Beaverton’s Newest Senior Living Community

The team of MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Beaverton is getting excited as the opening of the newest senior living community in Beaverton is drawing near.  Scheduled to open in late 2018, our new community will offer 66 bright suites for assisted living, and another 38 secure suites devoted the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

For assisted living, we offer various levels of support for the activities of daily living designed to preserve and extend the independence, choices and privacy of our residents.  After a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director, a Care Plan is put together in agreement with both the senior and their extended family.  Our Care Managers are onsite 24/7 ready to ensure the safety of our residents and see to it that all of their needs are met.  As our private suites are available in variety of configurations including spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans with some as large as 974 square feet, we are sure you will find one that is perfect for your needs.        

In our Reflections Neighborhood, we are set up to care for those in the early onset of the disease all the way to the most advanced stages.  MorningStar’s unique approach to memory care includes finding ways to connect with and nurture the individual essence of each resident, and our energy is put toward finding ways to celebrate and elevate life.

We may be new to the area but MorningStar has communities across the country, and we have in place a dedicated, experienced team that knows how to provide a quality of life for our seniors that is unmatched by other senior living communities.  Visit our website for more information and while you are there, take a look at our gallery of renderings to see what our beautiful community will look like.

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 or stop by the Information Center on our construction site to learn more.

Driving Safely as You Age

Older drivers can still be good, safe drivers, but there are some things to consider both for your safety and the safety of others.  The Mayo Clinic recommends that seniors stay as active as possible in their day-to-day life which helps to maintain overall strength, flexibility, and range of motion.  Drivers need to be able to turn and look over their shoulder and move their head with ease.  They must be able to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and legs need to be strong enough to apply pressure to the gas pedal or brake. 

A senior’s peripheral vision can decrease with age or from certain medications and other eye problems may cause drivers to have trouble seeing in the dark or experience blurred vision.  Hearing problems can interfere with detecting sounds of sirens from emergency vehicles or approaching cars.  Be vigilant about scheduling vision and hearing tests regularly as part of your wellness care and follow your doctor’s advice as to how often they should be done.  Many problems can be corrected if caught early enough.  

 

Remember that certain medications can cause drowsiness so make sure you know the side effects of your prescription drugs and do not drive if you are feeling sleepy.  It may be a good idea to limit trips in the car to daylight hours and when the weather is good.  Keep in mind that a person’s reaction time slows with age as do their motor skills.  You may need to re-evaluate your driving every so few months, especially if you find yourself having incidences of accidents that almost happen. 

The MedicineNet website has some safe driving tips for seniors:

Planning before you leave:

·         Plan to drive on streets you know.

·         Limit your trips to places that are easy to get to and close to home.

·         Take routes that let you avoid risky spots like ramps and left turns.

·         Add extra time for travel if driving conditions are bad.

·         Don't drive when you are stressed or tired.

While you are driving:

·         Always wear your seat belt.

·         Stay off the cell phone.

·         Avoid distractions such as listening to the radio or having conversations.

·         Leave a big space, at least two car lengths, between your car and the one in front of you. If you are driving at higher speeds or if the weather is bad, leave even more space between you and the next car.

·         Make sure there is enough space behind you. (Hint: if someone follows you too closely, slow down so that the person will pass you.)

·         Use your rear window defroster to keep the back window clear at all times.

·         Keep your headlights on at all times.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Glendale, “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 out exceptional independent and assisted living.

Our Leadership Team Sets the Standard for Exceptional Care

At MorningStar at Dayton Place, you will find we offer independent living suites and assisted living suites in a variety of configurations and on three levels.  We also offer 17 secure suites for memory care without our Reflections Neighborhood, which is in a separate wing.  Our beloved community is located in southeast Denver and we have achieved an excellent reputation as one of the area’s finest senior living community.     

It doesn’t just happen that you earn a reputation as the “best,” but rather requires a dedicated team starting with management, and we are fortunate to have such a team.   Our extraordinary care starts at the top with Iva Prinsen, our Executive Director.  Iva brought an extensive background in senior living as well as a degree in Health/Health Care Administration/Management when she joined our team a year and a half ago.   

She explains that the first senior she loved was her grandmother, Ida, whom she is named after.  Iva grew up on a family farm with her grandmother and spent time with her every day after school.  Iva believes that living out the MorningStar mission in her grandmother’s memory, she is inspired and impassioned to make sure each senior is treated with dignity and respect every day.  She adds, “I’m so thankful that God brought MorningStar into my career path.”

Our Wellness Director, Augusta Edeh, grew up in Sierra Leone where she lived with her grandmother.  She says it is no exaggeration to say her grandmother laid the foundation for her life, prepared her to face its challenges, and still inspires her to this day.  Augusta came to MorningStar on the recommendation of a friend who loved the way both staff and residents are treated like family.

Rounding out our management team is Sharon Hurley who serves as our Director of Community Relations.  She began working for MorningStar at our Jordan community back in 2014.  She relates how she loves the person she has become by “being in the presence of seniors, and receiving immeasurably more from our residents than I could ever give.”

Along with our managers, MorningStar at Dayton Place also has an excellent team of individuals who feel privileged to serve seniors.    Please visit our website to learn more about our community.   

MorningStar at Dayton Place 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 call or email to setup a tour of the area’s finest senior living in Denver CO.

Loneliness Impacts Senior’s Health and Wellbeing

A study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that loneliness in aging adults can impact their health and wellbeing and be responsible for accelerating seniors’ decline and death.  They cite that “people 60-years-old and older who reported feeling lonely saw a 45 percent increase in their risk for death.  Isolated elders also had a 59 percent greater risk of mental and physical decline than their more social counterparts.”

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 28 percent of people 65 years and older (11 million at the time of the census) lived alone.  In addition to living alone, there are several reasons seniors feel lonesome including losing a spouse.   Furthermore, the AARP reports that more and more seniors do not have children, which means fewer family members available to provide companionship and care.  As many elderly people stop driving, they may not have a convenient way to get around and this can contribute to more feelings of isolation. 

Researchers also discovered that isolated seniors often behave in ways that make others less likely to want to spend time with them.  Not only do the seniors resist the efforts of those who want to reach out but actually push them away.

If you have an elderly parent or know someone who is living alone, there are some easy things you can do to make them feel cared about.  One way is to really engage them in conversation and ask questions and listen to their stories about the past.  Another thing you can do is to help them find a hobby they will enjoy or rekindle an interest in something they used to do.   If you live a distance from an elderly parent, call frequently and send greeting cards or small gifts that let them know you are thinking of them. 

Senior living communities such as MorningStar of Beaverton provide assisted living and memory care for older adults as well as an ideal place to socialize and form bonds with both residents and staff.  We offer seniors a lifestyle that provides all the comforts of a real home.  Please visit our website to learn more.     

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 or stop by the Information Center on our construction site to learn more.

Source: agingcare.com/Articles/loneliness-in-the-elderly-151549.htm

Receiving a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

If you have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you are not alone.  It is estimated that 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and every 65 seconds someone in the US develops the disease.  As a way to help families impacted by the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a variety of resources and services. 

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s brings with it a range of emotions. Learning that you have a disease with no cure and no way to control what is happening to you can create feelings of anger, denial, depression and resentment as well as fear.  Another common emotion is isolation and the feeling that no one else understands what you are going through.  There can even be a sense of relief at finding out what is happening to you and having those concerns validated. 

The Alzheimer’s Association counsels that it helps to try and come to terms with your diagnosis and the emotions you are experiencing as a way to help you to move forward.  They explain that, “once you make the commitment to take care of your emotional needs; you may find that you can rise to the challenge and face your diagnosis.”   

You will find helpful coping tips on their website to make it easier to deal with what you are going through.  One of their most important suggestions is to have good support whether it comes from joining a support group, sharing concerns with family and friends, or talking to a counselor or member of the clergy.  They also say to continue to do the activities you enjoy for as long as you are able.  Finally they remind individuals to take time to “feel sad, mourn and grieve.” 

At MorningStar Senior Living of Glendale our secure and loving Reflections Neighborhood is devoted to the care of those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases.  We leverage the power of music, dance, art, aromatherapy, and animals to heal and comfort residents, while taking into consideration the uniqueness of each person. Our team works every day to make a difference in the lives of our memory care residents. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Glendale, “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 out exceptional independent and assisted living.

Source: alz.org/i-have-alz/i-have-alzheimers-dementia.asp

Assisted Living May Help You Live a Fuller Life

Many seniors are pleasantly surprised to discover that assisted living is not such a “terrible place” after all but rather a true home that offers many benefits.  Several studies also back up this assertion and have found that for many seniors, community living is a healthier, safer and more agreeable alternative to living alone. 

Initially it can be difficult for seniors to leave their familiar family home and often mistakenly think moving into an assisted living community will mean the end of their independence.  Actually, the opposite ends up being true as when a senior receives the proper care he or she needs, they are able to lead a fuller life. 

Another reason seniors can be reluctant to make the move is they do not realize that assisted living communities of today are not anything like nursing homes.  As a resident of an assisted living community, you not only will have you own private suite but an array of care options and amenities that are designed to provide your utmost comfort and security.    

In many cases assisted living is a much better option than trying to patch together the range of services the senior needs from in-home care providers.  Furthermore, assisted living communities are already set up to accommodate those who may have mobility difficulties, and it can be expensive to retrofit a private home to make it safe enough for a senior with physical limitations.  In addition, assisted living communities such as MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Beaverton provide 24/7 care and offer residents as well as their families the peace of mind knowing help is close at hand in an emergency.  

Please see our website for contact information and to learn why assisted living or memory care may be the right decision for you or your loved one. 

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 or stop by the Information Center on our construction site to learn more.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/social-life-for-seniors-why-assisted-living-is-better/   

How You Think About Aging May Influence Your Health

A recent 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.”

MorningStar at Dayton Place 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 call or email to setup a tour of the area’s finest senior living in Denver CO.

Source: alzinfo.org/articles/research/negative-beliefs-about-aging-could-prime-the-brain-for-alzheimers/