MorningStar Independent Living Blog

  If you have friends who have recently made a move into senior living, particularly independent living communities offering carefree retirement years for adults 55+, they are not alone? Seniors are recognizing the many advantages independent living offers such as maintenance-free living, predictable budgeting and a broader community of friends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly one-third of adults over 55 are not physically active. The problem with this is study after study shows a lack of physical exercise as we age elevates a person’s risk for chronic disease, pain, and premature death.  At independent living communities such as MorningStar of Hillsboro, participating in physical exercise is both easy and fun with our indoor pool and a variety of wellness programs that include exercise classes geared toward the needs of seniors. Another problem for many seniors is the way they eat. Now that the kids are grown and gone, too many older adults begi...

  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...