July 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Stand In Integrity

Each summer Juniper Village begins our quarterly Alive in All Seasons focus on Staying Connected. We promote staying connected to the community, the environment and each other. In July we shed light on staying connected to our community through volunteerism. Do you know that, as a company, we receive more than 10,000 hours of precious volunteer time each year? We have many volunteers, both human and animal, who contribute to our mission of nurturing the spirit of life. Elizabeth Andrew said it best, “volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” This month we honor all of the wonderful volunteers who make time to share a bit of their heart with us. We appreciate those who lead groups in our communities; those who share their unique skills and talents with our residents; those who provide friendly visits to our residents and give a reassuring hug or comforting puppy kiss; and the many, many other special people who enhance our lives.

This month as we focus on volunteerism we invite you to find a way that you can make a difference. Whether helping us at Juniper Village or another organization, volunteering has countless emotional and physical health benefits. Volunteering gives a boost not only to those receiving, but to those giving of their time as well.

Review our full calendar and make time to join us for any and all events.

This month we highlight our Ambassador Program and other volunteer opportunities for residents. In addition to volunteer opportunities, we invite you 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 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Super Heroes Breakfast to honor the men and women that support us every day, so join us as for a delicious breakfast with the Louisville police and fire departments and of course the biggest heroes of them all...our amazing care team at Juniper Village on July 13^th from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. (Please RSVP by July 5^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Juniper Village Gives Back because volunteering gives us purpose and has a positive impact on our community, this year our courtyard will celebrate a new partnership with the Denver Children’s Home, so join us to learn more about this wonderful organization and how our residents are giving back on July 20^th from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. (Please RSVP by July 12^th to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our July 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Stand In Integrity.

June 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Live In Wellness

“You are what you eat.” The old adage is now truer than ever. Good health is largely dependent on good nutrition, so much so that doctors trace many physical and emotional ailments back to a diet deficient in vitamins and minerals. Eating a well-balanced diet is a major part of encouraging long life, lowering the incidence of disease, and helping sick people recover. On the flip side, inadequate nutrition and poor quality foods can generally cut life span and open us up to many illnesses and disease. In effect, food is medicine per Webster's definition of medicine: "The science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease." Food acts as medicine - to maintain, prevent, and treat disease.

With this month’s Alive in All Seasons focus on food, we’d like to give you a prescription for a healthy diet: breakfast daily (do not skip); meals x3 (at least) daily; foods from each of the food groups per meal daily. The food pyramid defines the food groups as grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and proteins. The amounts vary according to age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level. Here’s a good guideline to start you on your way. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Make half your grains whole grains. Move to low-fat and fat-free dairy. Vary your protein routine and eat and drink the right amount for you.

Join us as we continue our focus on healthy aging by shedding light on our hydration program with healthy snacks and juices, and demonstrate how food and nutrition help us to Live in Wellness from a dietitian’s point of view.

Our fabulous June 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Dads and Donuts for our delightful Dads, help us honor the man that often taught us to ride a bike, throw a ball and drive the car, by joining us at Juniper Village as we honor them with gourmet sweets and a photo opportunity with a Vintage automobile on June 10^th at 10:30 am. (RSVP by June 1^st to 303-665-3722.)

§  Lettuce Celebrate Food Lunch as our beautiful courtyard becomes a place for learning with an Avista Registered Dietician who joins us for a lunch and learn to support our Partners in Caring, so whether you need the credit or just want to enjoy a meal and learn something new, join us on June 15^th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. (RSVP by June 8^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Dog Days of Summer our 2nd Annual event to celebrate being the most “pet friendly” community in Colorado with corn dogs, chili dogs and therapy dogs, including the reigning champion from last year who will be back to compete in our costume contest on June 21^st from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. (RSVP by June 14^th to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our June 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Live In Wellness.

May 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Grow Strong Daily

Continuing our Spring Alive In All Seasons focus on healthy again, we continue to let wellbeing thrive with a May focus on Fitness. Staying fit throughout all seasons of life is possible and at Juniper we promote fitness every day of the week! We recently shared on our Facebook page a New York Times story, authored by Gretchen Reynolds, providing results from the Mayo Clinic who recently conducted an experiment on the cells of 72 healthy but sedentary men and women who were 30 or younger or older than 64. The volunteers were randomly assigned to a particular exercise regimen. There were some unsurprising differences: The gains in muscle mass and strength were greater for those who exercised only with weights, while interval training had the strongest influence on endurance. But more unexpected results were found in the biopsied muscle cells. It seems as if the decline in the cellular health of muscles associated with aging was “corrected” with exercise, especially if it was intense, says Dr. Sreekumaran Nair, a professor of medicine and an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic and the study’s senior author. In fact, older people’s cells responded in some ways more robustly to intense exercise than the cells of the young did. So pick up those weights, get on that bike and remember it’s never too late to benefit from exercise. And if you’re not doing so already, follow us on social media so you don’t miss a thing.

We invite you to Grow Strong Daily along with us with programs such as Fitness Five and our Route 66 Walking Program. Learn more about fitness and keeping your heart healthy at our Heart Healthy Luncheon and educational presentation. Staying fit throughout all seasons of life is possible.

Our fabulous May 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Mother’s Day Tea because Moms are Awesome, and here at Juniper Village we love to spoil our Moms, so what better way to do that than with tea sandwiches and sweet treats that are sure to show these very special ladies how much we appreciate them, and the community will be filled with the beautiful sound of harp music, so dress in your Spring Best and join us for an event to honor our MOMs on May 6^th at 10:30 am. (RSVP by April 28^th at 303-665-3722.)

§  Way To Grow as one of the beautiful benefits of Juniper Village is our courtyard with flowers, vegetables and walking paths, and many of you have a green thumb and we would love for you to celebrate Spring in the garden with us, so please join us for Mojitos and Margherita Pizza al fresco on May 23^rd from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. (RSVP by May 16^th at 303-665-3722.)

§  Memorial Day Family BBQ to eat and play in our beautiful courtyard where the competition is hot and the drinks cold at our annual backyard event on May 29^th at 11:00 am. (RSVP by May 21^st at 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our May 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Grow Strong Daily.

April 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Believe in Yourself

Each April we begin our Healthy Aging Series with a focus on brain health, and encourage you to Believe in Yourself. We know that believing in yourself has a positive effect on your mental health, but did you know that self-confidence influences your physical health as well? Recent studies show people who exhibit self-confidence are generally healthier and tend to live longer. That's because confidence is a positive emotion and positive emotions have countless health benefits for your mind, body and spirit. In nurturing wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit, Juniper is also building self-confidence. The link between health and confidence also may be related to the ability of positive emotions to boost our brain's power to hold attention, be aware and remember things. We are better able to learn, build new skills and relate with others when we are feeling optimistic. Also confident people are better able to handle chaotic situations in a positive manner. This helps to reduce or avoid excessive stress, high blood pressure, anger, confusion – all the negative side effects of feeling powerless, overwhelmed and out of control.

If you need to kick start your confidence, here are a few things to try: smile; count your blessings; surround yourself with confident people; learn how others have found their confidence and follow their lead; challenge negative or inaccurate thinking and replace with accurate, constructive thoughts; and encourage yourself. You can also plan to join us this month for uplifting discussions and a focus on brain health with offerings such as Daily Brain Builders, Wii games, and a Brain Healthy Luncheon.

Our fabulous April 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Brain Health Lunch and Learn for a delicious brain healthy meal and learn about how food relates to brain health with the Alzheimer’s Association as our featured speaker, so take home a full tummy and brain health tips from your friends at Juniper Village on April 5^th at 11:30 am. (Please RSVP by April 1^st to 303-665-3722.)

§  Easter Brunch for a family Easter Holiday Celebration as the Easter Bunny will hide eggs for us to discover and Chef Abhaya and his team are sure to put on a bountiful spread on April 15^th at 10:30 am. (Please RSVP by April 8^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Linked Senior and Dinner To Go to learn about the newest brain stimulation program, Linked Senior, that Nurtures the Spirit of Life here at Juniper Village and receive dinner to take home on April 27^th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. (Please RSVP by April 20^th to 303-665-3722.)

We look forward to sharing our April 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Believe in Yourself.

Connect4Life Leads to Better Outcomes for Residents

Integrated Care in Seniors Housing that Meets the Triple Aim from Cindy Longfellow

Data shows Connect4Life’s high-tech/high-touch integrated services lead to higher quality care and better outcomes for residents

Executive Summary: Integrated Care in Seniors Housing that Meets
the Triple Aim

By Anne Tumlinson, MMHS and Lynne Katzmann, PhD

According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, more than 190 million Americans, or about 59 percent of the population, are affected by one or more chronic illnesses. Over the next 15 years (between 2016 and 2030,) 80 percent of the United States population will experience one or more chronic conditions, costing more than $42 trillion in medical care spending and losses in employment productivity.

To address these challenges and enhance the resident experience, Juniper Communities, a Bloomfield, NJ-based national owner-operator of seniors housing, developed the Connect4Life model, which provides on-site comprehensive therapy, primary care, pharmacy and lab services, integrated with other services using a “high-tech/high-touch” communications protocol that transfers information through an Electronic Health Record (EHR) and coordinates care through a human navigator.

Juniper Communities retained Anne Tumlinson Innovations (ATI) to compare Connect4Life outcomes and utilization data with data on the broader Medicare population from the 2012 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). The findings suggest that the Connect4Life model contributes to lower hospital readmissions and the utilization of inpatient services among a high-need resident population. The results affirm the potential of integrating select clinical care and services in a seniors housing environment that provides supportive services to those who have chronic conditions, functional limitations, and complex social needs.

The results suggest an integrated program of services in seniors housing—like Juniper’s Connect4Life —can contribute to reducing the cost of care and services to Medicare beneficiaries residing in seniors housing. More importantly, the data points to the value of the Connect4Life model for managing population health because of its ability to efficiently target integrated care interventions in the high cost, high-need Medicare population.

Juniper Communities has been a thought leader in senior living care, developing nearly a dozen innovative service and delivery programs to enhance aging, lifestyle and resident health. Recognizing opportunities in to meet the triple aim of recent health policy changes in the United States – improved customer satisfaction, evidence-base quality and lower healthcare utilization, Juniper is pioneering Connect 4 Life – one of senior living’s first truly integrated care models of assisted living care and service.

Read more in the FREE White Paper!

March 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Your Treasure is Within

Theatrical readings, colorful costumed dancers and spectacular vocal performances bring to a close our creative expression quarterly theme with a focus on performance and honoring our inner treasure – our self-worth. With so many demands on our time these days, it’s easy to always put others first and forget to care of ourselves. Also as we get older, retire from work and in some cases caretaking, we may forget our sense of value – our self-worth. A large part of nurturing the spirit of life is providing opportunities for purpose.

This month we will put an even greater focus on identifying our continued purpose and self-worth by performing purposeful activities, reminiscing and creating opportunities to treasure ourselves. Motivational speaker Anne Naylor offers these tips to help you treasure yourself: Treasure your thoughts with kindness – nurture your thoughts of gratitude and appreciation. Treasure your feelings and emotions – observe and use them as your guide. Treasure your body – treat it well with exercise, nourishment, rest, joy and laughter. Treasure your spirit – breathe, meditate and enjoy the goodness in your life. We hope you all enjoy the treasure of your wonderful self.

Please join us as we dramatically embrace performance throughout March with our weekly drama club, outings to live theatrical performances and our Oscar-themed party. Celebrate the Irish culture in grand style with our Saint Patrick’s Day event filled with food, fun and, of course, dancing! Honor yourself and recognize Your Treasure is Within this month at Juniper Village!

Our fabulous March 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Celebration because you can eat it here...you can eat it there...you can eat it anywhere...Juniper Village serves up Green Eggs and ham and Beezlenut Splash punch, so join us for a magical evening with food fun and characters from the world of Dr. Seuss on March 2^nd from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. (Please RSVP by February 26^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Blarney Bash because there are only two kinds of people in this world, the Irish and those who wish they were, so we should all celebrate as such, and don’t forget to put on your green before joining us in the exciting performance of the Irish Dancers, and all will have the opportunity to Kiss the Juniper Blarney Stone, that is said to grace us with the gift of gab, but we won’t stop there, 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 11:00 am. (Please RSVP by March 11^th to 303-665-3722.)

§  Drumming it Up to learn about and participate in our first Drumming Circle at Juniper Village, as recent research indicates that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and produces feelings of well-being, a release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self; join us and our resident music therapist, Andrea as she teaches about and leads us in this fun and valuable modality on March 28^th at 12:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our March 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as Your Treasure is Within.

February 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: Awaken Your Passion

This month, our focus on creative expression continues with a focus on art. Art, as with beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It is understandable that some have great artistic ability and others do not. But, at Juniper we know that everyone has a passion for creative expression, regardless of ability or age. Pablo Picasso once said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” He is speaking about becoming inhibited as adults. With our various art programs we encourage uninhibited creativity as a form of therapy. Creating art affords the opportunity of self-exploration and self-expression leading to both physical and mental benefits. Creating art in any of its various forms, is also about sharing a bit of ourselves with each other. Art is one way to express ourselves, and the creations are honest and true representations of our experiences. In sharing our stories through art with others we invite communication and create lasting bonds.

Art typically encompasses painting, sculpting, and drawing. But, the act of creating art can be as simple as doodling. Art is simply the creation of something outside one’s self that often mirrors what is going on within their mind, soul, and body. We use creative arts as a way to nurture the spirit of life. Join us throughout February as we focus on great varieties of art such as photography, needlework, handicrafts, painting, sculpture and more. Please join us as we share a bit of ourselves with our weekly craft classes, experience art on an outing to an art museum, and embrace our celebratory spirit with Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day parties. We look forward to helping you Awaken Your Passion this month!

Our fabulous February 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Memories in the Making Presentation as the Alzheimer’s Association comes to present on how we are able to utilize this program here at Juniper with our residents as we are truly blessed to have this program available because not only does it make the walls at Juniper look beautiful with our resident’s artwork, but it also gives them another outlet to communicate and express themselves; we love their artwork as it tells a story, their story, and this program creatively sets up opportunities to access these memories, and to share them with you and me, so come join us to learn more on February 7^th from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

§  11^th Annual Art Walk because all year our residents work on their paintings through the Alzheimer’s Association Memories in the Making program, so this evening we get the honor of showcasing our resident’s magnificent works of art, and you will get the pleasure of seeing last year’s artwork along with our artists and their brief biography; this event is an elegant affair where wine and cheese, along with some local talent on the piano, who will be present for your enjoyment on February 22^nd from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

§  Mardi Gras Masquerade to come on down to Bourbon Street at Juniper Village because it’s that time of year, and it’s time to party with masks and good food; we like to eat and dance, and eat some more, so get your fill of New Orleans style grub, and we will be handing out beads because we are that kind of a community, and it’s always in fashion to celebrate with a Julep and Jambalaya on February 28^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our February 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Awaken Your Passion.

January 2017 Events in Louisville, CO: 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 Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville include our:

§  Juniper’s Tribute to the King of Rock and Roll because we know that there is no better way to celebrate Elvis than to embrace the things he enjoyed; peanut butter banana bacon sandwiches are on the top of our list, and of course no tribute would be complete without an Elvis impersonator, and be sure to wear your dancing shoes for the dance competition since the party will not end until Elvis has left the building on January 10^th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

§  Music and Memory as music is intertwined with our memories because since childhood we have used music as a way of learning and bonding, be it the song on your first date or first dance as man and wife, so on this day we will learn about the influence of music on those with dementia, and we will also update playlists for our residents, and have a live demonstration and talk about how we incorporate this therapy here at Juniper Village on January 18^th from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

§  Celebrating Generations of Music because at Juniper, we recognize the importance of having intergenerational experiences, and we see these opportunities as a way to connect our residents to younger generations and create relationships that are not only beneficial for them, but also for the youngsters, because having interactions like these allows for our residents to impart wisdom that can be shared with the younger generations, and we are thankful for our neighbors from Monarch High School who will entertain and engage us with music, and if you’re anything like us, you won’t be able to hold back without singing along, so the more the merrier on January 24^th at 4:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our January 2017 events in Louisville, CO at Juniper Village at Louisville with you as you Welcome New Beginnings.

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.