At MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek, we recognize that our wonderful assortment of amenities and our beautiful surroundings are fantastic; however, we know that the real heart of our community rest in our caregivers. We have made it a point to hire individuals who have a real calling to serve seniors and understand the magnitude of their contribution when they work at our memory care community.
The MorningStar at Bear Creek staff consists of a group of people who have perfected the art of anticipating the needs of our residents and going the extra mile to serve them. Filled with compassion and love, each of our staff members is dedicated to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and trained to assist through to the most advanced stages of the disease. In fact as part of MorningStar’s on-going commitment to the well-being and care of our residents, we educate all of our new hires as well as reiterate every day with our full staff the principles of our mission. Our Radiance program teaches and celebrates an attitude of selflessness that issues from a deep and sincere place like a beam of light and reinforces our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others. MorningStar was founded on the premise that we operate with “servants’ hearts” and our Radiance program gives us the framework that enables us to take service professionalism to the next level. We are sure that once you learn more about our community you will agree with us that MorningStar at Bear Creek has achieved its goal of providing our residents a true home. Please contact us today to schedule a tour to discover for yourself our loving community. MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community. As part of MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek’s individualized, resident-directed care, we are now pleased to be able to offer our residents the user-friendly, interactive software called “It’s Never Too Late” ® (iN2L). This unique, person-centered technology makes it easy for anyone to use a computer, regardless of prior experience or abilities, and is designed specifically for the continuing entertainment and education of seniors. Simply to use, iN2L provides customized activities that are based on a person’s interest and background, which are used to enhance cognitive function, socialization and quality of life. Also a Wii-like functionality offers interactive physical as well as cognitive activities. The personalized program allows each resident to have his or hers own “page” on the system, and is setup to display their photos, videos, stories, music, games and even websites. The resident’s page can even be customized remotely through a family portal to give family members an opportunity to add personal updates, information and current pictures. With over 3,000 application and content items, the highly adaptable nature of the system makes it easy to adjust activities and content to a resident’s unique abilities and interests. Along with an array of brain exercises, educational and travel videos, interactive games, puzzles, word games, history, news topics and trivia, the iN2L software also offers safe and easy Internet access, email, and Skype. Set in the picturesque foothills of the Rockies, MorningStar at Bear Creek lovingly provides care for seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our community consists of 48 suites, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community. Source: in2l.com/ MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead is one of MorningStar’s three Valley of the Sun senior living communities. Newly open in the fall of 2015 and conveniently located on the north side of Glendale, the property’s gorgeous interior was designed by the firm of Thoma-Holec Design, the award-winning specialist in senior living interiors.
We are excited to report that after intense scrutiny by a panel of 20 jurors that included architects, designers, industry providers and consultants, MorningStar at Arrowhead received Honorable Mention in the 2016 “Environments for Aging” Design Showcase. This is quite an honor as there were hundreds of entries nationwide and only four projects were singled out to be worthy of an Honorable Mention. According to Thoma-Holec, the goal of the design team was to elevate and celebrate the lives of residents and create an environment that “exudes dignity and respect” offering both residents and staff a setting to build families for life. In addition MorningStar at Arrowhead was also honored with an Award of Merit from the Pacific Coast Builders Association’s (PCBA) “Gold Nugget Awards.” These awards are designed to recognize those who improve our communities through “exceptional concepts in design, planning and development.” The PCBA is a division of the National Home Builders Association, and the Grand Prize in this category will be awarded during the organization’s national conference in June. We will keep you posted on the results. MorningStar at Arrowhead is pleased to offers 60 private assisted living suites on two levels. Residents has a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some over 600 square feet). In addition we have 25 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases in our Reflections Neighborhood. MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area. The Alzheimer’s Association’s website is loaded with the most up-to the-date information regarding all the various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Part of their extensive information includes a check list of 10 early warning signs of the disease. This is important to know as an early diagnosis allows someone an opportunity to seek treatment and to make plans for the future. While everyone’s journey is different, they recommend if you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of memory loss, to consult with a doctor.
The first sign of Alzheimer’s as stated by the Association is memory loss that disrupts a person’s daily life. This is the most common sign of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages. Examples include forgetting important dates or events as well as recently learned information. The second sign is experiencing difficulties in developing a plan or working with numbers. It may affect everyday tasks such as balancing a checkbook or keeping track of monthly bills. Next they cite new problems that develop in completing familiar tasks around the home, at work or leisure. The person experiences difficulties when driving to a familiar location, managing a budget or remembering the rules of a favorite game. Fourth on the Alzheimer’s Association’s list is signs of confusion regarding time and place. Examples include losing track of dates and what time of the year it is as well as forgetting where they are or how they got there. Another sign of Alzheimer’s is problems understanding visual images and spatial relationships. This can mean difficulty reading, judging distances and determining color or contrast. Further along in the disease, a person may not recognize their own reflection. The sixth sign on their list includes experiencing new problems with words when speaking or writing. Another sign is misplacing things and not having the ability to retrace their steps. People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. The eighth sign includes decreased or poor judgment such as giving away large amounts of money to fraudulent causes or paying less attention to grooming habits. The ninth sign stated by the Association is withdrawing from work or social activities. Last on the list is a significant change in mood and personality. People with the disease can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. Please see the Alzheimer’s Association’s website for the complete details on the early warning signs of the disease. Our post is for information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for seeking medical advice. MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community. Source:alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp?type=alzFooter#signs According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), “18 percent of seniors live alone, while 43 percent report feeling lonely on a regular basis.” They also found that people 60 years or older who reported being lonely had a 45% increase in a risk of death. Furthermore, seniors who felt isolated had almost a 60% increase in the risk of mental and physical decline than those seniors who had more social contact.
There are many reasons that seniors attribute to their feelings of loneliness: retirement, death of a spouse and other family members, and a lack of mobility. Another factor leading to isolation for some seniors is that more people are choosing to not have children, which reduces the number of family members with a stake in their well-being. A 2009 report taken from data gathered by the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project found that “seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report also having poor physical and/or mental health.” As such, loneliness is also linked to a faster cognitive decline as well as a greater risk for depression. Assisted living communities such as MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead offer seniors not only the security and comfort to age in place but also companionship along with a wide assortment of creative, thoughtful activities. A quick look at our monthly calendar shows a steady stream of activities such as exercise classes, cards, word and puzzle games, movie nights, bible study, crafts, bingo, restaurant-style dining and much more. Contact us to learn more about our beautiful home-like atmosphere and the comfort, wellness and community we offer to our residents. MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area. Sources: aplaceformom.com/blog/10-17-14-facts-about-senior-isolation/ agingcare.com/Articles/loneliness-in-the-elderly-151549.htm At MorningStar at Arrowhead, our residents and staff work hand-in-hand to create a loving, warm community. Part of our family-like atmosphere comes from making memories and celebrating life’s special moments together. Each month our calendar is filled with daily activities as well as an array of special programs.
To help raise awareness for the memory-impaired, our community recently took part in the Alzheimer’s Association’s “Longest Day of the Year - Up with Hope, Up with Awareness, Up with Compassion” event on June 20th. Residents were encouraged to wear purple in recognition of the sunrise-to-sunset daylong affair. Our Uplifting Day of FunRaising started with a Purple Pancake Breakfast (flapjacks topped with brain enhancing blueberries and blueberry smoothies). From there we had a bake sale featuring tasty creations by our residents, and then followed with an Art Show & Sale. We also did a commemorative purple planting in honor of our memory-impaired residents and finished up the day with a viewing of the award-winning movie, “Up.” Other examples of activities and special events at MorningStar in the month of June included outings to area places such as the Black Bear Diner, Cabin Coffee, Cabela’s, and Casino Arizona. Some of our themed days in June included Timberland Tea Time, Tin Can Shootout and Fishin’ for Fun! If carefree retirement years amid beautiful surroundings, resort-style amenities, and fun-filled and meaningful activities sound good, MorningStar at Arrowhead is the place for you. We encourage you to schedule a visit to our community to find out for yourself why our residents are proud to call it home. MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area. Many people mistakenly assume that “assisted living” is just another term for nursing homes. In fact, nursing homes are intended for people that require long-term, around-the-clock medical care and supervision and should not be confused with assisted living, which provides residents support for daily care activities. At an assisted living community, you will receive the care you need to live comfortably and safely while still retaining your privacy and as much independence as possible.
Assisted living is ideal for anyone who does not require 24-hour skilled medical care but rather just needs more personal care than they can get at home or at an independent living retirement community. Meals and transportation are provided, and if needed, residents can get help with activities such as showering dressing, and etc. For the family, they rest easy knowing that a trained, caring staff is available to help whenever a loved one needs it. Many assisted living communities offer the privacy of individual suites, while also providing their residents with the security and safety of 24-hour support and quick access to care. In addition communities generally provide residents the opportunity to participate in social and recreation activities along with wellness programs. Residents usually eat their meals in a communal dining room and have housekeeping and laundry services available. If you would like to see what one of the best assisted living communities in the greater Phoenix area offers, we invite you to take a look at the gorgeous MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arrowhead. Our community provides various levels of assistance with daily living activities as determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with the senior and their extended family. For all of our residents, MorningStar’s around-the-clock Care Managers are there to meet needs and to ensure the utmost safety. MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that “adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should receive a baseline comprehensive eye evaluation at age 40. Individuals without risk factors aged 40 to 54 should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 2 to 4 years. Individuals without risk factors aged 55 to 64 should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 3 years.” They add that seniors 65 years and older without risk factors should be examined by an ophthalmologist every 1 to 2 years as the incidence of unrecognized ocular disease increases with age.
Since many age-related eye problems do not exhibit early symptoms, getting regular eye exams and being aware of any changes to your vision is critical. In addition it is important to remember that other health problems such as diabetes and hypertension as well as some medication can cause eye-related issues. Your exam should include a check of your vision, coordination of eye muscles, peripheral vision, pupil response to light and color testing. Also the doctor will examine your eyelid inside and out along with the interior and back of the eye. A measurement of your eye fluid pressure will also be done that consists of a puff of air onto the eye with an instrument called a tonometer. This is used to check for glaucoma and other diseases. Furthermore, you may be monitored for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) disease. This test includes trying to detect and monitor conditions affecting the macula by examining the back of your eye using special instruments. If you do not already have an eye doctor, see your health care provider for a referral. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please consult with your health care provider if you notice any changes in your vision. MorningStar at Arrowhead represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Built on a foundation of honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we provide a true home for our residents. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand the area’s best senior living in the Glendale AZ area. Source: http://www.aao.org/clinical-statement/frequency-of-ocular-examinations--november-2009 Research shows that art therapy can be an effective tool when caring for those with Alzheimer’s. While the disease robs people of many of their faculties, studies indicate that artistic ability is not one of them, and in fact, may help to stimulate the brain. Experts suggest that creative expression can revive memories and be used to encourage a form of communication that is especially important for those who have lost their ability to speak.
The website, Medical Daily, published an article that explains how art therapy can be used to offer Alzheimer’s patients a new way to communicate. They quote Dr. Daniel Potts, a neurologist and dementia specialist in Alabama, who states that, “Art therapy is helpful for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients because it enables an individual who is having trouble communicating to bypass the language problems they may be having and communicate and express themselves in a different way.” Dr. Potts adds that art therapy can help to “reroute” communication pathways away from traditional means and may even bypass some of the other problems of dementia by drawing on different regions of the brain. At MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek, we understand the importance of art in the lives of our residents, and as such, part of our team includes an art therapist. Debbie Wilson specializes in working with and drawing out those with cognitive impairment. As Debbie so aptly puts it, “it is pure joy for me to bring back the light in their eyes.” Contact us to learn more about our exceptional community and programs. MorningStar at Bear Creek is a memory care community that uses progressive methods to palliate symptoms and revive joy. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, and is devoted to creating a true home for residents within a serene setting. Please contact us to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our loving community. Source: medicaldaily.com/art-therapy-and-dementia-how-creativity-helps-unlock-alzheimers-patients-thoughts-and-fears-254301 |
AuthorMorningStar Senior Living’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve. Archives
March 2018
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