MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s Memory Care

Along with options for independent living and assisted living, MorningStar at Golden Ridge has 35 secure suites for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.  Our team feels privileged to provide highly specialized, individualized care for seniors in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. 

Our resident-directed approach to memory care respects the dignity and value of each person and supports choice and independence as much as possible.  All of our memory care suites are within our Reflections Neighborhood, which is designed to accommodate the needs of our special residents.    

Memory care residents are able to move freely about in a safe environment that includes a secure courtyard reserved just for them.  We also provide three daily meals served in our inviting dining room where residents and staff eat together.  In addition residents are provided 24-hour care with daily health monitoring, and the expertise of a full-time licensed nurse.

MorningStar’s memory care comes from a deep understanding of the disease and we create an individualized care plan for each resident based on their background, preferences and abilities. Our compassionate, professional staff uses multi-sensory cues to calm and awaken memories and to support capabilities. All residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of purposeful activities that include music, life skills, art, entertainers and exercise as well as our special events and outings.

Please visit MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s website for more information about our community.  If you like what you see, go ahead and set up a visit.  We understand families feel traumatized by the sobering diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and we want you to know we are here to support you as well as your loved one.    

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we proudly exemplify the best in independent and assisted living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve with the goal of creating a true home for residents in a beautiful, peaceful setting. Please contact us to learn more about our compassionate, specialized memory care.

MorningStar of Beaverton is Pet Friendly

It was not that long ago that seniors moving into assisted living facilities had to leave behind an important companion, their pet.  Today however, more and more retirement communities are recognizing the benefits of pets to the elderly, and many such as MorningStar of Beaverton, allow residents to bring their pets with them. 

There has been a lot of research that validates the benefits of pets in seniors’ lives.  In fact, A Place for Mom website reports on a study that shows, “just 15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. The result: heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels immediately drop.”  They go on to say that interactions between pets and humans can “lower cholesterol levels, fight depression and may even help protect against heart disease and stroke.”

Another reason pets can be good for the elderly is that animals live in the here and now and do not think about tomorrow, which for some seniors, can be worrisome.  In addition animals offer unconditional love, emotional support and affection.  This is one reason why pet therapy programs are used in convalescent homes, hospitals, mental health centers and children’s homes.  Many people participating in such programs experience an improvement in appetite as well as “more social interaction and tactile and cognitive stimulation after interactions with pets.” 

There is even research that indicates pet therapy is beneficial for those suffering from dementia diseases such as Sundowners Syndrome and Alzheimer’s.  The animal’s complete acceptance and non-verbal communication has proven to be soothing for patients.  

Please contact us to learn more about MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Beaverton.  With beautifully appointed spaces and resort-style amenities, we are confident you will be impressed.

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above ordinary assisted living facilities.

Sources: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living   

agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm

MorningStar’s “Radiance” Program

At MorningStar, we attribute our growth and success to God’s grace and to staying true to our mission of servant-leadership.  We feel extremely blessed to have a team of individuals working for us who are guided by their hearts and feel privileged to serve seniors.  They are the kind of people that do the right thing even when no one is looking and willingly go the extra mile to help our residents. 

MorningStar’s care is guided through “Radiance,” our proprietary program, which celebrates an attitude of selflessness that issues from a deep and sincere place, like a beam of light.  It forms the framework for how our service is delivered – with warmth, sincerity and depth!  Additionally our Radiance program provides a tangible and purposeful way to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others.

Once a team member is hired, they are trained in Radiance. and it is reiterated and strengthened each day during our daily “Huddle.”   We feel Radiance is lived out in a variety of ways throughout our community, and helps us to create an atmosphere of love, compassion and care as well as service professionalism.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge offers well-designed Casitas with attached garages for independent seniors.  The Casitas, tucked into their own private neighborhood, allow you to fully enjoy your retirement years stress free.  In a neighboring building are beautiful private suites for assisted living, available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood is devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Golden Ridge, “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 see for yourself our exceptional independent and assisted living community.

Beautiful Private Suites at MorningStar of Beaverton

Looking for something a step above an ordinary assisted living facility?  We invite you to take a look at MorningStar of Beaverton…far from a “facility,” MorningStar is a true home.  Our community offers 66 stylish, private assisted living suites along with 38 secure suites devoted to individualized care for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases.  Our graciously-appointed community is located in a western suburb of Portland and enjoys a picturesque setting overlooking a natural wetland.

One look at our website and you will see that MorningStar of Beaverton is indeed a beautiful, special place.  Right from the beginning, we worked to ensure our community would be a comfortable place for our residents to enjoy carefree retirement years and have designed our newly opened community from the ground up to cater to those needs.

All of our assisted living private suites offer high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting, lighting and mini blinds; and includes a kitchenette with sink and refrigerator and a full, handicapped-accessible bathroom.  Each suite is also equipped with an emergency call system, private heating and air conditioning, and basic cable TV and utilities.  We offer residents weekly housekeeping and laundry service as well as spot cleaning and daily trash removal.  To help residents feel right at home, we are pet friendly, and all you need to do is to bring your furnishings and personal items.

We encourage you to take a look at our various floor plans as they were designed for the utmost comfort.  Starting with a large two-bedroom 974 sq. ft. configuration to our studios from 325-423 sq. ft., we are certain you will feel right at home, however, please set up a tour to see for yourself why we are so proud of our gorgeous community.      

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility.

Bring Your Pet to MorningStar at Golden Ridge

Many studies have discovered that pets can be very beneficial for older adults.  For example the various tasks that goes along with caring for a dog such as taking them for a walk offers good cardiovascular exercise for seniors.  Additionally petting, grooming and feeding a pet helps to keep seniors engaged in life and gives them a sense of purpose. 

Pets also offer unconditional love and their loyal companionship can help alleviant loneliness. Research points to evidence that pet and human interactions can help to lower cholesterol levels, fight depression, and reduce stress, which is why pets are so beneficial to the elderly. In fact researchers report that “15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.”

It used to be that when someone moved into a retirement community, they had to give up their pet.  Now more and more senior living communities have recognized the benefits of pets and allow seniors to bring them to their new home.  Pets can even be beneficial to others living in the community and help draw out residents that may not be very communicative.      

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we could not agree more about the benefits of pets. Pet friendly, our community offers assisted living suites in a range of floor plans as well as secure suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment. For those looking for independent living, we have well-designed Casitas with attached garages.  All of our apartments are move in ready and all that’s missing are your personal furnishings and treasures—even the furry kind!

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Golden Ridge, “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 see for yourself the finest senior living in the area.

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/pet-friendly-assisted-living     

Those with Dementia Benefit from Animal Interactions

Research has shown that people with dementia benefit physically, emotionally, socially and mentally from a connection between humans and animals. Whether they are a furry, feathery or scaly friend, it appears that animals have the ability to trigger memories of a person’s past animals and to help them feel more at ease.

In numerous studies, therapeutic animals have drastically improved dementia symptoms and helped to combat anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression and loneliness. Experts say that as you “cuddle, stroke and talk to an animal, your body releases endorphins as well as other feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, prolactin and dopamine. This helps lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and foster a sense of calm and joy.”

Many people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia lose the ability to initiate and maintain social relationships as the disease progresses. Dr. Mara Baun, a professor and associate dean for research at the UNMC College of Nursing has extensively studied the psychological benefits pets provide to those with Alzheimer's disease. In her research, she found that when a therapy dog visited patients with dementia, residents were less “disoriented, wandered less and were less likely to be aggressive.” 

Dr. Baun says that dogs are the classic example of an animal’s unconditional love and therapy dogs offer a missing element of physical and social contact. In fact therapy dogs will approach a resident with dementia regardless of their physical or mental deterioration. They provide a distraction from the person’s agitation as the dogs allow the person to pet, hug and interact with them. 

At MorningStar of Arvada, we are dedicated to providing the best memory care Arvada CO has to offer. In addition to our loving, compassionate memory care, we also offer independent and assisted living, and in case you wondered, MorningStar of Arvada is a pet friendly community! Please visit our website to learn more. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Arvada, “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 visit to see for yourself the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada CO offers.

Source: caring.com/articles/pet-therapy-dementia

Worried About the Cost of Assisted Living?

Do you think your parent would be better off in an assisted living facility but you are worried about the cost?  You may be surprise to discover that assisted living can be more affordable than you think especially when you take into account a number of factors.  To start with, if your parent is still living in their own home, most likely they are faced with regular maintenance and upkeep expenses in addition to taxes and a mortgage payment.  Also while utility bills keep increasing each year, your parent’s income may not be.  

Another expense to consider is will the home require modifications to accommodate your parent’s limited mobility?  Not only can that be expensive but it may impact the value of the home when you finally do decide to sell at a later date.   Furthermore, if your parent requires in-home care, good care can be expensive and may not really be adequate to ensure their safety 24/7.  

Additionally lack of companionship and isolation can be a problem for seniors who live alone.  Many elderly people have a hard time getting out and about as they no longer feel comfortable driving and often find themselves spending more and more time home alone.  In fact aPlaceforMom.com reminds families that, “seniors who live alone often experience social isolation and poor nutrition which contributes to cognitive decline, health problems, depression and a lower quality of life.” 

They explain that while many people have sticker shock after touring a senior living community and learning the cost of assisted living, it is actually a great value when you add up all of the services and amenities included in the cost.   They even put together a chart that shows you how assisted living may be less than half the cost of getting care for your elderly parent at home.  Please contact MorningStar of Beaverton for more information about our assisted living and memory care as well as all of the services, amenities and programs we offer residents. 

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility.

Source: aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/seniors-stay-home-or-move

Downsizing Before Moving to Independent or Assisted Living

If you are ready to move from your family home into independent or assisted 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 at Golden Ridge, we offer the area’s finest independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For independent living we have 38 Casitas as quadraplexes with attached garages in two floor plans.  In a nearby building, we offer 65 assisted living suites and 35 secure memory care suites in a variety of configurations and floor plans.  Visit our website to learn more. 

MorningStar at Golden Ridge represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve in order to provide a true home for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our exceptional independent and assisted living.      

Specialized Memory Care

If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, you may be coming to the realization that their needs are more than you can manage on your own and are ready for help.  If that sounds like you, it is now time to start researching the various care options in your area. 

One choice is to place your family member in an assisted living facility specifically designed to serve the needs of those with dementia.  Memory care provides long-term, intensive care that is more specialized and comprehensive than other senior living options.  Most are equipped to care for residents at all stages of the disease and include 24-hour supervision.  The communities are secure to reduce the risks of wandering and many have features such as color-coding to help residents safely navigate through the hallways. 

You will also find the best memory care communities provide programs that address the needs of residents such as helping to calm or provide stimulation as needed and can actually offer your loved one a better quality of life.  Communities that provide memory care report they are able to reduce medications and medication side effects as well as increase nutrition and wellness.  They also say residents have fewer falls, injuries, and hospital visits; along with more independence and social interactions. Most importantly, memory care facilities cite that as many as three-fourths of their residents experience improvement or maintain their level of mental functioning.

If you are in the Beaverton area, we encourage you to visit our website.  MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care of Beaverton has 38 secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood that are devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s or other types of memory loss.    

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-11-4-memory-care/       

MorningStar at Golden Ridge Offers Independent Living

While some seniors feel strongly about remaining in their homes after retirement, other seniors have discovered the many benefits of moving into an independent living community.   MorningStar at Golden Ridge invites you to take a closer look at some of the advantages.

To start with, for many seniors the family home starts to feel pretty empty once the kids have moved out.  In addition you are still stuck with all of the upkeep and maintenance of the home including snow removal, lawn care and the costs of repairs and replacement.  Senior living on the other hand, means no more concerns about maintenance inside or out. 

An independent living community also offers the security of predictable budgeting, which allows you to know just what your monthly expenses will be as most are included in your monthly fee.  It also solves another problem many seniors face - loneliness.  As we age, older adults can have difficulty getting out and about, and may be at risk for losing social ties and developing health problems that come with loneliness.  An independent living community offers the advantage of a private apartment and the chance to socialize whenever you choose with built-in companionship. 

Senior living communities such as MorningStar at Golden Ridge additionally provide residents with activities and programming that ensure you are never bored.  Whether you want to attend an exercise class, play cards or a board game, get a haircut, or catch a movie, independent living gives you the chance to do it all on-site. 

Moreover it is typically less stressful for seniors to make the transition to independent living before they “need” to move into assisted living.  Selling your home and moving can be stressful and it is much easier to do while you are still healthy. 

Please visit our website for more information regarding our independent living, assisted living and memory care.  We feel privileged to provide seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Golden Ridge, “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 see for yourself the finest senior living in the area.

                                          

At MorningStar of Beaverton Our Staff has a Calling to Serve Seniors

Have you been looking for an assisted living facility in Beaverton? We encourage you to take a look at MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Beaverton…far from a “facility,” MorningStar is a true home. 

At MorningStar of Beaverton, we recognize that our wonderful assortment of amenities and our beautiful surroundings are fantastic; however, we know that the real heart of our community rests 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 assisted living community.    

The MorningStar 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 care, each of our staff members has a smile for the residents and is as quick to listen to a story as they are to lend a helping hand when needed. 

In fact as part of MorningStar’s on-going commitment to the well-being and care of our residents, we train 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 us you will agree that MorningStar is a great place to call home.  Please contact us today to schedule a tour to discover for yourself our loving, home-like community.

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to discover why we are a step above an ordinary assisted living facility.