December 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: 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 Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  First Annual Festival of Wreaths as we dress the Village in wreaths designed by our residents, care staff and community partners at this gathering that will feature a silent auction of these beautiful wreaths with the proceeds benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association on December 9^th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. (RSVP by December 3^rd to 303-665-3722.)

§  Sparty to let us help you relax and unwind a bit during the busy holiday season, and take this time to enjoy a manicure, pedicure or a soothing massage with essential oils, as it’s our way of saying thank you for a wonderful year on December 15^th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. (RSVP by December 5^th 303-665-3722.)

§  Winter Wonderland for Caroling, Cookies and Cocoa, so snuggle up with a friend, sing along with our carolers and sip on something warm to drink this evening when we reminisce on holidays past while singing along to some of our traditional holiday songs, so bring a plate of cookies for our cookie exchange as our “resident elves” will be hard at work baking for this special event on December 21^st from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (RSVP by December 15^th 303-665-3722.)

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

Mary Patra Receives Alzheimer’s Association Sugerman Excellence in Caregiving Award

Mary Patra, a caregiver at Juniper Village at Louisville Assisted Living was presented with the 2016 George and Pat Sugerman Excellence in Caregiving Award at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Annual Education Symposium. Each year the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association gives the award to a professional caregiver who provides outstanding care to people with Alzheimer’s disease. Nominations for this prestigious award come from friends and families of those receiving care for Alzheimer's disease.

“Mary is a shining star and consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. She always puts residents first and often offers more time than what is asked of her. Her gentle approach and commitment to care are evidenced when she takes time to figure out what works best for each person – and each person living with dementia is so different. She will try again and again until she finds out what exactly makes each resident most happy,” expressed Jennifer McElhaney of Juniper Communities. “Mary greets each person with a smile and an open heart – we are so lucky to have her at Juniper Village at Louisville.”

This was Mary's fourth time being nominated by Juniper Village families, where has worked for seven years providing personal care and medications. She is a certified Qualified Medication Administration Personnel (QMAP) and takes care of her residents as if they were her own family. “I really like taking care of older people. I feel happy when I am able to help someone feel happy and secure – especially with their disease – making sure they are comfortable and better in whatever state they are in,” Mary expressed of role. “Working with seniors makes you think differently about life.”

Anne Gale, Community Relations Director at Juniper Village at Louisville shared, "I appreciate her calm approach to giving resident-centered care. She is the epitome of 'team player'. I can always count on her during a tour to give authentic, sincere and accurate answers to any question a prospective family may have. I actually seek her out during a tour as she exemplifies our motto, Nurturing the Spirit of Life.”

The George and Pat Sugerman Award was created in 1991 by Alzheimer’s Association Board Member, George Sugerman. Sugerman was so grateful for the outstanding caregivers his wife Pat had in day care and later in a skilled nursing facility, he felt their work needed to be honored.

November 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Cherish the Journey

Each November we turn our attention to Family with our Alive In All Seasons Theme: Cherish the Journey. We have always enjoyed helping our residents chronical their individual life journeys through journaling. In addition to keeping track of the daily happenings in our lives, journaling has surprising health benefits as well. University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker contends that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. He also believes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of stress on your health. Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific evidence also shows that writing your thoughts down can help clarify your thoughts and feelings, help you to know yourself better, reduce stress, and problem solve more effectively. An additional benefit of journaling is that you are leaving a legacy for future generations. Review your journal together! Reminiscing about the events in one’s life is a way to affirm who they are, what they’ve accomplished in life and relive happy times. So, pick up a pen and Cherish the Journey, the benefits are endless!

Join our journey through November as we honor and celebrate family and the journey of life with our autobiographical journaling. Help us support our greater community with our annual Food Drive and our on-site support groups. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Our fabulous November 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Pathway to Well-Being for the Holidays to learn how to navigate the holidays with less stress and more joy, and how to connect with your loved one in meaningful ways during the holiday season; all participants will leave with a better understanding of how to communicate with someone with dementia as well as a caregiver stress relief kit on November 9^th from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. (RSVP by November 2^nd to 303-665-3722.)

§  Traditional Thanksgiving Celebration as this holiday season we have much to be thankful for, and it’s also a day of feasting, football and family, so please join us as we share a Thanksgiving feast and cherish life’s journey, and if you feel so inclined, bring in a favorite dessert to share, as we will have a dessert table just for this occasion on November 19^th from noon to 2:00 pm. (RSVP by November 12^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Connect4Life Open House to learn more about how our Juniper Village partners “Connect For Life” to bring technology and communication together to improve resident care on November 29^th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. (RSVP by November 22^nd to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our November 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Cherish the Journey.

October 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Show Your Colors

As we say good bye to Indian summer, we welcome the cooler air and slower pace of the autumn season. From warm apple cider, everything pumpkin and end of season hiking trips, there are so many reasons to enjoy autumn. William Cullen Bryant says it best, “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” With the seasonal changes now in full swing we see fall flowers appearing where summer blooms once stood and leaves changing into vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. The evening air has a slight chill and carries the scent of campfires, leaves and cinnamon spice. Our activities turn from swimming and baseball to raking leaves and football. Not only is Mother Nature showing her colors, but we begin to show our team colors with a focus on sports! Join us throughout the month as we bond over sporting events while cheering on our favorite teams, complete with tailgate parties and snacks.

Throughout October we will show our colors as we sponsor and support local sports teams. We will honor our associates who show their colors by “nurturing the spirit of life” with The Juniper Spirit awards. Alas, October would not be complete without celebrating the season with our annual Halloween Costume Party, which is open to ghosts and goblins of all ages. Join us this month and Show Your Colors!

Our fabulous October 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Beans and Jeans as it is our 7^th Annual Chili cook-off here at Juniper, and this intense competition brings out some accomplished chili makers, who insist they have the world’s best chili recipe, and we invite the Louisville Fire Department in to be our official judges for this intense competition, and prizes will be awarded for best green, red and white on October 6^th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (RSVP by October 1^st to 303-665-3722. $25.00 Suggested donation/entry fee with all donations going to the Alzheimer’s Association.)

§  Lunch & Learn for a “fall themed“ lunch and highly informative session on the benefits of therapies presented by TheraLink, so learn about how we help our residents stay on their feet and off the floor on October 10^th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. (Please RSVP by October 3^rd to 303-665-3722.)

§  Oktoberfest for German food, fun and beer, so bring your colorful dirndls and lederhosen as we celebrate the merriment of Oktoberfest as this will be a fun way to relax and network with other business professionals in our area, so come visit with us as we enjoy all things German this evening on October 20^th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (Please RSVP by October 12^th to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our October 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Show Your Colors.

September 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: 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!

Join us this month as we celebrate friendship and staying connected with calendar events such as our annual daffodil planting and our home warming, birthday party and Best Friend initiatives.

Our fabulous September 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Juniper Village Assisted Living Week because National Assisted Living Week is a great opportunity to celebrate Nurturing the Spirit of Life, so join us throughout the week as each day brings a different theme hosted by our Partners In Caring sponsors, with special events including best friends t-shirt day, PJ day and sports day, as in addition, we will honor our residents, families and care staff with a very special Memorial service, and finally this grand week finishes with a magnificent carnival event from September 11^th to September 16^th.

§  Friendship-N-Fun as our residents will be making new friends and celebrating old friends as we partner with our sister community, Juniper Village of Aurora, to enjoy a special outing in the community with festivities including bowling, pizza and lots of laughter on September 22^nd at 11:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our September 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Spread Your Joy.

Juniper Village Gives Back

Here at Louisville we really took our volunteer themed month to heart. We started by making cards for veterans and those currently serving our country thanking them for all they do and have done for us.  We also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and blessing bags for the homeless. Last week, we honored our local ‘Superhero’s’ and served an amazing breakfast. About 10 fire men and women came and enjoyed breakfast and the company of our residents. A group of residents went to our local meals on wheels and helped prepare food for more than 150  less fortunate people. Ted peeled about 100 bananas that will be used to make banana bread.   Nita and Uncle Bill sorted yogurt covered raisins into 2 oz. baggies. Karola spent the morning separating kale from its stem. Tom and his wife Pearl made dozens of peanut butter cookies and Eileen was busy making snickerdoodle cookies! The residents loved the fact that they were helping so many people!

It feels so good to give back!

August 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Breathe in Life

Each August we turn our focus to the environment by offering social events and educational opportunities on living a more environmentally sustainable life. By making caring choices and creating helpful habits we can all make a difference to our planet.

Did you know that an aluminum can may remain in its current condition in a landfill for up to 500 years? That same can, when recycled, can end up back on your grocer’s shelf in as little as two months. Recycling that aluminum can also saves energy. Enough energy, in fact, to power your television for three hours! Aluminum can be recycled over, and over and over again – without limit. Americans will use about 2.5 million plastic bottles every thirty minutes. If that bottle is not recycled it can spend the next 450 years or more in a landfill. A modern glass bottle will take about 4,000 years to biodegrade. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled again, and again and again. So, the next time you are enjoying a delicious beverage, be conscious of the packaging and make the choice to recycle.

Join us this month as we promote the environment with a focus on our recycling programs – from annual rummage sales to shredding and more; our educational offerings will help you to support our environment and Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  2nd Annual Boulder County Alzheimer’s Walk as an Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's participant organization, the end of Alzheimer's starts with all of us, so join Juniper Village in the fight by walking with us, because as a team, we can be an unstoppable force against the nation's sixth-leading cause of death, and registration is easy; simply visit our Walk to End Alzheimer's participant page http://bit.ly/JuniperBerriesTeam to join the Juniper team, or if you're unable to participate, please consider making a donation to our fundraising campaign, since every dollar advances the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association; we will meet up for the Walk on August 13^th at 9:00 am.

§  16th Anniversary Fiesta para celebrar nuestro 16 aniversario with delicious Mexican food, cervezas, margaritas, sopapillas, and, of course, a mariachi band to serenade us as we dance the night away on August 19^th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (RSVP by August 12^th to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our August 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Breathe in Life.

Dog Days of Summer!

We took full advantage of our beautiful courtyard and a perfect summer day! We invited our friends, families and therapy dogs to enjoy the Dog Days of Summer!  The dogs came dressed in their best costumes and some owners also joined in on the dress up fun! One family dressed all in Hawaiian shirts to match their dog! We treated the owners and residents to a lunch all about dogs! We had corn dogs, hot dogs and chili dogs! Of course no backyard party would be complete without delicious juicy watermelon!  The dogs had frozen treats, cookies made just for them, and they all went home with a doggie bag for more fun at home! The residents loved seeing their favorite dog friends all together and all dressed up! Plan on seeing this event again next year!

July 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: 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 Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Juniper Gives Back with Coal Creek Meals on Wheels as we help prepare wonderful lunches for those who are in need and give back to our community in such a meaningful way on July 1^st at 9:00 am.

§  Calling All Super Heroes serving a breakfast fit for a super hero to get your day started off right at this very special event honoring our local fire, police, first responders, and our most important Super Heroes, our amazing staff here at Juniper Village on July 13^th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

§  Boulder County Interagency event comprised of representatives of public and private, for-profit and non-profit agencies and facilities serving the senior community in the Boulder County area, as we will be serving a delicious breakfast and showcasing our unique small house concept on July 20^th at 8:30 am.

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

June 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: 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 Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Yo and Jo on the Go because with enough coffee, anything is possible, so come on by this morning as we make sure you have a hot cup o’ Jo and some yogurt on the go in our garden courtyard where we will be ready to serve since it’s on us this morning on June 9th from 7:30 am to 10:00 am.

§  Dad’s Vintage Car Celebration as this Father’s Day we are celebrating all the things Dads’ love, so we will begin the morning with our very own vintage car show and a delicious array of doughnuts with an electric saxophone player to help us rock out in honor of our awesome dads on June 18th from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.

§  The Dog Days of Summer because we LOVE dogs here at Juniper; the hot dog, corn dog, chili dog and of course our very own therapy dogs, so we thought it would be fun to see our furry friends in costumes, and the crowned “lucky dog” winner of this costume contest will win a prize donated by our local Louisville pet shop, Louis Pet Supply, while we, of course, serve our other favorite dogs for lunch on June 30th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

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

Juniper Village at Louisville’s Innovative Small-House Design

There is a growing understanding of what makes a successful environment for seniors living with memory impairment.  The elements that can make a difference in the lives of those with dementia are not that complicated and can be encapsulated in two words – connectedness and a sense of home.  The small house or cottage model has been found to be the most successful environment in providing that sense of home, connectedness, and ultimately, happiness.  Juniper Communities has served as an innovator in pioneering the small house model within their memory care communities.  Juniper continues to believe that this model remains the gold standard in memory care.

Juniper has been well ahead of the trend as we have owned and operated two types of small house models for more than a decade.  Two of our small house models, Aurora and Louisville, both in Colorado, were purpose built by Juniper in 1999 and 2000 respectively, as part of our initiative to provide leading-edge care to residents living with memory impairments. These two communities include four small houses, each with 12 or 13 rooms, virtually all private, surrounding a town hall area. Each town hall provides destination locations consisting of multiple familiar spaces such as an office suite, game room, library, country store, and gymnasium, where residents from all houses can go for additional services or programs. In this model, where the houses are linked, all staff are readily available to assist if needed.

In both models, residents at Juniper’s communities live within a short walk to the living room, kitchen and dining areas.  The environment is homelike; there are no nurses’ stations and no medication carts that block the hallways.  Staff wear polo shirts, not scrubs, and are trained to engage residents in activities of daily living, as well as social and recreational activities.  In both models, there are large, accessible and safe outdoor spaces surrounding the community.

Ultimately it is all about relationships.  The small-house model of care becomes a true community for a group of seniors and staff. It focuses on nurturing the spirit of life, and its heart is found in the relationships that thrive there. Juniper’s goal via the small house model has always been and continues to be to serve as a place where seniors can receive assistance and support with activities of daily living and care, without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their life.  And ultimately to provide the key elements to successful memory care – connectedness, home, and happiness!

Music & Memory: Juniper Village at Louisville Uses Innovative Approaches

The statistics on caregiver stress and burn-out are overwhelming.  Support groups sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association or community groups can be key to managing stress.   Juniper Village at Louisville Wellspring Memory Care offers solutions similar to those experienced by one of the profile families – a secure, homelike care setting which allows the family caregiver to participate to the degree that they choose and are able. 

One program that we have recently instituted in all of our memory care communities is Dan Cohen’s Music & Memory.  We recommend learning about and using this program in any care setting – at home, day programs, or long-term care communities.  Research shows that persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, can reconnect to the world and gain improved quality of life from listening to personal music favorites.

At Juniper Village at Louisville Wellspring Memory Care all residents have access to music players. Upon move-in, we ask family members to provide us with a list of a resident’s favorite songs from their young-adulthood which we load onto their player.  For family caregivers, Music & Memory, secure memory care communities, and support groups, all offer support and assistance to family caregivers.  Finding the right combination of “what works” is critical.

If you would like to speak with someone about a long-term or temporary respite stay for your loved one in a secure Memory Care facility, would like more information about implementing a Music & Memory program at home, or would like to make a donation of music players or iTunes gift cards to facilitate our program, contact Juniper Village at Louisville Wellspring Memory Care.  

8 WAYS TO REDUCE ALZHEIMER’S RISK. JUNIPER VILLAGE AT LOUISVILLE OFFERS SCREENING AND SUPPORT.

Memory changes are normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia are more than simple lapses. People with Alzheimer’s experience problems communicating, learning, thinking, and reasoning that eventually become severe enough to impact an individual's work, social activities, and family life. However, new research has shown there are ways to reduce the risk of memory problems; below is a list of 8 Ways to Reduce Alzheimer's Risk.  

1.   Stay Active. The Case Western Reserve School of Medicine 25-Year Study tracking the development of dementia in a convent of nuns found they had a 150% greater risk of dementia if they did not pursue physical activities. Include aerobic activity and strength training in your daily routine, or simply walk, garden, shop the mall – anything that keeps you moving.

2.   Exercise Your Mind. The same Case Western Study found that they had a 250% greater risk of dementia if they did not pursue intellectual activities. An active brain produces new dendrites or connections which help the brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter your age. Learn a foreign language, volunteer, read or play scrabble.

3.   Dance the Night Away. A recent study showed that dancing specifically decreases incidence of dementia, probably because the interaction between multiple parts of the brain; balance, rhythm, hearing, and vision, has a strengthening impact on cognitive function.

4.   Learn Relaxation Techniques. Stress and anxiety interfere with concentration. Try massage, yoga, or breathing methods to help you regain your calm.

5.   Have a Good Laugh Every Day. The old expression “laughter is the best medicine” has been confirmed by medical researchers. Laughter actually opens the blood vessels and increases blood flow to the heart and to the brain, so watch a funny movie, tell a joke, or simply share a laugh with a friend.

6.   Control Blood Sugar Levels. A growing body of evidence links diabetes with Alzheimer’s. Poor blood sugar control dramatically increases the risk of dementia. Diabetes-related toxins may worsen memory function, and diabetes medications may reduce insulin-related brain cell processes. Your best bet is to eat a healthy, low-sugar diet to forestall the one-two punch of diabetes and dementia.

7.   Watch What You Eat. All of the nutritional advice for a healthy heart also makes for a healthy brain, so limit your fats and carbohydrates, maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure, and limit your salt intake; the theory is that reducing inflammation reduces the “strain on the brain”.

8.   Maintain Social Connections. Multiple studies have shown that maintaining social ties decreases the risk of dementia and slows the progression. Getting together with friends and family, and joining social groups, strengthens emotional and cognitive function.

If you or a loved one wants to learn more about these 8 Ways to Reduce Alzheimer's Risk, contact Juniper Village at Louisville Wellspring Memory Care.  We offer many innovative brain health screening and support programs.  

10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S. JUNIPER VILLAGE AT LOUISVILLE OFFERS HEALING AND HELP.

Memory changes are normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses. People with Alzheimer’s experience problems communicating, learning, thinking, and reasoning that eventually become severe enough to impact an individual's work, social activities, and family life. It is critical for people with dementia and their families to receive information, care and support as early as possible. To help recognize the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, below is a checklist of any of these 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's.  

1.   Memory Loss. One of the most common signs of early dementia is forgetting recently learned information. While it’s normal to forget appointments, names or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget such things more often and not remember them later.

2.   Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks; they may not know how to prepare a meal, use a household appliance, or engage in a lifelong hobby.

3.   Problems With Language. Everyone struggles for the right word at times, but a person with Alzheimer’s often forgets even common words or substitutes odd words.

4.   Disorientation To Time And Place. It’s normal to forget what day it is or where you’re going sometimes, but people with Alzheimer’s can become lost on their own street. They may forget where they are and how they got there, and may not know how to get back home.

5.   Poor Or Decreased Judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may wear several shirts on a warm day or very little clothing in cold weather. They also often show poor judgment about money, giving away large sums or paying for repairs or products they don’t need.

6.   Problems With Abstract Thinking. Balancing a checkbook can be challenging, but a person with Alzheimer’s may forget what the numbers represent and what to do with them.

7.   Misplacing Things. Anyone can misplace a wallet or key, but person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places, like keys in the freezer or a phone in the fruit bowl.

8.   Changes In Mood Or Behavior. Anyone can be moody at times, but someone with Alzheimer’s often has rapid mood swings, from calm to sad to angry, for no apparent reason.

9.   Changes In Personality. Attitudes do adjust some with age, but a person with Alzheimer’s can change dramatically, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent.

10.  Loss Of Initiative. It’s normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations at times, but a person with Alzheimer’s may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or not wanting to do usual activities. 

If you or a loved one recognize any of these 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's, contact Juniper Village at Louisville Wellspring Memory Care.  We offer home visits and clinical assessments to help you better understand your care and support needs.

100 Never Looked so Good!

On Friday, May 13^th, we had the pleasure of celebrating Roberta’s 100^th birthday!!  She was joined by her son, Baily, and his family.  Roberta was born in Austin, Texas. She is a true southern belle! Roberta was a swimmer and swam almost every day. She also enjoys playing the piano and bridge. Roberta loves hamburgers! For lunch, the chefs made a special one just for her on her special day! We had live entertainment, lots of balloons, punch, and of course cake and ice cream!

Baily presented Roberta with framed recognition from our Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper and from the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. 

We are so blessed that we were able to celebrate this spectacular milestone with her!  

May 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Grow Strong Daily

We all know that regular physical activity is great for overall health. But do we all understand the dangers in being inactive? Studies indicate that sedentary lifestyles are risky. For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn't happen just because they've aged. It's usually because they're not active. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses. In recognition of those facts, Juniper nurtures wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit through our innovative Signature Programs such as Connect4Life, Connections and H’Art and Soul of Dining.

We continue our Healthy Aging Series with a focus on Fitness. In the wise words of J.R.R., Tolkien, "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." This month we will Grow Strong Daily so as to not wither, but to thrive as we develop strength in bodies, minds and spirits.

This month we invite you to join us as we Grow Strong Daily with activities such as our Daily Brain Builders, Wii, and our Brain Healthy Luncheon. We also invite you to expand your knowledge in our Healthy Aging Library.

Our fabulous May 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Mother’s Day Tea to make some lasting memories with Mom as you enjoy special treatment and quality time together while you let us take care of you by offering tea, brunch and live harp music in a relaxing environment that can bring back some special moments and help create new ones on May 7^th from 10:30 am to noon. (RSVP by April 30^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Boulder County Alzheimer's Walk Prep Party because getting involved is the first step towards fighting for a cure, and we all share this common interest in the community, so we invite you in to learn how you can best maximize your impact or take your first steps towards getting involved as The Alzheimer’s Association and Boulder Walk committee chairs will be present and ready to help lead us in this important next step, and hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided on May 20^th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. (RSVP by May 13^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  The Backyard Memorial Day BBQ to come celebrate with us in our beautiful courtyard for delicious food and fun backyard games, so bring your ‘A’ game and your competitive spirit while you enjoy inflatable bowling, horseshoes, and corn hole, then after you work up an appetite, feast on some tasty BBQ favorites and refreshing beverages on May 30^th at noon. (RSVP by May 23^rd to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our May 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Grow Strong Daily.

Meet Tru: Therapy Dog Extraordinaire!

Tru is a 4 year old certified therapy dog that comes and visits twice a week. Tru started as a show dog. She began showing at 6 months of age and retired when she was about 3 years old.  Not long after retiring Tru become a therapy dog. She graduated from Alliance of Therapy Dogs on December 5, 2014. Tru’s first visit to Juniper Village was on December 17, 2014. Tru also works weekly at Avista Hospital and  Good Samaritan.  Every other week she goes to the Louisville Library’s “Read to Rover” program where kids get to read to Tru.  Tru has also been asked to help out at special events such as going to CU Boulder during finals week to help students destress. She has also gone to a local high school during an Suicide Awareness week to help teach kids other ways of coping with stress.  Tru has worked 166 days and approximately 226 hours of service.

Tru really makes a huge difference in our community.  She has mastered many tricks right in front of our eyes. She can high five, guess what hand her treat is in and catch a cookie that is placed on her nose.  She is a gentle giant with an even bigger heart. She is compassionate, extremely adaptable, and very aware of the needs of our residents.  Tru brings smiles, stories and friendship into our building. We couldn’t ask for a more caring and loving friend to come and visit us! 

2015 Successful Outcomes

April 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Believe in Yourself

Do you know that embracing a healthy lifestyle promotes brain health as well? This month we embark on our quarterly Alive in All Season theme of Healthy Aging: Let Wellbeing Thrive. Throughout April we will focus on brain health and encouraging you to Believe in Yourself. We will learn more about how physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, cognitive activity, and social engagement can help keep both your body and brain healthy and potentially reduce your risk of cognitive decline. At the 2014 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, results of a two-year clinical trial of older adults at risk for cognitive impairment showed that a combination of physical activity, nutritional guidance, cognitive training, social activities and management of heart health risk factors slowed cognitive decline. It’s never too late to make changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Join us this month as we expand our knowledge of brain health and take steps to boost our brain health through our Healthy Brain series featuring our Daily Brain Builders and Wii Games designed to promote cognitive activity. Continue your research by perusing our Healthy Aging Resource Library, filled with volumes of information to help you and your loved ones age well. And, don’t forget to join us for our Brain Healthy Luncheon where we will nourish mind, body and soul. We look forward to sharing this month of healthful thinking and encouragement to Believe in Yourself – you can do this!

Our fabulous April 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Way to Grow in Our Community Garden because one of the beautiful benefits of Juniper is our courtyard, an essential tool to complete a balanced experience for our residents, being able to watch the baby birds in spring, and enjoy the harvest of our vegetable garden, gives one a sense of ownership and involvement, and this year we are inviting our friends and family to launch our planting season since many of you have a great amount of knowledge that we could use in our very own back yard, and we will also be serving fruit salads and refreshments on April 5^th from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

§  Food for the Brain Luncheon for a delicious brain healthy lunch prepared right here at Juniper by our wonderful chefs with a menu that will feature baked Mediterranean salmon, quinoa sliders and fresh berry and granola parfaits, plus each attendee will be going home with a brain health gift box on April 22^nd at noon.

§  Be Aware for Better Care a spectacular collaboration with some of the communities most knowledgeable in the field of senior care, so join us in this enlightening community event where you will have the pleasure of learning about alternative therapies for better care as you will also learn about what tools we are using that enable a successful dementia care experience, and brain healthy treats such as salmon, couscous, quinoa and hummus will be served on April 28^th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our April 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Believe in Yourself.

March 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Your Treasure is Within

As we bring down the curtain on our Creative Expressions series we focus this month on Drama. Juliette Binoche said, “I think acting is about forgetting yourself in order to give the best of yourself. It's passing through you more than you're creating it. You're not the flower, but the vase which holds the flower.”

Through dramatic performance we are able to forget about ourselves while becoming someone else, if only for a moment. We can be transported to another time, another place and another way of thinking. With all of our inhibitions set aside we focus this month on breaking out of our shells to share a bit of ourselves with wild abandon through our weekly drama clubs which will culminate in a fantastic performance or reading of dramatic prose. We invite you to join us in this enlightening journey of self-discovery through the magic of theater this month. We will also be attending theatrical performances around town, where we can let our inner critic loose. One last opportunity to become someone else is offered during our Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, where everyone can be Irish for the day. Join us as we feast on traditional Irish foods such as corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, shepherd’s pie and more! Lastly, March would not be complete without honoring the dramatic achievements of others with our own Oscar Party. This month we invite you to let your inner star shine at Juniper Village.

Our fabulous March 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Experiential Effectiveness as we are honored to have Leslie McKormic with Revolutions, LLC and Molly McLean co-present on this therapy that involves actions, movements, and activities rather than the more traditional “talk therapy” because music and movement can be an essential tool for connecting with our residents, and we’ve found it to be very effective with our residents here at Juniper, so come join us for this event so that you can learn how to use experiential movement therapy successfully on March 11^th at 4:30 pm.

§  Blarney Bash as it has been said, “There are only two kinds of people in this world, the Irish and those who wish they were,” and we should all celebrate as such, so don’t forget your green before joining us in the exciting performance of the Irish Dancers, as all will have the opportunity to Kiss the Juniper Blarney Stone, that is said to grace us with the gift of gab, and we don't stop there because we will also have an entirely green sweet bar, so we hope you can join us, and may the luck of the Irish be with you on March 17^th at 10:30 pm.

§  Easter Brunch because at Juniper we know how to do Easter Brunch right, and we have the most amazing brunch that our wonderful Chefs make, that combined with the company of friends and family make this a cherished holiday, that we are so well known for, and grandchildren bring in smiles and bundles of energy as they race around the courtyard eagerly looking for the golden Easter eggs, and we do mean pure gold, well, at the very least they will have candy which by our standards is as good as gold, and we will have a visit from the Easter bunny who will be teaching everyone how to do the Bunny Hop (because how else would anyone celebrate Easter than by dancing), so make sure to join us for this fantastic event on March 26^th at 10:30 am.

We look forward to sharing our March 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as Your Treasure is Within.

What a fun month February has been!

We started our holiday celebrations off by creating our very own unique Mardi Gras masks! Our residents had a blast with the feathers, glitter and gems.  On Mardi Gras we made sure everyone was ready to party with their beautiful masks, jazz music and of course BEADS!! Our celebration would not be complete without a delicious spread of southern food including jambalaya and fried okra. We finished it all off with scrumptious king cake!

Later that week we were blessed by the fun and faith club from the East Boulder Baptist Church. A small group came and decorated our activity room for Valentine’s Day.  They served refreshments, spread cheer, and lead a wonderful love themed sing-a-long! Our residents absolutely loved the company and thoughtfulness of this celebration! We also had visits from Monarch Middle School, Cornerstone Church, and Fairview High School! We were definitely feeling the love from the community on Valentine’s Day!!

Juniper Berries all in Red

Juniper Village at Louisville residents, friends, family and staff joined together in wearing red to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign. Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds.  Fortunately, that statistic can change because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. The American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaign provides educational opportunities and raises awareness of heart disease and stroke. This nation-wide annual event occurs on the first Friday of February and Juniper Communities was proud to participate in this worthy cause again this year.

February 2016 Events in Louisville, CO: Awaken Your Passion

In February we turn our Alive In All Seasons focus to art and invite you to awaken your passion with us. Leo Tolstoy defines the activity of art as “To evoke in oneself a feeling one has experienced, and... then, by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling.”

This month we will transmit our feelings using many different mediums to let other share in our experiences, feelings and passions. We will travel through art around the world and experience art as it is meant to be – inspirational and transformative. We will feel the cool breeze and smell the fragrant blossoms of Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France as we gaze upon In the Garden and the Water Lilies series. We will feel the angst of Vincent Van Gogh as we admire his passionate works such as Vase with Twelve Sunflowers and The Starry Night. We will also pour our passion into our own creations evoking memories of the past to share with the future.

Please join us on this journey as we visit local art museums and create our own art through weekly craft programs. Celebrate with us as we recognize Valentine’s Day with sweets for the sweet and Fat Tuesday foods and fun at our Mardi Gras party.

Our fabulous February 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Memories in the Making Presentation as we discuss our implementation of this industry-leading program and the ways that the community can contribute on February 4^th at 5:30 pm.

§  Mardi Gras Masquerade as we celebrate with fun costumes, upbeat music with dancing of course, and delectable refreshments on February 9^th at 11:00 am.

§  10^th Annual Art Walk as we display our wonderful residents’ beautiful and creative works of Art for all family and community members to enjoy on February 19^th at 4:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our February 2016 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as we Awaken Your Passion.