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.