we are committed

At Juniper we are committed to nurturing the spirit of life in each individual we serve so that they may live fully throughout all seasons of life. To us this means understanding an individual, not only their needs but their desires and responding with programs and services which provide for the highest quality of life possible. Our Alive in All Seasons program of activities is designed to foster healthy bodies, enriched minds and fulfilled spirits. These pictures and stories are living proof that we at Juniper are dedicated to walking our talk!

Friday, March 28, 2014

H'Art and Soul of Dining - New Menus with Delicious Recipes!




We are proud to announce that on April 5th our revitalized spring/summer menus will begin for our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program at all of our communities.  This new signature program will help us improve quality of life and whole person wellness for the individuals that call Juniper Village home.  We are very excited this season since the offerings will feature a delicious 5-week entrée select option featuring fabulous new choices using some of the fresh products available through our food vendors. Also, on our updated menus, we have added many lighter alternatives as well as recipes specific to each community that take into account special diets, regional tastes, food committee requests and our resident’s special needs and personal requests.  These changes to our meal plans significantly increase the variety of selections provided for our residents while focusing upon scratch made offerings and heart-healthy meals.  Furthermore, in celebration of our AIAS spring quarter “Healthy Aging,” our Grill Menus will be re-vamped to highlight healthier offerings throughout the season. In addition we will be implementing an innovative hydration assurance program served from our “Oasis Carts,” featuring a variety of flavored waters using citrus or mint or cucumbers, fresh brewed iced tea, lemonade, punch, smoothies and juices as well as nutritious snacks.

Below are some of the recipes featured on our new menu:

Carrot-Currant Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour (to measure, spoon into a cup and level)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup carrot juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup dried currants
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl whisk together butter, egg, milk, carrot juice and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and gently fold just until moistened. Fold carrots and dried currants into the mix. Scoop batter into the muffin pan and bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan (cool on a wire rack if you have one).

Yellow Squash Soup
Cooking Spray
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1 cup diced zucchini
1 cup diced yellow squash
3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (15 ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can diced no-salt-added tomatoes

Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; sauté 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Little Musings


So...in our humble opinion, we have one of the best jobs in the world. What does that mean...well, we get to come to work every day and spend our time with some of the most fascinating people in the world; our residents. Our residents have such varied backgrounds, and rich stories to tell about things that they've experienced in their lives. It's incredibly enviable, as I am only all to aware that I will not have such rich life stories to tell when I'm their age...just fascinating.

But beyond their life stories, they are these amazing people, and every day we catch these glimpses of how incredibly caring and loving our residents are, and it really is touching to see them. So today, we want to show some pictures that we captured around the building that made our hearts warm and fuzzy just to see how our residents interact with one another. Every day is varied and lovely, and we wouldn't trade this experience for all of the most wonderful experiences throughout the world. These are the moments that make us unique.

At Juniper, we see things differently, and we think that you'll notice when you come by to visit. Please do not hesitate to come by at any time. We are always looking for volunteers too, if there is any interest out there!