Designing Dementia-Friendly Spaces: How Memory Care Environments Support Seniors

Dementia is a common condition that many older adults develop as they age. Though dementia is not rare, its symptoms can manifest differently for different people. This is why assisted living communities specifically for memory care in Phoenix will design their private and communal spaces with all kinds of dementia experiences in mind. 

What does it mean for a space to be dementia-friendly? Here are a few ways a memory care facility can help to make their residents with dementia feel more at ease and enjoy the atmosphere. 

Supporting Independence With Careful Design

Depending on how advanced an individual’s dementia is, their independence and motor skills may be significantly affected or hardly affected at all. Dementia-friendly living spaces will make it easy for residents to remain independent for as long as possible. 

This includes plenty of safety measures and visual reminders to avoid confusion or wandering. Additionally, outside spaces are secure yet inviting, allowing residents to enjoy the outdoors independently. 

Keeping Familiarity at the Forefront

Individuals with dementia can become confused easily, especially in situations that are new or different from what they’re used to. Curating a sense of familiarity for residents is important in memory care in Phoenix. Helping residents to feel comfortable in their surroundings can significantly reduce unpleasant dementia symptoms.Since people with dementia tend to feel more comfortable in settings that remind them of their home, many memory care facilities design their spaces to feel home-like rather than having a medical or institutional feel. 

When individuals feel like they are surrounded by the comforts of home and familiar sights that they can recognize, they’re much less likely to become confused or upset. 

Preventing Overstimulation With Simplicity

A simple design is key for dementia-friendly spaces. Though they should feel like home, they shouldn’t be too visually busy or crowded with decor. Too many colors and patterns or a feeling of messiness or disorder can make older adults with dementia feel overstimulated. 

This can cause them to become upset and irritated or to wander away in search of a more comfortable place, which could be dangerous. 

Creating Areas for Quiet Relaxation

Though you can take steps to make a space as safe, familiar, and soothing as possible, overstimulation and confusion are bound to happen with residents of memory care in Phoenix. When it does, having designated places where residents can go to relax, regain their composure, and feel safe again is crucial.  

Supporting Older Adults With Carefully Curated Memory Care in Phoenix

Dementia can be a difficult reality to face, but there are so many steps memory care facilities can take to make their spaces inviting and safe. This way, symptoms can be kept to a minimum, and quality of life can greatly increase.

4 Ways to Treat Your Senior with Something Special

Every year on August 21, we celebrate the lives of our loved ones on World Senior Citizens Day. The special day highlights the achievements and contributions of seniors, as well as promotes their rights. Although August 21 has passed, you can celebrate the special day by treating your senior to something special.

At our senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona, we help residents with daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning. Meeting our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest” also involves helping seniors feel engaged and fulfilled during their golden years. On behalf of celebrating World Senior Citizens Day regardless of the time of year, let’s take a look at four ways to treat your seniors to something special.

Ask for Help

One reason why seniors can become detached emotionally is they no longer feel wanted by their friends and family members. After years of providing primary and secondary care for family members, they lose their sense of belonging the minute they move into an assisted living facility. You can rejuvenate the sense of belonging by asking your senior loved one to teach you how to do something. Asking for help on a project is another way to treat your senior to something special. 

Just because your senior loved one needs a little help taking care of a few responsibilities does not mean you cannot complete projects together such as planting a garden or restoring an old piece of furniture.

Highlight History and Achievements

One of the goals of World Senior Citizens Day is to honor the history and achievements of older adults. You do not need the pomp and circumstance of a formally declared day to highlight the history and achievements of your senior loved one. Preserving your senior loved one’s history and achievements helps him feel appreciated. You can work together on a personalized scrapbook, as well as give her a do-it-yourself memoir journal such as The Story of My Life. Another great idea involves conducting an interview chronicling the life of your senior loved one.

Get Involved in Your Senior’s Life

Moving into an assisted living community can trigger a wide range of negative emotions, such as fear, stress, and anxiety. One of the most effective strategies to alleviate emotional distress for a senior is to get involved in her life. This can mean volunteering for the same organization, as well as donating financially to your senior’s favorite cause. You also can work together with your senior loved one, which should give him a sense of purpose and a feeling of worthiness.

Dine Together

One of the best ways to treat your seniors to something special is to enjoy meals together. At our memory care facility in Phoenix, we encourage family members to join us at mealtimes to provide emotional support for their loved ones. Dining onsite with a senior loved one helps you meet her friends, as well as catch up on what has unfolded since the two of you last interacted in person. We also encourage family members to take their senior loved ones out to their favorite restaurants, which is a clear sign that you are treating your senior loved one to something special.

The Bottom Line: Make Your Time Together Quality Time

As a family member, you might feel a sense of regret when your senior loved one moves into an assisted living facility in Phoenix, AZ. To compensate for the feeling of regret, you might try to make it up by visiting your senior loved one every day. It is not how often you treat your senior to something special. Instead, the quality of the special treat matters more than how often you treat your senior to a special event.Discover why our memory care facility receives five-star reviews by scheduling a tour today.

5 Important Supplements for Seniors

As we grow older, it is important to get the minimum daily requirement of vitamins and minerals in our bodies. From the quick rejuvenation of cells to enhancing the circulation of blood, vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in determining our health status. However, older adults tend to miss out on the daily minimum requirements for mineral and vitamin intake. They do not eat the right foods, which means seniors typically require the addition of supplements in their diets to bolster strength and fend off the development of debilitating diseases such as osteoarthritis.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 75 percent of adults at least 60 years old take at least one daily vitamin and/or mineral supplement. Adding vitamin supplements to your senior loved one’s diet might be the most effective way to prevent the development of diseases, while at the same time improving cognitive skills. At our senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona, our team of nutritionists customizes diets for residents that often include taking at least one vitamin supplement.

Let’s look at five important supplements for seniors at our assisted living and memory care facility in Phoenix.

Calcium

As the most abundant mineral in the body, calcium is critical to help maintain healthy bones and teeth. Older adults are especially at risk for suffering the loss of bone and tooth density. Without enough calcium, seniors become much more vulnerable to sustaining bone fractures that take a longer than average amount of time to heal. You can find ample calcium in foods such as fish, milk, and dark-green, leafy vegetables. However, adding a calcium supplement to a senior’s diet ensures the proper amount of calcium intake.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, which is found in fish and fortified milk products, is an integral vitamin for seniors to have in their bodies. During spring and summer, just a daily 10-minute exposure to the sun can generate enough vitamin D. This vitamin is important for seniors to prevent the development of osteoarthritis and other types of bone diseases. Supplementing food sources like fatty fish with a daily pill can generate enough vitamin D for older adults.

Vitamin B12

The bones are not the only part of the body that benefits from the ingestion of vitamin supplements. Older adults also need to maintain the health of nerves and blood cells, which is the primary reason for taking a vitamin B12 supplement. As we enter our golden years, natural sources such as eggs, fish, and poultry of vitamin B become more difficult to absorb.

Vitamin B9

Also referred to as folate or folic acid, vitamin B9 can prevent or slow down memory loss in adults at least 60 years old. Vitamin B9 also plays an important healthcare role by converting carbohydrates into energy. Seniors who do not consume enough fruits like oranges and vegetables such as spinach are candidates for ingesting a vitamin B9 supplement.

Vitamin B6

Our bodies require vitamin B6 to form red blood cells, as well as maintain healthy connections between the brain and nerve cells. Far too many seniors do not get enough B6, which can mean the development of memory loss. Ingesting a vitamin B6 supplement can complement natural food sources such as potatoes and citrus fruits.

The team of nutritionists at MorningStar at Arcadia carefully plans meals for our residents to ensure they receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals. At our memory care facility in Phoenix, AZ,  vitamin and mineral supplements also play an important role in helping residents maintain strong mental and physical health.  Learn more about the five important supplements for seniors by scheduling a tour of our assisted living community.

4 Art Activities for Seniors in Memory Care

Staying mentally alert during the golden years requires participating in activities that give the brain a robust workout. From solving crossword puzzles alone to completing Tai Chi exercises in a group setting, seniors have many opportunities at our memory care facility in Phoenix, Arizona to give the brains a welcome workout. One of the most popular activities for seniors at assisted living facilities is to finish creative art projects. Residents with dementia especially benefit from art therapy because art helps patients improve impaired language skills, as well as bolster cognitive skills.

Our memory care specialists plan art projects for residents with several planning tips in mind. First, we encourage a loved one to be around to provide encouragement, Second, we choose adult-oriented art projects to grab the interest of residents. Third, we interact with our memory care residents throughout the duration of an art project. Fourth, we help our residents remain patient even when an art project does not go in the direction it should.

Let’s review four art activities for seniors in memory care.

Coloring Books

Achieving small steps is an effective strategy to help someone with dementia gain the confidence to try taking larger steps. This philosophy applies to art activities as well. Have your senior loved one start by filling in the pages of simple coloring books before moving on to more complex pages. One of the most frustrating experiences for memory care patients is not being able to complete what were once easy tasks, which means slow and steady is the way to go for participating in art activities.

Sculpting

Working with our hands generates the type of mental stimulation that keeps us motivated to continue with a task. The same principle applies to memory care residents at our assisted living facility. Sculpting with clay or wood represents an engaging way to complete a creative art project. We encourage our memory care residents that participate in sculpting projects to at first look at another object before they attempt to create sculpted art by imagining another object.

Painting

After mastering coloring books, the next logical step on the path to creating art involves painting on a canvas. Painting is often the first art activity that comes to mind for memory care patients, but at the MorningStar at Arcadia memory care facility in Phoenix, our caregivers make sure a resident is ready to tackle a more intricate art activity such as painting. One of the most effective ways to engage memory care patients with a painting project is to follow the wet-on-wet painting technique, which makes it much easier to blend colors that create attractive landscapes and seascapes.

Create Collages

If a memory care resident is unable to use a crayon or paintbrush, we encourage the resident to create collages out of different materials. All the memory care resident has to do is choose from different sources such as newspaper articles and family photographs to create a visually appealing collage. Our memory caregivers prepare the material sources before starting to work on a collage project, as well as help residents paste images onto each collage page.

At MorningStar at Arcadia, we closely follow our mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest” when it comes to providing memory care at our Phoenix, AZ facility. We have developed an operating foundation based on the biblical principle of honoring God, as well as valuing the contributions made by our senior residents. Discover more about the loving atmosphere surrounded by spectacular scenery at MorningStar at Arcadia by scheduling a tour today.

Is It Time to Start Thinking About a Memory Care Community for Your Senior?

It is not a sudden shift that you notice from one day to the next. Instead, memory loss represents one of the slowest-developing medical conditions. A senior loved one might show occasional signs such as forgetting where he put the car keys or temporarily failing to remember the name of one of her grandchildren. Because of its slow-developing nature, memory loss often goes unnoticed until it reaches the critical stage of development. This begs the question: How do you notice the signs of memory loss suffered by a loved one? 

If you notice the signs of memory loss, you are faced with just as important of a question. Is it time to start thinking about a memory care community in Phoenix, Arizona?

What Are the Signs of Dementia?

Memory loss is just one of several signs that indicate a loved one might be suffering from some form of dementia. Forgetting the placement of car and house keys once in a while does not indicate your loved one has dementia. However, combined with other signs in addition to memory loss, the time might have arrived to think about a memory care community for your senior.

Difficulty concentrating represents one of the most common signs of dementia. What was once a leisurely and mind-stimulating activity such as completing a crossword puzzle has turned into an exercise in immense frustration. The inability to concentrate can reach the point when a loved one becomes frustrated enough to lash out at you and other family members. A loved one with memory loss might struggle to hold a conversation, as well as become confused about time and place.

Another telltale sign that a loved one has at least reached the early stage of developing dementia concerns finding it difficult to complete standard daily tasks like bathing and cooking meals. When a loved one has trouble completing basic daily living responsibilities, the time has come to consider moving your senior loved one into a memory care facility in Phoenix.

What Should I Look for in a Memory Care Community?

Every one of the residents at our senior living facility has unique needs that need to be met in an assisted living environment. To begin your quest to find the best memory care facility, make sure the environment exudes a home-like environment. You should avoid facilities that present austere design features such as white linoleum floors and super-bright fluorescent lighting. Safety should be an important criterion as well, as the best assisted living facilities like MorningStar at Arcadia feature safety elements like an in-room alert system.

Providing memory care requires an incredible amount of patience and empathy. During a visit to a memory care facility, observe how the staff interacts with memory care residents. They should display genuine compassion for the residents, as well as receive ongoing training to remain current with dementia care topics. Because memory care patients typically require mental stimulation, the memory care facility that you choose should offer a busy and engaging activities calendar. In addition, one-on-one interactions between staff and residents are important for typically solo activities like solving a jigsaw puzzle.

Set in a scenic area of greater Phoenix, AZ, our senior living facility provides highly-rated memory care for older adults that struggle with all stages of dementia. Learn more about our memory care facility by scheduling a comprehensive tour.

Tai Chi is a Good Exercise Alternative for Older Adults

As an older adult, living a healthy lifestyle requires following a few time-tested tips. Diet and nutrition play a significant role in maintaining both mental and physical health. A daily exercise routine bolsters the immune system, as well as enhances the brain and heart. Simply interacting with other seniors and your loved ones reduces stress and develops memory skills. Of all the options for seniors to live a healthy lifestyle, one option does not receive the attention it deserves, but it should.

Tai chi is a good exercise alternative for older adults that reside at a senior living facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

What is Tai Chi?

You might see a group of residents at our assisted living facility moving about in an exercise room in a slow, symmetrical manner. They most likely are participating in a tai chi routine, which goes back as far as 2,500 years as an exercise routine that originated in China. Based on improving coordination and breathing patterns, tai chi involves slow, repetitive, and low-impact movements. The goal of the exercise routine is to achieve balance with the body and harmony with the mind. Many tai chi experts describe the exercise routine as meditation in motion.

There are five primary tai chi styles: Yang, Chen, Wu, Wu/Hao, and Sun. Each style concentrates on a specific movement while participants maintain a certain posture.

What Are the Benefits of Tai Chi for Seniors?

Tai chi delivers several benefits for participants from any age group, but the exercise routine is the ideal strategy for seniors to maintain mental and physical health. The exercise routine helps older adults improve balance and coordination, both of which diminish as we grow older. Improved balance results from the slow, deliberate movements conducted during any type of tai chi exercise routine. Tai chi is well-known for building strength, particularly in the back and thighs. Slow, deliberate body movements also help seniors sharpen their hand-eye coordination, which allows them to enjoy playing recreational sports such as golf and tennis.

At our memory care facility, we emphasize the importance of tai chi as an effective way to enhance cognitive function and memory. The controlled repetitive breathing patterns relax the mind to help older adults retain cognitive skills, as well as maintain a robust memory. Because of the meditative qualities of tai chi, the exercise routine has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing depression and anxiety symptoms. The exercise routine triggers neurotransmitters in the brain to make them more active. One of the keys to achieving vibrant health for seniors concerns getting enough sleep, which tai chi is considered a highly effective tool for achieving the important healthcare goal.

Getting Started with a Tai Chi Program

As with any exercise regimen, seniors should consult with their doctors before embarking on an extended tai chi program. Let the instructor know your experience level, as well as mention any physical concerns. Make sure to follow the instructor’s suggestions on how to warm up before each session, as warming up the body can help prevent injuries. Do not overexert your body, especially during the first few sessions. Take breaks when your body lets you know it needs to rest.MorningStar at Arcadia offers a wide variety of classes to help our residents maintain healthy lifestyles, including the centuries-old tradition called tai chi. Learn more about what we have to offer at our memory care facility in Phoenix, AZ by submitting the Contact Us form found on our website.

Aim to Read and Finish 1 Book Each Month

English writer Joseph Addison summed up the benefits of reading in one quote: “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” The analogy makes sense if you picture the brain’s network of neurotransmitters working as hard as muscles work to strengthen the body. Addison’s analogy is an especially relevant one for seniors who benefit from reading in several ways. With reading benefiting seniors, aim to read and finish one book each month to reap the rewards of getting lost in a book.

Let’s review the benefits of reading for residents of an assisted living and memory care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

Boosts Memory

A research study of nearly 300 participants discovered that people who engaged in mentally stimulating activities over their lives experienced slower rates of memory decline. Reading is one of the most stimulating mental activities because it constantly requires the brain to store information such as the names of characters and vivid descriptions of scenery. To paraphrase the quote attributed to writer Addison, “Reading works out memory skills like a treadmill works out the cardiovascular system.

Improved Decision-Making Skills

Reading a book requires the brain to use its analytical powers to solve dilemmas before they reach a resolution. For example, if two characters square off in a conflict, the brain works hard to determine how to resolve the conflict. This is a phenomenon called fluid intelligence that typically declines in power as we grow older. A significant study conducted with Americans between 25 and 74 years old found that regardless of a participant’s age, participants who regularly exercised the brain by reading possessed much stronger levels of fluid intelligence.

Alleviate Stress and Anxiety

Transitioning from living at home to a senior living community in Phoenix often triggers considerable stress and anxiety. If your loved one lives with stress and anxiety, suggest reading a good book to slow down the mental turmoil. According to research completed at Mindlab International, which is part of the University of Sussex, people who read take an average of six minutes to relax their muscles and to slow down their heart rates. Reading also is known to help seniors act less impulsively when feeling anxious.

Enhanced Sleep Patterns

We hear about what not to do before bed, such as eating a large meal or stimulating the brain by playing computer games. What we do not hear much about concerns how to improve our sleep patterns. According to several research studies, including one conducted by the Mayo Clinic, reading before bed appears to be the most effective way to fall asleep. Instead of following the bedtime ritual of watching television, your senior loved one should allow a good book to slow down the busy neurotransmitters buzzing around in the brain.

Consider a Senior Living Community That Values Reading

MorningStar at Arcadia does much more than encourage our residents to read a good book at least one time a month. Because we understand that some seniors are hesitant to read because of physical limitations, our assisted living and memory care facility in Phoenix has taken steps to encourage reading, such as offering books in much larger print. MorningStar’s mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest” includes ensuring our residents enjoy all the amenities required to thrive during the golden years.

Connect with one of our resident care services representatives to discover the joy of reading at MorningStar at Arcadia.

What Are the Best Holidays to Visit My Senior in Memory Care

Holidays can trigger a wide variety of emotions, from the euphoria felt during celebrations to the depression that develops from feeling loneliness and isolation. Residents of assisted living facilities are especially vulnerable to experiencing the ups and downs of the holidays. One of the most effective ways for your loved one to experience the ups of the holidays is to choose which ones to visit with your senior who lives in a memory care facility.

Senior living facilities that offer memory care services typically organize holiday events. However, nothing does more to enrich the life of a senior loved one during a holiday than to receive visitors.

Let’s find out what are the best holidays to visit your senior in memory care.

Christmas

No other holiday generates the strongest emotional highs and lows than Christmas. Although spending other holidays alone can be traumatic, spending Christmas alone can trigger devastatingly negative emotions. Christmas should be the first holiday on your list to spend with a senior in memory care, and not just on December 25. The senior housing facility in Phoenix, AZ providing memory care for your loved one should have scheduled one or more events leading up to Christmas, such as putting on a concert featuring the most popular Christmas songs.

Thanksgiving

Because food is the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving celebration, the holiday represents the best holiday to enjoy a communal approach to celebrating it. Most assisted living facilities host some type of Thanksgiving meal for all residents, including residents living in a memory care room. Visiting a loved one on Thanksgiving allows you to interact with your loved one, as well as the caregivers providing memory care services. You might even be able to bring a dish from home to celebrate a potluck Thanksgiving meal.

Grandparent’s Day

Although not considered a federal holiday, grandparents day has morphed into a day that rivals Mother’s and Father’s Day in importance. You can celebrate Grandparent’s Day in several ways, from taking your loved one to a restaurant with other family members to remaining onsite to allow your kids someone-on-one time with their grandmother or grandfather. A growing number of memory care facilities in Phoenix, AZ have organized special events to commemorate Grandparent’s Day. For example, MorningStar at Arcadia celebrates grandparents on their special day.

How to Help a Loved One Get the Most Out of a Holiday

A loved one living with some form of memory loss requires special consideration when spending time with you during a holiday celebration. Allow your loved one to retain a familiar schedule. Seniors suffering from dementia have a difficult time adapting to changes. Get your loved one involved in simple activities that involve nostalgia, such as designing Christmas tree ornaments or baking a pie for Thanksgiving dinner. Emphasize the good times, while avoiding discussions centered around less appealing memories. Consider your loved one’s needs throughout a holiday celebration and above all, ask your loved one what he or she wants to do.

Celebrate Holidays With a Loved One in Phoenix, AZ

MorningStar at Arcadia closely follows our founder’s mission “to honor, to value, and to invest.” Our operating foundation revolves around God and the dedication to serve others. Discover how MorningStar at Arcadia approaches each holiday by connecting with one of our resident services representatives.

MAKE SURE YOUR SENIOR GETS ENOUGH REST EVERY NIGHT

Did you know that we spend about one-third of our lives sleeping, or at least that is how much time we should spend in slumber to maintain our health and well-being? A good night’s sleep is one of the successful ingredients for the recipe to aging successfully. According to the National Sleep Foundation, seniors should sleep at least seven hours of sleep each night to stay both mentally and physically strong as they age.

Unfortunately, far too many seniors carry poor sleeping habits into their Golden Years.

What Are the Common Sleep Issues for Seniors?

Research studies indicate that as many as 70 percent of seniors have chronic sleep issues, with nearly 50 percent of the cases remaining undiagnosed. Several types of sleep issues diminish both the quality and quantity of sleep for seniors.

First, pain and discomfort represent one of the most common sleep issues faced by seniors. Second, many seniors have to deal with nocturia, which causes frequent nighttime urination. Up to 80 percent of seniors have to deal with the sleep disrupter called nocturia. Third, insomnia, which is difficulty falling asleep, can be treated by different methods. Fourth, sleep apnea leads to fragmented sleep in which a senior wakes up frequently during the night. Finally, restless leg syndrome, which is the urge to move the legs while sleeping, impacts more than 20 percent of seniors.

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia helps our residents identify and then address sleep issues before they become major health problems.

Tips for Seniors to Sleep Better

One of the most effective ways to develop better sleep habits is to go to bed at the same time each evening. The body works on a schedule, and following the schedule can help your senior get enough rest every night. Another important tip concerns turning off all sources of stimuli at least one hour before bedtime. This includes turning off your senior’s computer, television, and smartphone. The bedroom should be dark, quiet, and exude a relaxing ambiance. Listening to audio that promotes a relaxing environment represents a good way to unwind. 

Exercise during the day can help a senior fall asleep, but your senior should stop giving the body a workout at least two hours before bedtime. Your senior should not consume a large meal before bedtime, as well as limit or eliminate caffeine from the daily diet.

Why Does Sleep Matter?

Getting enough sleep boosts mood, and thus, reduces the likelihood of your senior developing a mental health condition such as depression and/or acute anxiety. Lack of productive sleep can lead to the development of diseases like diabetes, as well as contribute to the development of high blood pressure. A well-rested senior’s body maintains the proper weight, as well as supports the ideal metabolism rate. A good night’s sleep enhances memory and concentration, both of which deteriorate with the onset of dementia.

One of the lesser-known benefits of proper sleep for seniors concerns the removal of harmful toxins. The brain remains active during sleep and the toxins released need to be cleared by getting enough healthy sleep. According to Dr. Maiken Nedergaard of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, “Sleep is critical to the function of the brain’s waste removal system…These findings also add to the increasingly clear evidence that quality of sleep or sleep deprivation can predict the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

At our senior and memory care facility in Phoenix, Arizona, we dedicate both time and resources to help our residents develop the healthiest sleep habits. Learn more about the warm, loving environment at MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia by submitting the short Contact form.

LOOKING FOR MEMORY CARE NEAR PHOENIX, AZ?

Are you looking for memory care near Phoenix, Arizona? At MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia, we are here to help your senior loved one address memory loss issues in a warm, welcoming environment.

Taking care of a loved one who develops the symptoms of dementia can be difficult to do. From handling the emotional roller coaster ride to keeping your senior on the right path for treatment, the stress of taking care of a loved one who has developed memory loss symptoms can become overwhelming. However, relying on a team of memory care specialists to provide assisted living services for your senior loved one should alleviate the tremendous burden that you carry on your shoulders.

A highly-rated memory care facility not only assumes the responsibility of encouraging independent living for your senior, but it also ensures the comfort and safety of your loved one to give you the ultimate peace of mind. The question is not whether you should find the right memory care facility for your loved one. Instead, the question should be, what do you look for in the right assisted living facility in Phoenix, AZ?

Home Sweet Home

Moving your senior from the comfort of a home environment to an unknown facility can trigger a wide variety of negative emotions. The first factor to consider when choosing the best memory care facility in Phoenix, Arizona involves finding the venue that reminds your loved one of home. Stay away from facilities that present an austere ambiance, such as one that includes harsh fluorescent lighting and/or white linoleum floors. A facility that exudes charm, while projecting a social ambiance, is a good choice for your senior loved one.

Compassionate and Knowledgeable Staff

Every staff member at a memory care facility should possess the knowledge required to provide the highest quality of dementia care. Ask the facility manager how much training each staff member receives, as well as how long they receive updates on the latest proven techniques for treating and managing memory loss symptoms. Although staff knowledge is one of, if not the most important factor to consider before choosing an assisted living facility, you also should ensure the staff members at a facility display compassion for the residents. You cannot measure compassion as accurately as measuring knowledge. 

Nonetheless, spend plenty of time with the staff members responsible for providing memory care to gain insight into their empathy for residents.

Active Social Calendar

One of the most effective tools assisted living facilities use to attract residents involves promoting their social calendars. Social interactions with other residents should boost the awareness of your senior loved one. Activity calendars should include programs that keep residents busy not only during the week, but on weekends as well. Providing your senior loved one with numerous opportunities to engage with other residents empowers your loved one to remain busy, which stimulates both the mind and body.

Around-the-Clock Registered Nurse Availability

Seniors that suffer from memory loss require constant monitoring to ensure optimal health. Unfortunately, many memory loss facilities retain the services of a registered nurse during normal business hours, while CNAs take over healthcare responsibilities for the remaining hours of the day. Make sure any assisted living facility in Phoenix, AZ on your shortlist of candidates spends the money required to retain the services of at least one registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Submit the brief online form to learn more about how MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia can help your senior loved one address memory loss issues.

4 NUTRITIOUS MEALS SENIORS LOVE

“You are what you eat.”

You have heard the expression at least one time, but what exactly does it mean? Perhaps a better expression is “Your health depends on what you eat.” This is especially true for seniors who tend to lose interest in cooking as they reach their golden years. However, getting enough minerals and nutrients, as well as remaining properly hydrated, are the key to enjoying a healthy senior lifestyle.

Getting enough minerals and nutrients also is a plus for promoting robust brain power. Certain vitamins enhance the functioning of the brain, as well as improve the cardiovascular system. Each of the following four nutritious meals seniors love can be called both brain and body food that keeps your loved one healthy.

As the best memory care facility in Phoenix, Morningstar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia ensures our residents receive the right amounts of healthy foods such as the following four nutritious meals provide.

Salmon and Vegetables

This recipe, which showcases salmon and vegetables, is easy to complete. Salmon represents a low-calorie protein that is a rich source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and energy-producing B vitamins. You also can cook trout or tilapia instead of salmon to benefit from heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Saute the veggies of your choice in olive oil, while baking the salmon filet in a 450-degree oven. Finish the veggies in the oven with the salmon until the salmon turns flaky and presents an opaque appearance.

Berry Chicken Salad

Your senior loved one does not have to develop award-winning culinary skills to create any of the four dishes on this list, but the berry chicken salad is an especially easy recipe to complete. This recipe calls for cooked chicken, which can be the leftovers from another meal. Mix mayo, sugar, and tarragon in a salad bowl before adding blueberries and strawberries. You also should consider adding both peas and celery for both nutrition and texture reasons.

Blend the chicken in last and store the salad in the refrigerator until it is time for lunch or dinner.

Veggie Stir-Fry

This is another popular dish that takes more time to prepare than to cook. Select your favorite veggies and then dice or slice each one before setting them in a bowl where olive oil waits for coating. The sauce includes water, honey, orange juice, fresh ginger, and low-sodium soy sauce. Saute the veggies in the olive oil coating before adding the sauce to cover both the veggies and the protein of your choice, which can be shrimp, chicken, or heart-healthy tofu.

Quiche

As one of the most versatile types of nutritious meals seniors love, quiche can be served at any meal. The relatively inexpensive nutritious meal for seniors includes a leafy green such as spinach, which provides iron, magnesium, and manganese, as well as heart-healthy like vitamins A, C, and K. Your senior loved one can find an appealing quiche recipe in most cookbooks, as well as online at food-centric websites.

After mixing the ingredients, which consist of eggs and some type of protein, place the quiche in an oven set at the temperature listed in the recipe.

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia offers a warm, loving atmosphere, as well as spectacular scenery and resort-like amenities. Our foundation values include a commitment to honoring God and serving the residences of our highly-rated community. Get the answers to your senior living in Phoenix questions by submitting the convenient form found on our website.