Screenings Help Seniors Stay Healthy

As we age, it is important to stay up-to-date with our health care including routine screenings as many diseases do not show signs of symptoms until the problem is harder to treat. Screenings also allow your physician to compare today’s readings to past tests to look for concerning signs. However medical experts estimate over half of all adults over 65 are not currently with the recommended screenings. 

In many cases our age determines the type of screenings we should get. Some tests are recommended once a year, while others, like a colonoscopy, may be based on past test results and/or on the advice of your doctor. 

Common screenings include annual cholesterol tests to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Cholesterol tests can help “determine your risk for the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).” Your blood pressure should be checked each time you visit a healthcare professional, and if readings are high, it should be monitored.

Mammograms are important screenings that help detect breast cancer. Current recommendations for women 40 years or older with an average risk of breast cancer is to have an annual mammograms. For others with a higher risk, consult with your doctor. Other types of screening for seniors include annual skin checks to look for signs of skin cancer and bone density tests to check for loss of tissue and bone, which might indicate early signs of osteoporosis. As we age, annual vision test screen for cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Hearing tests can help seniors get the help they need if there is a problem. Talk to your doctor about which ones they recommend you get. 

MorningStar of Pasadena is a 55+ community with a range of onsite amenities, hospitality and care services, wellness programs and activities designed for relaxing, stress-free retirement years. Visit our website for a full list of amenities and photos as well as links for pricing and availability to the most trusted independent living and assisted living in Pasadena, CA.  

Source: bethesdahealth.org/blog/2021/11/09/health-monitoring-devices-and-apps-for-seniors/

When it comes to Blood Pressure – Lower is Better

A lower blood pressure is healthier and may save your life. High blood pressure (HBP) can lead to heart disease and is linked to one of the leading causes of death in Americans. To understand blood pressure, experts explain the top number; Systolic Blood Pressure is a measurement of the force exerted by your heart each time it beats on the walls of your arteries. Your bottom number is Diastolic pressure, and measures the force exerted by your heart between beats on the walls of your arteries. Also you should know experts recently lowered the numbers for what is considered high blood pressure.

The Mayo Clinic states a normal blood pressure is <120 mm Hg over <80 mm Hg and an elevated BP is 120-129 mm Hg over <80 mm Hg. Doctors consider Stage 1 hypertension to be in the range of 130-139 mm Hg over 80-89 mm Hg and stage 2 hypertension over ≥140 mm Hg and ≥90 mm Hg. The mm Hg stands for millimeters of mercury.

HBP is called a silent killer as there are no symptoms, and the CDC estimates 1 of out 3 people with it don’t know they have it. In addition as we age, our risk increases so doctors say it is important to have your blood pressure routinely checked. Home monitors are good options for older adults who are trying to keep their blood pressure under control.

Healthcare professionals say it is important to talk to your physician about strategies to help lower your BP. They say even small changes like reducing your salt can result in a drop of five or six points; and just losing 2 lbs. can decrease your numbers by 1 point. 

Looking for a 55+ community in vibrant Pasadena? With 149 spacious suites, we offer seniors a choice of independent living or assisted living. Our independent living is designed for active seniors who love the idea of someone else handling chores like maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping and more time to socialize, travel, and pursue various hobbies and interests. Along with independent living and assisted living, we offer respite care (short recuperative stays) or a chance to sample our community with a trial stay (from a week to a full month) to see if it is a good fit. Please visit our website for more on the finest senior living Pasadena, CA offers.   

aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/blood-pressure.html?intcmp=AE-HEA-CND-BB-LL3

MorningStar’s Unique Approach to Senior Living

MorningStar of Pasadena is a part of the MorningStar Senior Living Company, which takes a unique, holistic approach to retirement communities. We are proud of our reputation for excellence and authenticity in why we serve and how we serve; and hold true to the belief that the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless. 

Our company has thrived and expanded since our conception in 2003, when Founder/CEO Ken Jaeger’s started the company with the intention to “cast a new light” on senior living. From there our mission statement reads: Honor God in our business practices and relationships; Value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and Invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. 

Even the name MorningStar has meaning regarding the kind of home we want to offer residents. Mr. Jaeger explains, “I had been searching for a company name for months. I wanted something that was alive and comforting, but offered a powerful, guiding force—even more, a name that spoke to the passion I have to bring loving care to seniors.” The name—MorningStar—comes from a verse where Jesus said, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).

At MorningStar of Pasadena’s 55+ community, we offer 149 spacious independent living and assisted living apartments in a range of floor plans and configurations. Newly renovated and refurbished, our amenities include all-day, restaurant-style dining; bistro; community kitchens; billiards room; poker room; club room; fitness center; concierge services; scheduled transportation; and more. For assisted living residents, wellness services include 24-hour care managers, full-time licensed nurses (on call 24/7), electronic health records, exam room, OT/PT room, pharmacy, medical transportation and more. 

As a resident, you will have opportunities for new friendships, predictable budgeting, wellness programs, and the chance to relax and play in beautiful surroundings. Please visit our website for information on the finest independent living and assisted living Pasadena, CA offers. Browse through our online pictures and then use our quick links to set up a tour to see our home firsthand. 

Studies Show Yoga is Good for Our Brain

While practitioners have known for centuries the calmness and peace yoga brings into their lives, science has finally caught up with real evidence of its benefits to our brains. Studies show yoga elevates levels of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAGA), which helps regulate nerve activity and is associated with better mood and decreased anxiety. 

The Harvard Medical School journal writes, “Yoga strengthens parts of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought, and language. Think of it as weightlifting for the brain.” Their evidence comes from several studies that used MRI and other brain imaging technology. Researchers found participants who practiced yoga regularly had a thicker cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, than participants who did not practice yoga. 

This could be significant because as people age, this is one of the areas in the brain that typically shrinks. As the older yoga practitioners had less shrinkage than non-practitioners, researchers say it suggests yoga can “counteract age-related declines in memory and other cognitive skills.”  

Other benefits of yoga include helping individuals lose weight, sleep better, lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels to improve diabetes. It also helps people gain flexibility and muscle strength around arthritic joints and reduces the pain associated with the condition.       

If you are looking for exceptional senior living, Hillsboro, OR’s MorningStar community may be your answer. MorningStar of Hillsboro is honored to offer adults 55+ a vibrant and carefree lifestyle to help live life to the fullest. Our new community offers a wide selection of independent living apartments, luxury amenities such as indoor and outdoor dining venues, pool, amphitheater, art studio, and fitness center to promote a healthy lifestyle for residents. Contact us or visit our website to learn more.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living Hillsboro, OR has to offer. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, inviting atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar of Hillsboro provides outstanding independent living.

Source: health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/intermediate-yoga

We All have Time for a Little “Mindfulness”

Many of us feel like our lives are busy and each day filled with a list of responsibilities and tasks. While this may be true, experts stress the importance of taking a few minutes out of our day to practice mindfulness. They say the point is to make time to be in the present each day in order to reconnect with ourselves and feel a sense of calmness. In other words, notice the brightness of the flowers, the songs of the birds, the clouds in the sky, etc., and who among us doesn’t need that? 

Science is now exploring mindfulness and how it can affect our overall state of happiness and reduce stress, anxiety, and negative behaviors. Research suggests the practice can also improve physical health by lowering blood pressure, treating heart disease and improving sleep as well as reducing chronic pain. Moreover along with a relaxed state of mind, studies show the practice of mindfulness can improve a person’s concentration and memory skills. 

Kabat-Zinn, founder and former director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, was one of the first to bring the practice of mindfulness meditation into mainstream medicine. His research demonstrated how the practice of mindfulness “can bring improvements in both physical and psychological symptoms as well as positive changes in health, attitudes, and behaviors.”

To practice mindfulness, which is a form of mediation, there are several methods you can use to get started but experts say the most important thing is to keep trying. Suggestions include joining a group, listening to calming music or finding a quiet spot to sit. However, whatever your method, the goal is to find a sense of focused relaxation, concentrating on the present, and reflecting on emotions and thoughts without judgement.   

With the opening of the MorningStar at River Oaks community, senior living in Houston just got a whole lot better. Our beautiful, warm and welcoming senior living community offers residents all the services they need to live life to the fullest. In addition to assisted living, our community offers individualized memory care, respite care (short recuperative stays) or trial stays (from a week to a full month) to see if we are a good fit.   

Source: health.harvard.edu/blog/evoking-calm-practicing-mindfulness-in-daily-life-helps-202110142617

One Food Group is Common to the World’s Healthy People

When we look at cultures with a reputation for longevity, leading nutritionists and food scientists say there is one food group that stands out. “Blue zones,” areas known for having many of their inhabitants live to an advanced age of hundred years or more, include in their diet, five of the ten most recommended foods. All are from the bean family and include lentils, soybeans, peanuts (a legume in the same family as peas and lentils), chickpeas and black beans.

People living on the Japanese island of Okinawa might enjoy a dinner of stir-fried green beans, soybeans or mung sprouts. Another meal in Nicoya, Costa Rica typically includes black beans. Known for a high level of anthocyanins, a pigment that gives red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring, beans help fight free radicals and offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits. In fact anthocyanins offer 10 times the antioxidants of an equivalent serving of oranges. 

Nutritionists say beans also boost the immune system by supplying the fiber our microbiomes need. They suggest the local diet of people in blue zones help them avoid many of the same health risks Americans suffer from such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and cancers. 

At the MorningStar at River Oaks assisted living and memory care community, we offer residents a lifestyle in which to comfortably and safely age in place with a range of hospitality and care services, luxury amenities and a complement of wellness programs and activities. In addition our all-day dining service includes meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef and made largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients. Located in Houston’s Upper Kirby neighborhood, architectural features include a sixth-floor sky terrace and lounge offering spectacular views of downtown, courtyards with fireplace and BBQ, and a grand entrance portal located on Revere Street. Our 112 suites range in size from 350 to 1,090 sq. ft. with a choice of floor plans and configurations to please the most discerning seniors. Visit our website for further information and pricing and availability.

Source:cnbc.com/2020/09/15/adding-this-simple-food-to-your-diet-may-help-you-live-to-100-says-longevity-health-researcher.html

Meet Houston’s Premier Senior Living Community

MorningStar at River Oaks is the newest, most vibrant senior living Houston offers to older adults. While the name MorningStar may be new to the area, the MorningStar Senior Living Company has earned a reputation for satisfaction second to none for excellence and authenticity throughout the Western U.S.  

Our home is located in the highly desirable Upper Kirby District, near the Southwest Freeway and bordered by River Oaks, West University, and the Texas Medical Center. Residents will enjoy our proximity to upscale dining, shopping, entertainment and green spaces, including River Oaks Park, Herman Park and Levy Park. We are fifteen minutes from downtown and a quick trip from the Houston Zoo, Houston Aquarium, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Cockrell Butterfly Center.

Amenities offered by MorningStar at River Oaks include all-day dining with Executive Chef-inspired meals served restaurant-style, bistro, club room, fitness center, scheduled transportation, life enrichment room, WiFi, theatre/chapel, resident garden beds and underground parking and valet parking. Architecturally our community features include a sixth-floor sky terrace and lounge with spectacular views of downtown, courtyards with fireplace and barbeque and a grand entrance portal with fireplace located on Revere Street.

In addition to our memory care and assisted living, our community appeals to seniors who are currently living independently. Residents can enjoy life on their own terms but in the event you do need some help down the road, we can step in with any amount of additional care. If you are recuperating from surgery or an illness or simply want to try our community on for size, we offer respite care and trial-stays (up to a month).   

Contact us to learn more about the newest memory care and assisted living Houston families can count on. Our luxury community offers 85 graciously appointed suites for assisted living; and within our Reflections Neighborhood, we offer 27 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Visit our website for all the information you need and ask about our special deal: $10,000 in Savings for Early Depositors.

Sleep Experts Offer Tips for a Better Night Sleep

Whether it is chronic or happens every once in a while, most of us have had a restless night and woke up feeling tired. For some it is hard to fall asleep, while for others, it is difficult to stay asleep for the whole night. Sleep experts offer several tips for a restful night’s sleep and a more productive, positive day.  

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Sleep Research Society (SRS) explain sleep is as important to a healthy lifestyle as good nutrition and regular exercise. To become a better sleeper, it helps to know something about the different components of sleep.   

The current thinking for a normal night’s sleep is between seven to nine hours a night, or during a 24-hour period. They say to determine your optimal sleep amount, experiment for a few weeks by going to bed each night when you get tired and waking naturally in the morning. Another thing is to deal with health issues, which may interfere with your sleep, like restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, insomnia or other sleep disorders.  

The Mayo Clinic says it helps to go to bed at the same time each night and to wake up at the same time. On weekends try not to change your schedule by more than an hour. They also caution to not eat too heavy of a meal too close to bedtime and avoid nicotine, caffeine and other stimulates several hours before bedtime. The same goes for alcohol as it can make you fall asleep easily but causes you to awake in the middle of the night.  

Get plenty of exercise during the day but avoid doing it right before bed. Another tip is to create a calming atmosphere in the bedroom; and remember our smart devices emit glowing blue lights that experts say can disturb our circadian rhythm. 

MorningStar at River Oaks is an assisted living and memory care community designed to provide Houston seniors a comfortable home to safely age in place. We offer a range of hospitality and care services, luxury amenities, wellness programs and activities, along with a sense of security knowing someone is always around if needed. Care services include 24-hour care managers, access to licensed nurses, medication management and much more. Visit our website for pricing and availability on the finest senior living Houston offers. 

Source: healthline.com/health-news/six-tips-for-better-sleep-053114#Three-Components-of-Healthy-Sleep