Making the Most of Your Visit to an Assisted Living Resident

Especially during the winter season, many of us wish to brighten the day for a loved one in an assisted living home by letting them know them are very special to us.  To help make our visit more meaningful, experts provide some tips to keep in mind when we visit. 

You may want to plan in advance an activity your loved one would enjoy doing with you during your visit.  Examples include bringing along a puzzle to work on, a Scrabble board or a trivia game.  You could get prints of current photos of the family made to add to an album or to start a new one.  If they are a music lover, bring some new music to enjoy together.  If they love listening to stories, get an audiobook to listen to or buy a favorite family movie to watch together.  If they love sending greeting cards to family and friends, buy a box of cards and help them get them ready to mail.   If they love to be pampered, bring along the supplies to give them a manicure.   

If the community has gathering area with lots of natural light, bring a simple meal of sandwiches and a drink to enjoy a winter “picnic”.  Bringing your kids along automatically provides a more cheerful energy and will give the resident pleasant memories long after the little ones have gone home.   However, do keep in mind that too many visitors at a time can be hectic and it may be better to spread out the visits.

If you do want to bring gifts, remember the person most likely does not have a lot of extra room for anything too big.  Gifts of food are generally welcomed and can be shared with others in the community.  Other tips include not visiting when you are ill, and be sure to wash your hands when you first come in to avoid spreading germs.  

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan, we provide lots of activities and programs for our residents but we know they always look forward to seeing their family.  Please visit our website to learn more about our community, our amenities and care services. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 finest assisted living home in Centennial, CO.

Downsizing Before Your Move to a Senior Community

If you are ready to move from your family home into senior retirement living, we have some helpful suggestions to help you organize and downsize your life’s possessions.  Organizing experts caution that while the task may seem overwhelming, you need to create a plan, take it one step at a time, and give yourself plenty of time.  If you are unable to do the work due to your health, there are professionals you can hire that specializing in helping seniors move.  

It is recommended you start in one room and work from there.  Recruit as much help as you can from family and friends and set up piles of items you will keep, stuff to donate or sell at a yard sale, and things you want to gift to people.  

Always keep in mind that your new space is most likely going to be smaller so get rid of duplicates and consider how your new lifestyle will be different from how you are now living.  For instance, if you are moving into a community that offers meals, chances are you will need only the barest amount of kitchen items.  

The same goes for furniture.  It is suggested you make a floor plan of your new place so you have an idea of the scale of what will fit.  Consider selling furniture such as a coffee table or couch that seems too big and use the money toward purchasing pieces that are more suited to the size of the place.   Not only will your place be more comfortable and look better, but it is important to have open pathways throughout your new apartment to help prevent the risk of a fall.     

At MorningStar of Boulder, we offer 48 assisted living suites along with 46 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the specialized care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.  We are committed to provide compassionate and loving care each and every day and to offer seniors a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Visit our website for more information.  

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 our assisted living and memory community.

Not Just a Job but a Career with Purpose & Opportunities for Growth

The MorningStar senior living communities have been blessed to attract a team of extraordinary individuals due to the reputation of our name, our mission, and our ministry.  They are men and women who feel privileged to provide seniors with a better quality of life that helps to support their independence.  They also understand the magnitude of their service and the significance of staying true to our mission of servant-leadership.   Currently several of our Denver area communities are seeking individuals with a felt calling to serve to join our team.

While founded on Judeo-Christian traditions, we honor and respect all faiths and invite loving, compassionate people who want to make a difference in the lives of others to join our team.  All new MorningStar employees, regardless of their position in the community, receive training in Radiance, our service initiative that celebrates an attitude of selflessness.  Like a beam of light that issues from a deep, sincere place, Radiance helps us deliver the type of service our brand is built on and allows us to take service professionalism to the next level.

If you are drawn to the idea of working in a place where seniors are seen as heroes, please visit our website and check out the many assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.  Locations 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 Parker Senior Living by MorningStar – Parker. 

Moreover regardless of your expertise, if you have a big heart and wish to serve, we most likely have a position that suits you as they vary from hands-on care managers to support positions such as medication care managers/QMAPs, dining room servers, cooks, maintenance assistances, and housekeeping jobs at Denver’s six MorningStar communities.   Each of our communities is a true home and we consider each resident and team member to be part of our MorningStar family.  Please come join our team!

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 information, visit MorningStar’s Career page for a full list of assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.

Thinking About Assisted Living for Your Parent?

Moving into assisted living is a life changing decision for an elderly person.  As their adult child, you can help evaluate which of your area’s senior retirement homes is most suitable for your parent and your family.  Furthermore, as the transition can be challenging for some seniors under the best of situations, choosing the wrong community may not only be costly but traumatizing for an older adult.   

Mistakes can be avoided or minimized if you do your homework beforehand and learn from others.  The Internet offers many commonsense tips on what to look for and what to avoid when searching for an assisted living community including advice from A Place for Mom, the nation’s largest assisted living referral service.  

As senior living options include independent living, assisted living and memory care, experts say to realistically assess your parent’s health needs and choose a community capable of handling today’s needs as well as future ones.  A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisor, Melissa Pratt explains “Take a look at the health issues that your parent has and ask the doctor what support they will need in the future. It’s better to have a community that can handle those future needs rather than having to move your parent to another community in the near future.”   

After looking over various senior living communities’ websites, narrow down your choice to a couple that seem to best meet your needs.  Then set up a tour. Senior living advisors remind families to listen to the parent and not base their decision on which community appeals most to them.  If a parent is not up to making a decision, families need to remember what their parent is like and choose a place that fits their personality and preferences.  It is also smart to not make a decision too quickly.  

MorningStar of Boulder offers 48 suites for assisted living and 46 secure suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. Please visit our website for more information about our beautiful, loving community.  If you like what you see, we encourage you to set up a tour. 

At MorningStar of Boulder, we represent the very best in senior retirement homes with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful assisted living and memory care community.    

Common Medical Conditions Affecting Seniors

Statistics indicate we are living longer, and if you do reach the age of 65, you can expect to live on average another nearly 20 years.  Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of those over the age of 65 reports they are in very good or excellent health. 

Experts recommend that older adults should be aware of chronic health conditions common to seniors and make lifestyle changes that may help stave off those diseases and improve their quality of life.  Some of the things they suggest are to eat a healthy diet, stay physically active, quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight. 

If you are already coping with a chronic medical condition, following those suggestions can help you to better manage your disease as well as improve your quality of life.  Experts also recommend if you do not already have a geriatrician on your healthcare team, to add one, as they have a special understanding of what seniors are going through. 

The three most prevalent diseases affecting older adults in order are arthritis, heart disease and cancer.   The CDC estimates arthritis affects almost 50 percent of all adults over the age of 65, and can cause pain and a lower quality of life.  While the disease can “discourage you from being active, it’s important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized activity plan that, along with other treatment, can help maintain senior health.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults over the age of 65, and an estimated 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women over 65 are afflicted with chronic heart disease.  Doctors say it is important to exercise, eat well, get a good night’s sleep, and maintain a healthy weight in order to stave off heart disease or to better manage it.

Cancer is the next most common disease in seniors and the second leading cause of death in adults over the age of 65.  CDC statistics show 28 percent of men and 21 percent of woman over 65 are living with cancer.  It is a disease that if caught early, is often treatable so be sure to get routine screening such as colonoscopies, mammograms, and skin checks.  

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 Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living 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 one of the area’s finest senior living residences.

Source: everydayhealth.com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors/    

Work at a Place with Core Values that Include “Kindness, Honesty, Respect”

When the MorningStar senior living communities recruit new team members, we look for individuals with big hearts and the kind of people who will do the right thing even when no one is looking.  We seek men and women with a felt calling to serve and those who understand that service brings a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.   

Several of our communities currently have posted a variety of assisted living jobs in the Denver, CO area.  Since we are running a true home, our positions are diverse and openings include everyone from care managers and medication care managers/QMAPs to cooks, food servers, housekeepers and more.  Also as you can see, while each one requires a different skill set and experience, we first and foremost look for people with character, kindness, and selflessness.    

To best serve our residents, our goal is to build a team of service professionals who feel called, connected and empowered, and understand the importance of investing in our resident-families and fellow team members.  MorningStar also believes it is important that our homes are beacons of decency where good manners and polite conversations are alive and well.  This is why our actions are guided by Radiance, our service excellence initiative that provides a tangible and purposeful way to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others.  It is how we deliver our brand of service and how we learn to understand our residents’ unmet needs, and nurture loving connections.

If you are interested in joining our distinguished team, please visit our website’s Career page and follow the link to Assisted Living Jobs Denver for a complete list of positions, detailed job descriptions and an online application.  Each one is a fulfilling career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of our cherished residents.  Join a team with a tagline of “Service Becomes Us.”

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 a link to rewarding assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.

MorningStar at Jordan’s Life Enrichment Program

At MorningStar at Jordan, we strongly believe that older adults still have a lot to contribute and are eager and open to learning new ideas and pursuing new interests.  This is why our assisted living home offers an inspirational and engaging life enrichment program.  Our Life Enrichment is designed to stimulate your brain, enhance health and wellness, and encourage social connections.

Headed by our talented Life Enrichment team, our assisted living calendar is filled with optional activities that use creative ways to stay active and productive for man’s good and God’s glory.  We tap into our residents’ unique talents and experiences, and if we do not already have one, encourage residents to take the lead in establishing special interest clubs. 

From flower arranging, to a variety of exercise options, poetry readings or spelling bees, and live music, MorningStar at Jordan is committed to engaging the mind, body and spirit each day.  We also take outings to cultural destinations, scenic drives, out to lunch and more.  We suggest you take a look at our monthly calendar, Life Around Our House and Upcoming Events on our website to get a better idea of the fun and entertainment enjoyed by MorningStar residents and their families as well as our staff. 

MorningStar at Jordan offers 55 private assisted living suites in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations. In addition, we have 29 secure memory care suites dedicated to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. All of our suites are ready to move into and just need your furnishings and personal items to feel like home.  Please contact us for information on pricing and availability. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 finest assisted living home in Centennial, CO.

Housekeeping Jobs in Denver – Good Wages and Great Benefits!

In many workplaces, a housekeeper’s job is to just stick to their tasks; and as they are not considered part of the team, they are not seen as instrumental in the overall success of the company.  At the MorningStar senior living communities, we are the polar opposite of those types of businesses.  We recognize that each MorningStar employee is an essential part of our team whether they are a housekeeper, cook, maintenance supervisor or the Executive Director at one of our homes.  We know they are the reason we are able to deliver the kind of service our residents and families have come to depend on. 

Working in one of MorningStar’s housekeeping jobs, you will be paid a competitive wage and offered comprehensive benefits that include medical, vision, dental and more.  You will also receive vacation, sick and holiday pay.  And while our company was founded on Judeo-Christian values, please know we warmly welcome team members and residents of all faith.  In addition our homes are proud to be part of a company with core values that include: Love, Kindness, Honesty, Goodness, Fairness, and Respect. 

While experience is welcomed in roles such as our housekeeping jobs, our Denver area senior living communities do not require it as we will provide the proper training you need to excel.  For example, all employees receive training in Radiance, our brand standard of Service Excellence.  We used it to guide the way we deliver service – with sincerity, warmth, and depth of purpose.    

Available assisted living jobs in Denver’s communities of Arvada, Parker, Wheat Ridge, RidgeGate, Jordan, and Littleton include care managers, med care managers/QMAPs, dining room servers, housekeepers, chefs and cooks, and more.  Visit our website to see the full list of openings at a community near you.  Also we suggest you visit that community’s home page to learn more about it as well as the different activities and events that go on.   

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 well-paying career with a lot of heart, please visit MorningStar’s website for various assisted living jobs in Denver, CO.

Pets Add to Seniors’ Enjoyment of Life

According to research, animals can help older adults lower their blood pressure as well as increase their social interactions and physical activity.  Studies have also found pets help seniors to cope with depression and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.  Pets such as dogs and cats are very loyal, loving animals and make great companions for seniors.

In the National Poll on Healthy Aging, sponsored by AARP and the University of Michigan, 2,051 seniors age 50 to 80 were interviewed.  Over half of the participants were pet owners, and of that group, more than 88% reported that pets added to their enjoyment of life.  Moreover 86% of them said their pets made them feel loved. The survey also reported that as many as 80% of the pet owners stated their pets helped them reduce stress.

Experts estimate that up to 40% of seniors feel lonely on a regular basis, which is problematic as loneliness is associated with poor sleep habits, higher stress and more inflammation.  In another study from 2012 by Pain Magazine, it was reported that “therapy dogs provided significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.”  The journal, Science, reports that just by looking into the eyes of their dog for at least 5 minutes, pet owners got a boost of the feel-good oxytocin hormone in their brain. 

Dr. Jay P. Granat, a New Jersey-based psychotherapist explains some of the benefits of pet ownership for the elderly, saying, “Dogs and cats live very much in the present; they don’t worry about tomorrow, which can be a very scary concept for an older person. An animal embodies that sense of here and now, and it tends to rub off on people.” 

At MorningStar at Jordan, we recognize the relationship that exists between a senior and their pet, which is why our community is pet friendly.  Please see our website for more information about our assisted living home and the various amenities, services, and support we offer to our residents and their families.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 finest assisted living home in Centennial, CO.

Source: agingcare.com

MorningStar at Jordan Provides Individualized, Compassionate Memory Care

At MorningStar at Jordan, our goal is to be one the best senior living residences in the Centennial, CO area, which includes specialized, loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

MorningStar Senior Living operates over 25 senior living communities throughout the Western U.S.  This means MorningStar at Jordan benefits from the extensive knowledge and expertise our company has gained over their 16 years of operation regarding all facets of senior living, including a deep understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

MorningStar has earned a reputation as trusted dementia care specialists, and we feel it is our calling to provide care to our most special residents.  By devoting a separate area to memory care called our Reflections Neighborhood, residents have the independence to safely move about their expansive surroundings. 

Our holistic approach to dementia care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia.  Providing loving support for our residents, we enter with insight and intentionality as we step into their “purple world” and cross over the physical and emotional boundaries that would otherwise separate us.  We also feel it is our job to help support our residents’ families.  Along with education, we show them how to follow our lead and enter into the world of their loved ones.

In addition to our Reflections Neighborhood for memory care, MorningStar at Jordan offers 55 graciously appointed suites for assisted living with a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans.  Please visit our website to learn more.

MorningStar 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 assisted living and memory care community.

A Career that Allows You to Use Your Unique Talents

While each person has special talents, all too often many of us end up working in jobs that do not allow us the opportunity to fully explore them.  At the MorningStar senior living communities, our priority is to create a place where not only our residents flourish but where our team members are encouraged to do the same. 

This starts with a mission statement that includes: investing generously in our team’s ability to serve well and a commitment to hiring and retaining employees who use creative minds and compassionate hearts to serve residents.  Moreover these are not just words as we recognize all our employees are a valuable part of our team and that their efforts contribute to our overall success. 

Thus we believe it is important for MorningStar’s staff to be provided the tools they need in the form of purposeful training, both at the time of hire and throughout their career with us.  We also offer support and mentoring from managers and fellow team members as well as opportunities for growth as we promote from within the company whenever possible.

Currently we seek individuals with a felt calling to serve to apply to various assisted living jobs including housekeeping jobs in our Denver area communities.  These include MorningStar of Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan in Centennial; MorningStar of Littleton; MorningStar at RidgeGate in Lone Tree; MorningStar of Wheat Ridge; and Parker Senior Living by MorningStar.  Open positions vary from hands-on care managers and medication care managers to life enrichment coordinators and associates, cooks, food servers, housekeepers and more. 

Please join us as we commit to improving the quality of life for the resident-heroes that dwell beneath our roofs.   Visit our website or give us a call for more information about fulfilling assisted living jobs in the Denver, CO area.    

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 Dinning Experience

Committed to be one of the best senior living residences in Centennial, CO, MorningStar at Jordan understands the important of gathering together as a community to “break bread” each day.  We believe food is a healing medicine unlike any other, and when our residents sit down to a delicious meal served restaurant-style, it creates lasting bonds and fellowship within our “family.” 

We recognize that good nutrition is especially important to the wellbeing of seniors, which is why food is prepared largely from scratch and features the freshest of ingredients from high-quality producers and/or are locally sourced.  MorningStar’s meals are prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef. 

As a resident, you will be treated to seasonal menus and special holiday feasts such as the one we recently enjoyed at our Holiday Dinner Party on December 19th.  Also, Chef modifies menus and recipes to accommodate residents’ changing needs and tastes.  Moreover, you can easily self-manage any dietary restrictions as we offer a wide selection of low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, and low-fat foods.   

MorningStar at Jordan also believes that nutrient-rich ingredients can help stimulate the appetite and support brain health.  This is why we prepare meals using BrainWise super foods that contain a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.  Super foods include acai, leafy dark greens, dark chocolates, berries, and fish, nuts and other foods high in Omega 3 fats. 

For our memory care residents, food is as much about Community as it is about Nutrition. To encourage appetites, our team members sit and share meals with residents and many are served “family style” as they are in private homes.  Much of our food is modified out of respect for residents’ somewhat compromised eating abilities and include finger foods, texture-modified diets and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.

MorningStar at Jordan represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest senior living residences in Centennial, CO.

Do You Want to Add More Meaning & Purpose to Your Life?

When we commit to a path of serving others, we give more meaning and purpose to our lives.  As a respected MorningStar Senior Living team member, you will have an opportunity to truly make a difference in the life of our residents as you help provide them a lifestyle that celebrates their independence.  Also working in one of our assisted living jobs gives you the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. 

In addition as we routinely promote from within whenever possible, your opportunities for career advancement are many and it is not unheard of to start as a care manager and end up managing one of our homes.  We are also an equal opportunity employer and are proud of our diverse workforce.  Working at MorningStar means you join a distinguished team of service professionals and are an integral partner in our success.   

Along with competitive wages, we offer comprehensive benefits that include medical, dental, and vision healthcare plans.  We also strive to accommodate employees’ own family obligations by providing flexible schedules and respecting shift preferences to enable a healthy work-life balance.

Our beautiful communities offer the area’s finest independent living, assisted living and memory care and provide all of the amenities, care services and programs for our residents’ utmost comfort.  Please visit our website to learn more about openings that include everything from caregiving to housekeeping jobs in Denver’s exceptional MorningStar of Arvada; MorningStar at Jordan; MorningStar of Littleton; MorningStar at RidgeGate; MorningStar of Wheat Ridge; and Parker Senior Living by MorningStar communities. 

The moment you walk through the door of a MorningStar community, you will feel it in the air; see it with your own eyes - a staff that flat out loves our residents like they do their own moms and dads.  Come and be part of something special!

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 would like to serve, visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on applying to open positions including caregiving and housekeeping jobs in Denver, CO.

Learn More About MorningStar of Boulder

Are you and your family beginning the search for senior retirement living and trying to determine the services offered at different communities?  If you live in and around Boulder, CO, we want you to know that MorningStar of Boulder 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 of Boulder 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.  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 Boulder.  

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.

MorningStar of Boulder’s Resident-Directed Memory Care

As one of the area’s top senior retirement homes, we feel it is our calling, and our privilege, to provide loving, compassionate memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  With 46 memory care suites, we are equipped to care for your loved one from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  Also, our Reflections Neighborhood is a secure environment, designed to allow residents the independence to move freely and safely about in their expansive surroundings.  

In fact, every aspect of our memory care is tailored to serve the needs of our most tender residents from a team of exceptional caregivers to meals, wellness programs and services.  Once your loved one decides to join the MorningStar community, we sit down with your family to learn as much as we can about their personal preferences, medical history and background in order to create an individualized care plan.  Every resident receives 24-hour care, daily health monitoring, access to a full-time nurse, and participates in daily activities and scheduled outings and events.

As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.”  Our program is another reflection of our Radiance culture and provides us with an insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  All team members, regardless of their position, receive Lavender Sky training, which includes a deeper understanding of the disease and communication techniques to use with memory-impaired residents.  It also includes training in environmental safety and security and holistic solutions to challenging behaviors.  

Along with memory care, MorningStar of Boulder offers exceptional assisted living.   Please visit our website to learn more about our memory care as well as the many resort-style amenities and services we provide to all residents.  

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.

Not Getting Adequate Sleep Impacts Your Health and 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 of Boulder’s senior retirement living community includes 48 suites for assisted living and 46 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care for residents with memory impairment.  Our spacious suites are available in a variety of well-designed floor plans and have details reflective of those found throughout our beautifully appointed community.  Conveniently located on the southeast side of the celebrated mountain town of Boulder, 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 of Boulder represents the very best in senior retirement living 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/

Hearing Loss is One of the Most Common Conditions Affecting Seniors

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults.   They state that, “Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.”

Hearing loss may result in difficulty following a conversation as well as the danger of not properly hearing a doctor’s advice.  Many older adults cannot hear the doorbell or may have trouble responding to alarms and other warning devices such as a smoke detector. 

The NIDCD lists several signs that may indicate you are suffering from hearing loss.  These include things like having problems hearing the TV or radio at levels that are loud enough for others or a reluctance to attend family gatherings and church services. 

Common causes of hearing loss are a condition called presbycusis, which is gradual hearing loss that seems to run in families or exposure to loud noise over an extended period of time.  Other things that can increase your risk for hearing loss include earwax build-up, diabetes, listening to music with earbuds, and being overweight.

Your hearing loss may also be due to your medication.  The AARP reports that according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “more than 200 drugs, ranging from over-the-counter medications to chemotherapy, can damage hearing.”  Even common pain medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen have been linked to a higher risk of hearing loss when taken for six or more years as reported by a Brigham and Women’s Hospital 2016 study. 

If you feel you may be experiencing hearing problems, you will need to see a doctor to be tested.  Furthermore, since there are many reasons for hearing loss, treatment options will vary depending on the cause. 

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan represents the very best in senior living 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 one of the area’s finest senior living residences.

Sources:  www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss

aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2014/hearing-loss-causes.html

Join Us in Serving True Heroes – Meet Our Remarkable Residents!

If you have a felt calling to serve, we invite you to apply to one of our assisted living jobs in the Denver, CO area. Unlike other senior living communities, from the start, the MorningStar Senior Living Company was intentional and articulate about the kind of culture we wanted to build.  Today we seek compassionate men and women with big hearts to help support and advance our loving mission. 

Fortunately we have attracted a team of individuals who feel as we do – that seniors are true heroes who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  In addition our team is made up of men and women who do the right thing even when no one is watching and go the extra mile to see to it that our residents’ need are met.   Each one understands it is a privilege to serve; and recognizes the magnitude of their contributions to society as they work each day to make someone else’s life better, richer.

While all of MorningStar’s homes are beautifully designed and offer an array of resort-style amenities, the thing we are most proud of is the love found beneath our roofs.   We create this environment with the practice of Radiance, our brand of Service Excellence, which enriches our homes with a loving, welcoming presence.  With a tag line of “Service Becomes Us,” Radiance guides our team in developing a selfless attitude that is cultivated daily.

To get an up-close look at what goes on at our MorningStar homes, take a look at our Twice the Story video series, which showcases the tender relationships between residents and team members throughout our communities.   Please visit our website for more information on our variety assisted living jobs in Denver, CO’s communities of Arvada, Centennial, Littleton, Lone Tree, Wheat Ridge and Parker.  Our website has detailed information on each position as well as an online application.  Contact us if you have any questions. 

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 Career page and follow the link to Assisted Living Jobs – Denver, CO.

MorningStar of Boulder’s Professional Senior Care

MorningStar of Boulder is a beautiful senior care community that offers the area assisted living as well as memory care.  Our exceptional team is experienced in serving seniors and understands what it needed to provide our residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  

In fact, all facets of our community were designed from the ground up to compassionately and professionally serve our residents and we start with 24/7 care managers and access to licensed nurses and certified medication care managers/QMAPs.  MorningStar’s care managers help our assisted living residents retain their independence by providing help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting and eating as well as other medical assistance.  These dedicated individuals were hired for their big hearts and a desire to serve seniors.

MorningStar’s medication care managers/QMAPs also play an important role based on statistics from a National Institute of Health study.  It reports that 40% of seniors aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications, and 90% take at least one prescription. In addition it found that 55% of those seniors are improperly taking their medications.  Our certified med managers oversee both the ordering and dispensing of medications to our residents.  

For residents’ safety, our entire community is handicap accessible with wide doorways, spacious common areas and hallways, and each suite is equipped with handicapped-accessible bathrooms.  In addition, all 48 of our bright assisted living suites have a 24-hour Emergency Call System.   Our Reflections Neighborhood has 46 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and is designed to encourage our tender residents to easily and safely explore their spacious surroundings.  

To encourage residents to stay active and productive physically, intellectually, spiritually and socially, we offer wellness programs and activities.  For comfort and convenience, we provide a wide range of luxury amenities. Visit our website for availability and pricing of senior care unmatched by other assisted living companies.  

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.

Exercise is Beneficial Regardless of Age or Health Limitations

Research has shown over and over again that physical exercise is beneficial to older adults regardless of their age and health limitations.  If you are an older adult who is already physically active, you may be helping to “prevent problems like a lower maximum heart rate, reduced muscle mass, bone loss, stiffened tendons and ligaments, and some joint or nerve problems.”  Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.

If you are an older adult with some health limitations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Heart Association offer some useful tips for safely benefiting from physical activity.  Just remember, before you start any new exercise regimen, consult with your health care provider.  Also while you may not be able to attain the recommended 150 minutes a week, experts say you should try to engage in as much physical activity as you can. 

Adjust the intensity of your physical activity to your fitness level, and find activities you can do all year round and enjoy.  Walking is considered to be a good exercise for older adults as it can easily be adjusted to one’s fitness level by adjusting the length of the walk and pace.  Also remember to wear comfortable clothing as well as properly fitting footwear.  Walking with someone makes good sense for safety reasons and provides companionship. 

For seniors at risk of falling, it is important to do exercises to improve your balance.  Most of the recommended exercises are easy-to-do at home and can be done daily.  You will want to start any new activity slowly and increase your progress gradually.  Another thing to remember is to drink plenty of water throughout the day and during your exercise activity.  Keep in mind that as we age our thirst sensation diminishes, and by the time you feel thirsty, you may already be partially dehydrated.    

At MorningStar at Jordan, an assisted living home in Centennial, CO, we are proud to provide our residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  Beautifully designed to meet our residents’ every need, MorningStar has a range of wellness programs and activities to engage and support physical, intellectual, social and spiritual connections.  Please visit our website for contact information. 

Please contact your healthcare provider before you start, change, or stop any type of physical activity or exercise.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. 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 finest assisted living home in Centennial, CO.

Source:secondscount.org/heart-resources/heart-resources-detail?cid=8ad2d089-64a5-4d99-940d-818a250c91a4#.XWQdwHtMGM9