Protect Your Aging Brain

Researchers says that even if we are not developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, as we grow older, our memory, decision-making, and ability to learn simply begin to wear down.   This process is referred to as “cognitive aging” and doctors now say there are evidence-based steps we can take to improve our cognitive functioning. 

The published study from the Institute of Medicine titled “Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action,” detailed three ways we protect and bolster our aging brain.  The study’s authors are Dr. Dan Blazer, chair of the report and professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, and Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart and physician-in-chief at the Mount Sinai Hospital.  The report is intended to provide relevant information to both physicians and patients.

According to the study, the first thing we can do to help keep our brain healthy (and other parts of our body) is to engage in light exercise every day.  Activities such as walking, gardening, swimming or biking help increase the blood flow to the brain, which helps to maintain and improve its functioning. 

The Cognitive Aging report also found that in order to reduce our risk for or to better manage cardiovascular disease, we need to eliminate unhealthy habits such as smoking and maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure.  It recommends that if you do have high cholesterol, you follow your doctor’s instructions and continue to have the necessary blood tests done. 

The third key to improving and maintaining good cognitive functioning is to consult with your doctor to review the list of medications you are currently taking.  Dr. Blazer explains that, “Older adults are sometimes on more medications than they need to be on."  He adds, “Many, if not all of them, can potentially affect your cognitive functioning.”

MorningStar at Jordan, an assisted living home in Centennial, CO, has 24/7 care services including medication care managers/QMAPs, who administer and document regularly prescribed medications per the Medication Administration Record and physician orders.  All of our care services, wellness programs and amenities are designed to support the whole person: body, mind and spirit and make MorningStar the perfect place for successful aging.  

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.  

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area.

Tips to Prevent Falls

We have all heard stories or may have had an older relative take a fall that lead to serious injuries, hospitalization, or in the worst case, a fatality. In fact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the fatal fall rate for people 65 years and older jumped 31 percent from 2007 to 2016, making falls the leading cause of injury-related death among people in this age group. Falls are so common in the elderly that every 11 seconds an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that many falls are preventable and publishes a one-page guide called “Take Control of Your Health: 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall.” Their first tip is to find a balance and exercise class that is specifically designed to help older adults built strength and improve their balance and flexibility.

NCOA also recommends talking to your doctor about your fall threat. Ask if any medications you are taking have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or other issues that could increase your risk for fall. Moreover be sure to share any recent falls you may have had with your healthcare provider as well as your family.

Fall prevention includes having your vision and hearing tested annually. If you need stronger glasses, get them and be sure to wear them. The next step is to do a survey of your home both inside and out to ensure you do not have unsafe areas that increase the likelihood of a fall. Search the Internet for a checklist of things to look for in your home to improve safety. The NCOA suggests enlisting the aid of your family to help you keep your home safe for everyone.

At MorningStar of Boulder, our senior retirement living is designed to accommodate our residents’ limitations. All of our spacious private suites come with wall-to-wall carpeting, fully handicapped-accessible bathrooms and emergency call systems. We also provide a 24/7 care staff and a full-time licensed nurse. In addition, residents are offered plenty of opportunities to get moving with exercise classes offered every day of the week.

MorningStar of Boulder offers the very best in senior retirement living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder.

Source: ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOA-Falls-Free-Infographic-680pixels-0917.pdf

From Housekeepers to Directors – Every Role is Vital!

Do you live in the greater Metro Denver area?  If so, you may be interested to hear that our MorningStar senior living communities are recruiting individuals with “Great Hearts” who would love to make a difference in someone else’s life.  Unlike many jobs, each position at MorningStar is vital to our success whether you become a care manager, food server, coordinator, director, or apply to one of our available housekeeping jobs.  Our Denver communities are proud to foster the ultimate environment for our residents’ wellbeing as well as create a great workplace for our valuable team members.   

As a way to learn and grow in your role at MorningStar (and perhaps advance your career options), we provide purposeful training as well as mentoring and support from directors, supervisors and fellow team members.  This will help you to understand, articulate and contribute to our extraordinary culture we call “Radiance, which is defined less by what we do and more by why we do it.  Radiance infuses the principles of the selfless attitude and will help you become an expert on understanding residents’ unmet needs, reading body language, nurturing connections, and knowing life stories and preference.  In addition you are sure to intuitively develop an understanding for how to surprise and delight our residents as well as to appreciate the intrinsic value of your service and the effect you have on the lives of our beloved seniors.   

Denver’s communities include MorningStar of Arvada - Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan – Centennial; MorningStar of Littleton – Littleton; MorningStar at RidgeGate – Lone Tree; MorningStar of Wheat Ridge – Wheat Ridge; and MorningStar of Parker – Parker.    All of our beautiful residential homes were founded on Judeo-Christian principles (although we  welcomed all religions and beliefs) and hold true to our mission statement to honor God, value all seniors, and invest generously in our team’s ability to serve.   If you feel it is your time to serve others and are drawn to seniors, please visit our website for a complete list of available assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.  “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31.   

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors.  For a rewarding career, visit MorningStar’s website for information on assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.

Assisted Living Enriches the Lives of Many Seniors

After making the move into assisted living, many residents are surprised at how full their lives become. And despite their fears about losing their independence by moving into an assisted living community, most are pleased to discover that by getting the assistance they need, they are ready more than ever to lead productive lives.

Along with supplying built-in companionship, assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Boulder strive to enrich the lives of residents with a range of activities that engage the mind, body, and spirit. In addition, it solves the problem of many elderly adults who live alone that find meal prep to be difficult and often resort to frozen meals or fast food. When living at our gorgeous community, you can sit back and enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors while you are served beautifully prepared meals restaurant-style. Moreover, if you are a senior who no longer drives, we take care of that with scheduled transportation to area shopping as well as trips to medical appointments and to run errands.

Our holistic approach to assisted living creates an atmosphere filled with love, care and compassion. We also recognize that it is important for our residents to continue learning and contributing, which is why we offer such a wide range of meaningful wellness programs, activities and entertainment. And if we do not have a program or activities that piques your interest or offer a hobby you would love to explore; we invite you to start a club.

If you are looking for a community with an exceptional care team along with amenities and services unmatched by other assisted living companies, please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar of Boulder.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest”, sets us apart from other assisted living companies. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder, Colorado.

Starting Your Search for Senior Living?

Are you and your family beginning the search for senior living residences and trying to determine the services offered at different communities?  If you live in and around Centennial, CO, we want you to know that MorningStar at Jordan is worth a look! 

MorningStar Senior Living was founded in 2003 with the intention of providing senior living defined by the human touch. As Founder/CEO Ken Jaeger explains, “I wanted to re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.”  MorningStar at Jordan is one of ten MorningStar communities in Colorado, and one of more than 30 open or under construction across the country.

We truly believe that the more you get to know about our loving home, the more you will discover just how different we are from other senior living communities.  One of those things is that we view seniors as heroes who have gone through a lifetime of trials and tribulations and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.    MorningStar accomplishes this mission by hiring a team of service professionals who have a felt calling to serve and are drawn to the idea of working with seniors. 

This means our staff treats our residents much like they would their own moms and dads by greeting residents by their names, learning their preferences, and asking with real interest about their families.  Our loving team is comprised of people who go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents (even their unexpressed ones), and do the right thing even when no one is watching.  After all, our goal is to create a true home for our residents.  Please visit our website to learn more about unsurpassed assisted living and memory care in Centennial. 

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living residences with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to set up a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community.

Express Yourself in the Creative Arts

The arts enrich the lives of the artist as well as the viewer. While some of us may not feel creative, it is probably just more of a result of not having the opportunity to explore your creative side. Expressing ourselves in the creative arts has been proven to be beneficial to every age group including the elderly. As artist Norman Rockwell explains, “The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back.”

Over the last several decades studies in the “fields of art therapy, music therapy, and other creative modalities confirm that art can affect individuals in positive ways by inducing both psychological and physiological healing.” The first major study to look at the effects the arts have on our health and illness as we age was done by the George Washington University in Washington, DC. The national longitudinal study was led by Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, director of the University’s Center on Aging, Health & Humanities, who found the arts positively affect the quality of seniors’ lives. Some of the benefits included helping seniors relax, reducing depression and anxiety, assisting in socialization, improving cognition, reducing boredom, nurturing spirituality and increasing self-esteem.

Researchers explain that taking part in art expression classes should not be looked at as simply a way to fill time but rather as a way to find meaning and purpose in life regardless of your age. Moreover it is important that as we grow older, we do things that keep us engaged and give us a reason to look forward to each day. Expressive arts include visual arts, music, dance, writing, and poetry.

MorningStar of Boulder has 48 assisted living suites and 46 secure suites for memory care. As a resident, you will have a wide array of care services, resort-style amenities and meaningful wellness programs to engage your mental, physical, spiritual and social connections. If you are looking for the best senior retirement living in the area, we encourage you to visit our website to learn why our residents are proud to call MorningStar of Boulder “home.”

MorningStar of Boulder offers the very best in senior retirement living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder.

Source: todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/news/ex_082809_03.shtml

Work for a Unique Company that Values Your Service

The MorningStar Senior Living Company knows the difference between mission and margin. With core values of: Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness; we know we are part of something unique.  With a vision statement that reads: In pursuit of excellence, MorningStar resolves to be a company of servant-minded, purpose-driven leaders in our senior communities and throughout the world; we know we are part of something inspirational.  In addition our mission statement includes honoring God in our business practices and valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals.  It also reads to invest generously in our team’s ability to serve.  At MorningStar we know that treating our team well means residents will be treated well. 

Our team is made up of people who feel privileged to serve our amazing residents, many of which have experienced things most of us only read about in books.  This is one of the reasons we consider seniors to be heroes.  Every day our residents teach us many important things including how to better understand love. 

MorningStar team members are also greatly appreciated by our residents and their families.  In fact we frequently hear from them telling us about the terrific job our staff is doing.  As one family member writes, “MorningStar has been a delight. I can say with complete confidence that my mother is in the best hands.”   Another resident’s family writes, “We appreciate you all so much! Each one of you shows respect, kindness and love to our mom on a daily basis. God’s love is flowing through you to touch the life of our mother and the many other residents. Thank you!”  

If you would like a fulfilling career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of our remarkable residents, please take a look at our posted assisted living jobs in the Denver area.  Our positions vary as to the experience and/or educational requirements, but all of our roles need individuals with big hearts.  Whether you are in a managerial position, a food server or working in one of our housekeeping jobs, Denver’s MorningStar communities consider each one to be essential to the smooth operation of our homes.    

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors.  Please visit Morningstar’s Career page and follow our link to Assisted Living Jobs – Denver, CO.

Seniors Should Have a Healthcare Provider Who Understands Their Needs

As we age, our healthcare needs change, which is why seniors should have a primary healthcare provider who understands their special needs.  Experts recommend finding someone that “talks to you” and clearly explains what they are saying; and then most importantly listens to what you have to say.  Also, you do not want a healthcare provider that makes you feel like they only have ten minutes to spend with you.

Many seniors want to have a geriatrician, a physician dedicated to the care of seniors, on their team, but as Dr. Michael Wasserman, himself a geriatrician and board member of the American Geriatrics Society's Health in Aging Foundation, says, “There are 7,000 board-certified geriatricians in the country, and the number's going down every year."  However he explains that even if you do not have access in your area to a geriatrician, there is no reason to worry as a family doctor is able to manage your needs and can refer you to a specialist when appropriate.    

One way to find the right healthcare provider is to get a referral from family, friends or neighbors.  When you call the office, ask if they are accepting new patients, and if not, is there a waiting list?  Also check to see if they accept your insurance including various Medicare plans.  Another important thing, especially for seniors, is to find out if they have extended hours and after-hours availability as this can help keep older adults out of the hospital.  Experts further advise that you routinely use a single pharmacy as this can help to avoid dangerous drug interactions.    

At MorningStar at Jordan, an assisted living home in Centennial, CO, we have created a loving environment to ensure our resident’s comfort, wellness and safety.  Our assisted living is designed for seniors who require some help with their day-to-day personal care.  Our memory care compassionately provides for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area. 

Source: health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/11-things-seniors-should-look-for-in-a-health-provider

Holiday Gift Ideas for a Loved One with Dementia

With the holidays fast approaching, you may be wondering what type of gift to get for elderly parents.  It is especially difficult to know what to get if a loved one is suffering from dementia.  Experts suggest you help them find ways to reminisce about their lives and accomplishments, and give them things that will bring a smile to their face and some joy into their life.     

Many ideas for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia include personalized gifts.  One such gift is a talking photo book that allows you to record your own person commentary to go along with each photograph.  This can be a fun book to sit and enjoy with your family member as it helps to trigger memories and conversation.  Many companies offer such books, and prices typically vary with the amount of photos and recording time available.   

Buying an interactive book (the Alzheimer’s Association’s store has many) featuring vivid photographs and large print on a subject your mom or dad love such as animals or flowers can also promote conversation and provide a way to spend relaxing time together.  To ease stress or agitation, you may want to look into getting them a fiddle muff.  A fiddle muff can provide comfort and warmth as well as activity to promote increased hand flexibility and brain stimulation.  

Another meaningful gift is a cozy, customized blanket filled with photos of the grandkids or a beloved family pet.  On the Internet you can find companies that will do a collage of family photos or a singular one in a variety of materials.  Many of the blankets have surprisingly sharp images and can be machined washed and dried.   

If the person has a hard time falling asleep or relaxing, calming visual and or audio stimulation may help.  Several companies have all-in-one cubes that offer a range of calming music and visual displays that can turn the ceiling into a beautiful night sky.     

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living residences with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to set up a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community. 

Sources: unforgettable.org/shining-star-cube-with-soothing-sounds

store.best-alzheimers-products.com/alzheimers-dementia-gift-ideas/alzheimers-gift-guide.html

Meaningful Training that Enhances Your Career in Assisted Living

The Metro Denver’s MorningStar Senior Living communities pride themselves on providing unsurpassed, professional care to its residents.  In fact in 2018, MorningStar at Jordan was named “Best Of” Assisted Living by SeniorAdvisor.com, an exclusive designation awarded to the top 1% of senior living providers in US and Canada.  SeniorAdvisor.com is a division of A Place for Mom, and is one of the nation’s most widely respected senior living referral and review websites. 

MorningStar of Littleton, another Denver area community, is one of the Alzheimer’s Association’s designated “Recognized Leaders in Dementia Care.” To be so designated, a senior living community needs to enroll at least 75% of its staff in an eight-hour training session that helps the staff to better understand its memory care residents.  MorningStar of Littleton is proud of the fact that 84% of our staff is thus trained. 

At MorningStar of Parker, we are proud of our award-winning design by Thoma-Holec Design (MorningStar’s longtime interior design firm).  The award is from the 2016 American Society of Interior Designers regional awards gala; and took: 3rd place in Special Function Spaces.  The Parker community also received Honorable Mention in Hospitality for the: MorningStar of Parker Great Room. MorningStar of Wheat Ridge, MorningStar of Arvada, and MorningStar at Ridge Gate also boast award-winning architect.  

Moreover all of our homes have a committed staff dedicated to providing residents with the best professional care.  The MorningStar team is provided meaningful training in our proprietary Radiance Service Excellence initiative, the framework by which we deliver service - with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose.  In addition team members are treated as a valued part of our team.   

Would you love to work in senior living?  Currently we are recruiting exceptional individuals to fill a variety of assisted living jobs in our Denver, CO communities including care managers and medication care managers/QMAPs.  If you are a hard-working individual who would feel honored to care for our incredible residents, please visit our website for a full list of openings.  While you are there, be sure to read our detailed job descriptions and use our online application.  Our positions are full and part-time and include evening, weekend and night shifts.    

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors.  If you wish to thrive personally and professionally, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for more information on rewarding assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.

MorningStar at Jordan’s Holistic Approach to Healthy Aging

At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan, we provide our residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  Our gorgeous residential home offers resort-style amenities, a wide range care services and enrichment programs to enhance residents’ health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection.    

Headed up by an enthusiastic Life Enrichment Team, each day MorningStar presents creative ways for our residents to stay active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory. Our activities will engage residents physically, mentally, spiritually and socially and help them to tap into their unique talents and experiences.   

We also take to the road with outings and field trips to local parks, museums, shopping, and other areas of interest.  To get an idea of some of the activities we offer, please visit our website and look at “Life Around our House”, “More Scenes of Elevated, Celebrated Life” and our “In Touch Newsletter.”  Pictures often include holiday celebrations or special events such as dances, family picnics and fundraising activities.  MorningStar at Jordan never misses an opportunity to have fun!  Furthermore, take a look at our monthly assisted living calendar to get an idea of everything that is offered to our residents.     

MorningStar at Jordan amenities include a fireside patio and porches as well as an in-house salon for hair-styling, manicures and pedicures, a fitness and wellness center, massage room and much more.  We also have a Bistro, and along with our beautiful restaurant-style dining in our main dining room, we offer residents a private dining area for intimate dinners with family and friends.   

Our website has a lot more information on our assisted living home including a direct link to find out more about pricing and availability.   We encourage families to schedule a tour, and see for yourself why residents are proud to call MorningStar home. 

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area.

Beautiful Senior Living Communities Seek Exceptional Individuals

In the greater Denver area, MorningStar senior living communities offer area seniors compassionate, luxurious independent living, assisted living and memory care.  Our communities are true homes and filled with the promise of love, laughter and dignity.   Currently our homes are in need of people with virtues such as character, kindness and selflessness to fill a variety of assisted living jobs.   

One of our homes includes MorningStar at Jordan in Metro Denver’s historic Centennial and offers compassionate assisted living and memory care.  With the Valley Country Club next door and banks, hospitals, shopping malls, grocery stores and restaurants just down the road, MorningStar at Jordan is a great place to work and live at.  Our openings include full and part time care managers for all shifts as well as a dining room server and a Director of Community Relations.   

For those living in or around Littleton, consider applying to one of our assisted living jobs at MorningStar of Littleton that include care managers, a cook, and medication care managers/QMAPs.  Located on Kipling Street just south of Belleview Avenue, nature lovers will appreciate we are a few miles west of Bear Creek Lake Regional Park.  We provide loving assisted living and memory care.   

MorningStar at Ridge Gate is in the heart of Lone Tree and near to the Lone Tree Arts Center and the new Douglas County library as well the shopping and entertainment district of Park Meadows.  Current assisted living jobs in the Denver area community include care managers, cook, dining room server, and more.   

At Parker Senior Living by MorningStar in Parker, we offer independent living, assisted living and memory care.  Open positions include care managers, dining room servers, and medication care managers/QMAPs.  These are full and part-time jobs for various shifts.    Finally, MorningStar of Arvada in Arvada, a northwest suburb of Denver, offers independent and assisted living as well as memory care.  Openings include care managers, cook, dining room servers, medication care managers/QMAPs and dishwasher.  

If you are north of Denver and interested in an assisted living job, please consider MorningStar of Wheat Ridge.   We have a range of openings including an activity bus driver, care manager, Director of Community Relations, and more.  Our community is part of the brand new Kipling Ridge, the city’s largest re-gentrification project in nearly three decades. 

Please see our website for information on how to apply to all of our current openings. 

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors.  If you wish to serve, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on how to apply to assisted living jobs in Denver.

Socialization is One Benefit of Community Living

At MorningStar of Boulder, we know that senior retirement homes offer many benefits including the often-overlooked benefit of socialization.  Senior living provides a natural, easy way to be around people that share your interests as well as encourages older adults to stay engaged in life.  In fact, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has substantial research that shows socialization is an important component to our good health.   

One thing the NIH studies consistently found is a “strong correlation between social interaction and health and well-being among older adults.”  Moreover they found that social isolation may have significant adverse effects for older adults. They report that social relationships are strongly associated with biomarkers of health and that loneliness may have a physical as well as an emotional impact such as a higher risk for symptoms of depression.  

As MorningStar defines health and well-being holistically, we proudly offer services and programs that support the whole person: body, mind and spirit, and consider Wellness to be a joint effort between Life Enrichment and our Wellness Care Team.  In addition, we value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals and are committed to creating a community that promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle, while providing security and independence.  

Please visit MorningStar of Boulder’s website to learn more about our beautiful senior living community as well as our wellness programs and activities.  Our community has 48 suites for assisted living, and an additional 46 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. 

MorningStar of Boulder offers the very best in senior retirement homes with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our loving community.

Source: nia.nih.gov/about/living-long-well-21st-century-strategic-directions-research-aging/research-suggests-positive 

A Good Night’s Sleep is Essential to Your Wellbeing

Due to much research on the subject, we now know it is not only important to get a good night’s sleep but it is essential to our overall good health and wellbeing.  Sleeping balances our active life with the time our body needs to renew and rejuvenate. However, unfortunately with age comes a variety of health conditions that can interfere with getting a good night’s sleep.   

Experts explain that the elderly are more likely to “suffer from chronic insomnia characterized by difficulty maintaining sleep than difficulty initiating sleep.”  Suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) or sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and sleep apnea are more frequently seen in older adults and can result in poor sleep patterns.  We also know that bright sunlight helps to regulate melatonin (a hormone that promotes sleep) and sleep-wake cycles, and many elderly people do not spend enough time out-of-doors.   

Not getting an adequate amount of sleep each night can impact vitality and resilience that seniors need to age better.  In fact, insomnia is associated with poor health and mortality.  Lack of sleep can also increase older adults’ risk of a fall, and some studies suggest a history of sleep deprivation can increase the risk of cognitive problems.  Routinely napping during the day is another problem that interferes with a good night’s sleep.   

Tips for getting a better night’s sleep include avoiding eating and working late.  Experts say to turn off the TV and other smart devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime as the blue light emitted from electronics prevents the body from releasing melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep.  Follow a set bedtime, and right before you plan to go to sleep do some deep breathing and light stretching.  It is recommended we try to get eight to nine hours of sleep on most nights.    

MorningStar at Jordan offers 55 suites for assisted living and 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care for residents with memory impairment.  Our spacious senior living residences are available in a variety of well-designed floor plans and have details reflective of those found throughout our beautifully appointed community.  Conveniently located in the south-central area of Metro Denver, our residents enjoy a wide assortment of resort-style amenities, enrichment programs and activities.  Please visit our website for more information. 

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living residences with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to set up a tour to see firsthand our exceptional community. 

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2516307

MorningStar of Boulder’s Approach to Memory Care

At MorningStar of Boulder, we not only provide assisted living to Boulder area seniors but also experienced memory care.  Our Reflections Neighborhood has 46 secure memory care suites dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.   MorningStar’s compassionate team expertly provides the care your loved one requires for their utmost comfort, wellness and safety.  

Our holistic approach to memory care is done through our program we call “Lavender Sky.”  By utilizing our extensive understanding of dementia, it provides the tools to empower and equip our team to advance our vision and mission of providing a more insightful way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  

All of our employees receive training in the program as we understand knowledge provides greater wisdom and insight into interacting with our most tender residents.  The eight hours of training includes the pathology behind the disease as well as communication techniques, and holistic solutions to dining, safety and challenging behaviors.  

Through Lavender Sky, our caregivers thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the “purple world” of dementia as they crossover the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us. By exploring each of our residents’ life stories including their history and preferences, we create an individualized care plan. We also involve and engage family members in how to follow our lead.

Please visit our website for more information regarding experienced, compassionate memory care.  While many assisted living companies may offer memory care, we consider it our calling to care for our very special residents.  At MorningStar of Boulder, we do not consider serving our memory care residents to be depressing but rather offer hope to families as we strive to find ways to elevate and celebrate each resident’s life.  

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest”, sets us apart from other assisted living companies. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder, Colorado.

Help Us Fulfill Our Mission to Create Loving Homes for Seniors

If you think of yourself (or are treated) as just a housekeeper, we invite you to take your skills and experience and apply to one of our open housekeeping jobs in Denver.  Here you will be treated as much more than just part of the housekeeping staff but rather a valuable member of our entire team.  In order for us to live up to the high expectations families have of the Denver area MorningStar senior living communities, it takes the efforts of all staff members to achieve this goal.  Thus, we seek kind, caring individuals to fill every role in our homes including housekeepers.    

MorningStar housekeeping jobs are unique as we encourage housekeepers to build relationships with our remarkable residents as well as with fellow team members.  We know the power of relationships is priceless and is not only good for our residents but is the way to build a distinguished team of service professionals who feel called, connected and empowered.  Team members are encouraged to explore their unique gifts and reach their fullest potential, and as internal promotions are common within the company, you will have opportunities for career advancement.   

Our Denver area communities offer independent and assisted living as well as memory care and are located in beautiful Littleton, Parker, Centennial, Wheat Ridge, Lone Tree and Arvada.  Working in one of our housekeeping jobs, you will feel good knowing you have helped to make someone else’s life better and enjoy hearing residents tell you how much they appreciate your hard work.   Visit MorningStar’s Career page and use the link to “Assisted Living Jobs Denver” for a list of openings, information on each position, and how to apply.  MorningStar assisted living jobs allow you to grow and flourish as you help improve the quality of life for our beloved seniors.   

At MorningStar Senior Living, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  We are committed to a foundation built upon honoring God and valuing all seniors, and are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve seniors.  Please visit our Career page for information on various assisted living jobs including housekeeping jobs in Denver.

Companion Living at MorningStar of Boulder

While seniors have discovered the many benefits of senior retirement homes, MorningStar of Boulder understands that for some older adults the cost may be too high to comfortably afford.  This is why we consider it part of our job to help area seniors find creative ways to make the move to assisted living possible.

One of the things we offer to make it more affordable is “Companion Living.”  Whether you wish to move into assisted living or memory care, Companion Living allows two unrelated people of the same sex to share the expense of a suite.  Furthermore, if you do not have a friend or relative to share a suite with, we will carefully pair you up with another senior who shares your interests and background.  

The advantage of companion living also goes far beyond economics as companionship is important for a person’s health and wellbeing. We believe we are designed by our Creator for relationships, and that isolation can drain us of energy and purpose.  When a senior loses their life partner after being married 40, 50, or 60 years, it can be a very lonely existence and a companion can help to diminish those feelings of loneliness, and help the person to reconnect.  

Offering built-in companionship, it can additionally help to ease the transition of moving into a senior living community.  Also, as roommates naturally look after each other’s interests, they may be the first one to notice changes in their roomies’ health or abilities. 

Please visit our website to get an idea of the various amenities and services we offer as well as to set up a tour of our gorgeous community.  We are certain MorningStar of Boulder’s exceptional architecture and design will impress you from the first but the thing we are most proud of is our dedicated, loving team.      

MorningStar of Boulder offers the very best in senior retirement homes with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our loving community.

Regardless of Your Age - Exercise is Good for You

Regardless of your age, you can benefit from regular physical exercise.  Studies show exercise can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer as well as reduce the pain associated with arthritis.  It can also improve balance, flexibility, endurance and strength. Staying active can even improve sleep quality and duration and enhance your mood.  

Different forms of exercises offer different benefits but please remember to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise.  Stretching exercises can improve mobility and flexibility and relieve sore and stiff muscles. They can also help to reduce lower back-pain, improve posture and increase blood flow and energy.  

Aerobic exercises can help improve endurance and increase your breathing and heart rate.  Moderate aerobic exercises for seniors include walking briskly, swimming and dancing. Doctors suggest you start slowly and build up your endurance, and if you have been inactive, start with 5 minutes of cardio a day several times a week and build from there.

In addition, experts say it is important for the elderly to routinely do balance exercises as they can help prevent falls.  Most are easy to do and do not require any special equipment. 

MorningStar of Boulder offers residents a healthy lifestyle that includes a wide range of programs and activities as well as nutritional daily meals.  WellStar, our signature wellness program, supports and encourages physical, intellectual, spiritual and social connections. If you are looking for a community with an exceptional care team along with amenities and services unmatched by other assisted living companies, please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar of Boulder.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest”, sets us apart from other assisted living companies. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder, Colorado.

Getting a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

In this year alone, approximately 500,000 people in the U.S. will receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia such as frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease and others.  Moreover, even though many families have come to suspect a problem and may not be all that surprised to hear the diagnosis, it is still a devastating blow.    

However please remember if you or a family member is experiencing confusion and/or memory loss that there are other factors that can masquerade as dementia.  For example, lack of sleep and/or depression and anxiety can result in feelings of confusion.  Also certain medications and medical conditions can have side effects that mimic some of the symptoms of dementia. 

The U.S. News & World Report cautions families that if a loved one is not as sharp as they used to be to make sure that they are protected against scams from unscrupulous people.  You may want to have a family member, trusted friend, or a professional financial advisor help to oversee the person’s finances. 

Another thing you can do to help yourself and your family feel more prepared for what the future holds is to investigate the extent of your community’s resources.  This may include looking into options for in-home care as well as senior living communities that specialize in memory care. 

Experts say one of the most important things to avoid doing after getting a diagnosis of dementia is to assume your life is over.  They stress you need to find reasons for hope and to think about ways to bring joy into your life.  Tia Powell, M.D. writes that “music is one wonderful avenue for delight. Your brain's capacity for music is unusually sturdy; the ability to sing, play and enjoy music often outlasts many other skills.”

At MorningStar at Jordan, we provide area seniors with a compassionate and loving assisted living home as well as specialized, individualized memory care to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  As dementia care experts, each day our energies are put toward continuing to find ways to celebrate and elevate life.  Please contact us with questions. 

MorningStar at Jordan’s mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we offer our residents the best assisted living home in the area. 

Source:health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/questions-to-ask-when-youre-diagnosed-with-dementia

MorningStar Of Boulder’s Care Services

If you are looking at what assisted living companies offer in the Boulder area, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Boulder. We provide area seniors compassionate assisted living and memory care with resort-style amenities, wellness programs and activities, and a wide range of care services to ensure their utmost comfort and wellbeing.  

At MorningStar we define health and well-being holistically and as such, offer programming that supports the whole person – body, mind and spirit, and are thus the perfect destination for successful aging.  Reflective of the full authority of our licensing with the Department of Health, our resident care services are broad and help extend the stay of residents even as their health conditions change.  In fact we will routinely look for creative solutions (within our licensing mandate) that yield a higher quality of care for residents at a lower cost to their families.  

To improve care services, we proudly bring the MorningStar Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to our Boulder community.  It provides us with a central, mobile solution for assessments, care planning, incident tracking, wound care, behavior management and eMARs (electronic medication administration records).   The system benefits both our team and residents with quick access to accurate, legible, and complete demographic and medical information on residents. It offers different modules to monitor various vitals and key health metrics as well as provides enhanced privacy and security of residents’ data.  

Our services include: 24-hour care managers, medication management by certified med care managers, licensed nurse—on call 24/7, care planning reviews and scheduled health & wellness evaluations.  We also offer mechanical lift assistance, weights and vitals monitoring, diabetic management, oxygen administration, transportation to medical appointments, pharmacy services, and much more. Please visit our website to see the full list of our care services and to read more about MorningStar of Boulder.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest”, sets us apart from other assisted living companies. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the best assisted living and memory care in Boulder, Colorado.