MorningStar Independent Living Blog

  MorningStar of Pasadena is a vibrant 55+ community with 149 bright suites offering seniors a choice of independent living or assisted living. Our independent living is designed for active seniors who love the idea of someone else handling chores like maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping to have more time to socialize, travel, and pursue various hobbies and interests. Seniors enjoy stress-free living and a lifestyle that extends their independence and lets them continue the adventure.  Assisted living is for seniors who require a little help with activities of daily living (ADLs) to provide a better quality of life. As a resident, you will have a personalized plan created for you, and updated as needed. Around-the-clock care managers, access to licensed nurses and medication management are just a few of the many services we provide to ensure your safety and to meet your expressed (and even unexpressed) needs. Among the many advantages to MorningStar of Pasadena is if y...

  In 2018 researchers conducted a thorough examination of data from a number of independent studies regarding loneliness to determine overall trends. Of the more than 35 research articles measuring loneliness and mortality, the group found confirmation suggesting loneliness is a risk factor for all-cause mortality in both men and women.  Another study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found “adults 60 years old and older who reported feeling lonely were at higher risk for functional decline in addition to the increased risk of death.” The problem was further exacerbated in participants who had difficulties performing the ADLs (activities of daily living). Experts say loneliness acts on the body in much the same way as chronic pain, and can actually be measured by an increase in the levels of stress hormones. One of those hormones is cortisol, which is responsible for impairing immune responses and contributing to inflammation. Seniors suffering from prolo...

  If your mom is one of those people who has everything and/or is living in an apartment where she does not have room for a bunch of useless stuff, be creative with this year’s Mother’s Day gift. You may worry that more practical gifts are too boring but if they help to make lives easier and more interesting, most seniors are happy to get them. If mom lives alone, there are several smartly-designed dressing aids to make it easier for her to do on her own and would be a useful addition to a basket of goodies. If mom likes to wear dresses or blouses that zip up the back, a zipper puller will come in handy. The same goes for bracelet fasteners and magnetic necklace fasteners, both are great for those with some mobility problems. A cozy gift idea for a mom or grandmother who always has cold feet is a pair of heatable slippers. Microwaveable ones have a heatable insole typically filled with aromatic ingredients such as lavender and rosemary, and flax seeds.  For a mom who suffers ...

  Ecotherapy is a growing scientific field based on the concept that people have a deep connection to their environment and to the earth itself, and if we fail to nurture this connection, it can negatively impact our mental health. While more common in men than women, research indicates mood disorders can occur as seniors face live changes such as retirement, a medical diagnosis, or loss of a spouse. Dr. Jason Strauss, director of geriatric psychiatry at Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance, explains many seniors “do not want to turn to medication or therapy for help, and for many, interacting with nature is one of the best self-improvement tools they can use." Though we may not have unlocked the key as to why nature improves our mood, studies show it does. In 2015, researchers looked at the brain activity of adults after they took a 90 minute walk in either an urban or nature setting. The brain activity of those who took the nature walk “had lower activity in the prefron...

  As one of the newest MorningStar Senior Living communities, MorningStar at River Oaks offers trusted assisted living and memory care . 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 assisted living communities simply cannot match. Founded in 2003, 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 – wi...

  Are you ready for a lifestyle change? While you may have retired from your career, we know you have not retired from life but rather looking forward to a whole new chapter. Independent living communities like the brand-new, contemporary MorningStar of Kirkland offers a beautiful, no-maintain home, variety of onsite amenities, and broad community of friends.  Today’s seniors are not only living longer but are more engaged and active than their parents and grandparents were in their later years. Retirement in 2021 is the time to enjoy hobbies, pursue new interests, travel, and renew yourself through volunteerism or hanging out with the grandkids – not worrying about home maintenance and repairs. Time is precious and life needs to be lived to the fullest. MorningStar of Kirkland’s five-star dining service puts meal preparation and clean-up in our hands and frees you up for a before dinner swim in the pool or a leisurely stroll through our Zen garden. Like a drink after dinner...

  Today’s assisted living is not just another term for a nursing home, which is intended for people who require skilled, around-the-clock medical care and supervision. Rather assisted living, the most popular and fastest growing long-term care option for older adults in the U.S., is designed for seniors who cannot get the help they need or afford while living at home or in an independent living community. The first community in the U.S. opened in the late 1980s. The concept quickly took hold out of consumers’ distaste for nursing homes and the desire for something offering the services, safety and amenities seniors required while still supporting and encouraging their independence.   Assisted living recognizes seniors as productive, contributing individuals who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Moreover unlike nursing homes, assisted living communities offer private suites with locked doors and most are equipped with kitchens for the meals residents wish t...

  In case you haven’t heard, the various options for independent living in Hillsboro, OR will soon be elevated with the opening of the new MorningStar of Hillsboro Senior Living community. Scheduled to open in the later part of 2021, we offer 141 apartments in one- and two bedroom floorplans, which are designed to maximize space and provide plenty of storage. Each has a full kitchen with premium cabinets and countertops, high-end finishes, and equipped with handicap-accessible bathrooms and 24-hour emergency call systems. For residents’ convenience, we offer secure underground parking and some units with balconies.  MorningStar of Hillsboro’s welcoming, warm atmosphere offers seniors a true home and a sense of community tailor-made for an active, healthy retirement. With a range of amenities and concierge services including a dining service on par with your favorite restaurants, an onsite indoor pool, fitness center, spa, amphitheater, art studio, salon, patios, and club lo...

  Ready to start enjoying your retirement years, and love the sound of no longer worrying about home maintenance and unexpected repairs? If so, we would like to introduce you to the newest independent living community in family-friendly Kirkland, MorningStar of Kirkland. Opening in the fourth quarter of 2021, our community will offer hospitality services and luxury amenities including a dining service, pool, spa, fitness center, social clubs, Zen garden, sports courts and more. Our 151 modern apartments are available in a range of smartly-designed floorplans and configurations, lots of windows and high-end finishes.  The market for 55+ housing is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry. Seniors have discovered the many benefits independent living communities such as MorningStar of Kirkland offer including meals they no longer need to cook, predictable budgeting, and wellness programs. Moreover after a year of self-isolating due to the pandemic, many seniors find ...

  MorningStar Senior Living wishes to introduce area families to the vibrant MorningStar at River Oaks assisted living and memory care community. Dedicated to elevating the standard in senior living , we offer residents a lifestyle in which to comfortably and safely age in place with a range of hospitality and care services, luxury amenities and a complement of wellness programs and activities. Located in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood, our stunning home includes a sixth-floor sky terrace and lounge offering spectacular views of downtown, courtyards with fireplace and BBQ, and a grand entrance portal located on Revere Street. MorningStar’s 112 suites range in size from 350 to 1,090 sq. ft. with a choice of floor plans and configurations to please the most discerning seniors. Our suites are ready to move into and just require your furnishings and personal items to make it feel like home.  As an assisted living resident, you will get the help you need for the ADLs (activitie...

  As statistics indicate more and more seniors are living well into their mid-80s and beyond, it is all the more reason to continue to play, learn, contribute, create and relax. For many older adults, retirement is the start of new adventures and a new lifestyle.  Rather than spending your last years lonely and socially isolated, today’s generation of seniors enjoy opportunities not available to their parents. Many are healthier and more active than earlier generations; and experts weigh-in on all of the choices seniors have to make retirement years transformative. One of those suggestions is to volunteer. If you haven’t done so before, consider the causes you are passionate about and ask yourself what you can do to help. Do you want to make a difference in the environment, get involved in local politics or your church, or help people in your community in need? These are just a few suggestions of the many programs and opportunities to feel useful.  Other ways you can gro...

  While it is important to wear sunscreen every time we go outside in daylight regardless of the time of year, with summer coming, many of us are outdoors for longer periods and need to remember the sun’s rays are stronger. If it has been awhile since you bought your sunscreen, dermatologists say to take a look at the container and check the expiration date.  They caution seniors it is a mistake to think a little sun exposure is okay, they need the vitamin D, or they have a dark enough skin tone. The fact is 9,500 people a day in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer and one in five people by age 70 will have had skin cancer.   While there are many good sunscreens on the market, dermatologists say you may want to consider a mineral sunscreen formula. The container should let you know whether it is a mineral or chemical formulation. Mineral sunscreens contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide while chemical sunscreens are formulated with ingredients like avobenzone, ...