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.

Box Filled For Toys For Tots!

Resident Julie Kitsock made it her personal mission to make sure that the Toys For Tots box was filled by the time the Marines came to pick it up in mid-December.  At her persistent urging, many staff and residents put items into the gigantic empty box in the Village lobby, and some put money into the nearby jar.  We also held a Quarter Raffle at the end of November, which besides being fun, enabled people to find Christmas gifts at a bargain price, just one quarter per ticket! On December 16th, Julie was able to present Toys For Tots representative John Gingrich with over $80.00, plus a full box of toys!  Way to go, Julie!!!

Santa Visits Juniper Village at Lebanon

Juniper Village at Lebanon was in full holiday celebration mode on December 8th, with two simultaneous parties and cookie exchanges. Both parties had visits by Santa, with gifts for all residents and their young guests.  And both parties featured live entertainment, with Sandy Heisey on the piano at The Village, and Amy Rose singing beautiful holiday music in The Club.  The cookie exchange was abundant in both buildings, with plenty to take home in special bags provided. The hot chocolate and egg nog really hit the spot!  Everyone got their picture taken on Santa's lap, including the Juniper Village team members who were present that evening.  It was a wonderful evening with many fond memories made by all!

December 2016 Events in Lebanon, PA: Celebrate Little Things

Juniper Village nurtures wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit. This month this custom is more evident than ever as we share our celebratory spirit - mind, body and soul. December is a month filled with holidays and celebrations, but at Juniper we like to kick it up a notch! All around the community all of your senses will be stimulated as you see traditional holiday décor, hear joyous laughter and singing, smell heavenly treats baking and taste them as well. We will celebrate all the joyous little things that make this time of year so special. Traditions both old and new will be honored. And through sharing our numerous cultures and traditions with each other we will learn more about each other, opening the door to deeper understanding.

This month take a moment to reflect on the little things that bring joy to your life. Reminisce about the traditions from your past and the new traditions you have started with your family. Celebrate the holiday season with us as we share a bit of ourselves with our annual cookie exchange and ethnic holiday celebrations. December is always an eventful month and we look forward to sharing it with you.

Our fabulous December 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Juniper Village Supports the Toys For Tots Program as we are proud to support and be a drop-off site for our local Toys For Tots campaign, so help us make a difference in a child’s life by donating new, unwrapped toys during the month of December, as we will have collection boxes at the entryways to both the Village and Community House buildings so these toys can be distributed to less fortunate children in Lebanon County any time until December 31^st.

§  Holiday Open House with Cookie Exchange and Visit from Santa Claus as we celebrate the holidays with music, laughter and love, so bring a tray of your family’s favorite cookies with recipe attached to share, as little ones have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa, so don’t miss this opportunity to share the holiday spirit with your Juniper Village family and friends on December 8^th from 6:00 am to 7:30 pm.

§  Your Life. Your Wishes. Advance Care Planning Presented by Jennifer E. Wagner, Penn Medicine, Lancaster General Health held in The Club of the Community House for a thought-provoking conversation to help make your wishes known, as well as learn vocabulary, reflect on your values, choose a healthcare agent, explore goals for treatment, and take the first steps toward completing an advance directive with no cost to attend this informational session and breakfast will be provided on December 15^th from 9:00 am - 10:30 am. (RSVP by December 13^th by calling 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our December 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Celebrate Little Things.

Best Friend Bracelet Fun at Juniper Village

Many thanks to our Business Office Coordinator Assistant "Extraordinaire" for sharing her talents in jewelry design with our Best Friends group recently.  Lindsay brought her own beads and everything else needed to make gorgeous bracelets for staff and resident Best Friends.  We also had special autumn-themed bracelets on stretchy cords for those who preferred that type.  Some crafty people made one of each!  It was very helpful to have a Best Friend to help choose colors and patterns and prevent beads from going everywhere! Everyone went home with a beautiful new creation.

Cedar Crest School District Salutes Our Veterans!

Seventeen people from Juniper Village at Lebanon were treated to a front row center table at the recent Breakfast for Veterans held at the Cedar Crest Middle School.  The chorus sang several patriotic numbers, and then everyone enjoyed a multi-course breakfast with all the "fixins"!  Several members of the student council stopped by our table to make sure that we had plenty of everything.  Then Major General (Ret.) Randall Marchi gave a moving tribute to all veterans. Imagine how surprised we all were when we got a knock on our bus door just as we were about to leave, and General Marchi came onboard to get a photo with our group!  It was the perfect ending to a very special morning for all of us!  To all Veterans and Active Duty Military Personnel, thank you for your service!

A Spooktacular Day for the Juniper Village Halloween Event

The weather couldn't have been nicer for our annual Halloween Event at Juniper Village at Lebanon.  This year we had a Carnival theme, complete with a hayride and a variety of canine "Trick-or-Treaters"!

Over 50 children attended the event, spinning for prizes, playing games, doing crafts, and filling their candy bags.  The residents wore a variety of disguises and costumes and probably ate more candy than they handed out!  It was wonderful to see all of the generations having fun together.