MorningStar Senior Living Community Blog

Often families are confused with the terms “independent living” and “assisted living” and are not sure which one is best suited for their needs. To clarify, the term independent living is used to describe senior living communities that are designed specifically for seniors who want to and are able to live without any help. Assisted living is designed for seniors who still wish to live independently with personal privacy and autonomy but require assistance in their daily lives. Independent living is ideal for individuals who no longer wish to maintain their own home and desire a more carefree lifestyle. While each community can vary, many offer amenities such as social activities, day trips and meals. Senior independent living communities offer residents the freedom to enjoy their retirement years without being tied down with yard work and other routine chores that need to be done when owning a home. At assisted living communities, residents get help with daily personal care and ...

Research has shown that having a pet can improve our mental health, cardiovascular health and PTSD symptoms. In fact, even if you do not own a pet but just spend some time interacting with animals, it can lift your spirits and decrease stress. Also, during times of loneliness, many of us feel our pets are more important than ever. Pets can teach seniors to live in the here and now as they do, and dogs and cats are great at offering their owners unconditional love, emotional support and affection. Caring for an animal can be a welcome distraction from life’s other worries and can provide more meaning to our life. Moreover, how can you feel upset or angry when sitting with a cat on your lap and hearing the relaxing, melodious sound of their purr? Research has shown that an act as simple as petting a dog or cat has been shown to reduce stress and help regulate our mood. Many people believe their pet has the ability to pick up on their emotions and know when they are sad or stress...

Experts suggest that a good way to reduce medical errors regarding your care or that of a loved one is to be an active partner in the process whether in a hospital setting, doctors’ office or the pharmacy.  The World Health Organization reports “an estimated 10% of patients in high-income countries are harmed while receiving hospital care.”  Also, according to a 2021 report in StatPearls, “medical errors result in about 100,000 deaths in hospitals and clinics annually.”   Furthermore, studies show the most harmful errors in primary and outpatient health care settings are related to diagnoses, prescriptions and use of medicines.  Mistakes associated with misdiagnosis resulted in delayed treatment for the real problem and having the wrong drugs prescribed.   However, it is important to keep in mind that some medical errors are a result of patients failing to disclose all of the medications they take including prescription and over-the-counter drugs....

Looking for the freedom to pursue new interests and hobbies, and to do more than just dream about exciting adventures? 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. Independent living communities may differ but many let you enjoy the comforts of home along with an array of luxury services and amenities. These may include housekeeping, transportation, onsite salon and fitness center, and meal plans. In most, residents can lead a lifestyle as active or relaxed as they choose. At MorningStar of Mission Viejo, scheduled to open in May 2023, our community will allow seniors to enjoy stress-free retirement years, extend their independence and continue the adventure. For the most active seniors, we offer 61...

As we age, many seniors experience occasional “brain fog” or forgetfulness and have trouble comprehending and processing new information. Medical experts say this may be a normal part of aging but could also be from some of the medications you are taking. Dr. Mark Albers, a neurologist at the McCance Center for Brain Health at Harvard - affiliated with the Massachusetts General Hospital, says it is not all that uncommon for seniors to experience symptoms of brain fog when taking certain medications for the first time. He explains medications can affect memory more in aging adults as “older people tend to metabolize drugs more slowly, making them more sensitive to medications and more vulnerable to side effects.” Other reasons medications cause more problems in seniors are they often take larger doses of a drug and more frequently as well as take several drugs to treat one health condition. Moreover, older people may have a weakened blood-brain barrier. This barrier works to block toxin...

Studies report approximately 12-18% of people aged 60 or older have some level of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). So how do you know if you are one of them? The first step to diagnosing MCI typically comes after a person starts to complain of forgetfulness or cognitive problems or initiated at the urging of family members. Doctors explain it is usually more serious if it comes at the request of those closest to the person because as a person develops more of the signs of Alzheimer’s disease, they are often not aware of their memory loss. So, how is MCI diagnosed? Your doctor will begin with a thorough evaluation to try and determine if the problem is MCI, Alzheimer’s, normal age-related memory loss, or caused by another factor. It is important to note not all cases of MCI develop into dementia and an evaluation could identify medications as the problem. A Harvard Medical School article states, “Establishing the cause and scope of the impairment is helpful in setting a baseline for fut...

As more and more seniors watch friends and relatives move into retirement communities, many wonder if it is the right step for them. While obviously a decision of this magnitude should be carefully made, there is data showing the majority of seniors in retirement communities are happy they made the move. In fact, studies further indicate seniors in such communities tend to live longer. One report from the United States General Accounting Office (GAO), states “seniors who choose to live in retirement communities live 1.5 to 2 years longer than seniors who choose to retire in their homes.” Researchers explain that many communities offer seniors a higher quality of life with their wide range of activities including physical fitness classes, group games and other entertainment opportunities. Also, we all know maintaining a home can be stressful and even more so as we age, while retirement communities provide a virtually carefree lifestyle. Senior communities seamlessly provide the chance ...