Discover Peoria’s Best Senior Living Community

If you are looking for the best assisted or independent living Peoria AZ offers, MorningStar at Golden Ridge is your answer.  Newly opened in January, our community offers 65 assisted living suites in a range of configurations and floor plans.  In the Reflections Neighborhood, we have 35 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Our campus also includes 38 Casitas with attached garages for independent living.    

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge residents are treated to a whole host of resort-style amenities and enjoy a loving, home-like atmosphere.  Each resident is treated to daily meals that are served in the Clubhouse or our lovely dining room and prepared largely from scratch by our own Executive Chef.  In addition we have a monthly calendar that is loaded with wellness programs and activities as well as lots of special events and outings.  For assisted living residents, we offer a customized care plan that ensures your comfort and safety.   

If you are an independent, active senior who is ready for a carefree lifestyle, you may want to take a look at MorningStar’s Casitas.  Set in a private neighborhood, the homes are close to area shopping, restaurants, medical facilities and recreational activities.  To be eligible to move into the Casitas, at least one resident must be 55 years or older.  We are also pet friendly, although certain animals and breeds are accepted at management’s discretion.  If you are wondering if it is affordable, the answer is “yes” and is even less expensive than comparable places in and around the area. 

Please see our website to learn more about all of the senior living options available at MorningStar at Golden Ridge.  While you are there, use our online forms to check on pricing and availability as well as to set up a tour.   

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 assisted and independent living Peoria AZ offers.

The Benefits of a Busy Social Life for Seniors

Just because someone is older, it doesn’t mean the need for company, support and love lessens any.  Studies have found a consistent social life is particularly important to seniors’ emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.  However due to lifestyle changes many seniors experience such as retiring from the workplace, the death of a spouse and/or other close family and friends, and no longer driving, older adults can find themselves socially isolated. 

Having a healthy social life alleviates feelings of loneliness as well as helps to reduce the likelihood of depression, which is common among seniors.  It also helps to stave off cognitive decline and lessen anxiety.  

Seniors with a more robust social life have been found to exercise more, which in itself can lead to better mental as well as physical health by strengthening the heart and immune system.  Researchers have found longevity to be another benefit of socialization, and maintaining a healthy social life is believed to improve seniors’ self-esteem and sense of worth. 

At MorningStar of Beaverton assisted living and memory care community, we provide a true home for our residents with a mission of building a “Family for Life.”  Our team consists of compassionate, loving individuals who have a felt calling to serve.  In addition we offer a wide range of onsite amenities and services to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of our residents.  Our monthly calendar is loaded with meaningful wellness programs along with fun, entertaining activities.  Moreover both assisted living and memory care residents will have the opportunity to participate in scheduled outings and special events.

 

Conveniently located in a western suburb of Portland, we are close to medical facilities, stores, banks and restaurants.  Please visit our website for more details on luxury senior living in Beaverton.

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 schedule a tour to discover our new assisted living and memory care community.

Source: healthfully.com/543831-the-importance-of-elderly-exercise-socialization-programs.html

Positive Feelings About Aging May Improve Your Health

A study from the Yale School of Public Health suggests you may be more likely to develop brain changes typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease if you believe growing older is a negative thing.  Published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Psychology and Aging, the report also found if a person shifts to more positive feelings about aging, it may help to mitigate the damages of Alzheimer’s.

“We believe it is the stress generated by the negative beliefs about aging that individuals sometimes internalize from society that can result in pathological brain changes,” explains the study’s leader, Becca Levy, an associate professor of public health and psychology at the Yale.   She adds that “it is encouraging to realize that these negative beliefs about aging can be mitigated, and positive beliefs about aging can be reinforced, so that the adverse impact is not inevitable.”

The first part of the study was conducted with 52 men and women who were a part of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, a long-term study out of Baltimore.  The group answered surveys that examined their opinions on aging.  Negative views included the belief elderly people are sickly and have little to contribute, or that they cannot concentrate well and are absent-minded.  Positive beliefs included the notion that older people can lead vibrant lives and be engaged in society. 

Each participant had regular MRI brain scans to check for signs of Alzheimer’s.  Those who answered questions more negatively had a “greater decline in the volume of the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for memory.”  This is significant as “the hippocampus is one of the first areas of the brain to shrink in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.”  

The second part of the study included a much larger group of elderly people.  At the time of the report, 74 have died and researchers have conducted autopsies on their brain.  Those who held more negative beliefs on aging tended to have an increase in the amount of amyloid plaques and the buildup of tau, the “telltale signs of Alzheimer’s.” 

Researchers note that people in America typically hold more negative views on aging as compared to countries such as India, which venerates the elderly, and could be one reason Alzheimer’s is five time more prevalent in the U.S.  While positive thinking is no guarantee, the study suggests that “not stressing so much about old age may help to keep the brain young.”

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 assisted and independent living Peoria AZ offers.

Eye Test May Help to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease

Up until now, the only tests physicians had to actually diagnose Alzheimer’s disease were PET scans and lumbar punctures but these tests are both expensive and invasive.  This is why many doctors make their diagnosis of the disease based on observing symptoms and ruling out other causes. 

However researchers now think there could be another option with the development of an optical imaging system that can detect a hallmark of the disease.  Medical News Today writes that the “non- invasive, high-resolution imaging technique was able to detect beta-amyloid plaques in the retinas of patients with Alzheimer's disease.”  The findings indicate that the retinal imaging technique was able to identify a 4.7-times greater abundance of beta-amyloid plaques in the retinas of patients with Alzheimer's disease as compared with the retinas of the controls. The small study was first reported in the JCI Insight journal.

Another study out of Washington University in St. Louis had similar results but researchers caution that both studies are from a very small group of people.  Nonetheless it shows that retinal imaging may be a feasible, low-cost screening technique to detect Alzheimer’s in the future.  Furthermore, while there is no cure for the disease, scientists say early detection could lead to individuals being treated much earlier and could help to prevent some of the damage done by the disease.

Early signs of Alzheimer’s include memory loss that impedes one’s ability to manage daily activities such as forgetting recently learned information, repeatedly asking for the same information, and forgetting important events or dates.  Other signs are having difficulty problem-solving and completing every-day tasks, confusion with time and place, and vision and spatial problems.  Consult with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of the early signs of the disease.  Your doctor will rule out other problems that may be causing your symptoms.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Beaverton, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  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 learn more about the finest senior living Beaverton Oregon offers.

Sources:  medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319112.php

newsweek.com/alzheimers-disease-could-be-diagnosed-eye-test-research-suggests-1088892

Socializing is Beneficial to Wellbeing at Any Age

In order to thrive and lead fulfilling lives, people need to socialize with one another, and seniors are no different.  In fact studies show loneliness can have a detrimental effect on the elderly while socializing can help to enhance and enrich seniors’ lives.

An article in the US News & World Report discusses a study on seniors’ social interactions conducted by the Rush Memory and Aging Project and funded by the National Institute on Aging.  The study found that the most socially active seniors experienced one-fourth the rate of cognitive decline as seniors with the lowest levels of social activity.  The results were independent of other factors that may influence cognitive decline including physical activity, general health, and age.    

During a five year period, the Rush University project followed 1,138 adults with an average age of 80.  Their research discovered that “elderly people with the highest levels of social activity -- doing things such as visiting friends, going to parties or attending church -- showed much lower levels of cognitive decline than those who were the least socially active.” 

MorningStar at Golden Ridge is committed to provide the best assisted and independent living Peoria AZ has to offer. We strongly believe we need to address our residents’ overall health and wellbeing through physical, intellectual and spiritual activities as well as to help them engage socially. 

Our life enrichment programs present creative ways for residents to stay active and productive for both companionship and pure fun.  Our programs tap into residents’ unique talents and experiences as well as allow them to find new avenues of interest.  In addition to our in-house activities, we take group trips to cultural destinations, parks, area malls, museums, and restaurants in and around Peoria, Glendale and the surrounding areas.

Please visit our website to see what is happening at MorningStar at Golden Ridge.  If you like what you see, go ahead and set up a visit.  We look forward to meeting you.

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 assisted and independent living Peoria AZ offers.

Sources: usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/05/04/socializing-may-keep-elderly-minds-sharp

livestrong.com/article/543831-the-importance-of-elderly-exercise-socialization-programs/ 

Independent Living or Assisted Living?

Seniors often end up feeling confused about whether independent living or assisted living is their best senior living option.   Experts say the most important thing is to base your decision on is how well you manage your daily personal care activities on your own.  

If you need help with things like meal preparations, personal hygiene, managing medications, and household chores, assisted living is probably your best bet.  However if you are an active senior who is handling these tasks on your own but would like convenient access to hospitality services such as dining, wellness programs and activities, housekeeping, and companionship, independent living is perfect for you.  

Moreover, for seniors who still feel comfortable managing their own personal care for now but worry things could change in the future, communities such as MorningStar of Arvada are the answer.  Our community offers 112 spacious independent and assisted living suites in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.  If down the road, you feel you need more assistance than our independent living offers, you will have priority for one of our assisted living or memory care suites.  

MorningStar of Arvada is committed to providing residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  Please visit our website for more information about our independent living, assisted living, and memory care options.  We are sure that once you learn more about our new community you will agree with us that MorningStar is a great place to call home.  

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 learn more about the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care Arvada has to offer.

The Affordably of Assisted Living

We know research indicates senior living may be a healthier option for older adults especially after the death of a spouse, but did you know that assisted living may actually be a better bargain than in-home care.  Many families are surprised to hear that but according to cost comparisons done by A Place for Mom, once you piece together all of the services needed to ensure the person’s comfort and safety, staying in their own home might be more costly. 

This of course depends on the extent of care your parent requires, but keep in mind that at home, they are still responsible for mortgage payments or monthly rent, property taxes and property insurance.  If they live in a condominium, they may also have a maintenance fee.  If your parent lives alone and does not have 24/7 care, you should probably get a 24-hour emergency call service.  Add to that housekeeping services, landscaping/snow removal and other home maintenance, and your monthly expenses can be considerable.

Now figure in the costs for daily health aide visitations and a personal care assistant to help with activities such as bathing, dressing and preparing meals.  Furthermore, you may incur costs for transportation to and from things like doctor appointments, grocery shopping and banking.  And finally, while there is not a price tag on alleviating loneliness, moving into senior housing provides instant companionship whenever it is desired.     

Assisted living communities such as MorningStar of Beaverton lovingly offer a whole host of wellness programs and activities designed to engage and support residents’ physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing.  We have 66 private assisted living suites and 38 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Please visit our website for more information.

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 schedule a tour to discover our new assisted living and memory care community.

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/assisted-living-in-home-care-compared