HOW TO STAY BUSY AT A SENIOR LIVING CENTER IN IDAHO FALLS

Older adults share the same basic needs that other people have regardless of age. One of the most important needs for older adults is to interact with their peers. At a retirement community in Idaho Falls, Idaho, older adults get the opportunity to interact with their peers every day. From enjoying meals together to watching a live sporting event in the entertainment room, our senior living center in Idaho Falls ensures every resident interacts with other residents to stay mentally alert, as well as fend off the negative emotions that are associated with loneliness and isolation.

Let’s learn how to stay busy at a senior living center in Idaho Falls.

Develop New Skills

They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Fortunately, the saying does not apply to older adults. Ongoing education helps you feel energized, as well as keeps you interested in life and its many events. Learning new skills gives the brain a rigorous workout, which helps prevent memory loss. You can learn how to create arts and crafts such as paintings and apparel. Listening to a scholarly presentation ignites the brain to contemplate new ideas and concepts. Many of our residents learn new technical skills like the ones taught during computer classes.

Entertainment

Accessing the audio-visual equipment in the entertainment room of our senior living center in Idaho Falls is just one way residents stay active. Residents also have the opportunity to take trips outside our retirement community in Idaho Falls to catch other forms of entertainment. Maybe you like stand-up comedy acts or prefer to participate in live trivia games. Idaho Falls is home to a wide variety of life theater events, as well as sports competitions. Gather your friends at MorningStar of Idaho Falls for a weekly trip to catch the latest Hollywood movie.

Fitness

The proven research data that links robust physical health with strong mental health makes it essential that any retirement community in Idaho Falls on your shortlist boasts an active fitness calendar. Our senior living center in Idaho Falls offers access to an on-site fitness center that includes a gym and a large pool. You also can sign up for dancing and aerobic classes to enhance your mental and physical fitness. Although classes present an opportunity to participate in organized fitness activities, you do not have to wait for a scheduled event to get your heart pumping. Swimming and weight training are just two of the physical fitness activities you can do on your own.

Games

Combine social interaction with mental stimulation, and you have one of the most effective ways to stay busy at a senior living center in Idaho Falls. Games remain the standard for planning your day at MorningStar of Idaho Halls, from the classic game of bingo to more physically demanding games such as golf, bowling, and tennis. Play a game of solitaire when you are on your own, as well as take on one of your friends for a competitive game of chess or checkers. Crossword puzzles are a great way to whittle away a rainy day, while shuffleboard keeps you energized on a beautiful summer day. Staying active represents the most effective strategy for maintaining robust mental, physical, and cognitive health. Find out how to stay busy at our senior living center in Idaho Falls by scheduling a tour today.

HOW TO STAY ACTIVE IN COLD WEATHER

Because of its proximity to the Canadian border, Idaho Falls can get cold for extended periods during winter. Average high temperatures in winter run in the 20s and 30s, with at times a blustery wind blowing in from the Arctic region. For as cold as it typically gets in winter, Idaho Falls, like the rest of the United States, went into a deep freeze in January of 2024 when daily high temperatures sometimes did not get out of the single digits.

The deep freeze of January 2024 made it difficult for outdoor enthusiasts to stay active by enjoying the great outdoors. However, during more typical winters, knowing how to stay active in cold weather starts by enjoying a wide variety of outdoor activities. Like the rest of Idaho Falls, the residents at our assisted living facility enjoy the same outdoor activities to stay active in winter.

How to Stay Active in Cold Weather While Outdoors

Staying active while outdoors in winter delivers several benefits. You do not have to deal with heat and humidity, which can be energy drainers during the summer months. Since you can work out longer outdoors during winter, you might be able to burn more calories. For those sensitive to sunlight, staying active outdoors allows them to take in smaller doses of the sun’s rays. During cold and flu season, outdoor exercises also can boost your immunity.

What are some of the most popular activities outdoors in cold weather? Brisk walks do a great job of pumping up the body’s circulatory system. Doing chores such as raking leaves and shoveling snow works out a wide variety of muscles to increase strength. When snow starts to fall in the area, many of the residents at our senior living center in Idaho Falls enjoy activities like sledding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. The key is to stay warm while outdoors by wearing layers to trap body heat.

How to Stay Active in Cold Weather While Indoors

Even if Idaho Falls does not experience an especially cold stretch like the residents of retirement communities did in January of 2024, winter in this part of the country can include at least one stretch when staying active indoors makes more sense. You have many options to stay active indoors during winter without having to join a gym or fitness center. To get the most out of indoor activities, wearing a backpack or hand weights increases the resistance level of certain exercises.

Mall walking has emerged as one of the most popular ways to stay active indoors during cold weather. Not only do you get a solid workout, but you also get to socialize with other walkers. Socialization is important for residents of retirement communities in Idaho Falls. You can invest in a home workout circuit or use the fitness center at our assisted living facility. Indoor activities such as bowling and ice skating help you stay active indoors while at the same time getting your competitive juices flowing. Climbing stairs at home firm up the leg muscles. Even household chores like sweeping and vacuuming are effective at keeping seniors active when it is too cold to go outdoors.

Stay Active at MorningStar at Idaho Falls

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week to improve the quality of life. At our senior living center in Idaho Falls, we offer residents plenty of opportunities to stay active in cold weather both indoors and outdoors.

6 DECORATING TIPS FOR YOUR RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HOME

Home sweet home.

Moving into a senior living center in Idaho Falls does not mean you have to cut back on decor ideas. Yes, you have to rethink your decorating plan because of a smaller living space. However, many of the same stylish decor ideas that worked well in your previous home remain relevant for your new home.

Let’s review six time-tested decorating tips for your retirement community home in Idaho Falls.

Leverage the Visual Power of Sunlight

Numerous studies demonstrate the link between exposure to sunlight and mental health. Exposure to natural light is even more important to seniors because it elevates mood and boosts vitamin D levels. Open your blinds to allow sunlight to make your room’s space appear to be much larger. Sunlight also is nature’s way of helping our body’s clock maintain a healthy sleep schedule.

Display Lighter Colors

Just as sunlight enhances the ambiance of a room, the same can be said for displaying lighter colors. Lighter color accents exude a calm ambiance by going easier on the eye than bolder colors. Painting a room one light color represents an effective way to invite more sunlight into your room. White is always a good option for room color, but you have other lighter color options as well.

Hang Mirrors

One of the keys to decorating a room at an assisted living facility in Idaho Falls is to prevent feeling confined in your new living space. Regardless of how many windows are in your room, consider hanging a couple of mirrors to create more visual space. Hanging mirrors near natural light sources represents an effective strategy for reflecting both natural and artificial light.

Optimize Vertical Space

Less square footage inside a room at a retirement community in Idaho Falls does not mean you have to send some personal items to a storage facility. Fill the walls at your new senior living center home with artwork and personal artifacts such as family photographs. You also might be able to install a flat-screen television on one of the walls to free up space for more furniture. One or more bookshelves also help free up more space by displaying books and visually appealing artwork.

Go Green

Increasing the amount of natural sunlight in your room is one strategy to help elevate your mood and the ambiance of the room. Another strategy that works well for boosting mood involves adding plants. Whether you place plants on corner tables or hang them from the ceiling, going green is a great way to create a warm, inviting ambiance that your friends and family will appreciate when they come to visit.

Keep It Simple

Many ideas come into your mind when concerning how to decorate your new home at an assisted living facility. Keep the ideas simple, and you should create a living space that makes you feel at home. Downsize the number of furniture pieces to prevent the appearance of a cluttered space. Use storage organizers to help you save space, as well as complement the room’s color scheme. Above all, make sure your new home is functional and accessible.

Moving into a new home at a retirement community in Idaho Falls can trigger considerable stress. As the MorningStar senior living home in Idaho Falls, every member of our staff works with residents to create the most visually appealing home that helps alleviate the common stress that develops when dealing with an unfamiliar place. Learn more about decorating tips for your retirement community home by contacting us today.

5 THINGS TO DO IN IDAHO FALLS

Once considered an afterthought on the way to Boise, Idaho Falls has morphed into one of the most popular tourist destinations west of Denver. The quaint, yet metropolitan city also is the ideal place for residents of retirement communities to call home.

A unique blend of art and culture, combined with a rich history, infuses Idaho Falls with a vibrant ambiance. Throw into the mix plenty of scenic vistas located nearby, and it is no surprise why our assisted living facility remains a popular lifestyle option for seniors from a wide variety of backgrounds.

What is there to do in Idaho Falls? Let’s find out.

Idaho Falls River Walk and Greenbelt

Covering more than five miles and surrounding both sides of the beautiful Snake River, the Idaho Falls, River Walk and Greenbelt highlights some of the most spectacular vistas in the entire area. The entire venue is meticulously landscaped and kept clean throughout the year. You can expect to encounter avid cyclists, as well as new mothers pushing strollers. This venue is considered a vital resource for professionals who commute between home and downtown.

The River Walk connects to many of the most popular tourist attractions found in Idaho Falls.

Museum of Idaho

One of the venues that the River Walk passes nearby is the Museum of Idaho. Located near the bustling entertainment district of the downtown area, the Museum of Idaho features more than 25,000 artifacts and specimens specific to this region of the United States. The artifacts and specimens emphasize the importance of the state’s history, biology, and cultural impacts on the country. 

Some of the permanent exhibits include one-room schoolhouses, the original inhabitants of Idaho, and the well-documented journey of Lewis and Clark.

Idaho Falls Zoo

One of the most popular scheduled events on the activities calendar at our senior living center in Idaho Falls is a trip to the Idaho Falls Zoo. Located in Tautphaus Park, which is one of the oldest and largest parks in Idaho Falls, the city’s zoo is full of attractions for the entire family. Funland Amusement Park is located nearby to provide an outlet for kids to release their energy on waterslides and miniature carnival rides.

The most popular zoo attractions include the homes of lions, penguins, and snow leopards.

Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest

Idaho Falls hosts one of the largest eagle monuments in the United States. Located at an intersection near the Walmart Supercenter on Utah Avenue, this monument for eagles is easy to get to from the River Walk. The huge statue pays homage to two eagles tending to their roost on top of native Idaho rock. A Mountain lion lurks just below the two enshrined eagles.

The artist who came up with the drawing for the monument, Vic Payne, named the piece The Protector.

Sportsman Park

This attraction is accessible only from the River Walk. It is a small island park surrounded by the Snake River. Sportsman Park is located at the site where the first bridge spanned the Snake River, which opened up eastern Idaho to commercial opportunities from business interests operating in nearby states. The stunning Japanese Friendship Garden commemorates the relationship developed between Idaho Falls and its sister city of Tokai-Mura, Japan.

The mission “to honor, to value, to invest” makes our assisted living facility in Idaho Falls the premier place for seniors to call home. Discover more about the wonders of Idaho Falls by scheduling a comprehensive tour of our senior living center.