Road Trip to Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA!

Fifteen residents and friends traveled to Lancaster to see the musical production of "Samson" at Sight and Sound Theater.  We arrived early, so we were able to park right by the front door!  We were amazed at the license plates on cars from all over the country!  We found out later that the auditorium holds 2,000 people, and most shows are sold out, so we felt lucky to be among the ones to see the show that day. We had great seats, and everyone was amazed at the special effects, the costumes, singing, and the live animals that came right down the aisles next to us!  We stopped at a restaurant in Lititz on the way home.  Everyone said they would sleep well that night after a full day of travel and adventure!

It's Wedding Season at Juniper Village at Lebanon!

We had several wedding dresses that were donated to us by Hope from the Wellness Department, and Nurse Colette was brave enough to put one on and re-enact the grand entrance while Becky played the Bridal March on the piano.  Colette then threw the bouquet, which was caught by Fay. Several residents shared their wedding photos, and Lucille even displayed her headpiece and veil.  Residents played "Name That Wedding Tune", and later we played "Toss The Bouquet", which was the bouquet the residents made that morning in craft class.  There was lots of discussion about big weddings versus small ones, the most unusual place that someone got married, and funny things that happened at their weddings.  Everyone commented on how beautiful the display was, which really just seemed to happen on its own!

July 2016 Events in Lebanon, PA: Stand in Integrity

Ah...the good old summer time filled with lazy, sunny days, ice cold treats, Independence Day celebrations, and get-togethers at the beach. Another sure indication of summer is our Alive in All Seasons theme of Volunteerism.

July is the perfect month to honor all of the many volunteers who contribute thousands of hours of time in service to our communities. From our four-legged volunteers to those of the two legged variety we are proud to say we receive more than 10,000 hours of precious time each year. We simply could not do it without all of your help, and this month we honor you. We will also be promoting the spirit of volunteerism by volunteering our time to help others. If you have some spare time on your hands consider joining us for a volunteer activity or better yet volunteer your time with us, we’d love to have you. What qualities make a good volunteer? Energy, passion, flexibility, creativity, reliability, commitment and perhaps most important of all – integrity.

Volunteerism benefits all parties involved. In addition to making new friends, volunteering also helps increase your self-confidence, provides a sense of purpose, combats depression and helps you stay physically healthy. Helping others also kindles happiness, as the London School of Economics found the more people volunteered, the happier they were.

In addition to volunteering opportunities, plan 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 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  First Aid & Safety Patrol EMS - More Than Just 911 as Bryan Smith, Executive Director of First Aid & Safety Patrol EMS, will discuss the daily operations of the organization, its role in the community and how the general public can help the cause at an informational session held in The Club of the Community House with no cost to attend and a complimentary light breakfast served on July 13^th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. (RSVP to 717-272-8782 by July 11^th.)

§  Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research workshop held in The Club of the Community House with no cost to attend and breakfast provided that covers four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging: cognitive activity, physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, and social engagement; in each area, we will discuss what we know, drawing on current research, as well as what we can do, steps to take now to improve or maintain overall health in each area on July 20^th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. (RSVP to 717-272-8782 by July 18^th.)

§  Medicare 101 - What You Need To Know no cost informational session with Don Shuey, independent insurance agent, who will share basic details regarding Medicare coverage and options including time for some questions and answers, although specific questions regarding personal plans will need to be addressed one-on-one for privacy reasons on July 27^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (RSVP to 717-272-8782 by July 26^th.)

We look forward to sharing our July 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Stand in Integrity.

Memorial Day Tribute at Juniper Village at Lebanon

Everyone started gathering early in anticipation of the Patriotic Concert that was presented by the Joyful Noise Singers on Thursday, May 26th in the lobby of The Village.  The singers had been practicing for months, and finally the day arrived for the program.  The local V.A. loaned us five flags, representing each branch of the services, which provided great photo-ops before and after the show.   We started off with the Pledge of Allegience and included a set of songs honoring each of the branches of the military.   We are privileged to have some talented staff members and residents who provided some solos and readings of patriotic poems written by resident Harold Mohn.  The grand finale was a multi-media presentation of "Coming To America" with Paul Hirlinger doing the Neil Diamond part, with historic photos of immigrants arriving in America in the background.  When everyone joined in on "God Bless America" at the end, it was very moving.  We are proud of our veterans, and we salute their service to our country!

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

On May 25th, we celebrated National Senior Health and Fitness Day here at Juniper Village at Lebanon.  We had a variety of exercise classes and techniques for improving mental fitness, but our favorite program was taste-testing healthy smoothies created by Chef Ray.  We had combinations of exotic fruits such as  kiwis and mangoes, as well as the more traditional bananas, raspberries and peaches.  A variety of juices, yogurts, and other flavorings were added to create one-of-a-kind concoctions, each one better than the one before. Everyone got to try at least four or five different types of smoothies.  Then everyone moved to the lobby where Physical Therapist Jim Dumser gave us tips on how to improve and maintain good physical fitness.  With all of the daily exercise offerings and our new Vitality Suite, every day is National Senior Health and Fitness Day at Juniper Village at Lebanon!

June 2016 Events in Lebanon, PA: Live in Wellness

What is wellness? The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as "a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential." At Juniper we believe in fostering this definition of wellness everyday by offering programs and services that help our residents achieve their full potential. As we wind down our Healthy Aging series, this month we focus on Food by highlighting our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program.

Throughout our lives the most important discussions, revelations, decisions and announcements have transpired around the dinner table. When company came over we caught up on the latest gossip over coffee and fresh baked goods. If you needed advice from your parents, it was often given while enjoying Mom’s delicious pot roast on a Sunday evening. Why should that be any different when you enter your retirement years in one of our communities?

With the kitchen often being the heart of the home, we have developed H’Art and Soul of Dining with this in mind. This program strives to impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through sharing the joy of good food – just like home! Our dining program is designed to not only meet resident’s physical needs, but their emotional and social needs as well. We believe this program provides a perfect balance of nutritious and delicious food choices, comfortable atmosphere and ambiance, social interaction, cleanliness and a spirit of service.

Indulge with us this month as we focus on the “heart” of the home with program offerings centered on food and nutrition such as our hydration program with healthy snacks and juices and educational presentations by a dietitian. Join us in June as we Live in Wellness.

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

§  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 at Lebanon to make your contribution to the Central PA Blood Bank, as everyone’s participation is encouraged and much appreciated a the Blood Bank set up in The Club of the Community House with no appointment necessary, and a special “Goody Bag” will be given to each participant on June 6th from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

§  Farm-to-Table: Cruciferous Vegetables for Cancer Protection with Trevor Sipe, executive chef at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, as he teaches participants basic nutrition principals and how to incorporate cancer fighting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and other greens into daily meal planning, as well as how to prepare and store cruciferous vegetables while preparing a healthy menu option that participants will be able to sample and prepare at home in this FREE educational program, which will be held in The Club of the Community House, while a light, healthy lunch is provided on June 22nd from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our June 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Live in Wellness.

Learning How To Manage Stress

On April 29th, licensed massage therapist Sandy Unger taught residents and staff a variety of ways to manage stress.  Of course, massage was the favorite with everyone, and we learned ways to work with a partner or to massage our own muscles to relieve tension and stress.  Sandy also gave chair massages to those who wanted to try it.  Some of the other methods were to use musical instruments, squeeze stress balls that her grandson made for us, and play a gentle round of balloon volleyball, keeping several small balloons up in the air using small cardboard paddles.  Sandy gave us many other tips and ideas for reducing stress, and we all left the session feeling calm and cheerful.  We look forward to her next visit to Juniper Village at Lebanon!