Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Many of us, especially seniors, have heard or known someone with Alzheimer’s disease and have an idea of the devastation it causes. While there are other types of diseases categorized as dementia, Alzheimer’s is by far the most common form of dementia accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. You should know dementia is not actually a specific disease but refers to a decline in a person’s mental ability to such a degree it interferes with their daily life.    

It is also important to understand dementia is not a normal condition of aging but rather caused by damage to brain cells that affect a person’s memory, reasoning and other cognitive skills including an ability to communicate. There are several types of clinical dementia including: Alzheimer’s disease; vascular dementia; dementia with Lewy Body; and frontotemporal dementia. Mixed dementia is the term used when a person has both Alzheimer’s and another form of dementia which is causing their mental decline. 

The Alzheimer’s Association says the “most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first.” As the disease progresses, the person is robbed of many other abilities such as speaking, swallowing and walking. 

To help get the proper diagnosis and rule out other causes that may be treatable such as side effects from a medication, it is important to see your doctor. If warranted, they may have you see a specialist that can do further testing.      

Along with assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar at River Oaks provides memory care in our Reflections Neighborhood to those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. We are a team of compassionate professionals who feel privileged to care for our special residents. We also consider supporting family members as part of our job and recognize that a diagnosis of dementia is hard for all involved. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. Contact us for more information about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston has to offer.

Source: alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

MorningStar at River Oaks’ Approach to Memory Care

Along with a variety of well-designed floor plans for assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar at River Oaks has suites for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.  Our team feels privileged to provide highly specialized, individualized care for seniors in the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages.  

MorningStar at River Oaks’ resident-directed approach to memory care respects the dignity and value of each person and supports choice and independence as much as possible.  All our memory care suites are within our Reflections Neighborhood, which is designed to accommodate the needs of our special residents.    

Memory care residents can move freely about in a safe and secure environment reserved just for them.  We offer three daily meals served in our comfy dining room where residents and staff eat together.  In addition, residents are provided 24-hour care with daily health monitoring, medication management and the expertise of a full-time licensed nurse. 

MorningStar’s memory care comes from a deep understanding of the disease, and we create an individualized care plan for each resident based on their background, preferences and abilities. Our compassionate, professional staff uses multi-sensory cues to calm and awaken memories and to support capabilities. All residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of purposeful activities that include music, life skills, art, entertainment and exercise as well as our special events and outings. 

Please visit our website for more information about our loving community.  If you like what you see, contact us to set up a tour.  We understand families feel traumatized by the sobering diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, and we want you to know we are here to support you as well as your loved one.    

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. Contact us for more information about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston offers.

The Risk of Wandering Is Common Among Those With Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association says that six in 10 people with dementia will wander.  The danger with this is someone with Alzheimer’s disease may not remember their name, their address or how to get home.  Furthermore, the more agitated the person becomes when they feel lost and disorientated, the less able they may be to tell someone something that could help get them safely back home.  

Experts say anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia that is mobile is at risk for wandering.  Even if the person is in the early stages of the disease, they may still get disorientated; but thankfully there are strategies to help keep your loved one safe.  

It is important to have a plan in place in the event that it should happen to your parents or another loved one.  Find out if your area has a “Safe Return Program” and enroll them in it and have them wear a GPS locating device at all times.  Also, learn to recognize the warning signs of potential wandering such as: has the person forgotten how to get to familiar places, talks about going home even when they are home, gets confused as to where familiar places in the home are, and acts nervous or anxious in crowded areas.  

Tips to help prevent wandering include creating and sticking to a routine, identifying the times when wandering is most likely to occur, and trying to make sure all of the person’s needs are met so they don’t feel the need to go out.  In addition, reposition door locks out of the line of sight and make sure car keys are not left out.  You can buy a device that sounds an alarm when a door or window is opened; and never leave the person locked in at home or in a car alone.   

Along with assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar at River Oaks offers memory care in a secure environment that allows residents to safely explore their surroundings, including an outdoor area. Our holistic approach is guided by our signature program, Lavender Sky, and we help residents and their families navigate this challenging journey with love and compassion. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity, and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston offers.

Sources:

alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering 

agingcare.com/articles/when-is-it-time-to-place-a-loved-one-with-dementia-188309.htm

MorningStar at River Oaks Offers Specialized Memory Care

Along with assisted living, MorningStar at River Oaks offers individualized, specialized care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Our holistic approach to memory care is designed to affirm the value of the person and to find ways to celebrate the smallest successes.  

Our Reflections Neighborhood is specifically designed to meet the needs of residents throughout the various stages of the disease.  The expansive area houses 27 suites and is intended to encourage residents to safely explore their surroundings.  Memory care residents also enjoy the outdoors on the terrace.

Normally, mealtimes in the Reflections Neighborhood are as much about Community as they are about Nutrition, with residents and team members eating together.  Family style meals allow team members to encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating. In addition, much of our food is modified out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised eating abilities and includes finger foods, texture-modified diets and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.   

As dementia care specialists, we focus on nurturing and supporting the essence of the individual, regardless of the level of memory loss.  In order to create an effective individualized care plan to guide our daily interactions and communication techniques, we meet with the senior and their family to learn as much as we can about the person’s background, talents and preferences even before they join our community.  Our specialized care incorporates music, art, dance, and aromatherapy to heal and comfort residents while taking into account the uniqueness of each person.   

Another thing that makes MorningStar at River Oaks a special place for memory care is our loving, compassionate team who feels privileged to serve and is made up of men and women who willingly go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents.  Please visit our website for more information about MorningStar’s memory care or assisted living in Houston.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity, and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston offers.

MorningStar at River Oaks Offers Holistic Memory Care

Along with assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar at River Oaks provides compassionate and loving memory care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  We understand the heartbreak a diagnosis of dementia brings with it and wish to share the burden. 

MorningStar’s comprehensive memory care supports residents and their families with services, wellness programs and activities essential to quality of life. Our holistic approach is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and uses Montessori-based therapy techniques. As dementia care specialists, we feel it is our privilege – our calling – to walk alongside residents during this unexpected and challenging journey.

Once the decision is made to join our MorningStar family, we meet with the individual and their family to learn as much as we can about their background, talents and personal preferences. Aiding us in this process is a tool called “To Know Me is To Love Me.” From there, we create an individualized care plan.  

Our Reflections Neighborhood is designed to ensure a safe, secure environment in which residents can explore and maintain a sense of independence. Common areas are warm and inviting and meals are thoughtfully prepared and attractively served to encourage residents’ appetites. Purposeful, meaningful activities leverage the power of dance, music, art and animals to heal and comfort whatever the extent of memory impairment.  We are also proud to offer SafelyYou technology, which can detect and prevent falls with (AI) Artificial Intelligence.

Another thing that makes MorningStar a special place is our devoted, hard-working team who feels privileged to serve and is made up of men and women who willingly go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents.  Our job is to elevate and celebrate life by trying to connect with and nurture the individual each day, and to ensure they are treated with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve.  Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston offers.

Memory Care at MorningStar’s Houston Community

Along with assisted living, Houston’s MorningStar at River Oaks offers all-inclusive, holistic care to those with memory impairment and provides all the amenities and services needed for the best life possible. Our Reflections Neighborhood is designed from the ground up to accommodate our residents’ every need.   While a secure area, independence is encouraged and supported through clear wayfinding, and safe and inviting common areas, both inside and out. 

When a family comes to MorningStar at River Oaks looking for care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, our experienced team is ready to help.  Even before we welcome a new resident to our loving community, we take the time to meet with them and their family to learn as much as we can about the person including their medical history, background, talents, and personal preferences.  We then use this information to create an individualized care plan that is used to stimulate or calm a resident in response to a particular mood or situation. 

Our approach to memory care is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and is how we thoughtfully enter, embrace and explore the entirely different and isolating world of dementia.  The comprehensive program allows us to introduce a more insightful and intentional way to support the memory-impaired and their families.  Moreover, as it guides every aspect of our dementia care, all team members attend eight hours of interactive Lavender Sky training to help give them a better understanding of the disease.  

MorningStar at River Oaks’ 27 memory care suites are available in studio and one-bedroom floor plans; and our home is equipped to care for residents from the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. Having a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia is difficult, and we want you to know we are here to help. Please contact us or visit our website to learn more about trusted memory care at MorningStar.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston has to offer.

Memory Care Communities Provide a Safe, Welcoming Home

If a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, at some point, you may require professional help. The number one concern at a memory care community is to ensure the safety of the person as many of the disease’s symptoms place the person more at risk for accidents and other mishaps. 

Forgetfulness and confusion are some of the most recognizable signs of Alzheimer’s disease and can cause problems like forgetting to turn off a stove, getting lost in familiar areas or wandering. Other common issues in the early stages of the disease include vision/spatial issues and impaired reasoning and judgment, problem solving and difficulty in completing everyday tasks.  

Memory care communities are equipped to provide a safe, stable residential environment for seniors with memory impairment as well as provide meaningful activities to keep the person engaged. At most communities, the staff receives extensive training and information regarding the disease to better treat and understand residents. 

At MorningStar at River Oaks, we offer a holistic approach to memory care for the utmost comfort, safety and well-being of the individual. Once a family decides to entrust the care of their loved one to MorningStar, we create a Personalized Service Plan to provide the care, people, programs, and activities they need. Residents receive healthy, specially prepared meals to make eating less stressful along with daily health monitoring, 24/7 care from a well-trained staff, access to licensed nurses and other third-party service providers.

Our Reflections Neighborhood has welcoming common areas and is designed to support residents’ independence as much as possible. To ensure the safety and well-being of residents, our community is completely secure, including an outdoor terrace. In addition, all suites are equipped with emergency call systems and handicap-accessible bathrooms.  Please visit our website for contact information and to learn more about MorningStar’s memory care or assisted living in Houston.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity, and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Houston offers.