Make Your Senior Years Healthy

Since Americans are living longer, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself to ensure your later years are good ones.  The National Institute of Health (NIH) explains there are real benefits to a healthy lifestyle and adds that it is never too late to begin.  Another recently published study by Sian Robinson, a professor of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Southampton, also emphatically states that, "Improving the quality of your diet can have a beneficial effect on health, whatever your age."

Experts advise that one of the best things older adults can do to stay healthy is to eat a balanced diet and to keep their minds and bodies active.  Other healthy habits include not smoking, getting regular checkups and learning how to prevent falls. 

At the FamilyDoctor.org website, they remind seniors that even small changes such as daily physical activity can make a difference.  Moreover as you increase your physical activity, it will help to strengthen your bones and muscles, which in turn can help prevent falls.  If you do fall, stronger bones are less susceptible to breaking. 

Participating in routine physical activity also helps your brain and studies indicate that people who regularly exercise make better decisions.  In fact exercise is so important to our health that experts say the benefits outweigh the risk of an exercise-related injury.  Even chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease may improve with exercise.   The NIH does suggests that seniors new to exercising start slowly; and before you begin any new exercise, consult your health care provider.   

Another easy-to-do tip from Family Doctor is to eat food high in fiber.  Not only does it help your colon work better but it may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.  Some research suggests it may help to lower your cholesterol levels.   Whatever healthy changes you decide to incorporate into your everyday life should help you feel better and can be done over a period of time.

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.

Finding the Perfect Gift for Your Favorite Senior

It can be difficult to find the right gift for an elderly parent, grandparent or relative who has moved into an assisted or independent living community.  We recognize that they have had a lifetime of gifts, and as they are no longer running a larger household, they not only do not need as much but have a limited amount of space. 

The A Place for Mom website has a few suggestions for gifts that are sure to please.  One suggestion is to give them a blanket or throw as seniors often suffer from the cold.  However if you want to personalize your gift, there are several companies that will create a cozy throw using one of your family photos.  A talking photo album also lets you create memories through family pictures and when it has recorded voices of the grandkids, it is really special.

Another idea is to give them a lap desk that allows them to easily read a book or to write a letter from the comfort of their chair.  You could add a couple of adult coloring books illustrated with things they enjoy or places they have been along with some colored pencils and markers to complete your gift. 

A personalized gift basket can be filled with all kinds of things such as their favorite soaps, lotions and perfumes or colognes.  You can also fill a basket with special treats including chocolates, cookies and a small plug-in teapot and tea bags, or do one up with slippers, grippy socks, and a couple of pairs of fashionable compression socks.

Furthermore, tablets and iPads make good gifts as their touch-screen technology and large print options make them easy for seniors to use.  If your loved one is not tech savvy, set up the tablet before you give it to them with their email address, facebook page and other personal items.  It may be fun to pre-load a few games that you think they would enjoy and add some photos of the family.  Include with the gift the offer to be their “tech support” if they have any problems.   

At MorningStar of Golden Ridge, we are proud to offer the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve in order to create a true home for residents in a beautiful, serene setting. Please contact us to learn more about one of the finest communities for assisted and independent living Peoria AZ offers.

Senior Living at MorningStar Meets a Variety of Needs

MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge offers a range of living options that meet the varying needs of seniors.  Our community’s independent living offers 38 Casitas as quadraplexes with attached garages.  In a neighboring building, we have 65 assisted living suites and 35 secure suites dedicated to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. 

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s Casitas are the perfect answer for independent seniors who wish for a carefree, active lifestyle that provides built-in companionship and predictable budgeting.  As a resident, you will not need to spend so much time cooking but rather can take advantage of two daily, tasty meals as well as our vast assortment of activities and wellness programs primarily held in our Clubhouse.  

As a part of our community, you give up having to worry about maintaining a home both inside and out.  Our Casitas are equipped with everything you need including a washer/dryer along with full kitchens featuring a breakfast bar, high-quality appliances and premium quartz countertops.  Our community also has spacious common areas to enjoy the outdoors as well as a saline pool.   

MorningStar’s assisted living is designed for seniors who want to retain their independence but require a little assistance on a daily basis.  We offer various levels of support with activities of daily living along with 24/7 Care Managers, a full-time licensed nurse and more to ensure the comfort, well-being and safety of our residents.

In terms of our memory care, we feel privileged to help those suffering from memory loss and our goal is to find ways to connect with and nurture the essence of the individual every day. By learning about a person’s life, history and preferences, we are able to personalize their care and treat each resident with the respect and dignity they deserve.  Please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s senior living options. 

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.

Learn More About Memory Care Communities

The most recent statistics from the Alzheimer's Association indicate that one in ten people 65 years and older in the U.S. have Alzheimer's, and as baby boomers age, the number is expected to grow.  Furthermore, the Alzheimer’s Association cites a statistic showing that more than 16 million Americans are caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.  If you are currently in that position, remember you are not alone and there are many resources designed to help. 

It is a fact that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is a big job and it can take a toll on the health and wellbeing of a family caretaker, which is why it is imperative to recognize when the task becomes too difficult.  This is the time to make meaningful lifestyle changes for both you and the person with dementia, and one option is to look into an assisted living community that offers specialized memory care. 

At A Place for Mom website, they discuss some of the reasons why memory care should be considered for both the safety of the person suffering with the disease as well as for the benefit of caretakers.  The habit of “wandering” is one of those circumstances and can be a frequent problem of dementia, posing a safety risk including an increase in falls and injuries. Another common trait of Alzheimer’s is a condition known as “sundowner syndrome,” which causes a person to become agitated and to exhibit aggressive behavior later in the day that can be very disruptive.  

Also, communities with devoted memory care neighborhoods like MorningStar at Golden Ridge are specifically designed to safely and securely care for a person with Alzheimer’s unlike most private homes.   In addition memory care offers 24/7 care providers that are available to deal with situations even in the dead of night.  Furthermore, as the disease progresses, care needs become even more demanding and can be overwhelming for a family caregiver.   

MorningStar at Golden Ridge proudly provides the very best in independent and assisted 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 to learn more about memory care at our new community.

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.