Scientists Find Clues that May Help Us Age Better

 

An interesting study from geneticists at Stanford University’s School of Medicine is discovering distinct patterns in how people age and say it may offer a path to better navigate the aging process. As one of the lead researchers, Dr. Michael Snyder explains, staying healthy isn’t just about how old you get to, but rather “how you get old.”

Snyder’s team has discovered what they call body “ageotypes” that offer specific clues to how we experience aging through the course of our lifetime that result in “very distinct patterns” within these various groups. Moreover scientists hope that it may give people information to how they can better take care of themselves to improve their own aging journey.

The study looked at the differences between biological age and chronological age of the participants and attributes some of it to lifestyle choices such as a smoker’s lungs or the health of the heart in a chronically obese person. In addition, researchers explain this is not the only factor that influences aging but that different ageotypes may actually define how a person’s body ages, with certain parts aging faster or slower.

So far the team has identified four distinct ageotypes: metabolic agers, people whose immune systems age fastest; immune agers; liver agers; kidney agers; and say there will eventually be more types. Right now they believe that once doctors have use of this type of information, they can help their patients make actionably plans tailored to their specific needs to not only live longer but better. For instance if your doctor identified you as a metabolic ager, he could suggest a plan that included eating healthier and exercising.

Providing unrivalled senior living in the Peoria area, MorningStar at Golden Ridge is designed to fully support our residents’ to help them live life to the fullest. We offer independent living, assisted living and memory care, and encourage you to visit our website for more information.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’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. We are in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted, loving assisted living and independent living in Peoria, AZ.

Learn More About MorningStar of Beaverton

 

 

 

Once you learn more about our community, we are sure you will agree that MorningStar of Beaverton is senior living at its best. In fact, the MorningStar Senior Living Company was founded by Ken Jaeger as the fulfillment of his dream to create senior housing defined by the human touch and a sense of family. We believe our community has achieved that dream and is a true home for our remarkable residents.

To meet our residents’ needs and ensure their comfort, wellbeing and safety, we are deliberate about the individuals we hire to become part of our distinguished team. Every new employee is carefully vetted and chosen for virtues such as kindness, selflessness, and character. We look for people who are committed to perfecting the art of anticipating needs and willingly go the extra mile to serve.

Once team members are hired, they are trained in “Radiance,” which is much more than just a customer service program but rather an attitude of the heart. With a tagline of “Service Becomes Us,” it is used to guide the way we deliver service – with sincerity and depth of purpose. Also its precepts enhance the loving atmosphere of our home.

When you visit our website, take a moment to view a few of our Twice the Stories video series featuring the tender relationships that forms between our residents and team members. We believe these friendships testify to the fact that we all need to lean upon and lean into each other, and that we all come away changed for the better.

Newly opened in November 2018 in a western suburb of Portland, MorningStar of Beaverton was meticulously built to offer all the comforts of home. Our community includes 66 assisted living suites, as well as 38 secure memory care suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please visit our website for more information and a link for pricing and availability.

MorningStar of Beaverton’s unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Committed to creating a true home for residents within a beautiful setting, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve. Please visit our website for contact information and to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

At Morning Star at Golden Ridge, Love Starts at the Top

 

 

At the MorningStar at Golden Ridge senior living community, we are pleased to offer Peoria area seniors a warm, welcoming home to safely and comfortable age in place. We start by providing them with resort-style amenities; meaningful, entertaining activities, and a broad range of care services. All of this is done through the tireless efforts of our loving staff, which starts from the top with a dedicated management team.

Our Executive Director, Melissa Miloz sets the perfect tone for all those under her servant-minded, purpose-driven leadership by her commitment to cast a new light on senior living. She says it brings her joy knowing that every day she impacts the life of a resident, family member or team member in a positive way. She also loves hearing our residents’ stories and takes pleasure in making sure their lives continue to be filled with happiness, joy, and enrichment. Melissa says she is grateful to have the privileged to be in a profession she feels chosen to serve in.

Debra Kiesner serves as our Wellness Director and loves the fact that she is able to make life better for our deserving seniors who have worked so hard for their families and our country throughout their lifetimes. She says seniors have taught her to open her heart, to be kind, forgiving and thankful. She feels it is her job to be our residents’ advocate and to ensure all are treated with respect.

Rounding out our management team is Jennifer Ellsworth, our Director of Community Relations. She relates that she has “walked with my father on the journey of dementia, and I now want to help other families navigate these waters and lighten the burden by imparting knowledge I learned along the way.” She loves working for a company like MorningStar that is known for its integrity.

In addition to these remarkable women, our senior living community is staffed by a team of individuals who love serving seniors. Offering independent living with 38 Casitas tucked into their own private neighborhood in Peoria, for active seniors; our main building has 65 suites for assisted living and another 35 secure suites devoted to caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases. Visit our website to learn more about our community as well as pricing and availability.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’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. We are in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more unrivalled assisted living & independent living in Peoria, AZ.

MorningStar has Openings for Housekeepers in the Phoenix Area

 

At the MorningStar communities in Phoenix we have assembled a compassionate team of individuals who feel privileged to have careers that allow them to serve seniors.   Working together, our dedicated team is helping to create true homes for our residents.  Currently we seek like-minded people to apply for a variety of roles including housekeeping jobs in Phoenix’s finest senior living communities.   

Unlike working as a housekeeper for a corporation or in a hotel, your position as a MorningStar housekeeper will allow you to make a real difference in the lives of seniors.  Furthermore, unlike many other jobs, you will be encouraged to interact and get to know our residents as you clean their homes.  In fact, many residents love sharing life stories and memories and showing off their cherished items and photographs.  You will also feel good knowing you have contributed to keeping our beautiful communities spotless, and will feel even better when residents let you know how much they appreciate your hard work.

In addition, MorningStar offers opportunities to grow both professionally as well as personally.  Along with competitive wages, insurance, and training, MorningStar offers a host of other benefits that are designed to enrich and support our employees’ lives on a broad variety of fronts. Just some of these benefits include: 

• the opportunity to participate in global philanthropy 
• leave granted for jury duty, bereavement or voting, extended leave of absence beyond federal requirements 
• an Onshift wallet (access to earned wages before pay day) 
• impact incentive salary for communities with active COVID-19, exceeding federal/state requirements for leave and paid time off due to COVID-19, ample PPE availability
• easy transfer to another MorningStar community 

We have deliberately created a culture defined not only by what we do but by the kind of people who bring it all to life – our dedicated team members.  We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our housekeeping jobs in Phoenix’s exceptional senior living communities - MorningStar at Arcadia; MorningStar at Arrowhead; MorningStar of Fountain Hills; and MorningStar at Golden Ridge.

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Golden Ridge & Fountain Hills communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living options.  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, we invite you to visit MorningStar’s Career page for information on a range of positions including housekeeping jobs in Phoenix.

Fall Foods that Taste Good & are Good for Us

 

Every fall, many of us treat ourselves to a variety of pumpkin dishes from spicy lattes to breads and pies. However this time of year many of our seasonal foods are not only tasty but healthy. The cranberry is one of these foods, which has medical experts giving it at a “super food” status. The Medical News Today website explains that cranberries are high in nutrients as well as antioxidants.

In fact “research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.” Other studies have found cranberry supplements to be beneficial in reducing a person’s body mass index (BMI) as well as improve HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels (good cholesterol).

There are also tasty substitutes to help flavor food rather than using salt or sugar. Fresh garlic is one of these. The National Cancer Institute lists garlic “as food that may help fight stomach and colon cancers in some folks.” Other studies have found it may have a small effect on lowering the body’s blood cholesterol.

Cinnamon is another seasoning that adds lots of favor to fall dishes. Beyond its good taste, several recent studies show it may help to lower blood glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes, which would be great news for the almost 85 million prediabetes in the country. Adding cinnamon to our diet is as easy as putting a dash in a cup of coffee, tea or cider or sprinkling it on apple slices.

Ginger is another food easy to incorporate into many different dishes and medical experts say it great for the digestive system and helps lessen nausea and motion sickness. Great in Asian dishes and can be added to salad dressings or used in a sauce over grilled fish. Also if you haven’t yet discovered the benefits of turmeric, now would be a good time to do so. Containing curcumin, it has been shown to offer “potential anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties in animal and laboratory studies.”

At the MorningStar at Golden Ridge senior living community, we pride ourselves on providing residents with a lifestyle of comfort and wellness including our 5-star food service. Meals are prepared largely from scratch and contain fresh foods and seasoning of which some are locally sourced. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our 38 Casitas designed for independent living, 65 private suites for assisted living, and 35 secure suites devoted to caring for seniors with memory impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’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. We are in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted independent living & assisted living in the Peoria area.

Source:medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269142#:~:text=Many%20people%20consider%20cranberries%20to,function%2C%20and%20decreased%20blood%20pressure.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2018-10-22/6-healthy-fall-ingredients-and-how-to-use-them?src=usn_nl_yourhealth

Gift Ideas for the Holidays or Just to Bring a Smile to a Loved One’s Face

 

 

 

As the holidays quickly approach, many of us wonder what to get mom or dad or other beloved seniors on our gift list. Moreover while this has been a tough year for most of us, many seniors have been isolated from their children and grandchildren due to the pandemic, making it especially difficult. This is why we want our senior loved ones to know they are very much loved and missed.

If you are buying a gift for a parent in an apartment or senior living community, remember they most likely do not have lots of space to store things so be circumspect about buying a large gift that will used only occasionally. Consider something like a wreath for outside their door to cheer up and personalize their space. Also keep in mind it doesn’t necessarily have to be holiday related but one that can be used all year long. If they have a window where they could see a bird feeder, check with management to see if you can hang one outside. You could also give them a book of birds in their area so they can identify their visitors, and be sure to bring bird seed to refill it.

Even if they live in the Sunbelt without the severe winters of the northern states, they may still appreciate a warm throw, new sweater or a light jacket as many elderly adults tend to feel chilly. Cold feet are another common complaint among the elderly so a new pair of gripper slippers or socks with grips on the bottom to prevent fall would surely be appreciated. Pampering them with a basket full of luxury soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and creams is another idea as many older adults suffer from very dry skin; or if they are crafters, put together a basket of new craft and art supplies.

Other ideas include giving them a subscription for a large print magazine or a coffee table book that targets their interest. Moreover how about a basket of personalized stationary, a selection of greeting cards and stamps to make it easy for them to send well wishes and greeting to friends and family? It dad or mom is a huge sports fans; consider updating their team merchandise to get them in the spirit. Check the Internet for other ideas and remember to keep the video calls, emails and photos of the family coming!

MorningStar’s Casa Sandoval unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve. We are set in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted independent living & assisted living in the Peoria area.

Dealing with Stress can Adversely Affect Our Mental & Physical Health

 

We have all gone through the ups and downs of dealing with a pandemic over the last 8 months or so.  Just when we think things are getting better, your community has a resurgence of COVID or your family is struggling with a job loss or other problems.   Experts say this is why it is important to keep ourselves mentally fit and to remember that constant stress can also have an impact on our physical health.  Stress is linked to a wide range of health problems including heart disease as well as affects our mood, sleep and appetite.  

An article by Harvard Medical Publishing says doctors are not sure exactly how chronic stress affects the heart but speculate it may likely trigger inflammation, which is a “known instigator of heart disease.”   While we may not fully understand the role stress plays in our health, doctors say we do know that stress can cause people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease including poor eating habits and a lack of energy for healthy habits such as exercising.  It is also believed that not handling stress well can lead to other unhealthy heart behaviors like drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs, and smoking.  

The article suggests a few changes in our way of thinking may help individuals deal with stress better.  The first piece of advice is to stay positive and to find ways to add laughter into your life.  “Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries, and increase "good" HDL cholesterol.”  Other tips include practicing meditation and exercising.  Both help reduce blood pressure and stress.  Another key suggestion is to unplug and escape from the world for a period of time each day.  Do something that gives you pleasure such as listen to music, take a warm bath or work on a hobby.  Another good way to reduce stress is to get out and enjoy nature.  

MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting.  Visit our website for pricing and availability at the most trusted independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO offers.   

Source:  

health.harvard.edu/heart-health/5-ways-to-de-stress-and-help-your-heart

Not All Senior Living Communities are the Same!

 

To provide the utmost comfort, wellness and community to all of our residents, MorningStar of Arvada not only provides resort-style amenities, life enrichment programs, and a full range of care services but also has a staff that feels it is a privilege to serve seniors.  This has helped us to distinguish ourselves from other senior living communities and to create a sense of family and a true home for our residents.  

Each MorningStar of Arvada’s employee is hired for their character and kindness and is the type of person who will routinely go the extra mile to meet our residents expressed needs as well as unexpressed ones; and understand that senior living at its best is love in action.  From our care managers to management, concierges, food servers, nurses and others, our team makes a point to get to know our residents and love hearing their fascinating life stories.  

When a team member is hired, regardless of position, they receive training in Radiance, our service excellence initiative that is much more than a customer service program but rather an attitude of the heart.  Radiance guides the way we dispense our service - with sincerity, depth of purpose, and warmth.  

While visiting our website, also take a look at the video series we call Twice the Story.  Showcasing the tender relationships that spring up between residents and team members throughout MorningStar communities, it testifies to the fact that we need to lean upon and lean into each other regardless of where we are in life and what our differences may be.  

Our beautiful community offers lots of choices for seniors interested in independent living or assisted living with 112 bright suites that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  We also provide 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Please visit our website for contact information and to learn about availability and pricing.  

MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting.  Visit our website for more information on the area’s most compassionate assisted living and memory care as well as independent living in Arvada, CO.    

Hearing Loss and an Increase Risk of Dementia

 

John Hopkins recently published a study that found mild hearing loss doubles the risk for dementia.  The nearly 12 year study included 639 adults and further reported that a moderate hearing loss tripled the risk, and people with severe hearing loss were five times more likely to develop dementia.

The study was headed by Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., who explains that the problem may come from the fact that many people who experience hearing loss deliberately avoid being around others and socially isolate.  A hearing loss makes it difficult for the person to follow conversation and they don’t like to put themselves in social situations that make them uncomfortable.   Another problem is it actually makes our brain’s work harder as it mutes some of the subtle sounds our ears intuitively use to help us safely walk.   

Dr. Lin says his group has another study planned to determine if hearing aids help to mitigate some of the negative effects of hearing loss including the higher risk of dementia.  He does add that hearing aids certainly help individuals get back into the conversation and to enjoy being around their friends and family again.  

Statistics show that while almost 27 million Americans age 50 years and older have some level of hearing loss, only one in seven people use a hearing aid.  If you think your hearing may be diminished, you should make an appointment with an audiologist for a complete hearing check.  Doctors also encourage individuals not to fall prey to the many myths involving hearing aids including worrying about looking older by wearing one as today’s hearing aids are less conspicuous and smaller than ever.  And yes, doctors do say there is a breaking in period for a hearing aid but most doctors and hearing centers offer a trial period to make sure it is the right fit for you.   

MorningStar of Arvada offers the very best in senior 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 as we work toward creating a true home for residents amidst a serene setting.  Please visit our website to learn more about the most trusted independent living, assisted living and memory care in Arvada, CO.  

Source: 

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss