MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care

Fall Safety Tips for Seniors: Avoiding Seasonal Hazards

As autumn approaches, the cooler weather and changing leaves are beautiful, but they can also bring hidden risks for seniors in assisted living facilities. Having spent many seasons watching the leaves fall, I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is for the season to sneak up on us with unexpected hazards. But with a few simple precautions, you can enjoy the season safely.

One of the most common issues in the fall is slippery walkways from rain or early frost. Wet leaves and puddles are especially tricky to navigate, but wearing sturdy, non-slip shoes can make a huge difference. If you or your loved one use a walker or cane, make sure the tips are in good condition to avoid slips.

Here are some other ways to ensure fall safety:

• Keep walkways clear: Make sure pathways are free of leaves and debris. A clear path helps prevent tripping and slipping hazards.
• Use adequate lighting: As daylight hours shorten, make sure outdoor areas are well-lit. Consider adding motion-sensor lights if needed.
• Dress in layers: Fall weather can be unpredictable. Dress in layers to stay warm without overheating, which helps prevent falls from rushing to adjust clothes.
• Install handrails: Having sturdy handrails by outdoor steps and along walkways can provide extra support when navigating slippery or uneven terrain.
• Check heating systems: Ensure your heating system is working properly before the cold weather sets in. Regular maintenance can prevent malfunctions and keep your home warm and safe.
• Use non-slip mats: Place non-slip mats at entryways and in bathrooms to reduce the risk of slipping when coming inside from wet or frosty conditions.
• Stay hydrated: Cooler weather can make us forget to drink enough water, but hydration is essential for maintaining balance and preventing dizziness.
• Schedule regular vision checkups: Poor vision can increase the risk of falls, especially in dim light. Regular checkups help ensure your glasses or contacts are up to date, giving you better visibility.
• Wear weather-appropriate footwear: Choose shoes with good traction and support, especially during wet or frosty weather. Avoid shoes with smooth soles that can easily slip on wet leaves or icy surfaces.

Inside the home or in an assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho, ensure that rugs are secured and furniture is positioned to allow for easy movement. Staying active and maintaining good balance is key to avoiding accidents, and gentle exercises like stretching or walking can help.

Fall is a beautiful time of year, and with a few precautions, seniors in assisted living facilities can enjoy the season while staying safe.

HOW TO EASE THE TRANSITION TO AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

One of the most stressful events in life involves packing up your possessions and moving to another home, whether the new home is a few blocks away or halfway across the country. If you have lived in your home for many years, making the transition to our senior housing community in Rio Rancho, New Mexico can be downright intimidating. This is the most significant adjustment you can expect to make during your senior years.

Let’s take a look at how to ease the transition to an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho.

Start With a Tour

The timeless adage “familiarity breeds contempt” certainly does not apply to a new home. You should become as familiar as possible with the assisted living facility in Rio Rancho that you have chosen as your new home. At our senior housing community in Rio Rancho, we offer scheduled tours to help new residents become familiar with their new surroundings. You get the opportunity to talk with residents and staff members, as well as enjoy a meal in the dining rooms.

Get Involved in Activities

At our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, we organize many activities throughout each month to keep residents busy. From organizing day trips to different venues in Albuquerque to scheduling in-house events such as bingo night, our bustling activities calendar offers new residents a way to make the tough transition to their new homes. Participating in activities is an effective way to develop friendships with the other residents.

Interact With Loved Ones

Treat your new home at our senior housing community in Rio Rancho like you treated your old home before the big move. This means you should invite friends and family members to visit you whenever they can. Interacting with friends and family members allows you to maintain the social connections you had before transitioning to an assisted living facility. You also should spend time outside our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho with friends and family members by meeting for lunch or enjoying the matinee showing of a favorite movie.

Stay Involved Outside the Community

Just because you moved into an assisted living facility does not mean you have to stop participating in activities that are outside of the community. Continue to get involved in any club that focuses on your favorite hobby. Remain active with any volunteer groups that you support with your hard work. Recruit some of the new friends you have met at MorningStar-Rio Rancho to join you in getting involved with a club or group. One of the most popular group activities for seniors is exercising as a group at a fitness center.

Do Not Rush the Emotional Transition

No matter how thorough you are in preparing for a move from a home you lived in for decades to an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM, you can expect some emotional bumps in the road. Embrace any emotional bumps in the road as part of the transition. Eventually, any fear, anxiety, and apprehension of transitioning to an assisted living facility should disappear. The best way to work out any emotional issues is to talk to one of your new friends or one of the caregivers at our senior housing community in Rio Rancho.

 

As they say, time heals all wounds, especially the emotional wounds that can develop when you leave an old home for a new home at an assisted living facility.

5 MUST-HAVE SECURITY MEASURES AT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

Recent research data showed more than 810,000 Americans live in an assisted living facility. If you asked the more than 810,000 Americans who call a retirement community home and their loved ones what is the most important factor in choosing a facility, you would receive a wide variety of answers.

However, one answer is considered one of the most important, if not the most important factors. That factor is called security.

Let’s find out what are the five must-have security measures at a senior housing center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Advanced Security Camera System

Taking a page out of the healthcare industry playbook, a growing number of assisted living facilities have invested in advanced security camera systems to deter criminals from committing crimes such as burglary. In addition to deterring criminals, the most advanced security camera systems with 100 percent property coverage represent an effective way to collect convincing physical evidence. Different types of cameras placed at a wide variety of entrances and exits can prevent the unfolding of undesirable events.

Video Analytics Software

Installing an advanced security camera system is made much more powerful when it is accompanied by the integration of video analytics software. This type of software has revolutionized the security camera industry by using machine learning and highly developed algorithms to analyze large amounts of raw data and video footage. Video analytics software dramatically speeds up the physical evidence collection process, as well as communicates with security staff in real time.

In-Room Resident Monitoring

As another helpful security measure pioneered by the healthcare industry, in-room resident monitoring serves three helpful purposes. First, it alerts our security staff when a memory care resident tries to wander through the memory care wing. Second, it is an effective tool to alert our security team to the presence of an intruder. Third, it ensures residents receive their medications at the right time and with the correct dosage. 

Infection Control

When you think of security for a senior housing center, you probably think about the measures taken to protect residents against harm. One form of harm that does not receive enough attention concerns the development of infections. At our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, our caregivers implement a comprehensive infection control plan that targets residents at the highest risk of contracting an infection. Our program includes properly training each caregiver, as well as ensuring the regular washing of clothes and bedding.

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Government code requires the installation of fire and carbon monoxide detectors. However, they must be in top-performing condition to protect residents against the ravages of fire and carbon monoxide. At our senior living center in Rio Rancho, conducting regular inspections of our fire and carbon monoxide detectors ensures each detector operates at 100 percent efficiency. Every room at our assisted living facility has one fire and one carbon monoxide detector.

Learn More About the Security Measures at MorningStar of Rio Rancho

We understand the importance that you place on the safety and security of a loved one who is about to transition to an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM. By scheduling a tour of our assisted living facility, you can see firsthand every security measure put in place to protect our residents. You also learn more about the cybersecurity measures we have taken to protect sensitive resident data, such as the type of payment method. Cyberattacks have emerged as one of the most serious types of security breaches faced by senior living centers across the United States.

Connect with us today by submitting the short online form.

4 POPULAR HOLIDAY EVENTS IN RIO RANCHO, NM

One of the keys for seniors to enjoy healthy lifestyles is to remain active. At the MorningStar senior housing center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, our monthly activities list is chock-full of fun things to do that keep your senior loved one engaged. From yoga classes to individual activities such as solving puzzles, our residents keep busy throughout the year.

An important part of our activities calendar involves leaving our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho to attend special events. This is an especially important part of our activities calendar during the winter holidays when several events help enrich the lives of our residents.

Old Town Holiday Stroll

One of the many attractive features of Albuquerque concerns the year-round mild, dry climate. This is an especially attractive feature in winter when temperatures typically average above freezing and the skies do not unleash a load of snow on residents. During December, Albuquerque’s favorable climate takes center stage during several winter holiday events. One of the most popular outdoor winter holiday events in Albuquerque is called the Old Town Holiday Stroll. This free special winter holiday event takes place on December 6, 2023. from 5 to 9 p.m.

The highlight of the event is the tree lighting at Plaza Don Luis.

Mannheim Steamroller

The winter holidays evoke a wide variety of fond memories based on tradition. From decorating a tree to hanging lights around the house, the winter holiday season represents the essence of charm and energy. As the top-selling live act during the winter holidays, Mannheim Steamroller rolls into Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 27, 2023. Enjoy traditional holiday songs that present a one-of-a-kind Neo-classical twist.

Make sure to get your tickets to this one-time winter holiday event before the show sells out.

Trolley of Lights

Nothing dazzles the eyes more than to be immersed in a sea of colorful holiday lights. The best way to discover dazzling holiday lights is to join the ABQ Trolley Company Trolley of Lights tour that runs from December 15 through December 28. This 75-minute unforgettable holiday light tour takes you through neighborhoods and business districts displaying beautiful winter holiday lights that hang from rooftops and around large pine and cedar trees.

Make sure to dress warmly to get the most out of this popular winter holiday event.

Winterfest Arts & Crafts Festival

At the Santa Ana Center on December 14, 2023, arts and crafts enthusiasts can attend one of the most popular festivals located in greater Albuquerque. Not only do you get the opportunity to shop for arts and crafts, but you also can offer your creations for sale during the winter holiday event. This free winter holiday event represents an ideal way to get most, if not all of your shopping done for the holidays.

Learn More About the Activities Calendar at MorningStar-Rio Rancho

One of the most influential reasons why our residents choose MorningStar-Rio Rancho is that we offer three lifestyle options: Independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The three lifestyle options allow new residents of our independent living program to transition into an assisted living arrangement as circumstances warrant, without having to search for another assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM.Learn more about the three lifestyle options at MorningStar-Rio Rancho by scheduling a tour today

Benefits of Letting an Assisted Living Facility Take Care of Your Senior for You

You know your senior loved one better than anyone else. When the time comes to determine whether your loved one requires focused care, choosing whether to transition your loved one to an assisted living facility can be one of the most important decisions you can ever expect to make.

According to several studies, around seven out of 10 Americans require long-term care after they reach the age of 65 years old. Although making the transition to an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is a tough decision, the benefits of letting a senior housing facility take care of a loved one make the decision much easier.

Around-the-Clock Personalized Care

Because of a hectic schedule, you cannot expect to provide constant personalized care for your loved one. However, at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, we offer around-the-clock personalized care such as nursing care, behavior monitoring, and medication administration. MorningStar at Rio Rancho offers personalized care 24/7 by implementing a holistic approach to providing healthcare services.

Active Daily Schedule

Our residents enjoy a high level of independence, especially when it comes to participating in daily activities. An active senior is less likely to develop memory loss issues, as well as experience a decline in physical capabilities. According to a research study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, older Americans that follow an active lifestyle develop slower rates of memory decline. Our active schedule includes putting on social events once a month, as well as scheduling outings that include trips to cultural attractions like the ABQ BioPark Zoo. We also provide several amenities such as a swimming pool that keeps our residents on the go throughout the day. 

Comprehensive Safety Features

One of the top concerns for your loved one is to live in a safe environment. When driving becomes unsafe and/or your senior can no longer cook dinner at home safely, the time has arrived to consider moving your loved one into an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho. Because of our low caregiver-to-resident ratio, MorningStar at Rio Rancho delivers on its promise to protect the health of our residents. Our team of caregivers completes comprehensive safety training programs to ensure they comply with every safety and security standard established by MorningStar.

Many of our apartments include safety features such as an alert system that allows us to respond immediately to any safety and security issues.

More Free Time for You

Not every benefit of an assisted living facility is enjoyed by your loved one. You free up much more of your time because you no longer have to perform household chores, as well as work on home improvement projects for your loved one. Say goodbye to cleaning, cooking, and maintaining the appearance of your loved one’s yard. With renewed peace of mind, you can relax during days that are now consumed by providing personalized care for your senior loved one.

MorningStar’s mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest” emphasizes the importance that we place on providing personalized care for seniors. Our foundation operating principle is based on honoring God by valuing the contributions residents make to our community. Located in a comfortable setting surrounded by spectacular views of the nearby mountains, the MorningStar senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, NM provides superior assisted living and memory care services.

Learn more by contacting one of our resident services specialists.

5 BENEFITS OF READING FOR SENIORS

Few things in life give us as much pleasure as spending time reading a good book. Whether it is a romance, mystery, or science fiction novel, reading represents one of the most beneficial activities for seniors at assisted living facilities. If you are considering a senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, you should consider one such as MorningStar that encourages its residents to stay active mentally by reading books.

Why Seniors Should ReadThe joy of reading is reason enough to make the leisurely activity a part of a senior’s lifestyle. However, reading does much more than bring joy into a senior’s life. Some studies demonstrate that reading can help prolong a senior’s lifespan.

Let’s review the six benefits of reading for seniors residing at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho.

Improves Brain PerformanceYou understand the benefits for a senior when it comes to using muscles to maintain strength and stamina. The same muscle-flexing principle applies to the brain as well. Seniors need to flex their brain muscles every day, which makes reading the ideal activity to improve brain performance. Some research indicates daily reading represents one of the most effective strategies for staving off the development of dementia.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Seniors at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho have many ways to unwind, but few ways are as successful as reading. Research shows reading can decrease stress by as much as 68 percent. Because seniors at assisted living facilities often have to deal with the anxiety caused by uncertainty, reading is an activity a senior can rely on every day to create a more stable living environment.

Develop Empathy

Our brains display an intelligence level early on that stays consistent for the rest of our lives. The same cannot be said for emotional intelligence, which is an ongoing development process that helps us cope with different situations. Reading books, especially works of fiction, can increase empathy to help seniors at senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho connect with other people.

Encourages Interactions

Assisted living facilities represent great environments for seniors to interact because of the events scheduled each month. One of the first things you should do when searching for a senior housing facility in Rio Rancho is an assisted living facility’s monthly social calendar. With reading, a senior does not need a social calendar to interact with other people. Reading motivates seniors to share what they have read.

Effective Sleep Aid

Many seniors find it more difficult to fall asleep and then stay asleep than when they were younger. Reading is an effective sleep aid because it signals to the brain and the rest of the body the time has come to unwind for the day. Seniors should read hardcovers and paperbacks instead of reading from an electronic device to enjoy better sleep. Electronic devices trigger more brain activity, which makes it difficult to fall asleep.

Start Reading Today

Seniors have many ways to start reading. Joining a book club not only is a great way to build a reading habit, but it also helps seniors interact with other residents at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho. Audiobooks are a great tool that encourage reading, especially for seniors struggling with vision issues. The environment where seniors read also plays a role in developing a consistent reading schedule.

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we encourage our guests to live self-sufficient lifestyles. Reading represents one of the best ways to achieve self-sufficiency. Learn more about what MorningStar assisted living facilities have to offer by connecting with one of our guest service representatives.

6 SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING

Although the calendar marks June 21 as the start of summer, the official start of the most active season of the year begins on Memorial Day. From Duluth, Minnesota to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, summer is the kick-off for barbecues, water sports, and family vacations. Summer also is the time of year when seniors at assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho celebrate their favorite activities.

Let’s look at six summer activities for seniors in assisted living.

Enjoy Nature

Hot and relatively dry describes the climate during the summer in Rio Rancho, which sits a few miles north of the Albuquerque city limits. Although heat might limit some outdoor activities, residents of senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho have plenty of time to enjoy nature. Seniors can organize a group trip to watch a sunrise or catch one of the spectacular desert sunsets. If a senior feels like spending a little quiet time with nature, taking an evening walk represents an effective way to rejuvenate both the mind and body. 

Bird watching is an especially popular nature-related activity that helps seniors avoid spending time outdoors during the warmest times of day

Board Game Nights

Cool evenings make board games the perfect activity at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho during the summer months. In addition to engaging seniors, board games also keep residents of senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho mentally active. A comprehensive study demonstrates that board games boost mental activity enough to decrease the risk of developing dementia. According to a related study, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles helps keep a senior’s mind nimble, as well as gives a senior purpose through achieving accomplishments.

Cookouts

One of the most popular group activities at senior living facilities in Rio Rancho involves organizing outdoor cookouts. Working with a facility’s dining services department, seniors can organize cookouts that range from simple barbeques to more elaborate cooking competitions. Choosing a day for a weekly cookout makes it easier to organize different events. A variation of the weekly outdoor cookout is to arrange a weekly dining out event. Albuquerque offers a diverse range of culinary destinations.

Stargazing

One of the advantages of living in a semi-arid climate is enjoying the night sky explode in Rio Rancho. The city is far enough away from the bright lights of Albuquerque for stargazers to get unobstructed views of the stars and planets. An assisted living facility in Rio Rancho can plan a weekly stargazing event that includes serving a light snack. 

Museum Trips

A twice-a-month trip to visit a museum in Albuquerque represents a great way to keep cool when daytime high temperatures can reach 100 degrees. Albuquerque is world-renowned for its Native American art and history museums that provide an in-depth look at the Native American cultures surrounding the city.

Outdoor Movies

Drive-in theaters have become a nostalgic memory, but that does not mean seniors at assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho cannot catch a flick or two outdoors. Movies shown with nature as a companion help take the focus off ailments and other issues seniors face as they age. They also give seniors the opportunity to relax.

By valuing our guests and recruiting team members that feel a calling to value others, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho is recognized as one of the best assisted facilities of its kind in greater Albuquerque. Contact our facility to learn more about the resort-like amenities and stunningly beautiful views.

5 Important Questions to Ask While Touring Assisted Living Facilities

Making the transition into assisted living is an important life change that requires research and preparation. Whether you are looking into senior housing for yourself or a loved one, it is essential that you get as much information as possible. 

This guide will help you choose the right assisted living facility to meet your needs. The following are 5 important questions to ask when touring assisted living facilities.

1. Who Are the Caregivers, and How Are They Trained?

When touring assisted living facilities, it’s important to find out about the people who will be caring for your loved one. Always ask who the caregivers are and what the hiring process is like. 

How are caregivers trained? What type of credentials or experience do they have? This will help determine whether you or your family member will be in good care at the facility.

2. What Is the Ratio of Staff to Residents?

A common concern in senior housing is the ratio of staff to residents. Some assisted living facilities are severely understaffed, which means that every resident can’t possibly get all the care they need. 

When touring an assisted living home, ask what the ratio of staff to residents is to ensure that there will be plenty of staff members who can care for your senior family member.

3. Are Rooms Private or Shared?

Every assisted living facility is arranged differently, and this can impact which facility you choose. 
Are you looking for yourself or your loved one to retain some privacy and independence? If so, you will want an assisted living home that offers private rooms. If socializing and companionship are important, you may be interested in shared rooms. 

Always ask about the living arrangements when touring a new facility to find out whether they are private or shared.

4. How Are Medical Concerns Addressed?

One of the most important aspects of senior housing is making sure that residents get the medical care they need. Older adults often have serious health concerns, such as heart disease or Alzheimer’s. 

When touring an assisted living home, ask how the facility addresses such medical concerns. Are medical professionals on-site to attend to emergencies? Is transportation readily available to nearby medical facilities? 
Knowing the answers to these questions will provide peace of mind that your loved one’s health will be in good hands.

5. What Recreational Activities Are Available?

Many people are worried that when their family member enters assisted living, they will become isolated or depressed. A way to avoid that is by having access to recreational activities. 

When you tour a senior housing facility, inquire about its recreational options. Most assisted living communities offer activities like fitness routines, movie nights, and art classes.

Choosing the Right Assisted Living Facility

When touring senior housing facilities, it’s important to ask the right questions. Finding out about staffing, medical care, recreation, and more will help you choose the best assisted living home to meet your needs.

Overlooked Benefits of Assisted Living

Many times, a move to assisted living facilities is not only good for the senior but for the family as well. Mom or dad living alone, perhaps already experiencing a fall or another type of health emergency, is stressful for everybody involved. 

Senior living experts point out the benefits of receiving attentive senior care along with services like nutritional meals, access to meaningful programs and transportation to and from appointments. At communities like MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we sit down with in-coming residents to create a Personalized Service Plan designed to help with the ADLs (activities of daily living), which include things like bathing, grooming, transferring (such as from bed to a wheelchair), feeding and toileting. 

Dee Pekruhn, director of life plan communities’ services and policy for LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, says, “Whether they stand alone or are part of a larger continuing care campus, assisted living communities offer a wide variety of community and social activities.” These typically include arts and crafts, physical exercise classes such as chair yoga, live concerts and other entertainment, and educational and technology classes. At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we tell our residents if we don’t already have a class addressing one of your interests, to start one. 

Special outings and trips are another component of many senior living communities including MorningStar of Rio Rancho. Bus trips to local, scenic spots, or trips to the mall or cultural events are just some of the activities residents enjoy.  

Another important service is medication management as statistics show the average older adult takes four or more prescription drugs each day, and as high as 39 percent of seniors take five or more. Medical management ensures seniors take the proper medication they need, when they need it. 

MorningStar of Rio Rancho is proud to offer the finest senior housing Rio Rancho offers with our distinct mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.”  Our community offers 51 private assisted living suites and 26 suites in our distinct Reflections Neighborhood devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Contact us to inquiry about availability, and be sure to ask about our Move-in Specials.   

Source: 

health.usnews.com/best-assisted-living/slideshows/how-assisted-living-improves-quality-of-life?