MorningStar Senior Living of Idaho Falls

Our first impression of MorningStar Senior Living was just how nice it is. Overall it is a good value for the money and based on our experience so far we would recommend them to other families.

The staff are awesome! Anytime the family or a resident needs something the staff will drop what they are doing and come assist us. The community is awesome and I have already told others about the wonderful community. The admissions person to the reception to the care staff they are are great. The care staff do a wonderful job with the residents. The communication with the staff is really good. There is still an outstanding issue with a phone number not being transferred over that is still being worked on.

Too big, not the right fit for my loved one.

My mother lived at Morningstar (Idaho Falls) for nearly six years. She always enjoyed the outings and special events that were available to residents. She especially loved the live entertainment that is available for residents and sometimes performed the musicians. About a year ago, she moved to the memory care unit where she was an active participant in most activities. She always had post it even comments about the staff and facilities. Since the onset of Covid, the staff frequently contacted myself and other family members to keep us appraised of happenings and health issues. The Reflections staff is the best in the business.

From our understanding the food is not the best, however they have made huge improvements on their activities. They is always something going on every single day. They could use improvements on the billing side of communication regarding insurance and medicaid and what happens when your loved one will run out of money.

My mom lived @ Morningstar for 9 months. It was a great place in most respects. [Name removed], the manager of Reflections was excellent in communication and caring for my mom’s needs. [Name removed], the main nurse, was so attentive and caring— loved her! Most caregivers were great- especially [names removed]. Some just looked at it as just a job and didn’t fulfill the mission statement of honoring God. As a CNA, I admire caregivers who go above and beyond and truly care for each resident as very valuable. Thank you to ALL who did that (I may not have remembered your names, as I’m bad at names :D).

Poor care I really don't know what to write. I just know I would not put anyone in Morningstar.

MorningStar is beautiful from the inside/out. The love you feel from every employee is a great feeling. I come into this facility many times throughout the week and I truly enjoy the atmosphere. They have one of the best memory cares in town. If your looking for a great place for mom or dad. Give them a shot. They won’t let you down.

Watch out. Their medical nursing notes do not reflect what really happens to your loved one. We requested the nursing note an all records of our loved one. What we found was unbelievable. There was lots of no diverse reaction to medication, yet the person had major reactions to it an nothing was written. We are talking restrain medication. One time it said the family wanted the person to have a wheelchair for comfort. No!! That was not the case the person had to have a wheelchair and the family was told what type to buy. There was nothing in the notes expect blaming family for weight gain yet if you looked at the notes it was their food. The family member they blamed had the least weight gain when she came. They also once in the notes said family was upset because they couldn't get into the unit. That was more important than writing about the person health and well-being. In all my years I have never seen such nursing notes. You would have thought nothing was wrong with the person an all was fine. Beware ask for things. You have the right to every piece of paper they have on your loved one. You have the right to know. We wished we had requested these notes every month.

This is the place ever, my mother lived there for 5-years and was taken care of like no other. I took many trips from Sacramento, CA to Idaho Falls, Idaho to check on my mother no complaints. We had other choices to place mom but nothing like Morning Star! Class act, everyone there are professional, caring and treated everyone very well.

Morningstar has been such a tremendous blessing and encouragement to our family because of the extraordinary care they are taking of our father. Unfortunately we had tried other facilities in the area before we found Morning Star, but it has given us that much more of an appreciation for what a difference a staff and environment can make. My fathers first six months with dementia was extremely discouraging. Not only because of his disease but because of the lack of compassion and level of engagement that he was getting at another assisted living facility. When we met with the staff of Morning Star, we immediately could tell that something very special was happening there. since our father was relocated to their facility I have seen a complete turnaround as far as my father’s level of joy and contentment. They can’t cure the disease, but the staffs use of such love and compassion, mixed with specific training and gifting‘s makes it where they are able to make the most of a horrible situation. We never wanted our dad to have to live in a facility but at the same time we are so grateful that there is such a place here in Idaho Falls where we feel our dad is being loved extremely well.

I was presented with a difficult decision seventeen months ago. A decision that involved my active, independent aunt who was suffering from memory loss. My aunt lived in Boise, Idaho and could no longer take care of herself. She was no longer safe. My family and I decided that she would need to be moved closer in order for me to take care of her. I began my search for a facility that would give her the care she would need. I visited several other memory care facilities in the Idaho Falls area. I also talked to friends who had to find such care for their love ones. The conclusion was to place her in Morning Star. I found the staff to be very kind and supportive of me during this difficult time. Realizing that his change was hard for her and me. My aunt had many ups and downs before she was able to accept her new residency. She struggled with changing her clothes, anger and routine. My aunt enjoys her time at Morning Star and tells me of the kindness they bestow on her during the day such as the snacks, playing bingo and them asking her to help with simple jobs such as placing flyers in envelopes for them. All of these activities make her feel valued. She likes their food but is afraid it is making her fat. I have visited her at different times during the day and have always found her to be clean, happy and talkative. The staff makes me feel welcome by calling me by name. She and I particularly like the fact that she goes on outings in the community. I have found the staff to always tell me when my aunt is running low on supplies so that she is never out of the things she needs. When I call an hour to 30 minutes a head to alert the staff that I will be talking my aunt out of Morning Star for an errand, family gatherings or doctor she has always be ready to go. Until recently access to my aunt was always easy but because of carelessness of a few, family members are no longer able to let themselves in they must wait for a staff member to open the door and at times that can be long due to other duties the staff members must attend to. I would recommend Morning Star for anyone who was looking for good quality care for people suffering from memory loss. Their compassion is genuine and appreciated by those who are suffering with the gradual loss of someone they love. I give Morning Star a five -star rating. [name removed]

It appears to me that the staff is very well trained and competent. I have never noted an incident occur that they couldn’t handle. All the while they are pleasant but in quiet control.

Morning Star is a great community for our seniors. They give great care, love, and respect. Memory care has non stop fun activities going and a very welcoming atmosphere.

If you are thinking about moving Mom or dad into Reflections I would highly suggest it. The care they show my loved one is irreplaceable. I am in here often and see the interaction employees have with those whom live here and it is remarkable. [Name removed] is in constant contact with me and sends pictures letting me know how things are going. Communication is great (they will call us when supplies are running low to bring in new), food is good, very clean and smells great. Activities are always taking place when I arrive. Thank you Morningstar for showing the love you do.

Today I got to leave a place I had grown to dislike. I had a family member in Morningstar. I had ask the family to move her but no one wants to move a Alzheimer's patient they just get more mixed up. But Morningstar ask us to leave saying they could not care for her any more because she got to heavy and could not walk. Which they blamed on family but if they had look at there own weight charts and studied them. They would have seen the family they blamed it on had the least weight gain and the weight gain started with a new medicine which the nurse charted as no side effects. I left for 3 month. The months I was at Morningstar I walked her to the 3rd floor and back to her unit twice a day. 2 weeks after I left they said they could not walk her and needed a lift. The day I got back she walked for me. The truth is they never did care enough to have her walk it took work. I walk her twice a day, I feed her twice a day. Every time I left for a break she went down hill from lack of care. I'm 68 years old I could walk her what does it say for Morningstar. We paid the $6200.00 a month. What we got was they put her to bed got her up. Changed her when wet or dirty. Did her laundry and clean her room. Other than that she sat in a chair. They couldn't even comb her hair nice for 2 years I ask finely the last week they did it sort of but better then they had. They told me once to trust them with her care. Every time we did it went down hill. There care was leaving her sit all day in a chair. They want Alzheimer's who can walk, feed themselves and don't require much care. They will drug you if you are the lest bit upset. Alzheimer's isn't what they want they want Dementia patients old sweet people who lose their memory. Not Alzheimer's! Early onset Alzheimer have Behavioral/Personality changes that Morningstar answer is chemical restraint at least that was their answer to our family member. I write this because big is not better. Big is just costly. My mother was in a small home in AZ for 4 years the care was wonderful. The aid to patient was wonderful 3 people on to 10. The place we have now put her in is much the same. Look for small don't look for big places to care for your love ones because the bottom line is money. We pay $2,000 less now. At my mothers it was $3,000 less. The Memory Unit alone makes $900,000. 00 a year. That number is off 5,000 a month x 12 months x 15 patients. If we used 8 patients for Morningstar like the small homes Morningstar would make 480,000.00. Morningstar has more can have 20 and some pay like us more than $5,000. These small places only bring in $288,000.00 a year. That's on $3,000 x 12 months x 8 patients because they are not always full an they also have levels we are at the highest Level $4,000. You would think Morningstar could hire more help, pay better but the bottom line is profit!!!

Very costly. Poor food. Poor care. I really can only say the CN try, if Morningstar was less interested in making money they would pay better. Help would stay if valued. If Morningstar would stop building they have 23 building with more being build. Do the math.Each Memory Care has 15 people one unit brings in 15 X 5,000 a month X 12 Months. $900,000.00 a year. That's just Memory Care then Assisted living at 20 people at 3500 to 4,000 a month. 20 people X 3,500 X 12 Months that another $840,000.00. Then you have Independent Living $2,200 to 3,500 month. Now take 20 more people X $2,200.X 12 Months another $528,000. So now put all 3 level together one building brings in about $2,268,000.00 that's the low side. .Sink in they pay aids $11.00 so they value their help no.. I realize small places can't pay a lot out with maybe 20 in a home at 4,000 with cost and over head but we are not talking about a small place. I have seen better care in homes of 10 than in this place. I have watch the good aid come and go value. When help is value then Families are happier because care is better. I wished my family member had, had better care some of those CN where just plan useless because of the useless one the good ones get burnout. I've seen a lot come an go about every 3 months a new group of people it's hard on families because the help doesn't know you family member.

My loved one has been there for nearly a year. It took her a little time to adjust but now likes being there and has made so many friends. The staff is VERY caring and kind. The food is good and they offer lots of activities. The facility is stylish, clean, and well maintained. We considered other facilities but decided this was the best and have no regrets.

All I can say is not good. 1/2 the aids work hard the other 1/2 don't care. It is not family friendly although they are trying to change that. They brought back a great person at the front desk who is friendly, she is so nice to people. I'm in hopes the new administrator clean up the mess the last one left. I hope she does something about the other management there. That she puts patience and families first. That she hears their voice as important an listen. Hope to see some changes coming right away.

I'm shocked it doesn't have one star all together. Administrative staff doesn't care and doesn't listen to families. The food is bad even though they have supposedly top chefs get thier certification of where they got their top chef schooling what restaurants did they cook for? I understand they've got a new director I hope she or he listens better and cleans the place out of all the other administrators including the head of nursing she never smiles and looks like she hates her job.