Helping Your Parents Organize Their Paperwork

If your parents are elderly and in poor health, they may need some help organizing and updating their paperwork.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests that lending your parents a hand with this task may be one way you can help even if you live out-of-state and not able to assist in their day-to-day care.  Updated paperwork is also helpful to you and other caregivers in the case of a medical crisis or if you are asked to weigh-in on financial, legal or other medical decisions.   

The experts offer several tips on what you need to gather and should include your parents’ medical records and a current list of medications and dosages.  Also, you want any record of their sources of income and assets such as bank accounts, pensions, life insurances, IRAs, 401(k)s, and other investments.  You additionally will need a list of their liabilities including if they own a home, find out what their monthly/annual obligations are including mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance.

This is a good time to find out if they have a will or to discuss with them any plans they may have already made or need to make regarding advance directives including a durable power of attorney.  Planning for future health care decisions is important as it ensures a person gets the medical care they want if they are unable to speak for themselves.   

You will probably need to plan on spending some time with your parents in order to get everything organized but it will be worth it in the long run.  The NIA cautions that older people can be protective of their personal and financial information so be respectful. Try to get them to understand that you are not being nosy but rather want to be prepared in the event of an emergency.    

If your parent needs more care than they can get at home, we encourage you to consider Portland area MorningStar of Beaverton.  Our luxury senior living community is designed to meet the needs of seniors with unparalleled assisted living and memory care. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Beaverton, “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 senior living in Beaverton Oregon.

Helping Your Loved One Transition to Assisted Living

We know people react differently to the many challenges we face in our lifetime, so it is no surprise that some individuals have a more difficult time adapting to assisted living. Experts surmise that one of the reasons may be is that some seniors end up feeling that the decision was thrust on them, and a decline in their health left them with few choices.   

It is important for families to keep in mind that the first few months will probably be the most difficult adjustment period for their loved one.  In fact, once the initial transition is over, studies show that many older adults actually prefer the lifestyle community living offers.   

To assist your loved one with the transition, experts recommend a few things family member can do to help the process along.  They explain that it is especially important during the first few weeks to visit frequently, but also caution against being too protective.  Spending too much time with your loved one during their adjustment period can be counterproductive and may prevent them from adapting on their own.   

Another thing that will help is to encourage your parent to participate in the community’s activities.  The more involved they get in the community, the more likely they are to make new friends and start to feel at home.    

Also take the time to help them personalize their suite by adding treasured mementos and framed family photos as well as wall art they loved from their last home.  Add in furnishings like a comfy chair and a cozy throw in a color they love.  Furthermore, if space is at a premium, consider mounting the TV on a wall.  When helping to decorate, do not forget safety.  Make sure cords are safely tucked away and not in endanger of becoming trip hazards and that pathways are uncluttered and free of objects that could cause a fall.   

Visit MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s website to learn more about one of the area’s finest senior living communities.  Our beautiful Peoria, AZ community offers independent living, assisted living and memory care.    

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we represent 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 to create a true “home” for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community.     

Source:  assistedliving.com/helping-elderly-aging-parents-adjust-senior-living-01112013/

A Career that Will Let You Reach Your Personal Best!

If you have always wanted to work at a place filled with love and laughter and where lives are cherished and celebrated, you have found it!  MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar at Arrowhead, MorningStar of Fountain Hills and MorningStar at Golden Ridge are offering a variety of career opportunities that allow you to make a difference in another person’s life, and perhaps your own.   Our open assisted living jobs range from full and part-time Arizona certified caregivers, dining room servers, cooks and more. As our homes operate 24/7, our positions include weekends and evening shifts.  

When you join our team of dedicated caregivers, you will find yourself working alongside individuals who share our values and ethics, and support our unique mission of honoring God and valuing all seniors.  Moreover as we recognize that senior living at its best is love in action, we are committed to investing generously in our team’s ability to serve and to hiring and retaining employees who use creative minds and compassionate hearts to serve our residents. 

Along with philosophers and great-thinkers throughout the ages, today’s evidence-based studies agree that serving others is a path to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.  At MorningStar, we could not agree more and one of our directors succinctly explains, “Our lives are better by listening to the advice and stories of seniors. They have a wealth of experiences, amazing stories and lessons that apply to all generations.”  We know seniors teach us to appreciate each new day as they help us to better understand the aging process.  

If you want to be part of something extraordinary, please consider joining our MorningStar family.  Visit our website for a full listing of assisted living jobs in Phoenix and detailed job descriptions.   We also provide an online application for your convenience.  

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Fountain Hills & Golden Ridge communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God and valuing all seniors, we are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve. Would you like to make a difference in a senior’s life? If so visit MorningStar’s Career page for a link to fulfilling assisted living jobs in Phoenix.

Enjoy Your Senior Years with Resort-style Amenities

MorningStar at Golden Ridge provides seniors with a lifestyle of wellness, comfort and community.  By offering the finest independent and assisted living in the area, it allows our residents to enjoy carefree retirement years and gives them the time to pursue interests both new and old.   

Our first-class amenities start with delicious daily meals largely prepared from scratch and served in the clubhouse (independent living breakfast) or restaurant style in our charming dining room.  We also have our own bistro, fitness centers, life enrichment rooms, and an in-house salon that offers hairstyling, manicures and pedicures.  In addition, we have a theater/chapel, library and a private dining room that if available for intimate dinners.   

Each day, we offer a whole host of wellness programs and activities that are designed to enhance health and wellness, stimulate your brain and encourage connections.  Amidst our beautiful grounds, we have an outdoor dining patio, and our memory care residents have a secure courtyard where they too can safely enjoy the outdoors.  Along with scheduled transportation, we routinely take road trips to a variety of cultural destinations, shopping, restaurants, parks and more.    

To ensure your utmost comfort and wellbeing, MorningStar at Golden Ridge has a compassionate 24-hour care staff and a full-time licensed nurse on call 24/7.  If there is something you need, our team is right there ready to help.   

We encourage you to visit our website for more details about our remarkable senior living community.  Our building has 65 assisted living suites, in a choice of spacious studio or one and two-bedroom floor plans.  The Reflections Neighborhood has an additional 35 secure suites devoted to providing care for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Adjacent to the main building are 38 Casitas with clubhouse and pool for active, independent seniors.  If this all sounds good, please schedule a tour! 

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we represent 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 to create a true “home” for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community.    

Are You Ready to Serve?

If you live in or around the greater Phoenix area, you will be interested to know that several of our MorningStar communities, including MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar of Fountain Hills, MorningStar at Arrowhead, and MorningStar at Golden Ridge are seeking individuals with a felt calling to serve.  As MorningStar’s Founder/CEO Ken Jaegers explains as he inspires our own team members or any other audience he speaks to by saying, “Don’t wait to serve. Serve now. Today. Get involved somewhere. It will make you a better person (and if you work for MorningStar, a better team member). Don’t wait until your children are grown. Don’t wait until you retire. Give now, give generously. And just see what happens. For you cannot out-give God.”   

Back in 2003 when Ken founded MorningStar Senior Living, he built it on the profound truth of honoring God in all aspects of our business practices and relationships, and to create a superior quality of life for MorningStar’s residents.  In addition our mission includes valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals and investing generously in our team’s ability to serve well.  

You will also find that once you become part of our MorningStar team, whether as a caregiver, housekeeper, food server or a director, you will be welcomed into a family of dedicated service professionals united by a goal of providing the best quality of care for our residents.  To ensure you have the chance to live up to your potential and grow into your position, we provide a range of purposeful training, mentoring, and support.   

Moreover while each of our Phoenix area communities is beautiful designed, decorated and offers a wide range of resort-style amenities, we recognize that the heartbeat of our homes is our loving, compassionate team.  Without their commitment to service, we would not have family members glowingly write about the care their loved ones receive under our roofs as one husband recently did. He explains, “I’m very grateful for the loving and attentive kindness of all of the MorningStar caregivers. It takes a load off my mind to know that my wife is in such good hands.”   Please visit our website to learn more about how you too can make a difference by serving in one of our assisted living jobs in Phoenix.  

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Fountain Hills & Golden Ridge communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  Our foundation is built on honoring God and valuing all seniors, and we are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve. If you wish to thrive professionally and personally, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for a link to rewarding assisted living jobs in Phoenix.

Senior Living Communities Offer Many Benefits

Several studies have shown that the majority of seniors who move into senior living communities say they prefer it to living alone.  A Place for Mom reports that “while many seniors want to age at home as long as they can, research shows that senior living communities may be the healthier option; especially after a spouse passes away.”  Also seniors are often unaware of the wide range of services and amenities available at an independent or assisted living community.   

When a senior lives alone, they can become pretty isolated especially if they have stopped driving.  In addition trying to maintain a house can be difficult for aging adults.  Housekeeping chores, preparing meals, and going up and down stairs can be challenging for the elderly.  Another problem faced by seniors who live alone is a fear of falling.  Having no one around to help in the case of an emergency can be scary as well as life-threatening.  

Senior living communities such as MorningStar of Beaverton provide creative programs and activities that encourage and enhance health and wellness, socialization, and mental stimulation.  At MorningStar we also provide scheduled transportation as well as arrange special outings to local destinations such as museums, parks, plays, shopping malls and scenic drives.  Residents at our assisted living and memory care community will no longer have to worry about fixing meals as we provide three daily meals that are both healthy and delicious.  

MorningStar of Beaverton, newly opened late last year, offers 66 private assisted living suites with the choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In our memory care neighborhood, we have 38 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Please contact us to learn about the many benefits we offer to those in need of assisted living or memory care.      

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Beaverton, “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 senior living in Beaverton Oregon.

 Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/senior-living-comforts-safety/

What to Look for When Touring a Senior Living Community

If you are starting to search for senior living, it is recommended that you take a tour of the community.  While all the beautiful pictures online or in a brochure can make a community look great, firsthand impressions go a long way toward getting a real feel of the place. 

Before your visit, make sure the senior living communities you are interested in offer the options you want – independent living and/or assisted living.  If a family member needs memory care, is there a separate wing devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases? 

If you are looking for assisted living, please keep in mind it is important that you get it right the first time as it is hard on your loved one to get settled somewhere and then decide it is not a good fit.  During your tour, A Place for Mom, the largest assisted living referral service, recommends that you start evaluating the place from the moment you walk through the door.  Ask yourself, does it look clean and orderly as well as smell fresh?  Inquire about housekeeping services and how often private suites are cleaned, the costs involved, general maintenance of the community, and security.      

If you can, come during an activity so you can join in the fun.  This will give you a good idea of the staff’s friendliness around the residents.  Also arrange to eat lunch at the place as it will not only provide you with a firsthand taste of the food but allow you to leisurely enjoy time with other residents.   

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, the wellbeing and comfort of our residents is our highest priority. We offer independent living in 38 two-bedroom, two bath Casitas with attached garages. In a nearby building are 65 suites for assisted living, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Within our Reflections Neighborhood, we devote 35 secure suites to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Visit our website to conveniently schedule a tour or give us a call.  We look forward to meeting you and your family.   

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 learn more about the finest senior living in Peoria, AZ. 

Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/tips-for-touring-assisted-living

Making Healthy Food Choices

The appetites of elderly adults typically decrease as they age, which means it is important to make smart, healthy food choices rather than filling up on foods laden with empty calories (save those sugary snacks for occasional treats).  The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes a website called Choose My Plate that offers ideas and tips to help people create a healthier eating style throughout the various stages of their lives including older adults. 

Eating a wholesome diet rich in nutrients can help keep your muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong and to boost your immunity.  If you already have a chronic disease, it can help you manage it better.  My Plate explains a healthy diet will give you more energy and encourage a sense of well-being along with providing the nutrients needed by the body such as “potassium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, minerals, and dietary fiber.  In addition eating well can help you lose or maintain a healthy weight.  

If you are on a low-sodium diet due to health conditions, you should use herbs and spices to flavor your food rather than salt.  Also be wary of processed and packaged foods as many of them are loaded with sodium.  In addition to drinking water throughout the day, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture says to drink 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk (substitute yogurt, butter milk, hard cheese or lactose-free foods if you cannot tolerate milk) a day.  Eat cereals fortified with vitamin B12 and include sliced fruits and vegetables with your meals. 

At MorningStar of Beaverton, we understand it is important for our residents to eat a nutritionally rich diet, which is why mealtime is both a social event as well as the opportunity to eat healthy, delicious foods.  Our meals are served restaurant-style so residents can sit and enjoy the company and a relaxing meal.  Please visit our website to schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful senior living community.       

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 to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. 

Source: choosemyplate.gov/older-adults

Why Choose MorningStar of Arvada?

You may have found that there are several senior living communities in and around Arvada and may be wondering what sets MorningStar of Arvada apart from all the others.  To start with, we offer seniors a wide range of senior living options that start with our comfortable independent living with private suites and spacious common areas including a pool.  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.  

MorningStar is also proud to have earned a reputation as one of the leading memory care providers in the Western U.S.  Our Reflections Neighborhood offers a holistic approach to caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  

However, the thing that really sets us apart from other area senior living communities is our unique mission statements.  MorningStar Senior Living was founded by Ken Jaeger, whose intention has always been to provide senior housing that feels like a loving home (just like his grandmother’s) and offers a sense of “family.”  Our mission statements start by honoring God in all of our business practices and relationships; valuing all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and investing heavily in our teams’ ability to serve well. 

MorningStar of Arvada’s extraordinary team is another reason we stand out from the rest.  Our team selection starts with heart, and we specifically seek out individuals who have a felt calling to serve and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure residents receive first-class care and services.  Furthermore, we train our entire team in our culture we call Radiance, which lovingly guides the way we deliver service. 

We invite you to visit our website for more information.  While you are there, follow our link to inquire about availability and pricing or to set up a tour to see firsthand our beautiful community.  

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 CO has to offer.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge Offers Exceptional Memory Care

MorningStar at Golden Ridge feels it is our calling, and our privilege, to provide loving, compassionate memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  With 35 secure, memory care suites, we are equipped to care for your loved one from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages.  Also, as our memory care is located in a separate area called the Reflections Neighborhood, it is designed to allow residents the independence to move freely and safely about in their expansive surroundings.  

In fact, every aspect of our memory care is tailored to serve the needs of our most tender residents from a team of exceptional caregivers to meals, wellness programs and services.  Once your loved one decides to join the MorningStar family, we sit down with your family to learn as much as we can about their personal preferences, medical history and background in order to create an individualized care plan.  Every resident receives 24-hour care, daily health monitoring, access to a full-time nurse, and participates in daily activities and scheduled outings and events. 

As dementia care specialists, our approach and philosophy to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky.”  Our program is another reflection of our Radiance culture and provides us with an insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  All team members, regardless of their position, receive Lavender Sky training, which includes a deeper understanding of the disease and communication techniques to use with memory-impaired residents.  It also includes training in environmental safety and security and holistic solutions to challenging behaviors. 

Along with memory care, we offer exceptional independent living and assisted living.   Please visit our website to learn more about our memory care as well as the many resort-style amenities and services we provide to all residents.   

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we represent 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 to create a true “home” for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community.

Culture of “Radiance” Guides the Way We Deliver Service

At MorningStar of Beaverton, we provide exemplary service to our residents to ensure their utmost comfort, wellbeing and safety.  To achieve this, we recognize it could not be done without the help of our team members who we consider to be the very heartbeat of our community. 

Our team consists of a unique group of individuals who have a felt calling to serve.  They are the kind of people who do the right thing even when no one is watching, and have perfected the art of anticipating needs and going the extra mile.  MorningStar’s team members see seniors as heroes and feel privileged to have a rewarding career that offers both professional as well as personal growth. 

To direct us in our service, all team members, including our management team, are guided by Radiance, our exclusive brand standard of Service Excellence.  The program’s precepts are introduced to every team member upon being hired, and then reiterated and strengthened every day during our daily Huddle.        

Radiance allows us to take service professionalism to the next level and offers a purposeful way for us to advance our mission of honoring, valuing and investing in others.  As “Radiance” is like a beam of light, it epitomizes the ways we serve others – with warmth, sincerity, and depth and is reiterated through interpersonal communications and special touches throughout our home.   

We invite you to take a look at our website to learn more about our Radiance program and MorningStar of Beaverton.  We are located in a western suburb of Portland, near the popular retail/entertainment center of Progress Ridge Townsquare. We offer 66 assisted living suites in addition to our Reflections Neighborhood that has 38 suites devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment.  

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Beaverton, “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 our exceptional offering for assisted living and memory care. 

Is Senior Living Affordable?

Many seniors and their families fear senior living is too expensive but once you actually look into it, you may be surprised to discover it can actually be less costly than trying live on your own.  At MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge, we offer families a great deal especially when you consider all of the resort-style amenities and top-quality services we provide.  

To help ensure senior living is within reach, one of the jobs we take seriously at MorningStar is to help our families find resourceful ways to make senior living affordable.  We help you explore innovative financial solutions and often under-used benefits that may be available to you beyond traditional retirement savings and investments.   

If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, you will want to carefully read through your policy to determine what type of expenses it covers.  You will find specifics regarding daily benefits, policy limits, and the elimination period under your Benefits Summary.

Another way we help families make senior living more affordable is let them know they may be eligible for often untapped Veteran Benefits.   Please refer to our Veterans page for a full explanation of the generous “Aid & Attendance” Pension issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

We remind seniors to think about leveraging life insurance policies or selling their home to pay for senior living.  We also offer Companion Living, in which two unrelated people of the same sex may share a suite as well as expenses.  This opportunity is available in independent living, assisted living and memory care. 

Please visit MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s website to learn more about our beautiful independent living, assisted living, and memory care community.  Our website has a convenient link to inquire about 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 senior living in Peoria

Want to Be Part of an Extraordinary Team? Join Our MorningStar Family!

Do you want to make a difference in the world by serving others? Would you like to work at a place where you will be encouraged to build caring relationships, and where the job duties include helping to create a loving, family environment?  Lastly would you like to be part of a group of service professionals who are working together to provide exceptional care for seniors, the most heroic, wise and fascinating segment of our society?  If you answered “yes,” we have an opportunity for you that is inspired by a felt calling to serve seniors and sustained by the power of relationships.  

The MorningStar Company, founded over 15 years ago by Ken Jaeger who still serves as the CEO, was began out of Ken’s desire to establish his own brand of senior living after many years of working in the industry.  He explains, “It was 2003. I had a dream to start a senior housing company that was defined by the human touch. I wanted to re-create my grandmother’s house, a place where one can go and feel a sense of family.”

We are pleased to say our MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar at Arrowhead, MorningStar of Fountain Hills, , and the new MorningStar at Golden Ridge senior living communities are just that – loving homes where residents comfortably and safely age in place.  Located in and around the Phoenix area, we are presently seeking compassionate individuals to fill a variety of assisted living jobs including care managers, chefs, dining room servers, a medication care manager/QMAP and more.  

If you wish to be part of something inspirational, profound and rewarding, please considering applying to one of MorningStar’s assisted living jobs in Phoenix, Glendale, Fountain Hills, or our newest home in Peoria.  Visit our Career page and take the link to “Assisted Living Jobs – Phoenix.”     

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Fountain Hills & Golden Ridge communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  Our foundation is built on honoring God and valuing all seniors, and we are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve. If you have the heart of a caregiver, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for a link to fulfilling assisted living jobs in Phoenix.

Our Loving Phoenix Communities Casts a New Light On Senior Living!

If you feel as troubled as we do by the increasing incivility in almost all segments of our society, you will be pleased to learn that one of MorningStar’s priorities is to cast a new light.  Using our mission statement and core values to guide us, our goal is to create senior living communities that are lighthouses of decency, good manners and polite conversations. 

MorningStar homes are designed to foster an environment for seniors’ wellbeing; and from the moment you walk through the doors, you will feel the chemistry in the air as well as see it with your own eyes.  We are truly blessed to have our homes staffed by a group of extraordinary people who love our residents like they do their own moms and dads.  

By building a team of service professionals who feel called, connected and empowered, they recognize the importance of investing in each other as well as our resident-families.  As a team member, you will be taught the best ways to communicate and convey the dignity and respect our residents deserve. 

MorningStar is an equal opportunity employer, and we are proud to have a culturally diverse workforce.   We know that each member is essential to our brand and to our success and we are committed to recruiting and retaining our extraordinary team. This includes providing competitive wages, comprehensive benefits including healthcare, and purposeful training.  Moreover while our company was founded on Judeo-Christian values, we lovingly welcome all faiths among our team members as well as our residents.  

Please see our website for a complete listing of assisted living jobs.  Our Phoenix communities include MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar of Fountain Hills, MorningStar at Arrowhead, and the new MorningStar at Golden Ridge.  If you believe as we do that senior living at its best is love in action, consider joining our MorningStar family!

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Fountain Hills & Golden Ridge communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  With a foundation built on honoring God and valuing all seniors, we are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve. Would you like to make a difference in a senior’s life? If so visit MorningStar’s Career page for a link to fulfilling assisted living jobs in Phoenix.

Live in and Around Phoenix? Check Out Our Rewarding Career Opportunities!

At MorningStar at Arcadia, MorningStar of Fountain Hills, MorningStar at Arrowhead, and MorningStar at Golden Ridge we offer seniors compassionate independent living, assisted living and memory care.   To provide our brand of service excellence, we are looking for extraordinary individuals who have big hearts and a felt calling to serve.  

Our various assisted living jobs in the Phoenix area are fulfilling careers that allow you to use your unique talents as you help us find creative solutions to improve our care services.  In addition you will quickly become an integral member of the team regardless of your position and have a path for advancement as we promote from within whenever possible.  

To learn more about our open positions, please visit MorningStar’s Career page.  Here you will find all of our openings as well as detailed job descriptions and how to apply.  While you are there, take the time to look at our individual home pages where you will see beautifully decorated homes that offer an array of resort-style amenities and services.  You will also find lots of pictures of residents and staff sharing special moments and sincerely enjoying one another’s company. 

As we recognize our team is the heart of our communities, in fact part of our mission statement is to: invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well — a commitment to hiring and retaining employees who use creative minds and compassionate hearts to serve residents – we create a workplace where excellence can flourish.  This includes providing the training; support and mentoring our team members need to ensure their success.  

Moreover be sure to take a look at our Twice the Story video series, which showcases the tender relationships between residents and team members in our communities. We believe these friendships testify to the fact that we need to lean upon and lean into each other—that each might receive a blessing, that each might be served, and that each might come away changed. Please visit our website or contact us to learn more our loving MorningStar family!

At MorningStar’s Arcadia, Arrowhead, Fountain Hills & Golden Ridge communities, our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  Our foundation is built on honoring God and valuing all seniors, and we are currently recruiting staff with a felt calling to serve. If you wish to thrive professionally and personally, please visit MorningStar’s Career page for a link to rewarding assisted living jobs in Phoenix.

Get a Professional Diagnosis for Memory Problems

Experts say it is important to seek the advice of your doctor if memory problems are seriously affecting your life.  To determine if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, the Mayo Clinic explains, “doctors conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and identify behavior changes. They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment.”   

During your appointment, the Mayo Clinic says expect to be evaluated on: 

·         Whether you have impaired memory or thinking (cognitive) skills

·         Whether you exhibit changes in personality or behaviors

·         The degree of your memory or thinking impairment or changes

·         How your thinking problems affect your ability to function in daily life

·         The cause of your symptoms

 Tests include neuropsychological tests that are used to access your abstract thinking, problem-solving skills, memory, language usage and other related skills.  Your doctor may also schedule braining-imaging tests.  While these brain scans are not used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, they can detect other conditions such as hemorrhages, brain tumors or damage from a past stroke.  They are also used to establish a baseline in terms of the amount of degeneration seen on the scans.   

Your doctor may also talk with your family to learn more about the types of changes they have noticed and how they have affected who you are now.  All of the information is then used to rule out other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, or depression that may be causing your symptoms. 

It is understandable that people are often afraid to go to a doctor once they suspect Alzheimer’s.  Furthermore, many feel that since there is no cure, what is the point?  However, doctors stress once you are diagnosed with the disease, you can start getting the proper treatment as well as consider your care options and plans for the future. 

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 of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in 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 our exceptional assisted living and memory care community. 

Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048075

Better Overall Health May Help to Reduce the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

As some of the more severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s are now associated to poor overall health, researchers stress the importance of maintaining healthy habits to help reduce symptoms of the disease.  They say that care should include getting the proper exercise, and eating a healthy diet as well as identifying and managing other medical conditions.   

Studies show that “light exercise and walking appear to reduce wandering, aggression and agitation.”  Additionally getting the daily exercise appropriate to the person’s abilities also seems to help alleviate other problem behaviors.   

A person’s hearing and vision should be regularly tested and the appropriate steps taken to deal with any problems found.  They should also be routinely seen by their primary care physician along with visits to specialists to address specific needs.       

Eating problems are another common issue affecting those with Alzheimer’s and can put a person at risk for weight loss, dehydration and malnutrition.  For many the process of eating becomes more and more challenging, and they may no longer know how to use a fork or knife.  The progression of the disease can cause “nerve cell death that eventually steals the ability to recognize thirst or hunger.” 

Located in Peoria, AZ, MorningStar at Golden Ridge offers independent and assisted living along with compassionate, professional memory care.  In our memory care Reflections Neighborhood, we understand that dining is as much about community as it is about nutrition, which is why our staff and residents eat together.  Also, out of respect for our residents’ sometimes compromised abilities at the table, we serve finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.  Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful, loving community that is a true home for our residents.   

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge, we represent 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 to create a true “home” for residents.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful independent living, assisted living and memory care community.    

Source: alzinfo.org/articles/diet-exercise-health/    

.

Assisted Living at MorningStar of Beaverton is a True “Home”

Newly opened last November in a western suburb of Portland, MorningStar of Beaverton was meticulously built to offer all the comforts of home.  We provide 66 private assisted living suites, which are available in an array of configurations including spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  In our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 38 secure suites devoted to the care of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.      

Our goal at MorningStar is to offer our assisted living seniors a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  From the moment you decide to join our loving community, we consider you a part of our family.  To ensure you get the care you need, our Wellness Director sits down with you and your family for a thorough assessment of your medical and personal needs.  MorningStar offers five levels of care as well as various auxiliary services (both medical and non-medical), which are priced a la carte.   

Regardless of your level of care, all assisted living residents will have around-the-clock Care Managers who help with personal daily care activities, and the services of a full-time nurse (on call 24/7).  We also offer Medication Managers, a CPR-trained team member on every shift, scheduled health and wellness evaluations, care plan reviews, scheduled transportation, and much more.     

As a resident, you will receive three daily nutritional, tasty meals prepared under the supervision of our Executive Chef.  All meals are served restaurant-style in our charming dining room or in a private dining room available for intimate dinners.   

We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about MorningStar of Beaverton’s many services and amenities.  Also, for a limited time only, we are offering one-month free rent in either assisted living or memory care. 

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 to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Choosing the Best Walker

Many older adults are no longer as steady on their feet as they used to be.  This puts them in danger of a fall, which can have many serious repercussions on a seniors’ health.  If you are considering getting a walker to help you move more safely around, you need to know something about them.   

For starters since there are several kinds of walkers, you should consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist to assist you on finding the most suitable one.  They will make sure it is your size as well as the right type.  To determine size, you should be able to stand between the rails, and the width of the walker should be level with the insides of your wrists. A professional will also teach you how to use the walker and provide tips for normal activities such as sitting down while using a walker.  This is done by backing up until you feel the seat of the chair behind you.  Now bend forward at your hip and reach behind with one hand to grab the armrest.  Do the same with your other hand as you carefully lower yourself onto the center of the chair.       

Common types of walkers include a basic walker that has four legs with rubber tips on each one.  To use, a person must pick up the walker as they take a step.   A wheeled walker can have two fixed wheels on the front that do not swivel side to side or have rubber tips on the front legs and small wheels on the back.  These walkers allow people to walk more naturally as they do not need to be picked up with each step.  A three-wheel walker has one wheel in front and two in back and offers the advantage of being lighter and easier to move around in smaller spaces.   

Rollators are four-wheeled walkers and can be equipped with a seat for a basket.  These walkers are equipped with hand brakes and are ideal for people who do not need to apply a lot of weight to the walker.  However, they are not recommended for people with dementia as they may forget to use the hand brake.  Please visit MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s website to learn more about our exceptional senior living 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 senior living in Peoria

Social Connections May be the Key to Preserving Memory

According to an article published by the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, it reports socials connections may be key to preserving memory.  The study, led by Elizabeth Kirby, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience at the university, explains their findings influence "a body of research in humans and animals that supports the role of social connections in preserving the mind and improving quality of life.”    

The university’s research involved studying a group of mice 15 months to 18 months old, which is the period in a mouse’s life when it starts to have significant memory decay.  For three months, some mice lived in pairs while others were housed in groups of seven.  The researchers put the mice through a series of trials each day that tested their recognition and memory skills.  Consistently the mice housed in larger groups improved their performance on the tests, which researchers believe may suggest they “used their hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory.”   

The study is important for humans as our hippocampus declines with age as it does in mice and other animals, and helps to identify the impact of social connections on brain health.  Kirby says seniors should “think about your living situation as you age.  If you have the privilege of choosing where you live, make the choice that lets you be socially engaged as long as possible." 

At MorningStar of Beaverton, we recognize the importance of strong social connections and offer an array of wellness programs and activities that encourage social as well as physical, intellectual and spiritual connections.  Please see our website for more information about our loving assisted living and memory care community.   

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 to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Source:usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-05-31/study-a-social-circle-is-key-to-protecting-the-aging-mind