves their loved one has not changed or try to normalize and make excuses for their behaviors.  Anger may include being frustrated with the person or feeling abandoned.  You may also experience feelings of resentment with the demands of caregiving and/or resent others who are not helping with care.   

Guilt includes having unrealistic thoughts about what you should have done or feeling guilty if you do not visit every day.  A spouse that is well and still able to enjoy life may feel guilty that their husband or wife is no longer able to do so.  Others may have negative feelings such as wishing the person would die or go away.  

The Alzheimer’s Association says you need to face both your positive as well as negative feelings.  They also say to be prepared to go through feelings of loss more than once as the disease progresses.  Remember your grief is a part of your journey, and if you need help, talk with someone about your feelings.  

MorningStar at Bear Creek provides compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Every aspect of our care addresses the needs of our residents starting with the very design of our community to a wide range of wellness programs, activities and healthy, delicious meals.  For memory care Colorado Springs families can count on, please contact us or visit our website 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 Colorado Springs offers.

MorningStar of Fort Collins Offers Individualized Memory Care

Along with assisted living, Fort Collins’ MorningStar community offers 24 memory care suites for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our care services are extensive, and we provide a wide range of amenities, wellness programs and activities. 

MorningStar at Fort Collins’ 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 meet 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.”  Our program provides us with an insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  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 holistic solutions to challenging behaviors.  Additionally, our devoted team feels privileged to serve, and understands every person deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

MorningStar Senior Living celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and has grown to 40+ communities in operation or under construction in eleven states.  Please contact us for more information about individualized, compassionate memory care in Fort Collins. We look forward to hearing from you.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for family satisfaction second to none. Contact us for more information about the finest memory care and assisted living Fort Collins has to offer.

Are You Having Memory Problems?

Experts say typically an individual’s memory problems start slowly and are initially only known to them. Dr. Martin Albers, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, calls this stage “subjective cognitive decline, where the person senses that they’re having some cognitive issues with short-term memory and word-finding, particularly with proper names.” Other early signs include visual perception problems like confusing words or reversing numbers but are typically easy to work around and to live pretty normally.  

When memory loss is caused by Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, symptoms get progressively worse. Dr. Albers says it is important to be medically screened and your first visit should be with your primary healthcare provider. They can assess you both physically and mentally including doing a complete medical history, family history, social history, current medication list and a review of any loss of abilities with day-to-day activities. 

You may be given a cognitive exam like SAGE (self-administered gerocognitive exam) or the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Blood tests typically include cholesterol, B12 and other markers to indicate how well your liver and thyroid are functioning as well as a CT scan or an MRI.

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, it is important to remember there are other things that may be causing memory problems such as strokes, heart, liver or kidney disease; diabetes and medications. Once a problem is identified, experts say the best doctors to add to your medical team are those with a special interest in cognitive disorders such as geriatricians or neurologists. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides a list of clinical trials that may offer some alternative options for treatment. 

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, our entire community is devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.  Our holistic care is individualized for each resident and designed to stimulate or calm in response to a particular mood or situation.  Each day is filled with activities that incorporate music, dance, art, aromatherapy, or animals to heal and comfort residents.  Please visit our website to learn more about compassionate, loving memory care in Colorado Springs.

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 Colorado Springs offers.

Source:

health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/which-doctor-should-i-see-for-dementia-and-cognitive-decline

Welcome Home to MorningStar of Fort Collins

If you live alone, no longer drive, have problems with mobility, and feel like you would welcome more social interaction into your life, please consider community living. Homes like MorningStar of Fort Collins provide residents with all the services, amenities and wellness programs to help them comfortably and safely age in place. Moreover, as one of our cherished residents, you get peace of mind knowing help is at hand whenever you need it. 
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Right from the ground up, our home is designed to meet the needs and comfort of our residents.  We offer beautifully appointed common areas including inviting gathering areas, bistro, salon, fitness room, chapel/theatre, and an attractive dining room for all-day, restaurant-style dining. Residents also enjoy the outdoors with a fireside patio and all-season porches.

At MorningStar of Fort Collins, we recognize that good nutrition is vital to seniors’ health, which is why we put such an effort into the food we serve. Our Executive Chef inspired meals are largely prepared from scratch and include the freshest ingredients.  In addition, we offer a range of nutritional choices including low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low fat so residents can self-manage their diet.  MorningStar’s Chef even uses “super foods” such as acai berries, Omega 3 fats, dark chocolate, and leafy, dark greens. 

Too often seniors assume assisted living means an end to their independence, but studies show the opposite is true. When older adults get the daily personal care they need, it helps to restore their confidence and frees them up to move forward with living life to the fullest. At MorningStar, we help you do so with extensive support services, wellness programs and activities. Our contemporary suites are move-in ready and just require your furnishings and personal items. For your safety and wellbeing, each suite is equipped with handicap-accessible bathrooms and emergency call systems. We are also pet friendly!

MorningStar of Fort Collins offers 55 assisted living suites with the choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In addition, the Reflections Neighborhood has 24 memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Please contact us or visit our website to learn what sets us apart from other senior living communities and why MorningStar is such a great place to call home.

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. Contact us to learn more about one of the finest senior living communities in Fort Collins, CO.

Finding a Gift for a Loved One with Dementia

Do you find it hard to choose a gift for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? A Place for Mom, one of the largest senior living referral services, explains, finding the best gift for dementia patients may seem challenging as it is difficult to know what they’re experiencing.  However, picking a gift can actually be extremely fun and rewarding — especially if you know what to look for.

They suggest taking a few minutes to think about the things the person used to enjoy, keeping in mind their past career, hobbies and stage of dementia. It is best to keep gifts simple, useful, and tailored to their personal likes and capabilities.

Ideas include a single gift or a yearly subscription for care packages filled with things your loved one would enjoy. This could include natural care products like scented soaps, shampoos, body lotions and scrubs. If a parent is in a memory care community, a large basket of specialty foods, fruits or sweets to share with their caregivers is sure to be a hit. Monthly baskets from a local bakery or flower shop can spread the joy over time and remind the person you are thinking of them.  

Smartly-designed dementia board games are not only a fun way to spend time together but can help improve your loved one’s dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and mental strength. Personalized puzzles or memory card games using pictures of the grandkids can be fun for the whole family. PicLink is another game for those with cognitive and memory impairment and is based upon exercises shown to assist with memory.  

MorningStar at Bear Creek provides compassionate care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  Our unique approach to memory care includes finding ways to connect with and nurture the individual essence of each resident, and our energy is put toward finding ways to celebrate and elevate life.  Along with individualized care plans, residents participate in wellness programs and services tailored to their special needs.  Please visit our website for more information about MorningStar’s memory care in Colorado Springs.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” 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.  Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care Colorado Springs offers.