Looking for Exceptional Senior Living in Beaverton, OR?

 

If you are looking for an exceptional senior living, we encourage you to learn more about MorningStar of Beaverton. Our leadership team always welcomes phone calls and email inquiries regarding our community. In addition, we have a very informative website that focuses on many of the different aspects of our communityas well as provides some background on our company.

For instance, our home page offers a great description of our home, brief comments from our Management Team, a map showing our location as well as a Gallery of pictures to illustrate the detailed attention to welcoming spaces and beautiful design. Our home page also has a button to Amenities that describes many of the community’s resort-style amenities. Clicking on Suite Amenities highlights the comforts within our 66 private assisted living suites and 38 suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with memory impairment. Our suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations, and you can view specifics by clicking on the Floor Plans button.

We also encourage you to view the virtual tour on our home page. Here you will get a good look at some of our beautiful common areas including the dining room, theater, fitness room, bistro, life enrichment room, and more. In addition, we share background on some of the guiding principles of MorningStar Senior Living including our mission statement and core values consisting of Love, Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness.

We then suggest you browse through the links at the top of the page to learn more about First Steps, Lifestyle Options, Wellness and Our Heart. More questions are answered on our FAQ page (under First Steps) including what makes MorningStar different, understanding senior living, care services, pricing, staff training, and the move in process. If you like what you see please contact us for pricing, availability and any other questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our 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. Please visit our website to discover why MorningStar is a step above an ordinary assisted living facility.

Are Memory Problems Worrying You?

 Do you feel as if memory problems are interfering with your life or have family members started to notice? Medical experts say there may be a distinction between a person noticing the memory loss and others becoming aware of it as this could signal a bigger problem and be an early sign of dementia.  

The Harvard Medical School explains the best place to start understanding the problem is to talk to your doctor. While they may not have the proper training to do extensive screening for MCI (mild cognitive impairment), they can rule out other things causing your memory loss such as medications you take or a recent head injury. Steps you can take on your own to improve cognitive function include getting enough sleep each night; eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and reducing stress.

After your own physician has completed an examination, and nothing appears to account for your memory loss, it is time to see a specialist. They, or your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter or hospital should be able to recommend a behavioral neurologist or a geriatric psychiatrist. He or she will probably start with a series of written, on the computer, or oral tests to “assess memory, reasoning, attention, language, visual functions, motor functions, and social functions (such as empathy and knowing how to behave appropriately in social situations).”

They will check for “abnormalities in muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, senses, eye movement, and the pupils' reaction to light, which can signal abnormalities in specific areas of the brain.” In addition the doctor will check for Parkinson’s, a stroke or tumors, and will probably schedule a hearing and vision test. If indicated, you may have advanced testing such as PET scans or your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers checked for signs of Alzheimer’s. 

The MorningStar of Arvada senior living community offers carefree retirement years with 112 bright independent living and assisted living suites in various configurations including spacious studios and one- and two-bedroom floor plans. For unsurpassed memory care, Arvada provides 29 secure memory care staffed by a team of dementia care specialists who truly understand the disease. Visit our website for more.  

Source: health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/mild-cognitive-impairment?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HB20210415-MCI&utm_id=2882670&dlv-emuid=33b2f11b-97ca-447f-ab66-cfb4e7a55fa7&dlv-mlid=2882670

Eye Exercises Can Help Strengthen Aging Eyes & Reduce Irritation

 

It is important to not only exercise our bodies and our mind for optimal health, but our eyes as well. Experts say daily eye exercises can help to maintain and sharpen our ability to focus, reduce eye strain and irritation, and slow down deterioration that occurs as we age.

Along with eye exercises, it is important for seniors to get regular eye exams to check for changes in vision including glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A nutritional diet is another part of promoting good eye health as is exercise. Moving your body keeps the blood flowing to every part of the body.

Eye exercises are simple to do and can be done in a few minutes. One of the easiest is to blink. Blinking helps lubricate and strengthen the eyes. Start by relaxing the eye and then blinking lightly and rapidly 15 times. If you experience eye strain from too much computer time, squeeze your eyes gently shut, open, and relax. Do ten times in a row. Next, try flexing the eyes by looking up without moving your head, then look down. Now look to the left and then the right also keeping the head still. Repeat 10 times.

Palming is a yoga technique used to relieve eye strain. Sit in a relaxed position with eyes closed; place the palms of your hands over your eyes, the base of your palms on your cheeks, and fingers on your forehead. Be sure not to use too much pressure, you should be able be blink your eyes. Hold in this position for two minutes.

Another exercise involves refocusing on object both near and far. Start by focusing on an object near at hand. Once you have completely focused, look at something 30 feet away and focus on that object. Next you can try the same thing with something far in the distance.

MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge offers seniors a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community with an array of amenities and services. Our senior living options include assisted living and independent living along with memory care. We are dedicated to creating a true home for carefree retirement years. Please visit our website or contact us to learn more.

More than a Job - Career Opportunities in Work that Matters

 Our Phoenix area MorningStar senior living communities include MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar at Arrowhead, MorningStar of Fountain Hills and MorningStar at Golden Ridge. Currently all have job openings for individuals who love the idea of doing work they can feel proud of as well as provide opportunities for career advancement. One of our openings is full- and part-time housekeeping jobs. 

Qualifications start by selecting big-hearted individuals who embrace virtues such as kindness, character and selflessness for we know these are essential ingredients in building a team who serves with distinction. We ask for 2+ years of similar or relatable experience in house-keeping or cleaning and a passion for interacting with our residents.  

Knowing the contribution our team makes to the residents’ quality of life, we are generous in wages and benefits including bonus or incentive opportunities and paid holiday, vacation and sick time. Insurance is another important benefit to team members and their family and we offer health insurance (deductible options, below average premiums), dental insurance, vision insurance, telehealth coverage (at no cost) and various policies for life and disability insurance. 

Another bonus of working in one of our housekeeping jobs in Phoenix’s senior living communities is the meaningful training provided to team members. We start with O2 (Orientation & Onboarding), which introduces you to our company, our mission and our values. As we want all employees to better understand Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, we provide training in a proprietary program known as Lavender Sky. To understand our culture and how we deliver service, you will additionally receive training in Radiance.  

We think you will be surprised by what you can learn by hanging around with seniors and how much fun it can be. Our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities and makes us a great place to work at. Please visit the MorningStar Senior Living “Career” page for current openings and an online employment application as well as information regarding our comprehensive benefits, training and more.

The Benefits of Gardening for Older Adults

 

A garden full of beautiful flowers and/or home-grown vegetables is a gratifying pastime for many seniors. Not only does it offer beauty and wholesome, nutritional food for you and those you share your bounty with, but a healthier lifestyle.

Experts say getting outside to work in the garden is a wonderful way to get exercise and enjoy nature as well as to get a dose of vitamin D. They warn to protect your exposed skin with a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher, wear light, loose clothing, and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Be sure to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated and don’t overdo it, and avoid working outside during the heat of the day. Gardening is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress and to forget about your problems, at least for a while. Overall even a few hours a week doing something as enjoyable as garden can strengthen muscles, improve mobility and increase flexibility.

Growing tomatoes and lettuce or starting a herb garden is a great place for beginners to start and are appropriate plants for container gardening. For flowers, stick to ones appropriate for your particular region. Planning your garden is a big part of the fun and studies show along with the physical aspect of gardening and the critical thinking skills regarding what to plant and how to take care of it may actually lessen your chance of getting Alzheimer's.

Another often overlooked benefit of gardening is the social aspect. While working in your garden may be a solitary activity, gardeners enjoy getting together in the forms of clubs, visiting their local farmers market, nursery trips, or joining a community garden project.

The MorningStar at Golden Ridge senior living community offers stylish independent living and assisted living as well as compassionate, professional memory care. To ensure the comfort and wellbeing of residents, we offer resort-style amenities and services with beautiful common areas inside and out including two-story great rooms, bistro bar, and restaurant-style dining indoors and on our dining patio. Independent living residents enjoy our community amenities as well as a clubhouse located within their neighborhood.

Have Trouble Sleeping?

 

If you have trouble getting to sleep at night or staying asleep, you are not alone. Millions of people report having insomnia at some point in their life, and while it may not seem significant, lack of sleep can negatively affect every aspect of our lives.

Harvard Health Publishing explains sleep cycles change as we age, and for many, it may mean an interrupted night’s sleep. Most common in older men, medical experts say just because we are not getting a full night’s sleep, doesn’t mean we don’t need it. Dr. Lawrence Epstein, associate physician with the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital says, “"Research has shown that your sleep needs stay constant throughout adulthood." He adds, poor sleep has more to do with changing habits, not need.

He cautions against routinely using over-the-counter sleep aids as they can quickly lose their effectiveness and do nothing to address the underlying problem. Sleep apnea; restless leg syndrome (RLS) and the need to use the bathroom at night may all be interfering with your sleep. Other culprits include depression, lack of exercise and pain.

The doctor offers some tips to improve quality of sleep starting with a bedtime ritual an hour or so before a scheduled bedtime. He recommends relaxing with a warm bath and perhaps reading a book or another quiet pastime other than watching TV. Make sure the room is dark, and run a sound machine if helpful. Don’t get into the habit of napping too long during the day, no more than 20 to 30 minutes, and avoid caffeine and alcohol at least two hours before bedtime, or earlier if it is a problem.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge is one of the area’s top senior living communities and has 38 Casitas, quadraplexes with attached garages, for independent living, and 65 suites for assisted living in our main building. For those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, we have 35 secure suites for memory care. We invite you to visit our website for pricing and availability.

Learn More About MorningStar Senior Living of Arvada

 At MorningStar Senior Living of Arvada, we proudly offer seniors a range of options including independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term stays and respite care.  

Senior living is a perfect solution for older adults who live alone and are feeling lonely.  Their world may have gotten smaller as they retired from careers or suffered the loss of a spouse or close friends.  Some seniors no longer feel comfortable driving, which can lead to more isolation.  Senior living offers you privacy but now you have the comfort of knowing that people are around when you need them.  Also, you will have the chance to socialize and meet new friends.  

Our comfortable independent living features private suites and spacious common areas including a pool.  All of our independent living residents are welcomed to join in with our various community activities and wellness programs, and enjoy our many amenities such as a fitness room, art studio, theatre, chapel, full-service salon, and more. We handle all the maintenance (no more worries about cutting grass or shoveling show), and offer housekeeping, laundry and other services.  Meals are prepared by our Executive Chef and served in our lovely restaurant-style dining room, bistro or outdoor dining deck.  In other words, residents have the freedom to focus on more fulfilling activities like relaxing and enjoying themselves.

MorningStar’s assisted living is designed for those who want to maintain their independence but require some help with their day-to-day personal care activities.  For families searching for assisted living, our community ensures seniors get the help they need when they need it.  Along with our dining services, wellness activities, and onsite amenities, we offer a full range of care services based on an individualized care plan that includes 24/7 care managers, medication management, access to licensed nurses, and more.   

Lastly, we provide secure suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments staffed by dementia care specialists who have a deep understanding of the disease.  Our philosophy and approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.” Under a Lavender Sky, our ambition is to thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore.  

MorningStar of Arvada represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents.  Visit our website for more information about the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO offers.

A New Way to Look at Alzheimer's Disease

 While a 2012 survey found that more Americans fear Alzheimer’s disease than they do cancer, many professionals are starting to rethink their attitude toward the disease.  Bill Thomas, a geriatrician who is trying to reframe people’s view on aging, says for many the disease has been “swathed in shame” and stuck in what he calls “the tragedy narrative.”  Without dismissing the challenges of the disease, he and other experts say that it may be beneficial to both caregivers and patients to take an adaptive approach to dealing with Alzheimer’s that is more flexible, spontaneous, and expansive. 

Mary Fridley, co-creator of a workshop called The Joy of Dementia (You’ve Got to Be Kidding!), stresses that in spite of the fact that we know dementia to be extremely painful, she feels too much time is spent on medicalizing the disease.  Rather she truly believes “it is an opportunity, if people so choose, to be improvisational, to be silly, to play, to free ourselves from the constraints of truth and knowing and assumptions.”

One study out of Canada supports this premise by reporting that dementia patients’ symptoms declined and their psychologically outlook greatly improved after 12-weeks of visits from “elder clowns” who engaged them with empathy, humor, and improvisation.  Another recent study from Australia found that “dementia-care staff with positive attitudes and ‘person-centered’ strategies felt more competent about their ability to provide care.” 

At MorningStar of Arvada, we provide compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced memory impairment.  Our holistic approach to memory care is designed to comfort and heal as we find ways to help residents celebrate life and experience spontaneous moments of joy. If a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, we are here to help, please contact us.  

MorningStar of Arvada represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents.  Visit our website for more information about the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO offers.

Source: mercurynews.com/2019/02/21/a-joyful-existence-with-alzheimers-yes-joyful/

Independent Living at MorningStar of Arvada

 While there may be a number of senior communities in the area, we would like to introduce you to one of the best.  MorningStar of Arvada offers stylish suites for independent living for those who love the idea of carefree retirement years and plenty of time for life’s adventures.  Our beautiful community is situated on 1.5 acres, encircled by historic Golden, Colorado, and is close to shopping, medical facilities, and other services.  

For the most active seniors, our spacious suites offer floor plans that range from studio and one- or two-bedroom configurations (some as large as 1374 square feet).  Each apartment has a kitchenette, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, an emergency call system, and private heating and cooling. And in case you were wondering, MorningStar is pet friendly! 

Other services and amenities at MorningStar include a pool and hot tub, fitness center, art studio, a movie theatre, beautifully prepared meals served restaurant-style, enrichment activities, and more. Residents also enjoy outdoor dining, a sports bar, an ice cream parlor, and bistro. To make sure you have the time to do what you want to do, we provide weekly housekeeping, and laundry and linen services as well as daily spot cleaning and trash removal.  

Unlike many other senior communities in the area, MorningStar of Arvada also provides assisted living and memory care so if your needs should change, we are here to help.  While you will find our website showcases pictures of our gorgeous community, it doesn’t show the loving atmosphere that permeates throughout our home.   We attribute this to our exceptional care team that feels honored to serve seniors, and works hard every day to provide residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  

Please visit our website to learn what sets our community apart from other independent living, assisted living, and memory care Arvada, CO offers and why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home.”

MorningStar of Arvada represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents.  Visit our website for more information about the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada, CO offers.