July 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Stand In Integrity

Each summer Juniper Village begins our quarterly Alive in All Seasons focus on Staying Connected. We promote staying connected to the community, the environment and each other. In July we shed light on staying connected to our community through volunteerism. Do you know that, as a company, we receive more than 10,000 hours of precious volunteer time each year? We have many volunteers, both human and animal, who contribute to our mission of nurturing the spirit of life. Elizabeth Andrew said it best, “volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” This month we honor all of the wonderful volunteers who make time to share a bit of their heart with us. We appreciate those who lead groups in our communities; those who share their unique skills and talents with our residents; those who provide friendly visits to our residents and give a reassuring hug or comforting puppy kiss; and the many, many other special people who enhance our lives.

This month as we focus on volunteerism we invite you to find a way that you can make a difference. Whether helping us at Juniper Village or another organization, volunteering has countless emotional and physical health benefits. Volunteering gives a boost not only to those receiving, but to those giving of their time as well.

Review our full calendar and make time to join us for any and all events.

This month we highlight our Ambassador Program and other volunteer opportunities for residents. In addition to volunteer opportunities, we invite you to join us during July for our summer celebrations and share our thanks as we honor those who Stand In Integrity with us.

Our fabulous July 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Volunteering Explore Your Future as RSVP of the Capital Region shares ways you can get involved and make a difference in someone’s life, simply by volunteering and sharing your time and talents during this event that will be held in The Club of the Community House with no cost to attend this informational session and a complimentary light lunch provided from July 12^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Space is limited, so please RSVP by July 10^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

§  Medicare 101 What You Need To Know with Don Shuey, independent insurance agent, who will share basic details regarding Medicare coverage and options; there will be time for some questions and answers, but specific questions regarding personal plans will need to be addressed one-on-one for privacy reasons; there’s no cost to attend this informational session that will be held in The Club of the Community House and a complimentary light lunch will be provided on July 19^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Space is limited, so please RSVP by July 17^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

§  Women’s Heart Disease Support Group Hosted by WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital provides women living with heart disease critical peer-to-peer support, information and encouragement; the group meets every third Thursday of the month from 6:00-7:00pm and the location changes each month; a copy of the schedule and other site locations will be available at this meeting held in The Club of the Community House.

§  Care of the Caregiver Time to Rejuvenate II with Michele DeVore, RN, Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Medical Support Hypnotherapist from Hospice for All Seasons, who will create an experiential opportunity to learn about and discuss the barriers and benefits of taking time to rejuvenate self, as you will be encouraged to participate in activities such as reflexology, hypnotherapy, Reiki, and therapeutic touch, so come and enjoy some time just for you; there’s no cost to attend this interactive session held in The Club of the Community House and a complimentary light lunch will be provided on July 26^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Space is limited, so please RSVP by July 24^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our July 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Stand In Integrity.

The Biggest Ice Cream Scoop in the World!

We recently took a scenic bus ride to the outskirts of Ephrata to enjoy lunch at the "Udder Choice" restaurant where one of the attractions is the World's Largest Ice Cream Scoop, or at least the largest one in Lancaster County!  It was actually used in the ground-breaking ceremony for the restaurant.  We would rather see it used for a giant scoop of ice cream for which we had the only spoons! We were happy with our sundaes, ice cream sodas, floats and other ice cream creations.  We also ate sandwiches and the best seafood bisque around!  It was a beautiful day out for independent residents as well as personal care residents!

Senior Health and Fitness Day at Juniper Village!

On May 31st, we celebrated Senior Health and Fitness Day here at Juniper Village at Lebanon with our partners at WellSpan Health Services.  We had a full day of activities planned, starting with Seated Yoga with Melanie and then Band-Together with Tanya. WellSpan sponsored a Health Fair, which included taking vital signs, learning about sleep disorders, diabetes information and understanding arthritis.  The afternoon consisted of a healthy salad and fruit buffet lunch, followed by a short walk around the campus.  The day ended with Dr. Lisa Helwig's presentation on tips for better Senior Health. Many thanks to our friends at WellSpan for making Senior Health & Fitness Day educational and fun!

Volunteer Opportunities Abound in Juniper Courtyards!

This spring has been a wet one, which is good news for our gardens at Juniper Village at Lebanon!  Even better news is that we now have a volunteer gardening team of Mark Geyer and his caregiver Cele, who visit us at least once per week to help keep our gardens beautiful. Mark picks up the many sticks that fall from our larger trees, and he helps work the soil and plant herbs, vegetables and flowers in our many garden areas, including one raised bed and several flower pots.

Cele has graciously donated all of the plants so far, and they already look gorgeous!  We have several "arm-chair supervisors" who come out to join in the action.  Many thanks to all of our fabulous volunteers, such as Mark and Cele, who "nurture the spirit of life" in so many ways at Juniper Village!

June 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Live In Wellness

“You are what you eat.” The old adage is now truer than ever. Good health is largely dependent on good nutrition, so much so that doctors trace many physical and emotional ailments back to a diet deficient in vitamins and minerals. Eating a well-balanced diet is a major part of encouraging long life, lowering the incidence of disease, and helping sick people recover. On the flip side, inadequate nutrition and poor quality foods can generally cut life span and open us up to many illnesses and disease. In effect, food is medicine per Webster's definition of medicine: "The science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease." Food acts as medicine - to maintain, prevent, and treat disease.

With this month’s Alive in All Seasons focus on food, we’d like to give you a prescription for a healthy diet: breakfast daily (do not skip); meals x3 (at least) daily; foods from each of the food groups per meal daily. The food pyramid defines the food groups as grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and proteins. The amounts vary according to age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level. Here’s a good guideline to start you on your way. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Make half your grains whole grains. Move to low-fat and fat-free dairy. Vary your protein routine and eat and drink the right amount for you.

Join us as we continue our focus on healthy aging by shedding light on our hydration program with healthy snacks and juices, and demonstrate how food and nutrition help us to Live in Wellness from a dietitian’s point of view.

Our fabulous June 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Communication with Persons that Have Hearing Loss with Jack French, owner of Zounds of Lancaster Hearing Center, who will discuss strategies, techniques and tips that enable good quality communication whether the individual wears hearing aids or not; there is no cost to attend this informational session that will be held in The Club of the Community House and a complimentary breakfast will be provided on June 7^th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. (RSVP by June 5^th to 717-272-8782.)

§  Fresh and Healthy Fun Meals for the Summer as we join Kaitlyn Berkheiser, RD, LDN of WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, for a lunch experience that demonstrates how to prepare quick and healthy meals during the summer months, so bring a guest and learn the value of working together to create healthy nutritious meals; there is no cost to attend this informational session held in The Club of the Community House and a light lunch will be provided on June 21^st from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. (RSVP by June 19^th to 717-272-8782.)

§  WellSpan Health Managing Stress Series as in this program, participants learn to relax, breathe and adapt to stress, and learn to change their attitudes and perceptions when they can't change the world; there is no cost to attend this educational series held in The Club of the Community House on June 22^nd, 29^th, and July 6^th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. (RSVP to 717-270-7764.)

§  Blood Drive For Central PA Blood Bank because each pint of blood donated can save as many as three lives, everyone’s participation is encouraged and much appreciated, so join us at Juniper Village to make your contribution to the Central PA Blood Bank set-up in The Club of the Community House; no appointment is necessary, and a goody bag will be provided to each donor on June 27^th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our June 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Live In Wellness.

An Award Winning Evening for Judy!

Resident Judy Gonshor was the honored guest at the Heritage Girls award ceremony on May 16th.  When the leader of the Heritage Girls found out that Judy is the great-great-great-granddaughter of the famous hymn-writer Fanny Crosby, she knew that she had to include Judy in the awards ceremony, because three girls had just earned their Fanny Crosby badges!  Judy looked like a seasoned public speaker as she walked up to the microphone to speak about her famous relative, who wrote the lyrics to over 8,000 hymns, even though she was blind for her whole life!  Judy's daughter Jackie, also a relative of Fanny's, was present for the ceremony, as were several members of the Joyful Noise Singers, who led the gathering in singing two of Fanny's most popular hymns, "Blessed Assurance" and "To God Be the Glory".

Happy Spring!

We were planning to do something with the big bin of silk flowers that we had accumulated over the years, and we wanted to do something to decorate our doors for spring.  So we purchased sheets of styrofoam, cut out the initials of the participants, added a ribbon to hang them, and then let everyone do their own thing.  Each finished door hanger turned out totally different from each other door hanger, even though everyone started with the same ingredients!  Special thanks to our next door neighbor, Chiko, who is from Japan but is staying at Youth With A Mission for a few weeks.  She was a huge help in cutting wire stems and helping with the gluing process.  She had as much fun as the participants, and she promises to return in July after her mission trip to South America!  We appreciate all of our wonderful volunteers!

The Lebanon Senior Singers Visit Juniper Village!

The residents of Juniper Village at Lebanon were recently treated to a very special concert by the Lebanon Senior Singers.  They only make a few community appearances each season, so we felt very honored that they chose to visit us.  It was standing room only as they performed beautiful arrangements of some of our favorite songs, including "Y-M-C-A", which had everyone throwing their hands into the air.  They promised to visit us again for their holiday program.  We will be looking forward to that!

Day of Caring Comes to Juniper Village!

On Saturday, April 22nd, over 1,000 volunteers from all over Lebanon County came together for breakfast at Lebanon High School, and then they dispersed throughout the County from 9:00 am to noon to do volunteer jobs at various agencies and facilities.  Juniper Village at Lebanon was fortunate enough to be chosen by the Youth Advocate Program (YAP), who brought some great prizes and then helped us to play Bingo for an hour.  Then we all moved to the lobby to hear another Day of Caring Volunteer, Bob Phillips (who is also our County Commissioner!) sing some of our favorite songs from the 40's and 50's. Christine and Paul couldn't help but dance to the swing music, and Joe provided some great backup and harmony with the extra microphone.  It was a fantastic morning for everyone involved!  Both Bob and the YAP volunteers said that they will be back again!

May 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Grow Strong Daily

Continuing our Spring Alive In All Seasons focus on healthy again, we continue to let wellbeing thrive with a May focus on Fitness. Staying fit throughout all seasons of life is possible and at Juniper we promote fitness every day of the week! We recently shared on our Facebook page a New York Times story, authored by Gretchen Reynolds, providing results from the Mayo Clinic who recently conducted an experiment on the cells of 72 healthy but sedentary men and women who were 30 or younger or older than 64. The volunteers were randomly assigned to a particular exercise regimen. There were some unsurprising differences: The gains in muscle mass and strength were greater for those who exercised only with weights, while interval training had the strongest influence on endurance. But more unexpected results were found in the biopsied muscle cells. It seems as if the decline in the cellular health of muscles associated with aging was “corrected” with exercise, especially if it was intense, says Dr. Sreekumaran Nair, a professor of medicine and an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic and the study’s senior author. In fact, older people’s cells responded in some ways more robustly to intense exercise than the cells of the young did. So pick up those weights, get on that bike and remember it’s never too late to benefit from exercise. And if you’re not doing so already, follow us on social media so you don’t miss a thing.

We invite you to Grow Strong Daily along with us with programs such as Fitness Five and our Route 66 Walking Program. Learn more about fitness and keeping your heart healthy at our Heart Healthy Luncheon and educational presentation. Staying fit throughout all seasons of life is possible.

Our fabulous May 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Open House Independent Living/Garden Apartments in The Club of the Community House to learn more about our beautiful Garden Apartments as we have first and second floor, one and two bedroom, apartments available with optional meal plans and a variety of fun and educational activities are also available with a month-to-month rental model with no buy-in fees, so if you’re thinking about downsizing, now’s the time to see what Juniper Village has to offer as light refreshments will be served and each tour participant will receive a “goody” bag to take along on May 11^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. (RSVPs not required but appreciated at 717-272-8782.)

§  What Theralink and Vitality Days Are presented By Genesis Rehab with Jim Dumser, MPT, Director of Rehab, who will discuss Theralink and Vitality days as it relates to Juniper Village’s Connect4Life program and the Theralink program, which includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, in these special programs that help our residents continue to maintain or improve their physical abilities, reducing fall risks and hospitalizations; there is no cost to attend this informational session and a light lunch will be provided in The Club of the Community House on May 17^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (RSVP by May 15^th at 717-272-8782.)

§  Third Annual Community Yard Sale including a large selection of books and puzzles with all proceeds, including the food sales, supporting the American Heart Association held rain or shine in The Club of the Community House and tours of the community will also be available throughout the morning on May 20^th from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm.

§  National Senior Health & Fitness Day as we are proud to have partnered with WellSpan Health to participate in this 24^th annual event; during this fun-filled day, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in a yoga class, our Band-Together class, a specialty fruit and salad bar, and a presentation by Dr. Lisa Helwig to learn more about senior health, so all seniors are encouraged to join us for this exciting event on May 31^st from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. (RSVPs not required but appreciated at 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our May 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Grow Strong Daily.

Fourth Annual Spring Egg Hunt

Over 50 children and their families participated in the annual Spring Egg Hunt at Juniper Village at Lebanon. The residents had previously filled over 1,000 plastic eggs with wrapped candy and tickets for bigger prizes. Then they helped to hide the eggs in the garden behind the Village. The entire hunt was over within minutes, but then everyone went to The Club for snacks, crafts, and to spin the prize wheel. There was even a live bunny in the Village lobby for photos. Many thanks to all of the volunteers and staff who made this special day possible.  It was worth all of the preparations just to see the smiles on the faces of the kids and the adults!

Sweet and Sassy!

On April 18th, we were very fortunate to have a visit to Juniper Village at Lebanon from the Sweet and Sassy Line Dancers from the Maple Street Senior Center in Lebanon.  Several visitors stopped in their tracks after entering the lobby when they saw a dozen ladies dancing to songs like "Funky Town" and "YMCA".  Many residents and staff members joined in, and everyone else moved their feet and clapped along with the peppy music.  Those who participated said that it was quite a workout!  We are looking forward to their next visit!

Having Fun At The Senior Senior Prom

Several residents from Juniper Village at Lebanon attended the "Senior Senior Prom" at Cedar Crest High School on April 7th.  The students were excellent hosts and hostesses, looking elegant in their black and white attire as they served hors d'ouvres, drinks, dinner, and dessert.  They even danced with us as we listened to the Mick Cochran Band playing our favorite songs.  We are fortunate to live in a school district that provides several wonderful events like this to the community throughout the year.  It was a memorable evening for everyone who attended!

Happy Birthday OMA!

Juniper Village at Lebanon would like to wish a very special Happy Birthday to OMA!

April 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Believe in Yourself

Each April we begin our Healthy Aging Series with a focus on brain health, and encourage you to Believe in Yourself. We know that believing in yourself has a positive effect on your mental health, but did you know that self-confidence influences your physical health as well? Recent studies show people who exhibit self-confidence are generally healthier and tend to live longer. That's because confidence is a positive emotion and positive emotions have countless health benefits for your mind, body and spirit. In nurturing wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit, Juniper is also building self-confidence. The link between health and confidence also may be related to the ability of positive emotions to boost our brain's power to hold attention, be aware and remember things. We are better able to learn, build new skills and relate with others when we are feeling optimistic. Also confident people are better able to handle chaotic situations in a positive manner. This helps to reduce or avoid excessive stress, high blood pressure, anger, confusion – all the negative side effects of feeling powerless, overwhelmed and out of control.

If you need to kick start your confidence, here are a few things to try: smile; count your blessings; surround yourself with confident people; learn how others have found their confidence and follow their lead; challenge negative or inaccurate thinking and replace with accurate, constructive thoughts; and encourage yourself. You can also plan to join us this month for uplifting discussions and a focus on brain health with offerings such as Daily Brain Builders, Wii games, and a Brain Healthy Luncheon.

Our fabulous April 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  4^th Annual Spring Egg Hunt as all little ones up to age 10 are invited to hunt for colorful eggs in our charming courtyards at this wonderful opportunity to experience the warmth that comes from sharing special moments with your friends and family at Juniper Village because everyone is welcome for this complimentary community event on April 1^st from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

§  Get Organized During Spring Cleaning because there’s no better time to get organized than during Spring cleaning, whether you’re cleaning out your own home or helping a loved one preparing to downsize, Kristen Martin, owner of TLC Ladies, will share tips and tricks-of-the-trade to make this an easier task, with over 20 years of experience, TLC Ladies has helped hundreds of families organize, downsize and move, so join us for this complimentary event that will be held in The Club of the Community House and a light lunch will be provided on April 12^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Space is limited and reservations are required. Please RSVP by Monday, April 10^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

§  Women’s Heart Disease Support Group Hosted by WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital held in The Club of the Community House, this support group that meets every third Thursday of the month at a different location provides women living with heart disease critical peer-to-peer support, information and encouragement; this month’s topic will be Protecting Your Heart Managing Your Heart Medications, and a copy of the schedule and other site locations will be available at this meeting on April 20^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (Reservations are requested. Please RSVP by calling 717-272-8782.)

§  Understanding and Coping with Stroke with Amanda Mae Gilgore, stroke coordinator for WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, who will provide insight into stroke; signs and symptoms, early intervention, treatment options, and support groups, during this complimentary session held in The Club of the Community House with a light lunch provided that is open to anyone who would like to know more about dealing with stroke on April 26^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Please RSVP by Monday, April 24^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our April 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Believe in Yourself.

Connect 4 Life - Integrated Care in Seniors Housing

In March the Directors of Wellness met to discuss the Importance of Integrated Care, which is the main stay of Juniper Communities' Connect4Life.  Statistics show when a Community provides three key components; onsite delivery of primary care, a "high-tech" foundation of shared data and a "high-touch" coordinator that facilitates a seamless provision of services, the customer truly benefits.  Juniper Communities study compared the population of customers residing in managed care communities and similar frail Medicare recipients.  The key results show hospitalizations were reduced by 50%, re-hospitalizations were reduced by over 80%.  Further study needs to be done, but these results suggest these positive outcomes are a result of a foundation of excellence and consistent quality of integrated care.

Pictured on top from left to right are some of our fabulous Directors of Community Relation: Kathryn Bainbridge, Brookline Senior Living; Katie Kensinger, Brookline Wellspring Memory Care; Brenda Dahlberg, Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care; Christine Heibel, Lebanon; and Bonnie Prisk, Forest Hills. Pictured on bottom from left to right are some of our wonderful Directors of Wellness: Susan Deitzler, Lebanon; Missy Ebner, Home Office; Katie Castro, Brookline Senior Living; Veronica Graham, Mount Joy; Muriel Myers, Forest Hills; and Dana Theis, Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care.

Read more in the FREE White Paper!

The First Day of Spring!

How do we celebrate the First Day of Spring at Juniper Village at Lebanon?  Why, by going to Dairy Queen, of course!  When we heard on the news that our local Dairy Queen was offering FREE ice cream cones on the First Day of Spring, we instantly planned an impromptu bus trip at the only time of day that wasn't filled with an activity already: 3:15 pm.  This must have been exactly the right time to be at Dairy Queen, because we walked right up to the counter without a wait, found seats for everyone, and leisurely enjoyed our free cones.  However, on our way out, the lines were forming and even the drive-up lane was packed!  We made it back to Juniper Village in time to play Bocce with satisfied smiles on our faces!  We are hoping to make this an annual excursion!

Connect4Life Leads to Better Outcomes for Residents

Integrated Care in Seniors Housing that Meets the Triple Aim from Cindy Longfellow

Data shows Connect4Life’s high-tech/high-touch integrated services lead to higher quality care and better outcomes for residents

Executive Summary: Integrated Care in Seniors Housing that Meets
the Triple Aim

By Anne Tumlinson, MMHS and Lynne Katzmann, PhD

According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, more than 190 million Americans, or about 59 percent of the population, are affected by one or more chronic illnesses. Over the next 15 years (between 2016 and 2030,) 80 percent of the United States population will experience one or more chronic conditions, costing more than $42 trillion in medical care spending and losses in employment productivity.

To address these challenges and enhance the resident experience, Juniper Communities, a Bloomfield, NJ-based national owner-operator of seniors housing, developed the Connect4Life model, which provides on-site comprehensive therapy, primary care, pharmacy and lab services, integrated with other services using a “high-tech/high-touch” communications protocol that transfers information through an Electronic Health Record (EHR) and coordinates care through a human navigator.

Juniper Communities retained Anne Tumlinson Innovations (ATI) to compare Connect4Life outcomes and utilization data with data on the broader Medicare population from the 2012 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). The findings suggest that the Connect4Life model contributes to lower hospital readmissions and the utilization of inpatient services among a high-need resident population. The results affirm the potential of integrating select clinical care and services in a seniors housing environment that provides supportive services to those who have chronic conditions, functional limitations, and complex social needs.

The results suggest an integrated program of services in seniors housing—like Juniper’s Connect4Life —can contribute to reducing the cost of care and services to Medicare beneficiaries residing in seniors housing. More importantly, the data points to the value of the Connect4Life model for managing population health because of its ability to efficiently target integrated care interventions in the high cost, high-need Medicare population.

Juniper Communities has been a thought leader in senior living care, developing nearly a dozen innovative service and delivery programs to enhance aging, lifestyle and resident health. Recognizing opportunities in to meet the triple aim of recent health policy changes in the United States – improved customer satisfaction, evidence-base quality and lower healthcare utilization, Juniper is pioneering Connect 4 Life – one of senior living’s first truly integrated care models of assisted living care and service.

Read more in the FREE White Paper!

Fine Pottery Art at Juniper Village

We are very fortunate to have a pottery instructor who is willing to bring everything needed right to us to complete beautiful pottery pieces starting from a ball of clay! Everyone learned how to flatten the clay ball by throwing it down on the table, tracing the shape of their choice onto the clay, painting the clay, and then forming it into a bowl shape. M.J. McFalls, our instructor, then took the pieces to her pottery studio in Myerstown to be fired in her kiln. Everyone was thrilled with the finished pieces, complete with each artist's signature on the bottom!

Six More Weeks of Winter?!

We love groundhogs at Juniper Village at Lebanon!  So we were especially happy when "Uni" the Groundhog made a special stop in The Village to predict the next six weeks of weather.  "Uni" actually has a better record of predicting correctly than his cousin "Punxatawny Phil", who predicted six more weeks of winter.  "Uni", however, said that we will NOT have six more weeks of winter.  With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, we would have to say that "Uni" was correct!  And even if he wasn't, the Ground Hog Lodge members say that he is never wrong, the weather is sometimes wrong, though!  We were also surprised to see a full-sized groundhog, who greeted everyone personally!  Many thanks to Ground Hog Lodge #17 for making their annual visit to Juniper Village, and for speaking to us in Pennsylvania Dutch!  It brought back memories for many of us!

March 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Your Treasure is Within

Theatrical readings, colorful costumed dancers and spectacular vocal performances bring to a close our creative expression quarterly theme with a focus on performance and honoring our inner treasure – our self-worth. With so many demands on our time these days, it’s easy to always put others first and forget to care of ourselves. Also as we get older, retire from work and in some cases caretaking, we may forget our sense of value – our self-worth. A large part of nurturing the spirit of life is providing opportunities for purpose.

This month we will put an even greater focus on identifying our continued purpose and self-worth by performing purposeful activities, reminiscing and creating opportunities to treasure ourselves. Motivational speaker Anne Naylor offers these tips to help you treasure yourself: Treasure your thoughts with kindness – nurture your thoughts of gratitude and appreciation. Treasure your feelings and emotions – observe and use them as your guide. Treasure your body – treat it well with exercise, nourishment, rest, joy and laughter. Treasure your spirit – breathe, meditate and enjoy the goodness in your life. We hope you all enjoy the treasure of your wonderful self.

Please join us as we dramatically embrace performance throughout March with our weekly drama club, outings to live theatrical performances and our Oscar-themed party. Celebrate the Irish culture in grand style with our Saint Patrick’s Day event filled with food, fun and, of course, dancing! Honor yourself and recognize Your Treasure is Within this month at Juniper Village!

Our fabulous March 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy During the Allergy Season with Jay Diaz, Respiratory Care Practitioner and owner of C&OPD (Conquering & Overcoming Pulmonary Disease, PLLC), will share ways to keep our lungs healthy during the allergy season; there is no cost to attend this educational program, which will be held in The Club of the Community House, and a light, healthy lunch will be provided on March 8^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (Space is limited and reservations are required by Monday, March 6^th at 717-272-8782.)

§  After Hours Performance by Bryan Stevenson who will entertain you with everything from classical music to popular hits, and if you didn’t get a chance to come out and hear Bryan last year, you won’t want to miss this year’s performance, so stop by The Club of the Community House after work or dinner for an opportunity to relax and unwind because as they say, music soothes the soul, and light refreshments will be served; there’s no cost to participate and everyone is welcome to join us on March 15^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (No RSVPs required.)

§  Laughter, Wellness & PHresh Outlooks Presented by Helen Szollosy from LAFOLOT as we welcome the start of stress-free living, and learn how to get our daily dose of Inner Jogging as the purpose of LAFOLOT is to provide healthy and fun wellness, socialization and positive outlook tools to aid in Healthy Socialization, Healthier Outlook, and improved mental, physical and emotional responses to life; this complimentary, fun presentation will be held in the Village Lobby on March 22^nd from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. (Please RSVP at 717-272-8782.)

§  Spring Fling Breakfast Reception because it’s time to Spring into action as we take this opportunity to build business connections at this event held in The Club that is complimentary to individuals who help serve seniors, including social workers, nurses, personal care and nursing home staff, lawyers, financial advisors, and a complimentary light breakfast will be served on March 28^th from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. (Please RSVP at 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our March 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as Your Treasure is Within.

A Magical Mystery Tour!

On February 3rd, residents from all areas of Juniper Village at Lebanon boarded our bus for a "Scenic Ride" not knowing that a big surprise was waiting for them just down the road!  After a quick drive through the countryside, we soon stopped at the home of Cindy Boyer, resident Joyce Mease's daughter.  Cindy had been up until 1:00 AM the night before baking several kinds of cookies and opera fudge, which she handed out on the bus on beautiful Valentine plates.  She also gave everyone a juice box drink.  After everyone was finished, Cindy brought her little dog out to the bus to say hello.  We appreciate the kindness and generosity of Cindy and all of our wonderful volunteers, family members and friends!  They are truly our Valentines!

Red Hats and Teddy Bears

Many thanks to our wonderful guest speaker, Ferne Steckman from Palmyra, who makes the trek to Lebanon each month to lead our Red Hat club.  She always has an interesting topic, and this month it was "Teddy Bears".  We learned about their history and the many varieties of teddy bears.  Ferne brought several examples with her and filled an hour with teddy bear facts and trivia.  Some residents dashed out of the party to go back to their rooms and bring their own teddy bears to the party.  The best part was the chocolate teddy bear cookies that Ferne made.  What a wonderful afternoon for everyone!

February 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Awaken Your Passion

This month, our focus on creative expression continues with a focus on art. Art, as with beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It is understandable that some have great artistic ability and others do not. But, at Juniper we know that everyone has a passion for creative expression, regardless of ability or age. Pablo Picasso once said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” He is speaking about becoming inhibited as adults. With our various art programs we encourage uninhibited creativity as a form of therapy. Creating art affords the opportunity of self-exploration and self-expression leading to both physical and mental benefits. Creating art in any of its various forms, is also about sharing a bit of ourselves with each other. Art is one way to express ourselves, and the creations are honest and true representations of our experiences. In sharing our stories through art with others we invite communication and create lasting bonds.

Art typically encompasses painting, sculpting, and drawing. But, the act of creating art can be as simple as doodling. Art is simply the creation of something outside one’s self that often mirrors what is going on within their mind, soul, and body. We use creative arts as a way to nurture the spirit of life. Join us throughout February as we focus on great varieties of art such as photography, needlework, handicrafts, painting, sculpture and more. Please join us as we share a bit of ourselves with our weekly craft classes, experience art on an outing to an art museum, and embrace our celebratory spirit with Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day parties. We look forward to helping you Awaken Your Passion this month!

Our fabulous February 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Go Red for Women Paint and Sip Fundraiser for a fun evening of painting, making friends and sharing a good bottle of wine and complimentary hors d’oeuvres – all for a great cause, as the cost to participate in the Paint and Sip event is $35 per person, and part of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign on February 7^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Hands-On Pottery Workshop as we enjoy the art of making pottery as local artist M.J. McFalls from Elmlock Pottery teaches us different pottery techniques while we make a free small item to keep on February 15^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Healthy Hearts for Seniors What You Should Know with Dr. Edward Tadajweski of WellSpan Cardiology Associates, who will discuss ways to reduce the incidences of heart disease, how to live a healthier lifestyle, and special concerns for seniors at this complimentary informational session held in The Club of the Community House that is open to the community and a complimentary light lunch will be served on February 22^nd from noon to 1:30 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782 by February 20^th.)

We look forward to sharing our February 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Awaken Your Passion.

Elvis Is In The Building!

We were "all shook up" when Elvis arrived at Juniper Village to sing many of his most famous numbers!  Resident Paul Hirlinger got up to sing several numbers with Elvis (also known as D.J. John Garloff). Staff member Lindsay went up to sing and do sign language for "Jesus Loves Me", and at the end of the show, Paul helped Elvis throw scarves out to the ladies in the audience.  It was a great afternoon of singing and swooning in honor of Elvis's birthday!

The Endless Banana Split!

Here at Juniper Village at Lebanon, we know that the answer to any problem known to man is: "Ice Cream"!  Many of us would like to eat it morning, noon, and night, so imagine how excited we were to participate in making a six-foot Banana Split!  Everyone pitched in to peel and slice bananas, scoop the ice cream, add the toppings, dish it out, and of course, eat it!  Residents, staff, and family members of all ages were on hand to taste the finished product, which was fantastic!

Giraffe Award Winners Announced!

In December at Juniper Village at Lebanon, five co-workers were chosen to receive the prestigious Giraffe Award, which signifies excellence in work performance and "going above and beyond" to bring a special quality of life for our residents and coworkers.  The five coworkers chosen were:  Evette Hernandez, Connections Department; Charmain Wenger, Wellness; Sarah May, Wellness; Lindsay Bender, Business Office Coordinator Assistant; and Tina Garloff, Dining Services.  Each one of these outstanding individuals received a special giraffe pin and a hug from the founder of Juniper Village, Lynne Katzman.  We could fill many pages with the accomplishments and talents of these wonderful people!  Just like the giraffe, they each have a big heart, and it shows in their work each day.  Our director Joan-Marie also handed out Giraffe Awards to each resident, as we are blessed to have so many wonderful residents living here, each with their own unique talent or trait.  Look for many of these awards to be posted on their doors!

Ringing in the New Year at Juniper Village!

We rang in the New Year a little early this year at Juniper Village at Lebanon.  Our favorite piano player, Karl Hausman, was only available on Dec. 30th, so that's when we celebrated New Year's Eve, complete with our own Bologna Drop!  Dropping a giant piece of bologna has been a tradition in Lebanon for 20 years, but we think that our own bologna drop is even better than the one being held downtown on the 31st. First of all, it's held inside, where it's nice and warm.  We get to eat bologna and cheese the whole time and toast at "midnight" (really 7 pm) with real sparkling wine or sparkling cider.  When the lights were turned down and the countdown began, the excitement built to a crescendo when the bologna was finally dropped, and people lifted their glasses to toast the New Year.  We wish all of our families and friends a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2017.

How to Build a Snowman Without Any Snow!

There it was, the end of December, and no snow! So how could we build snowmen? Debra and Joe from Hospice For All Seasons had the answer! Simply use rice and a child's colorful sock, and voila! Snowmen! The residents had a wonderful time decorating their own personal snowmen, with no two looking the same! The best part was, we didn't have to worry about them melting!

January 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Welcome New Beginnings

Welcome to 2017! What a wonderful time for us to reflect on the past year and forge ahead with new beginnings. January is a time to begin again; a time when we make (and sometimes break) our New Year’s resolutions and focus on how we want to improve in the coming year.

January is also the month that Juniper Village begins our Winter Alive In All Seasons theme of Creative Expressions: “Explore Your Creativity” where in January we will focus on music! Do you know that research shows that music can help us physically by easing pain, helping us sleep better, eat less and enhance our blood vessel function? It is also suggested that music can help us mentally by reducing stress, relieving symptoms of depression, elevating mood, decreasing anxiety and improving cognitive performance. Because of this, Juniper Communities has adopted the Music & Memory program.

Through the use of MP3 players and headphones our teams download personalized music for each resident. These musical favorites tap deep memories and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present. Learn more about our Music & Memory program by talking with our Connections Director and consider making a donation to this worthwhile program. We accept donations of new or used iPods, new over the ear headphones and iTunes gift cards.

Join us this month as we explore our creativity through music with outings to local musical performances, Elvis’ birthday celebrations and concerts by our Joyful Noise Choirs. We invite you to Welcome New Beginnings at Juniper Village and make a resolution to join us for activities and events throughout the year!

Our fabulous January 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy During the Winter Months with Jay Diaz, Respiratory Care Practitioner and owner of C&OPD (Conquering & Overcoming Pulmonary Disease, PLLC), will share ways to keep our lungs healthy through the cold and flu season with a light, healthy lunch provided, and there is no cost to attend this educational program, which will be held in The Club of the Community House on January 11^th from noon to 1:30 pm. (RSVP by January 9^th to 717-272-8782.)

§  Women’s Heart Disease Support Group Hosted by WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital that provides women living with heart disease critical peer-to-peer support, information and encouragement, and this month will be held in The Club of the Community House, with a copy of the schedule and other site locations available at this meeting on January 19^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Havin’ Fun Beatin’ the Drum with Wendy and Scott Gilbert who will share their passion and the therapeutic benefits of “beating the drum” at this hands-on Drum Circle session that will lift your spirit and soothe your soul on January 26^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Blood Drive For Central PA Blood Bank because each pint of blood donated can save as many as three lives, so join us at Juniper Village to make your contribution to the Central PA Blood Bank, as everyone’s participation is encouraged and much appreciated at this event set-up in The Club of the Community House on January 30^th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (No RSVP required and a special “Goody Bag” will be given to each participant.)

We look forward to sharing our January 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Welcome New Beginnings.