MorningStar Independent Living Blog

Experts say it is a myth that older adults do not need as much sleep as they did when they were younger. Studies show at least seven hours a night of sleep is critical to brain health and cognitive health. If you consistently wake up several times during the night and still wake up early every day, it may be time to make changes to your nightly routine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports due to sleep disturbances that frequently come with age, many seniors get less REM sleep. REM is an important cycle in our sleep and includes the period in which we dream. It is also believed to help consolidate memory. In addition, during our deep sleep cycle, the brain purges toxins and waste products including amyloid beta, which can gradually clump together to form amyloid plaques, found in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. A chronic lack of sleep can affect a person’s mood. The magazine, Frontiers in Physiology , published a report citing 6 studies showing less than 7...

For outstanding assisted living in Pasadena, CA, seniors and their families are encouraged to consider MorningStar, the perfect community to age in place comfortably and safely. By defining health and wellbeing holistically, our home provides services and programming that support the whole person - body, mind and spirit. Together our life enrichment programs and wellness care services complement one other to ensure each resident gets the best care. As a testament to the full scope of our services, we look for creative solutions within the full authority of our license through the Department of Health to help extend the stay of the resident if they experience changes in their health. These solutions can yield a higher quality of care at a lower cost to the family and provide a welcomed continuity of care for the resident. We are also proud that our senior living residents benefit from our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This centralized mobile station ensures accurate onsit...

The National Council on Aging reports that just as regular preventive medical screenings, vaccinations and dental exams are vital to maintaining our best health, so is protecting our social and mental health. Studies show older adults who say they feel isolated are affected in several negative ways. Researchers explain there is a connection between those who say they have a good social life with a longer life span. Studies indicate it may be because these are people who appear to handle stress better; something that is linked to cardiovascular disease. Studies also find seniors who report having a better quality social life were more likely to regularly exercise. Another concerning finding is that isolation is linked to an increase in a person’s risk for anxiety and depression, which are both linked to a higher risk for dementia. Many seniors living alone have lost a spouse or other close family members and friends and feel very alone. Experts say if this is your situation, they sugge...

Unfortunately, cybercrimes are on the rise. From 2020 to 2022, statistics show there was a 25 percent increase in reports of phishing. Of those, 42 percent were made either through an email or text. Fortunately, there are tips to help you identify phishing messages. One of the first things to look for is a text or email that uses a generic greeting without identifying you by name. Another frequently used tactic is to add a sense of urgency that action needs to be taken NOW to prevent a breach of your security. Also, remember any attachment may contain malware so it is best not to open any attachments unless you are absolutely confident in the sender. Before assuming an email or text is legitimate, experts say to look for the company’s logo on the document and never open an URL that looks scrambled. Be suspicious of poorly written messages with misspellings or improper grammar as well as asking for personal information. Never give out account or credit card numbers, your social secur...

While we may think we don’t have a morning routine, typically there is a way we start our morning whether it is drinking a cup of coffee and reading the morning news or perhaps doing some exercise. Whatever your routine, experts say adding a few healthy additions to our mornings can start our day off even better. Since many of us don’t drink as much water as we should each day, one suggestion is to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. This helps to not only rehydrate your body after a night’s sleep but goes a long way toward meeting your daily water goal. To make it easy to do, keep a water bottle next to you on your nightstand table. Another tip is to exercise. If you are not really a morning person, there are many examples of short, effective morning workouts on the Internet. One 10 minute workout starts with doing deep breathing exercises while still in bed. Other suggestions for early exercises include a solitary walk in nature or weeding your garden. Being around n...

Endocrinologist Kendall Moseley, MD, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Metabolic Bone & Osteoporosis Center, says most women do not know anything about their bone health. A recent survey from the National Osteoporosis Foundation backs up that sentiment finding around 94 percent of women do not worry about their skeletons. However, they add they should, as one in five women under 30 already have osteopenia, which is a step above full osteoporosis. The good news is there are things you can do to protect your frame and avoid the things that are not good for bone health. Experts say our bones constantly break down and rebuild every 10 years resulting in a new skeleton. The problem lies in the fact that after the age of 30, our bodies start to lose more bone than they make. Women’s estrogen levels also begin to drop around 30, which is another protector of women’s bone health. An unbalanced diet or severely restricting calories in an effort to stay thin or lose weight can be anothe...

Statistics show cataracts affect approximately 24 million Americans and is the leading cause of blindness throughout the world. They occur when the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy due to the breakdown of its proteins, resulting in blurry, hazy or less colorful vision. Age is the primary reason for cataracts and typically starts around the age of 60. As they take a long time to develop; many people do not notice the gradual blurring of their vision. Individuals with diabetes may experience the problem at a much younger age. If during an eye exam your doctor mentions you have the start of cataracts, they may tell you it is not to the point where surgery is required; but may recommend increasing the strength of your prescription eyeglasses. If you are told the problem is far enough along to warrant surgery keep in mind it is a routine procedure. However, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks to determine if it is the right time for you. There are a few signs t...