Summer is Right Around the Corner – Remember to Stay Hydrated

With summer bringing hotter, steamier temperatures, it is a good time to remind everyone, especially seniors to protect themselves from dehydration, which happens when our bodies lose more fluid than it takes in. Dr. Samuel Keim, a professor and head of the department of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona, explains one of the reasons adults 70 and older are more at risk for dehydration is “a diminished thirst mechanism and a decreased ability to compensate for high-temperature environments.” He adds this means seniors are less likely to feel thirsty or realize they are becoming dehydrated.

Moreover, many seniors suffer from medical conditions such as respiratory ailments, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease exacerbating the problem. Also medications like anticholinergics or antihistamines disrupt the body’s natural reflexes and reduce its heat tolerance causing a person to sweat less. Other problematic drugs include diuretic medications that increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine or beta blockers that interfere with the body’s natural response to becoming dehydrated.  

Heat-exhaustion symptoms can include fatigue, thirst, profuse sweating, lightheadedness, cramps, nausea and weakness, and need to be addressed immediately as they can lead to heat stroke, which can be deadly. Dr. Keim says, "A heat index over 100 degrees is a high-risk environment for heat stroke." Treatment includes getting the person out of the heat into a cool location and removing heavy clothing. Spraying the person with water and directing a fan on them also helps. Seek emergency attention if the person is confused or fainting but continue to treat the person until help arrives. 

MorningStar at Golden Ridge is a vibrant senior living community situated on an 8.8-acre campus with exceptional architecture and award-winning design.  Our residents enjoy a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, and a hospitality and care team who feel called and honored to serve seniors.  Please visit our website for more information regarding our community, amenities and care services as well as inquire about our Move-in Specials and availability. 

MorningStar Senior Living’s independent and assisted living communities across the U.S. have a passionate commitment to serving seniors, earning a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. If you are looking for the finest senior living in Peoria, AZ, we encourage you to consider MorningStar at Golden Ridge. 

Source: health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/hot-weather-health-tips

Studies Show the Benefit of Eating Fruits & Vegetables with Flavonoids

New research shows flavonoids, the chemicals that provide plant foods their bright colors, may help in the fight against forgetfulness and mild confusion many seniors experience. The evidence comes from two long-term continuing health studies from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Participants were periodically surveyed regarding their diet and state of their health including memory problems over a 20 year period. Data was extracted from over 100,000 men and women with an average age of 73.  

The study’s lead author, Dr. Deborah Blacker, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said they focused on participants’ consummation of two dozen common types of flavonoids. These included carrots (high in beta carotene), strawberries (containing flavone) and apples (containing anthocyanin). Results suggest those who answered “yes” to having memory problems also reported eating a lower amount of flavonoid-enriched foods.  

Researchers found a significant difference between the bottom one-fifth of participants who reported the lowest intake of flavonoids compared to the upper one-fifth who were 19 percent less likely to report forgetfulness or confusion. Additionally, the study reported “higher intakes of Brussel sprouts, strawberries, winter squash and raw spinach were most highly associated with better scores on the test of subjective cognitive decline.” Dr. Thomas M. Holland, a researcher at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging who was not involved in the study, said “There’s some really good data here with 20 years of follow-up.”

MorningStar of Arvada is a senior living community committed to making your retirement years carefree. Along with resort-style amenities and hospitality and care services, we offer residents a 5-star dining experience enriched with a variety of healthy, fresh foods. Our contemporary suites range in size with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom options.  Suites feature sleek fixtures, high ceilings, large windows, and many have spacious balconies or patios. For exceptional independent living, assisted living or memory care Arvada, CO seniors can count on, we encourage you to consider MorningStar, the perfect community to comfortably and safely age in place.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest independent living, assisted living, and memory care Arvada, CO offers.

Source: nytimes.com/2021/08/09/well/brain-health-fruits-vegetables.html  

The Best Foods for Satisfying, Healthy Snacks

The goal of a snack should be to satisfy your hunger as well as be a balanced addition to your daily nutritional intake. Dietician Lisa Jones says satisfying snacks can be crunchy, creamy, savory or salty and good choices include things like eggs, tofu, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. 

As a guideline, an adult’s snack should contain approximately 150 to 250 calories. Experts advise diabetics to stick to protein-rich choices and to watch the amount of carbohydrates a food contains as carbs can elevate blood sugar. If you are eating a pre-packaged food, check to see what constitutes a serving and the number of calories.

Remember healthy snacks can be tasty such as avocado on whole grain toast. For a fiber-rich snack, how to make chia pudding? The recipe is simple and all you need to do is add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to a 6 oz. glass of seed-based milk. Add ½ cup fruit and refrigerate for a couple of hours. To get 80% of the daily folate and 50% of the manganese requirement, how about eating a cup of shelled edamame?

Other quick snacks include a handful of nuts and a piece of fruit, or a bowl of popcorn topped with a small amount of olive oil rather than butter. Cut-up veggies eaten plain or dipped in peanut butter or humus is another satisfying, healthy snack. Greek yogurt is loaded with calcium, probiotics and protein and can be added to fruit, a handful of nuts or even to tuna. 

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s offers the finest independent living, assisted living, memory care and respite care. Our warm, loving environment includes exceptional architecture, care and hospitality services, resort-style amenities and wellness programs and activities. In addition we are proud of our 5-Star dining service, which includes meals made largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients and superfoods. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our senior living and to inquire about availability and pricing, or to set up a tour.   

Source: health.usnews.com/wellness/food/slideshows/healthiest-snacks

Our Team Grew Up Loving & Honoring Seniors

Our MorningStar at Golden Ridge leadership team learned from a young age not only the joy that comes from loving a senior but what great teachers they are to us. We feel blessed to have such fine individuals leading our community and knowing we are in good hands. 

Beginning with our Executive Director, Kerri Felix, who has adeptly, and compassionately led our team over the past three years, explains the first senior she loved was her “Grampy.” She says she didn’t ever think of him as a senior but just knew he was her favorite guy who happened to have white hair. From her earliest relationships to today, Kerri has seen the ways seniors teach us to be humble and to be respectful of time as it is a precious commodity not to be wasted. Adding, “It is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to serve them every day; and to serve alongside team members who daily exhibit the core value of kindness.”   

Nicole Baker serves as our Wellness Director. She explains the first senior she loved was Grandpa Jim, or as others knew him, “Big Jim;” the glue of the family who was funny, kind and made them laugh with silly jokes. Nicole says, “Seniors have taught me to live life to the fullest, to stop and enjoy the little sthings. They show me that family is the most important thing you have in life, and how precious this life is.” 

Rounding out our leadership team is Julie Larsson, the Director of Community Relations. Her grandfather Leo made her feel special and told her one day she would be an artist. She says, “I feel called to serve seniors because it is very satisfying to know I can play a part in improving their quality of life. My elders teach me to be grateful for things we often take for granted, like health and family.” Julie loves working for MorningStar because the company’s mission and core values echo her own.

MorningStar Senior Living at Golden Ridge provides 55+ adults a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and security with the finest independent living, assisted living and memory care. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our philosophy, floorplans, amenities, services and availability. Our team is ready to answer any of your questions and look forward to hearing from you and your family.

Anger can be a Part of the Grieving Process

The loss of a loved one or the diagnosis of a deadly disease is devastating and hard to process. Turning inward and drawing on our spiritual strength as well as seeking comfort from our family and friends is important in the healing process. However, if you feel you need professional help to deal with the loss or to face end-of-life decisions, grief counselors and other mental health providers may be able to help you better shoulder the burden and ease the pain. 

In many cases, people can be surprised to find they are angry but experts explain it is one of the five stages in the grieving process that includes: denial and seclusion, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Anger may be triggered by feelings of abandonment or fear when a beloved spouse, child, or parent passes away. Social Worker Kriss Kevorkian, Ph.D., explains “When anger is involved, it’s important to look at it and find out if you’re angry about the situation, the person who died, or perhaps even God.” She says discussing your feelings with a grief counselor can help you find ways to cope with the loss and start to process it. 

When a loved one has a terminal illness, talking to a grief counselor can help you start the difficult conversation regarding your feelings and even help you to make the most of the time you have left with them. Afterward, professionals can help you find ways to honor the memory of your loved one as well as you process your grief. 

At MorningStar at Golden Ridge Senior Living community, we offer 55+ adults a true home.  Along with 65 suites for assisted living, we have 38 Casitas for independent living and 35 suites devoted to the care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our selection of floor plans, our wide range of amenities, our care services and to ask about availability and pricing.   

How do Seniors define “Quality of Life?”

A recent Forbes magazine article highlighted a subjective difference regarding “quality of life” for people at various stages of life. They explain, “given the ambiguity surrounding the oft-used phrase and its meaning, it follows that there’s often confusion regarding how best to support quality of life for elderly people.”

To help sort through what quality of life for seniors may mean, Pew Research surveyed a range of people in 2009 to find out their views on aging and quality of life. To start with, they found a big difference in the way younger and older people perceived their past years and future years. The report found 76 percent of U.S. residents aged 75 years and older said while they were presently satisfied with their lives, only 19 percent believe their lives will improve over the next decade. They additionally said the last ten years had been better than the present. Conversely 71 percent of adults 50 years old and younger felt the next ten years will be even better. 

Researchers say while different perspectives were offered by younger respondents and the older group, the majority of participants, regardless of age, said the ability to communicate with others is extremely important to quality of life. Other important takeaways from the survey were older people want to be heard, to connect with others, and to be able to continue their much-loved activities and hobbies. They also voiced a desire to feel useful and to be needed.  

MorningStar of Arvada offers 112 bright independent and assisted living suites to area seniors along with another 29 secure memory care suites in our Reflections’ wing to care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Every aspect of our memory care is designed to provide the environment for our most tender residents including meaningful daily activities. We encourage you to visit our website for further information regarding independent and assisted living as well as the best memory care Arvada CO offers.