MorningStar Independent Living Blog

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Finding Long-Term Dementia Care for a Loved One

For many people living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, there often comes a time when home care is not enough and the person would benefit from long-term care in a residential setting. Of course when that time comes, you want the finest care so it is important to understand what the community offers and whether it meets the needs of your loved one. Independent living communities, which offer things like meals, transportation, amenities and social activities do not have the ability to care for someone in the middle or advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This type of community is only appropriate for those in the early stages of the disease who can still care for themselves. Assisted living communities offer supportive care and provide an alternative between independent living and nursing homes. However, if you are looking at senior living , ask if they have a dedicated memory care area for those with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association understands ...

A Change in Walking Gait May Be an Indicator of Alzheimer's Disease

Several studies, including one from the journal Current Biology, report the way a senior walks may be messaging something about their future cognitive health. Researchers say walking relies on a person’s navigational skills, which demands mental engagement. The slowing of a person’s walking pace is one of the things studies are looking at as an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease. People may start to take smaller steps and drift from side to side as well as exhibit poor balance and a history of frequent falls. Ryan Glatt, a certified personal trainer, senior brain health coach, and director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in California, told Medical News Today, “In clinical settings, gait-based tests can be helpful for determining fall risk, especially with distractions, and perhaps can be part of a more comprehensive cognitive evaluation in the near future.” Other studies report that people with early Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty turning when wa...

Discover MorningStar at River Oaks

MorningStar at River Oaks is dedicated to making your retirement years carefree. Our home is distinguished by comfort, wellness and love; made possible through a dedicated team who understand how to provide residents with a quality-of-life other senior living communities simply cannot match. MorningStar Senior Living considers it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our mission: to honor God in our business practices and relationships; to value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and to invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. To achieve our mission, we start by hiring individuals with big hearts and virtues such as kindness, character and compassion. Every person on our staff, regardless of position, receives training in “Radiance,” our brand standard of Service Excellence, which guides the way we deliver service – with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. While MorningStar was founded on Ju...

Create a Living Will to Ensure Your Wishes Are Followed

Many times people put off creating a living will, also known as a health care power of attorney, because they don’t understand how important it is to have one; or they fear they are giving up too much control over their life. The medical community explains the reason you need one is to ensure you get the type of care you want when you can no longer speak for yourself. The Harvard Medical School says before you create a living will there are a few things to consider including separating fact from fiction. To start with, think about what quality of life means to you. Sometimes having extraordinary measures taken to save your life doesn’t factor in where such treatments will leave you. Having a living will can help guide your medical team on just such decisions. Some people worry if they choose to refuse certain life-sustaining medical treatments to prolong life even when death is inevitable that it will invalidate their life insurance policy. Medical professionals explain there is no rea...

Supporting a Grieving Friend

Many of us have watched a good friend go through the grieving process after losing a loved one and have been frustrated by not being able to do more to comfort them. Experts explain this is a common feeling and provide some suggestions to help. One of the first things to remember is everyone experiences grief in their own way. Heather L. McGinty, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, explains grief triggers a range of emotions, sensations and behaviors and can be complex. A person’s emotions may swing from tearfulness to anger or denial, and as a friend, it can be hard to know what to say. Loneliness, betrayal, fear and acceptance are some of the other emotions grief brings up. Some people even experience physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches. If you want to help, grief counselors say to first make sure the person wants it; and recommend asking if they want the type of supp...

Music's Uplifting Effect on Mood

The Harvard Health Publishing journal reported on a study focused on the effectiveness of music therapy. The study found listening to music, singing and other forms of music therapy “can create significant improvements in mental health and smaller improvements in physical health–related quality of life.” Researchers sum it up by saying music offers a positive impact on the psychological quality of life; and is an easy way to raise spirits and help us feel better. So if we feel music makes us happier and more relaxed, it is not our imagination. AARP quotes Laurie Keough, a clinical associate professor of music therapy at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, who explains, “Music is processed all throughout the brain;” which is why it is applicable in so many different situations. Music therapy is an established form of therapy with a lot of evidence of the benefits. These include improving health care goals like decreasing anxiety, improving mood and decreasing pain perception amo...