February 2017 Events in State College, PA: 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 State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care include our:

§  Paint Your Art Out Professional Networking Event as we celebrate the arts in February with an evening of professional networking and creative fun when guests will chase away winter blues as they are led in painting a spring-themed wine bottle while enjoying decadent chocolate and wine, so be sure to watch for your personal invitation for what is certain to be a night of fun on February 15^th at 6:00 pm.

§  Mardi Gras Celebration with Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dancers as the food will be Cajun, the Hurricanes will flow, so come show off your beads, it’s Mardi Gras you know; jazz music will play, dancers will twirl, enjoy your King Cake, oh give it a whirl; put on your mask and wear it well, for your true identity no one can tell, so join us this day so you don’t regret, this may be the best Mardi Gras yet on February 28^th at 2:30 pm. (No reservations required.)

§  The H’art and Soul of Mardi Gras Executive Chef Demonstration with Juniper Village at Brookline chefs as they provide educational food and plate demonstrations to celebrate Mardi Gras, plus a traditional King Cake and celebration beads will also be provided to attendees on February 28^th at 5:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-235-2041 for this special event!)

We look forward to sharing our February 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Awaken Your Passion.

2016 Year in Review

Fireworks, champagne toasts, and party poppers filled the air at the stroke of midnight, marking the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. The New Year is sure to bring with it many new memories, laughs, and accomplishments which could not have been made possible without the foundation that had been cultivated from previous years. 2016’s passing marked the end of an incredible year for Juniper Village at Brookline. Not only did the campus celebrate its 2^nd anniversary with Juniper Communities, but it was recognized as one of the best communities to provide exceptional care and services to older adults. Juniper Village at Brookline received numerous prestigious awards in 2016 including: 

·        Bronze Award for Excellence through the American Health Care Association to both Juniper Village Rehabilitation/Skilled Care and Juniper Village Senior Living  

·       Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) Employee of the Year Award was given to Denny Yeager, Environmental Services of Juniper Village Senior Living 

·                2017 Best Of Senior Living Award through SeniorAdvisor.com was awarded to Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living  

·                Best of State College Silver Award for a Senior Living Community

As those of us at Juniper Village at Brookline look ahead to 2017 with our new goals, new hopes, and new determination firmly set, we are eager to continue to lead the way in senior living services not only in the State College area, but nationally as well.

For more information on how you can be the first to be informed on exciting news and events at Juniper Village at Brookline, please email Kathryn Bainbridge at kathryn.bainbridge@junipercommunities.com.

January 2017 Events in State College, PA: 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 State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care include our:

§  Blood Drive with the American Red Cross because one blood donation can save three lives, so join us as we partner with the American Red Cross for our annual blood drive as employees and the general public are invited to participate, and first-time donors are welcome on January 4^th from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm. (To RSVP please call Mary Ann at 814-235-2005.)

§  Elvis Presley Birthday Celebration because if you are “Lonesome Tonight”, “It’s Now or Never” for you to join us for a fun filled afternoon with Elvis impersonator, Jamie Day, who will get us “All Shook Up” and make this “Jailhouse Rock” as he shakes a leg to all our Elvis favorites acccompanied by a menu that will include banana cupcakes with peanut butter icing, candied bacon, blue Hawaiian pulled pork, and aloha punch, so don’t miss this fun afternoon or “You Aint Nothin’ But A Hound Dog” on January 8^th at 2:30 pm. (No RSVP required.)

§  Glen Campbell “I’ll Be Me” Film Screening a documentary of the “Goodbye Tour” of country singer Glen Campbell, who used his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease to bring music and awareness across America in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Juniper Village offers a free screening of this inspiring film, and attendees will enjoy a specialty popcorn bar on January 25^th at 6:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

We look forward to sharing our January 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Welcome New Beginnings.

The Season of Giving More

Juniper Village at Brookline hosted their 2nd Annual Trail of Trees event during the month of December.  The Trail of Trees showcases a glittering array of trees which were painstakingly decorated by community businesses, organizations, and Juniper staff. Twenty-five trees in total filled the Senior Living buildings walking path, creating a festive holiday atmosphere.

Throughout December, residents, family, friends, and community members were invited to stroll the Juniper Campus and vote on their favorite trees. On the evening of December 21st, a cocktail reception was held in which all in attendance were welcome to make their final votes prior to the winners being announced. The Board members of the Centre County Geriatric Interest Network were the guest judges and decided the first through third places, and the tree with the most overall votes was announced as the Grand Prize People's Choice Winner. All winners received donations made to the charity of their choices.

*       Grand Prize People's Choice Winner: Good Shepherd Preschool
                Donation of $250.00 made to: Good Shepherd Preschool
*       People Choice for a Juniper Department: Juniper Village Housekeeping
                Donation made to: Centre County PAWS
*       1st Place: Juniper Village Directors of Community Relations
                Donation made to: Bob Ott Seed Grant through the Centre County Council of Human Services
*       2nd Place: Juniper Village Business Office
                Donation made to: Centre County PAWS
*       3rd Place: Adult Transitional Care
                Donation made to: The State College Food Bank

All trees will continue to be on display for the duration of the holiday season for all to enjoy. The Trail of Trees Event at Juniper Village at Brookline is just one more way that Juniper continues to Keep the Spirit throughout the holiday season by providing fun filled opportunities to support those community members most in need.

The Sounds of Music

Anyone visiting us here at Juniper Village at Brookline would be hard-pressed not to feel the Holiday spirit, as the campus starts to come alive with abundant decorations and festive holiday dress. We recognize the importance of also focusing on spreading good cheer through song and fellowship as well.  On December 5th the hills and halls of Juniper Village at Brookline were filled with the sound of (holiday) music provided by the Nittany Knights Barbershop chorus. The Nittany Knights are a thirty-person auditioned men's a Capella chorus which specialize in a barbershop style, four-part harmony.  This harmonious group has been entertaining the Centre region for over fifty years and is always a crowd pleaser when they pay their special visits to our Community. Joining our festive residents in attendance of this special concert were local community members, family, friends, and anyone looking for help in finding their own holiday cheer.  All in attendance were treated to an evening of seasonal favorites in a toe tapping and finger snapping program.

A holiday celebration of music would not be complete without a proper seasonal spread of holiday delights.  Not wanting to be outdone by the wonderful sounds of the season our very own Dining Services Director, Kris Kishbaugh, joined in the festivities by providing a traditionally themed assortments of cheeses, pickled vegetables, house made chips and crab dip, cheesecake bites, and a sampling of local wines. Certainly a pairing of our favorite things to help remind all of us of the joy of the Holiday season.


So long, farewell, and the very merriest of holidays from your friends at Juniper Village at Brookline.

The Season of Giving

The fall season is winding down at the Juniper Village at Brookline campus. On the outside, daylight is becoming shorter, the cold air is blowing in, and on occasion a snow flake flutters past the evergreens. However, on the inside, residents and staff are bustling around transforming rooms and halls into a winter wonderland. Among the winter decorations of snowflakes, figurines, and ornaments, are grocery carts. Yes, that's right...grocery carts. Inside these grocery carts, located at the main entrances of each building, are items being collected for the State College Food Bank.

Each year Juniper Communities holds a Food Drive through the month of November to support the local Food Banks, and community members that benefit from their services. The State College Food Bank serves as the main collection site that services the numerous other smaller sites in Centre County. In 2015, the State College Food Bank alone, served nearly 2, 000 community members, with 11% being older adults.

On November 30th, Juniper Village at Brookline campus delivered the donations collected throughout the month to the State College Food Bank. Items were boxed and weighed, and the results were impressive; in total the collection weighed 668 pounds!

This collection is one of many services that Juniper Communities hold to support local community members. For more information on the State College Food Bank, and to learn how you can help fight hunger, please visit www.scfoodbank.org. To learn how Juniper Communities supports their local community members, please visit their website at www.junipercommunities.com

"If you can't feed a hundred people, than just feed one." ~ Mother Teresa.

December 2016 Events in State College, PA: 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 State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care include our:

§  Nittany Knights Holiday Knights Holiday Concert Cocktail Concert to enjoy an evening of seasonal favorites by the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus at this free concert is sure to get your toes tapping and fingers snapping – you won’t want to miss it – and festive fare will be provided for this family fun event on December 5^th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

§  Trail of Trees our 2nd Annual event, where a glittering array of trees decorated by community businesses and organizations will be on display, so stroll through the Juniper campus to vote for your favorite tree and make sure you stay for the Dash Away Soiree, where the winning trees will be announced, and our top trees will win a donation to the charity of their choice on December 21^st from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (Trees available for viewing from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily until January 7^th.)

We look forward to sharing our December 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Celebrate Little Things.