MorningStar Senior Living Community Blog

If you care for a family member or another loved one that is struggling with memory problems, you know how frightening their turmoil can be. Thankfully, assisted living communities offer safety and memory care for aging adults. You may wonder, at first, whether memory care is really necessary for your loved one, but if they show any of the following signs, it’s time to consider moving them into a senior living facility. Your Loved One’s Hygiene and Self-Care Become Exhausting If your loved one is no longer able to shower, brush their teeth, maintain their hair, or safely clean their home on their own, it’s time to consider memory care. These basic daily tasks are essential for living a high-quality life, but memory problems can easily get in the way, denoting a sign that your loved one needs extra help. In assisted living and senior living facilities, your loved one won’t have to worry about maintaining their basic hygiene and cleanliness alone, as caregiving staff members help take c...

Assisted living and memory care facilities offer plenty of perks and very few downsides, but your loved one will likely need lots of support and information as they come to accept such a hefty transition. With that being said, here is how you can help your family member get ready to move into assisted living . Discuss Why Memory Care Is Important Before your loved one moves into a senior living facility, they must recognize the importance of such an impactful life change. Otherwise, they will feel abandoned and overwhelmed. Memory care offers unique advantages that family caregivers cannot always match. For example, assisted living facilities offer numerous amenities and chances to engage in recreational activities, which will allow your loved one to maintain their social life and enjoy their hobbies with plenty of support. Memory care and senior living establishments also ensure your loved one’s safety and health. If they know why their memory care is necessary, they are more likely t...

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

At MorningStar of Mission Viejo, scheduled to open in April, our goal is to provide the best senior living in the area. We attribute our company’s success to God’s grace and to staying true to our mission of servant-leadership. To help us accomplish these lofty goals, we will be hiring a team of individuals with big hearts and a true love for seniors. Our founding principles are based on “casting a new light” on senior living and treating each resident with the utmost respect and dignity. We belief the human capacity to grow, to learn and contribute is ageless; and we act upon this truth daily as we care for, inspire and love the residents under our roof. At MorningStar, we want seniors to recognize they are never too old to set a goal or to dream a new dream. We take great pride in a reputation for excellence and authenticity in both how we serve and why we serve throughout our MorningStar communities across 11 states. Specializing in compassionate care delivered by our distinguished ...

Not only is physical exercise good for our heart and cognitive health but it can help older adults stay steady on their feet. Studies show regular physical activity can reduce the risk of falls in older adults at a high risk of falling by nearly one third. Experts explain certain kinds of exercise helps increase muscle mass and bone strength as well as improve balance and coordination, fight off osteoporosis, and reduce the risk for fractures and broken bones. Some of the best exercises are known as weight-bearing, which require a person to carry their weight and work against gravity. Examples include walking, dancing, hiking, climbing stairs, jogging and playing tennis or basketball. Doctors say if you can manage it, increasing your pace during aerobics, jogging and power walking make the exercises even more effective at strengthening bone density. Resistance exercises also work against gravity and help build muscle mass and improve bone strength. Strength training with weights, weig...

The online journal, Medical News Today’s reports women and girls across the world still face challenges and discrimination in medical settings both as patients and prospective medical workers. One example of an area in which women’s medical health is often overlooked and misdiagnosed is coronary heart disease (CHD) despite the fact that it is the leading cause of death for women. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains CHD occurs when the arteries delivering oxygenated blood into the heart (where it is pumped out to the other organs) are not able to “service” the heart effectively. Studies show women may also be more at risk for developing non-obstructive CHD, a condition that causes the arteries going into the heart to be abnormally squeezed by surrounding tissue. CHD symptoms can vary between individuals as well as differ in men and women; and non-obstructive CHD can be symptom-less and go undetected for years. To complicate matters, research shows women’s symptoms are...

Many of us have heard about or know a senior who has had a fall that led to a serious injury. Each year statistics report one out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury; and approximately 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. Annually, falls result in 32,000 senior deaths. The Harvard Medical School reports the highest risk factor for a fall is a previous fall. While a senior may have fallen or tripped and not thought much about it, as they only twisted an ankle or didn’t sustain a serious injury, the event may be a precursor to another fall. There are things seniors can do to protect themselves from a fall and it starts by being aware of any risk factors you may have including vision and hearing problems, which can make a fall more likely. Experts say stiff joints can hamper your gait and balance and make it easier to fall, as do certain medications for blood pressure and antihistamines. As a deficiency in v...

While there is not a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other dementia-related diseases, it is important to provide the person with the proper level of care. Along with independent and assisted living, Hayward, CA’s MorningStar community offers compassionate memory care . Our Reflections Neighborhood has the amenities and services to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of our most tender residents. As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” 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 as well as holistic solutions to challenging behaviors. An important aspect of our program is to provide plenty of recreational and purposeful activities such as music, life skills, art...

Harvard Health restates a classic text that says tai chi will help you become “Strong as an oak, flexible as a willow, and [mentally] clear as still water.” The ancient Chinese tradition is based in the martial arts; and is a popular low-impact exercise involving slow movements and breath. Experts say tai chi is suitable for people of all ages including seniors and offers numerous benefits. Tai chi’s mind-body exercises consist of slow, flowing, and choreographed movements that provide many people a sense of calm, which is why it is often referred to as mediation in motion, or medication in motion. Its movements focus on control as well as slowing down and relaxing muscles to allow the body to move more freely. Harvard Health says for those in their 60s, 70, 80s and beyond, “tai chi’s restorative powers can help you age more gracefully and function at a higher level than those who don't practice.” Other known benefits include offering relief from common ailments such back, neck and...

If you have started the search for assisted living in the Mission Viejo area, you will want to include MorningStar of Mission Viejo. Our all-inclusive community offers an array of luxury amenities found at high-end resorts, while at the same time, all the warmth and welcoming comforts of home. Our beautiful community is now under construction and expected to open to residents in spring 2023. MorningStar of Mission Viejo will provide assisted living residents carefree retirement years by providing the care to help them maintain their independence, and the amenities and wellness programs to keep them engaged and looking forward to each new day. In addition, private suites are smartly designed to maximize space and include a choice of floor plans and configurations to meet a variety of preferences and needs. All have high-end finishes and safety features such as full, handicap-accessible bathrooms and emergency call systems. Our all-day dining service means you can eat when you are hungr...

MorningStar of Hayward’s goal is to provide the best senior living in the area. Our vibrant community has 113 independent living suites in spacious studio, alcove, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. For those needing help with the activities of daily living, we offer 80 bright suites for assisted living. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 35 suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. MorningStar Senior Living has over 40 communities currently open or under construction across the country, including seven in California. MorningStar of Hayward, with a loving care team and beautiful surroundings, provides seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. MorningStar began in 2003 when founder Ken Jaeger had a dream to start a senior housing company that was defined by the human touch. He says, “I wanted to recreate my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.” ...

The Alzheimer’s Association has some effective tips for communicating with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. As the ability to find the right words or to speak at all is one of the effects of the devastating disease, it is helpful to learn some tips to make the communication process easier. Typically, in the early stages of the disease, individuals repeat themselves often and can easily lose their train of thought. They may start to avoid speaking and have trouble following a conversation, and may even use gestures rather than words. Experts suggest at this stage that you make sure to address the person directly, don’t speak through a caregiver, and allow them plenty of time to answer you back. The middle stages of the disease can signal lots of changes and usually lasts the longest. If you wish to speak with the individual, make sure to do it in a quiet space without any distractions. Your questions should be short and only require a sim...

Looking for the freedom to pursue new interests and hobbies, and to do more than just dream about new experiences? Independent living offers a refreshing change of lifestyle and gives you the opportunity to say goodbye to the endless chores and maintenance associated with homeownership. Other often overlooked benefits include built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, activities and programming, and delicious meals you no longer need to cook. At MorningStar of Hayward, we allow seniors to enjoy carefree retirement years, extend their independence and continue the adventure. For the most active seniors, we offer 113 stylish independent living suites in a variety of floorplans and configurations. Choices include cozy studios to a two-bedroom, two-bath plan. Each apartment has a kitchenette, handicapped-accessible bathroom, emergency call system, and private heating and cooling. Depending on the location within our community, some suites offer a balcony or patio. Our onsite amenitie...

As we age, many seniors discover new bruises on their body but have no memory of how they got there. The Medical News Today (MNT) explains this may be the result of the skin thinning and blood vessels weakening and/or that some people are just more prone to bruising. It can also run in families. Being a frequent, extreme bruiser includes having many bruises without remembering their cause; regularly developing bruises that take many weeks to heal and bleeding for longer than 10 minutes following an injury. Excessive bruising and bleeding can be from medications, many of which seniors routinely take. These include drugs like warfarin, heparin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban and aspirin. Doctors say even certain herbal remedies such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, feverfew, large quantities of garlic, ginger, and willow bark can increase the risk of bleeding or cause a change to blood vessels. The same is true for drugs like corticosteroids and glucocorticoids of which one example is predn...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 33% of women and 20% of men 65 years and older lived by themselves in 2020. Experts say living alone doesn’t necessarily mean an individual is lonely, but it often is the case. Problems contributing to loneliness in seniors are that most no longer work outside the home and social circles begin to shrink with the passing of spouses or friends, and family members moving away. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) cites studies showing seniors who say they feel socially isolated and lonely are more at risk for health problems such as cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease associated with loneliness. For many seniors the answer is moving to a retirement community where they find comfort, wellbeing and security as well as companionship. The experts at AgingCare.com say one of the biggest advantages of senior living (aside from receiving necessary care) is that opportunities for socialization and fulfillment are available right outside a residen...