Harold Mohn, Resident of Juniper Village at Lebanon, Receives Paul Harris Fellowship Award

On Thursday, September 10, Harold Mohn (pictured in the center) was presented with the Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Myerstown-ELCO Rotary. Recognized for his lifetime efforts and accomplishments through his poetry, Mohn has touched the lives of people here in Lebanon County, throughout the United States and around the world. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, or who have contributions made in their name.

September 13 – 19 is National Assisted Living Week

Understand the senior living options available

This year, National Assisted Living Week’s theme is Nourishing Life: Mind, Body and Spirit and celebrates the countless ways assisted living caregivers nurture the whole resident. This has been the basis of Juniper Village at Lebanon’s mission since we began and is certainly a goal of the industry.

With the percentage of the U.S. population over age 65 steadily increasing, it is important to understand the many options available in specialized residences and the level of care they provide for the growing and varied needs of seniors.

In addition to the type of community, it is equally important to find one that offers compassionate care, unparalleled access to healthcare – preferably onsite, programming that will stimulate you such as Music & Memory, and a commitment to continued improvement.

Personal Care/Assisted Living residences are for seniors who require the least amount of care. Meals are provided along with assistance in medication management, bathing, and dressing, if needed. Housekeeping and laundry services may also be available. Community social activities or outings may be offered, and depending on their preferences and budgets, residents may have the option of choosing a private room or a shared apartment.

Although some Assisted Living residences may provide services for seniors with cognitive impairment, a Memory Care residence is a specialized community for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Providing 24-hour supervision and security, the Memory Care environment is designed to meet the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s patients.

A Skilled Nursing Care residence, sometimes known as a nursing home, provides the highest level of care for its residents as well as round-the-clock availability of medical care. Seniors in these communities may be incontinent or require assistance with eating, walking, and moving about the bed.  Skilled Nursing Care residences usually provide long-term care for seniors who are too sick or frail for other types of residences.

In recognition of National Assisted Living Week, remember, when independent living becomes too difficult, moving into a senior living community that offers appropriate levels of care based on an individual’s need can often be the best solution.

September 2015 Events in Lebanon, PA: Spread Your Joy

As the air begins to cool and summer wanes, Juniper Village ends our “Stay Connected” series by recognizing Friendship and Joy. What is it that brings you joy? Is it the wet nose of a newborn pup? The smile of your first grandchild? The taste of a triple chocolate ice cream cone? Whatever it is we invite you to share that joy with others at Juniper Village this month.

Much attention has been paid to studies regarding the effects of stress on your health, but what about the effects of joy? The landmark “Nun Study,” as it's often known, revealed that positive emotion is correlated with longevity: 90% of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Of the 678 sisters in the original study about four dozen are still living. So go ahead, grab that triple chocolate cone it might just extend your life!

This month we invite you to “Spread Your Joy” as we honor our friendships in our Red Hat and Villager clubs and our Best Friends events; get our hands dirty at our Friendship Daffodil Project; and celebrate with our Birthday Party and House Warming Initiatives.

Our fabulous September 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Pet Therapy with Friends of All Animals because there’s just something about animals that warms our hearts and soothes our soul and no one can resist petting the soft fur of a dog or listening to the sound of a cat’s gentle purr on September 3^rd at 6:00 pm.

§  Drum Circle Therapy as Wendy and Scott Gilbert of Drum2B1 will share their passion and the therapeutic benefits of “beating the drum” during this hands-on Drum Circle session will lift your spirit on September 17^th at 6:00 pm.

§  Reflections Life Review and Reminiscing interactive program that provides insight on how and why this phenomenon occurs and the benefits it provides as individuals achieve affirmation, resolution and hope through sharing their life stories on September 25^th at 6:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our September 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as we Spread Your Joy.

August 2015 Events in Lebanon, PA: Breathe in Life

As we continue our summer focus on Staying Connected, we devote our August 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village in Lebanon to connecting to the Environment. One of our Signature Programs is the Green Canopy Program. This program is designed to support healthier living for our residents and staff through environmentally conscious communities and events. This program directly supports this month’s focus on the environment and our vision to make the world a better place, a place where each of us can live fully throughout all seasons of life.

Margaret Mead reminds us that “We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.” To that end, Juniper Village has created Green Teams in each of our communities to support our environmental initiatives by assisting with our recycling and energy efficiency programs – such as using CFL light bulbs and Energy Star rated appliances, while making suggestions for additional programs to increase quality of life and promote sustainability in our communities. Have you met your Juniper Village Green Team? This month during our August 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon our Green Teams will share their mission with the greater community by heading up initiatives to help others learn how to live a more sustainable life through our Wide-Scale Recycling Programs, our Environmental Stability Program and the Implantation of our Green Teams. Stop in for one of our educational programs, recycling and upcycling events or anything else that strikes your fancy this month with our August 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon as we Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Hybrid Cars Hosted by Frederick Chevrolet to share some basic details about how hybrid cars work or just how much it can actually help save the environment and, if available, will have a Chevy Volt on display on August 13^th at 10:30 am.

§  Understanding Medicare and How to Prevent Medicare Fraud with The Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) facilitating this program to help seniors, their families or caregivers understand the various Medicare services and resources available on August 13^th at 10:30 am.

§  National Parks Educational Presentation as Harold Young from the Delaware Water Gap shares information about the upcoming 100th Anniversary celebration next year and shares his stories with the National Park System on August 25^th at 4:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our August 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as we Breathe in Life.

July 2015 Events in Lebanon, PA: Stand in Integrity

With our July 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon this month we kick off our summer quarter Alive In All Seasons theme “Stay Connected” where we will strive to stay connected to the community and the environment. Throughout July we will focus on staying connected to our community through Volunteerism, where we Stand In Integrity. The biggest and most visible benefit of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers work magic in unifying communities. Through volunteer work you are able to connect with your community on a deeper level and help to make it a better place to live and grow. But what we don’t always realize is that volunteering is a two-way street. Volunteers benefit as much as the causes they support. Through volunteering you make new friends, expand your professional, social and support networks and boost your social skills. So, give it a try and experience the benefits of giving of yourself.

If you are looking for opportunities to share your time, check with our Connections Directors to see what opportunities we have, or join us in one of our volunteer projects. Also plan to join us during our July 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon as we recognize our Ambassador Program, focus on our Resident Computer Center and training or any other calendar item that catches your eye.

Our fabulous July 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Understanding the Voting Process with Lori Oliver, Director of the Lebanon County Voter Registration office, who will help explain the voting process in our ever changing world because as technology advances, so does the way we vote, so Lori and her deputy will help take some of the mystery out of the new voting computers and explain what an absentee ballot is, who can use one and how to complete it at this free event to which everyone is invited on July 22^nd at 3:00 pm.

§  Hot Diggity Dog - It’s National Hot Dog Day to enjoy a delicious hot dog right off of the grill with a variety of traditional and unique toppings at this free get-together you won’t want to miss on July 23^rd from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm (RSVP to 717-389-0007).

§  First Responders Appreciation Drive-Thru for all first responders (EMTs, Firefighters, Police, etc.) are invited to stop by Juniper Village at Lebanon for a FREE cup of coffee and BG’s Donuts as is our way of saying thank you for all you do for us and our community on July 29^th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our July 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as we Stand in Integrity.

June 2015 Events in Lebanon, PA: Live in Wellness

We close this quarter’s theme of Healthy Aging: “Let Wellbeing Thrive” with a focus on Food, as we Live in Wellness through our June 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon. Hippocrates advises, “Let food be thy medicine”. Research shows that eating a well-planned, balanced mix of foods every day has many health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. But, food has other benefits. There are also emotional needs that are satisfied by food. Most of us have fond memories of food from days gone by. Whether it was our mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies, a hotdog from a street vendor or our wedding cake, food has a way of transporting us back to the past. It is in that spirit that Juniper’s dining program is called the H’art and Soul of Dining. The philosophy is that we impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through the sharing of good food. In addition to meeting our resident’s unique nutritional needs, we also meet their emotional and social needs as well.

Join us for our June 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon to share in our hydration program, complete with healthy snacks and learn more about healthy food and wellness with our dietitian presentations as we continue to Live in Wellness.

Our fabulous June 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Behavioral Health Assessment, Suicide Risk Assessment and Treatment Options Across the Life Span as Kate Ketter, Director of Assessment & Referrals for Haven Behavioral Hospital, will present this course on understanding mental health assessments and depression screening approaches across the life span, and will share interview techniques appropriate for each developmental stage, ways to recognize common psychiatric conditions, and how to recognize the components of a biopsychosocial formulation and a suicide risk assessment; everyone is welcome to attend including nurses, nursing home administrators and personal care administrators, and lunch will be provided on June 4^th from 11:30 am to 2:15 pm. (RSVP to 610-406-4362; though free to attend CE fee for social workers is $15 for NASW-PA members and $25 for non NASW-PA members.)

§  Preventing & Living with Diabetes Free Information Session will be held in The Club of the Community House as Karen Bachman, diabetes educator for the Good Samaritan Health System, will share valuable tips and best practices for preventing and living with diabetes, so Learn how diet and exercise can help prevent and reduce the symptoms of diabetes and don’t let diabetes get the best of you on June 18^th from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

§  Concert on the Green at Juniper Village at Lebanon as we celebrate the first day of summer with musical entertainment by the Keystone Band of Rehrersburg, accompanied by summer refreshments; family, friends and children of all ages will enjoy the concert and summertime celebration, and there’s no cost to attend, so we hope to see you here on June 21^st from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our June 2015 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon!

2015 Juniper Leadership Conference Awards

Juniper celebrated its 27^th anniversary this year.  Each year communities are honored for their achievements in critical operational and financial areas.

Awards were presented at the 2015 Juniper Leadership Conference, held this year in Baltimore’s historic inner harbor.  Awards were presented by Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, and Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training & Operational Oversight.

At the recent Juniper leadership conference, Juniper Village at Lebanon was presented the Juniper “You’ve’ Got a Friend” Award in recognition of having the highest close rate for friends and family referrals in 2014.