A Closer Look at the Military at Fort Indiantown Gap

Residents from the Independent Living residences recently went on a tour of Fort Indiantown Gap, lead by one of their fellow residents. They were given special access to view and learn about the tanks that are housed and repaired at this location. A few residents also climbed into a tank and learned about the inner workings of the tank.

After lunch, the residents traveled to the PA National Guard Military Museum. There they were able to view artifacts used by the military during various wars.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and enlightening day!

Halloween Hoedown

Residents of Juniper Village at Lebanon invited friends and family to join them for a night of Western fun and games. The residents handed out candy to the children as they paraded through in their costumes. The children played games with the assistance of the residents. The residents and children enjoyed their time together and are looking forward to meeting again.

Juniper Village at Lebanon Welcomes Christine Heibel as Director of Community Relations

Christine Heibel has joined Juniper Communities as the new Director of Community Relations at Juniper Village at Lebanon. Born and raised in Lebanon, Heibel spent a short time in Georgia and Florida. However, she says, “Lebanon has always been home.”

As DCR, Christine Heibel will consult with potential residents and their family members to help them make decisions regarding their needs for personal care. She will work with the local hospital, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers to ensure they are familiar with Juniper’s services and work together in assisting the residents or future residents. Additionally, she will act as the community liaison between Juniper and Lebanon, making sure everyone understands who Juniper is and the wonderful services they provide.

“Christine brings an abundance of energy and new ideas to Juniper. We are thrilled to have her as part of our family,” expressed Joan-Marie Norman, Executive Director of Juniper Village on Christine’s hiring.

A Q & A with Christine Heibel:

What makes you most excited about working at Juniper Village?

I really enjoy working with, and helping the residents and their families. I have met so many wonderful people already and they have welcomed me to the “family”.

Have you worked at a personal care community before?

This is the first time I have worked in the personal care environment. I previously worked in county clubs, city clubs and most recently, our local Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, I have held various positions from member relations and development to marketing and communications. I also have experience in planning and conducting programs and events for people of all ages, of all sizes.

What made you interested in working with the elderly?

I’ve always enjoyed working with people of all ages, but recently have been drawn in wanting to assist seniors. My family went through a tough time taking care of my grandmother in her last few months of life, so I thought I might be able to help others by working in a personal care home. This way, their families don’t have to go through the ordeal that my family encountered.

Cherish the Journey: November Events

Life is a journey filled with lessons, celebrations and special moments that ultimately lead us to our destination, our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth and we may encounter many challenges. Some of these will test our courage, strengths, weaknesses, and faith. Along the way, we may stumble upon obstacles that must be overcome. But, sometimes these obstacles are really blessings in disguise, although we may not realize it at the time. How we react to the situations we face will determine what the rest of our journey will be like.

This month Juniper Communities will honor our Families and cherish the journey we have taken together. November is all about celebrating the bonds we share and recognizing where we’ve been and where we’re going. We will do this through autobiographical journaling, reminiscing about family celebrations and breaking bread together in Thanksgiving. In order to support our families along this journey we will continue to develop our support groups and provide additional resources when needed. We will give back through our Annual Food Drive. From November 1 through November 30 all non-perishable food items collected will be donated to a local food bank.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Annual Food Drive where you can drop off non-perishable food items for Lebanon County Christian Ministries anytime all month long; our Remembering and Honoring Our Veterans with Bonnie Koons performing patriotic classics in this special program held in The Village on November 11^th at 6:30 pm; our Veterans Aid & Attendance Information Session to share information about the program, answer any benefit questions you may have, and discuss how the program can help you or a loved one pay for your long term care on November 18^th at noon (please RSVP to 717-272-8782); or our Blood Drive For Central PA Blood Bank where each pint of blood donated can save as many as three lives on November 25^th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Look through our calendar and plan to join us for family celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners and many events and activities allowing us all to reflect and Cherish the Journey!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and more Pumpkins

As the cold weather approaches and thoughts turn to Autumn, our residents turn their artistic talents towards pumpkins. The "Sewing Club" threaded their needles to make stuffed pumpkin door decorations. During a scenic country ride the residents stopped at a local farmer's market to purchase little pumpkins which they decorated in sparkling fashion. Enjoying some pumpkin pie is next on our agenda.

Spending Time with Our Best Friends

Juniper Village residents and associates came together to create beautiful necklaces for their "Best Friends." Resident, Katie Faiola, a professional seamstress, sewed together over 30 strips of scrap fabric into long tubes. The residents and associates added beads to the fabric transforming them into one-of-a-kind necklaces which they love wearing.

Getting Our Hands Dirty

Local artist MJ McFalls taught Juniper Village Residents the basics of pottery making. The Residents got their hands dirty as they worked the clay into bowls shaped like fish and leaves. They finished the project by applying colorful glazes to the clay. After MJ fired the pottery in her kiln she returned their works of art to show off. Look for their pottery and other art projects to be displayed throughout our campus the next time you visit us.