MorningStar Independent Living Blog

Are you looking for reliable, comfortable senior living in Kirkland? Whether you’re looking into senior housing for yourself or a loved one, it is essential that you find an establishment that is safe and reliable. Read on for tips on finding the best senior housing in Kirkland . Assess Needs When searching for a senior living community, the first thing you have to do is assess your needs. Do you require medical assistance of any kind? Are you struggling with any cognitive concerns like early Alzheimer’s or dementia? These factors can make the difference between choosing an assisted living facility and an independent senior living community. If you require ongoing or daily assistance for these types of medical needs, you may be interested in assisted living. In an assisted living facility, you can receive the continuing care that you need to lead your best life. When you have no serious cognitive concerns and can live independently, a senior living community with personal housing may ...

Following a healthy diet is essential all throughout life, but it becomes increasingly important as you age. Making better dietary choices and getting good nutrition can help seniors avoid serious health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. One way to start eating healthier is by meal planning. Read on to learn four tips for planning meals in senior housing in Kirkland . 1. Find Out Any Deficiencies The first step in planning your meals is to determine your unique nutritional needs. A simple blood panel and physical exam can help you find out whether you are deficient in any vitamins or minerals. From there, you can start deciding what to incorporate into more of your meals. For example, if you are low in iron and protein, you may need to add more lean meats to your diet. 2. Check Your Cholesterol and Triglycerides During your yearly physical, ask your physician to run a lipid panel and test your triglycerides. These blood tests can determine whether you have serious heal...

If you are retired, you probably have more time on your hands so why not try something new or something you have always wanted to do. This should include adding a physical activity to your daily routine as studies find many adults 65 years and older spend up to 10 hours a day sitting or lying down. Some of the best exercises for seniors are Nordic walking, swimming, golf, tai chi, and yoga. Experts say focus on improving your strength, balance and flexibility and check with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise routine. In addition, you may want to include activities or hobbies that bring you into social contact with others. This can be done by taking a class online or in person. Suggestions include joining a book club, learning to play an instrument or taking an art or photography class. Retirement means more time to learn how to cook or to be more adventurous in the types of food you prepare. It can be lots of fun and help you eat healthier and save money. Take the c...

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at River Oaks is committed to the comfort, wellbeing, and safety of our residents. Once you learn more about our Houston community, we are sure you will agree that MorningStar at River Oaks is senior living at its best. In fact, the MorningStar Senior Living Company was founded by Ken Jaeger as the fulfillment of his dream to create senior housing defined by the human touch and a sense of family. We believe our community has achieved that dream and is a true home for our remarkable residents. To ensure we meet our residents’ needs, we are deliberate about the individuals we hire to become part of our distinguished team. Every new employee is carefully vetted and chosen for virtues such as kindness, selflessness, and character. We look for people who are committed to perfecting the art of anticipating needs and willingly go the extra mile to serve. Once team members are hired, they are trained in “Radiance,” which is much more than just...

Doctors caution everyone, especially seniors, to go slow when starting or getting back into an exercise routine; and before you begin, to consult with your healthcare provider. After all you want to get back into shape, and causing injury or harm to yourself is certain to delay or prevent this progress. Moreover, doctors reiterate that while individuals extremely out-of-shape will benefit the most from regular exercise, they are also more at risk for sudden heart problems resulting from such a workout. Dr. Martha Gulati, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart, the American College of Cardiology's patient education initiative, says it is important to "pace yourself, don't do too much too soon and make sure you give your body time to rest between workouts." One way to exercise safely is to pay attention to your heart rate. If you notice it is not coming down as your intensity decreases while resting or is beating irregularly, you need to stop. Dr. Gulati warns chest pains are n...

The US News & World Report says approximately 1 in 3 adults are believed to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They explain the condition causes a person to momentarily stop breathing at intervals throughout the night and interrupting their sleep. Pulmonologist and section head of sleep medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver, Dr. Sheila Tsai, explains, “A person’s airway either partially collapses or completely closes (obstructs) during sleep.” She says episodes can be frequent throughout the sleep cycle and cause drops in oxygenation. While the person may only awake briefly as they struggle to breathe, their sleep is fragmented and non-restorative as it infers with REM, the deep, restful stage of sleep. Common causes of OSA are obesity and age, and The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine estimates as many as 80 percent of people suffering from OSA are undiagnosed. The condition typically causes the person to snore loudly, interrupted with gasps, hesitations and snorts. They ...

Every year seniors are hospitalized due to prescribed medications. Statistics show drug-related problems are common in older adults and include drug ineffectiveness, adverse drug effects, over-dosage, under-dosage, inappropriate treatment, inadequate monitoring, nonadherence, and drug interactions. It is important to remember even though medication is prescribed by your healthcare provider, problems can occur. Experts say you must follow directions and take medications as prescribed including on time, in the right dosage, with or without food, and never grinding it into a powder (unless directed by the doctor). They recommend carrying an updated list of all medications and sharing it with your doctors. Additionally, be aware of common interactions between prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medications and alcoholic drinks. Before your doctor prescribes a new medication, ask them why you are taking it, for how long and what are the potential side effects. It is important to know what...

Over the last several years, reports on the “optimal” number of steps we should take each day seem to vary. Early-on it was all about getting 10,000 steps but the Medical News Today’s website explains the idea of 10,000 steps was actually conceived in the 1960s as a marketing tool and was not based on any actual medical research. A study from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, decided to take a “fresh look at how many steps a person should take each day — and what kind of steps are most beneficial — to promote good health.” The data was obtained with fitness trackers and the information led researchers to suggest a goal of 8,200 steps a day significantly lowers a person’s risk of chronic disease. Researchers report results show an association between walking 8,200 steps and a reduced risk of chronic conditions, including: obesity sleep apnea gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) major depressive disorder (MDD) diabetes hypertension In addition, they found even ...

Rather than diminish a senior’s life, assisted living communities such as MorningStar at River Oaks help to improve quality of life for residents in a variety of ways. Along with providing the daily care services residents need to maintain their independence, we provide on-going support to ensure their safety, comfort and continued personal growth. For our residents’ families, they get peace of mind knowing their loved one is being well-cared for. Another benefit of MorningStar’s assisted living is the healthy dining that allows residents to self-manage a variety of dietary restrictions such as low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian or low fat. Additionally, our medication care management services see to it that residents’ medications are ordered, delivered and dispensed in a meticulous, timely fashion. Services also include housekeeping, laundry, transportation and more. Moreover, as the CDC reports that each year about 3 million older people are treated in emergency ...

Along with independent and assisted living, Pasadena, CA’s MorningStar community provides suites in our Reflections Neighborhood 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 of Pasadena’s 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 ca...

For many, retirement means an end to a long career and a busier lifestyle. As relaxing as that sounds, research shows it is important for people to continue to feel actively engaged regardless of their age. One interesting and fun way to do it is with a hobby as they are a good way to keep our brains sharp, relieve stress and anxiety, and lessen obsessive thoughts and preoccupations. One example of an all-around hobby is gardening. Not only does the person benefit from their labor in the form of flowers, fruits or vegetables, experts say gardening offers physical and mental benefits. These include reducing stress, giving the person a sense of achievement, getting out into fresh air and staying fit. If you worry about the physical work involved in gardening, there are tools and methods designed to make it easier. Raised beds eliminate the need for bending and kneeling on the ground as does vertical gardening and pot gardening that keeps things at arms’ reach. Another hobby beneficial fo...

Many adult children feel as if they let their parents down by moving them into an assisted living community. Mom or dad may have even asked years ago that you never put them into a “home,” and at the time, you made the promise; and/or you know families whose adult children have opened their home to their parents. You keep thinking your parents spent years caring for you, and now when they need help, you turn to strangers to provide the care they need. Experts explain feelings of guilt are normal and moving a loved one to an assisted living community is probably one of the hardest decisions you will have to make as an adult. However, they quickly add it is important to remember they were not getting the assistance they needed at home. For their safety and wellbeing, they need to move to a place where they will receive the proper care. Rather than waste time thinking you have let them down, think of it as giving them a better quality of life where they can safely age in place. Experts s...

If your mom or dad or another loved one is having serious memory problems, we have some suggestions to help you navigate through this trying time. Medical experts recommend doing some research on Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, to educate yourself on how the disease is diagnosed, stages of the disease, and some of what your family can expect if it is. You may want to visit websites such as the Alzheimer’s Association as well as online support groups for family members dealing with the disease for suggestions on how to best prepare and support your parents. Also, remember it may not be dementia as there are medical conditions, reactions to medications, and nutritional and hormonal issues that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Therefore, you need to sit down and have a talk with your parents about the problems they are having and the need to make an appointment with their healthcare provider for a full medical exam. Experts say when you are ready to have the “conversa...

At MorningStar of Pasadena, we want you to know independent living means much more than simply a change in your housing. We think of it as a chance to begin new adventures, meet a broader community of like-minded individuals, and to get down to the business of really enjoying your precious retirement years. Our community specializes in offering a full range of hospitality services that free you from the drudgery of daily chores and obligations. We provide housekeeping services and take care of maintenance, inside and out. In addition, residents will enjoy chef-inspired, all-day dining and enrichment activities which promote a healthy, engaged lifestyle. Imagine all the time you will have in a maintenance-free environment to pursue your own interests. Maybe it is time to improve your golf game, start or renew a hobby, or volunteer in your community. Along with beautifully landscaped grounds, we have a gardening room and raised garden beds as well as a relaxing courtyard and strolling ...

Along with assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar community offers individualized care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our Reflections Neighborhood has 27 memory care suites, and we are equipped to care for residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. MorningStar at River Oaks’ holistic memory care is personalized and compassionate supported living under what we call Lavender Sky, which is the way we thoughtfully enter, embrace, and explore to find purpose and encouragement in every aspect of daily routine. As dementia care specialists, we deeply understand the disease and know regardless of the extent of memory loss residents deserve to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity. All team members are trained in MorningStar’s brand standards of Lavender Sky and in the pathology of dementia and brain disease. Caregivers provide 24/7 assistance with eating, bathing, dressing and have the tools to calm or stimulate a resident a...

According to the Medical News Today website, studies find hearing loss may contribute to social isolation, lower quality of life, disability, depression, and dementia. This can be especially problematic for people aged 80 years and older, who tend to have more advanced hearing losses. In 2015, researchers reported on a 25-year study, which focused on a link between hearing loss and dementia. At the start of the study, the 3,670 participants were 65 years or older and followed for over 25 years. Using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to measure cognitive decline, researchers say there appeared to be a correlation between self-reported hearing loss and cognitive decline. However, participants who used hearing aids did not show a significant cognitive decline, suggesting the use of hearing aids may offer a protective effect. Experts say hearing loss may adversely impact a person’s ability to socialize as they miss out on vital verbal and emotional information that may directly imp...

Dehydration is a real concern especially for the elderly, or for anyone who spends time in the sun. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says over 43% of adults do not drink enough water each day. Although the amount of fluid we need differs, Heather Mangieri, a registered dietitian based in Imperial, PA, says on average men should consume 15 cups of fluid a day and women 11 cups. Experts say water is the best way to hydrate but for those who find it a chore to drink, there are other healthy alternatives. In fact, statistics show 22% of our daily fluid intake is from foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are especially high in fluid. Some of the most moisture-providing vegetables are lettuce and cucumbers containing up to 96% water. Celery, radishes, spinach and cauliflower are other good choices. Some of the most hydrating fruits are tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon and cantaloupe. Despite popular folklore, coffee doesn’t cause fluid loss and does provide hydration,...

As it turns out, many seniors are quite happy with their decision to move into an independent or assisted living community . In part, that may be since many of today’s senior communities are loaded with numerous amenities and activities. As a resident, you are provided with a lifestyle of comfort and community as well as a sense of safety and security. Here are some of the many benefits: When seniors move out of their family home into a senior community, they find themselves freed from lots of responsibilities. Owning a home requires routine care and maintenance such as yard work and other housekeeping chores. Seniors often live alone and experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. Also, as people age, many are reluctant to drive, which means they end up spending a lot of time at home by themselves. This is something that is not a problem in senior communities. While activities are optional, there is generally something of interest for everyone. For seniors who do not dri...