MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s Great Leadership Team

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s goal is to provide the best senior living in the Peoria/Glendale area.  Along with our beautiful new building and grounds we have a compassionate, loving staff, which starts at the top with our committed leadership team.   

Regan Stone, our Executive Director, is one of the big reasons MorningStar at Golden Ridge feels like a true “home.”  Regan believes MorningStar’s purpose-driven and service-minded leadership ideals enable him to make a difference in the lives of both residents and team members.  He adds that, “I want the adult children of residents to sense (and see!) that our community loves and cares for their parents the same way we love and care for our own parents.” 

Our Wellness Director, Kim Gaunt, relates how in her first year of nursing she had a patient who at 103 years old who was allowing her, a twenty-year-old, to care for her. Kim felt overwhelmed that she wasn’t doing enough for her. That experience is summed up by Kim, “from that point on, I have kept my heart open for seniors, advocating for their right to quality care and respect from all of us.”  About MorningStar Kim adds, “MorningStar puts God before all things; in business this is a rare thing. I knew this was where I needed to be”  

Gia Vasey is Golden Ridge’s Director of Community Relations.  Gia cites the loving culture that drew her to MorningStar and feels honored to belong here.  She explains that “I am surrounded by passionate professionals who are like-minded and kind-hearted, who care intensely about other people. Our seniors and their families become our family, demonstrated in a thousand ways through the caring details of day-to-day interactions.”   

MorningStar at Golden Ridge is certainly lucky to have such a caring leadership team.  Our new community offers 38 Casitas for independent living as well as 65 suites for assisted living.  We also have 35 secure suites for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.  Please visit our website to learn more about why our community is so special, and if you like what you see, set up a tour to visit our community in person.   

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 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 area’s finest independent and assisted living.

Help Your Parent Transition to Assisted Living

Now that MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge is close to our grand opening, we will soon be busy welcoming new residents and enjoying getting to know them.   We want to help make the transition for our assisted living residents a smooth one and our team will be working to that end. 

MorningStar understands that often the move to assisted living is done because of a life changing event so not only is the person adjusting to a new home but may be mourning the loss of their old life.  For some seniors, moving into assisted living can be stressful as they start to feel more and more of their independence is being taken away from them.  Our job is to be ready to help smooth over any rough patches.

Even before someone makes the move into assisted living there are some things families can do to help ease the coming change.  We recommend that you let your parent take part in making the decision as it gives them meaning and purpose.  Also, while you may not want to put your loved one through taking tour after tour of senior living communities, they can certainly help research places and narrow down the list to the most favorable ones.   Once the family weighs considerations such as price, services, location, etc., and agrees on a couple of choices, your parent should take a tour as well as go back a few times to spend some time observing the community. 

Other ways to assist the transition include helping them get to know the staff in advance.  Also future visits can be planned around an activity they would enjoy or eating a meal with the community.  After a decision is made, let your parent decide what furniture they want to move with them and help them decorate their new home.   Just remember your parent may go through an adjustment period so give them time and be ready to listen.   Please visit our website for more information about our beautiful, loving 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 independent and assisted living in the Peoria/Glendale area.

Seniors Still Need Good Nutrition

Even for older adults, good nutrition is important for a healthy lifestyle.  A study from the National Institute of Health (NIH) states that “As you age, you might need less energy. But you still need just as many of the nutrients in food.” 

As a part of their findings, they recommend avoiding foods loaded with empty calories such as potato chips, cookies, soda and alcohol to ensure you get your proper amount of daily nutrients.  Instead they advise eating wholesome, nutrient-rich foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated or trans fats.

One of the benefits of eating well is that it may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, Type II diabetes and bone loss as well as some types of cancer.  In fact if you already suffer from one of those diseases, maintaining a healthy diet along with staying physically active can help you to better manage them.  Additionally adopting a healthy diet can help to reduce your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol. 

Wholesome, healthy foods help keep muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong and vitamin-rich food can boost immunity and fight against illness-causing toxins.  Furthermore, a healthy diet can help you feel better as well as give you more energy.

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we wholeheartedly agree that good nutrition is important for seniors.  This is why our residents are served meals that are not only very healthy but also delicious. Our Executive Chef prioritizes the use of ingredients which support brain health by their high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Our beautiful community offers a choice of 65 well-appointed, private assisted living suites, including two-bedroom, one and one-half bath floor plans. In addition, if you’re looking for independent living, we offer 38 Casitas as quadraplexes with attached garages. Within our Reflections Neighborhood, we devote 35 secure suites to the specialized care of residents with memory impairment. 

This post is intended for informational purposes only.  Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

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 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 area’s finest independent and assisted living.

Help Your Parent Transition to Assisted Living

Now that MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge is close to our grand opening, we will soon be busy welcoming new residents and enjoying getting to know them.   We want to help make the transition for our assisted living residents a smooth one and our team will be working to that end. 

MorningStar understands that often the move to assisted living is done because of a life changing event so not only is the person adjusting to a new home but may be mourning the loss of their old life.  For some seniors, moving into assisted living can be stressful as they start to feel more and more of their independence is being taken away from them.  Our job is to be ready to help smooth over any rough patches.

Even before someone makes the move into assisted living there are some things families can do to help ease the coming change.  We recommend that you let your parent take part in making the decision as it gives them meaning and purpose.  Also, while you may not want to put your loved one through taking tour after tour of senior living communities, they can certainly help research places and narrow down the list to the most favorable ones.   Once the family weighs considerations such as price, services, location, etc., and agrees on a couple of choices, your parent should take a tour as well as go back a few times to spend some time observing the community. 

Other ways to assist the transition include helping them get to know the staff in advance.  Also future visits can be planned around an activity they would enjoy or eating a meal with the community.  After a decision is made, let your parent decide what furniture they want to move with them and help them decorate their new home.   Just remember your parent may go through an adjustment period so give them time and be ready to listen.   Please visit our website for more information about our beautiful, loving 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 independent and assisted living in the Peoria/Glendale area.