Annual Family Picnic

Over the years, Independence Day has evolved into more than simply celebrating our Nation's day of independence into a holiday that celebrates the gathering together of family and friends, often in a picnic setting. It was with this sense of family, friendship, and celebration that led Juniper Village at Brookline 26 years ago to plan a family picnic as a way to embrace this most American of holidays.

A celebration is had the weekend before July 4th every year since that first picnic, rain or shine, in the back parking area of The Inn. Without fail, several days before the picnic, a large professional tent is drilled into the pavement, tables and chairs are set to accommodate more than 600 attendees, and the local Lions Club sets up their grill in order to provide all of the residents and guests with their famous roasted chicken.

On the day of the picnic, staff comes dressed in the required attire.anything red, white, and blue. Staff arrives early, ready to put together the finishing touches.  Hanging of flags, decorating the stage for live entertainment, placing tablecloths and festive décor all to get ready for the most anticipated attraction.  The food tent, complete with Penn State Creamery ice cream, freshly baked pies, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other tasty picnic staples is always a fan favorite.

As guests arrive, they are greeted by the upbeat and patriotic tunes of the Deacons of Dixieland. For those in attendance who were in the mood for a good laugh, Chip Mock, a local artist was on hand to provide free caricatures to any and all in attendance.  A new item this year was the availability for families to "Like" Juniper Village at Brookline on Facebook and/or Instagram while being encouraged to share their family pictures with us at #juniperfamilypicnic. Be sure to check out Juniper Village at Brookline on both those sites to view photos and watch a short video of the picnic in action!

Juniper Village and Penn State Health Host Geriatric Interest Network of Centre County!

Recently, Juniper Village at Brookline was pleased to partner with Penn State Health to host a summer kickoff networking event for the Geriatric Interest Network of Centre County. The Geriatric Interest Network provides opportunities for industry professionals to collaborate, advocate, and educate on issues relevant to seniors living in the Centre County region.

Beautiful weather provided a wonderful backdrop for the event, which was held on the tree-lined front lawn of Juniper’s Wellspring Memory Care community. Juniper’s dining team prepared a mouthwatering spread including pulled pork sliders, fresh pineapple salsa and pita crisps, cool veggie cups with hummus, decadent fruit tarts, and more. Acoustic tunes from Caryn Jellen added to the festive atmosphere and fresh flowers, arranged by resident volunteers, adorned the tables.

Making the event a success was the strong turnout from Juniper’s Partners in Caring for this very special event from home care and hospice agencies, to physician groups, to rehabilitation partners, to local associations and government agencies, to leaders from Penn State Health. By coming together, we are able to collaboratively and creatively meet the needs of seniors in our region!

For more information on the Geriatric Interest Network of Centre County, visit: www.centrecountygin.com

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

§  American Red Cross Blood Drive because when you give blood you give another birthday, another anniversary, another day at the beach, another night under the stars, another talk with a friend, another laugh, another hug, another chance, Juniper Village at Brookline is partnering with the American Red Cross to collect blood for the needs in our community, so please join us as “Together, we can save a life,” on July 12^th from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

§  Miles For Memory as Juniper Village at Brookline is hosting the third annual walk in this collaboration between Juniper Village, Penn State interns, and the community at large that aims to raise funds to support Juniper’s Music and Memory program for residents with dementia, so join us for a morning of exercise, prizes, food, face painting, and fun as we walk to bring the joy of personalized music to our residents on July 15^th from 9:30am to 11:30am. (Registration will begin at 9:30 am and the cost is $15 (includes a t-shirt), and the walk will begin at 10:00 am.)

§  An Evening of Volunteerism in Action a very special professional networking event in which we gather to assemble items to support the Ronald McDonald House of Central PA, so if you are on our contact list, be sure to watch for your personal invitation for this fun-filled evening of giving on July 25^th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our July 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Stand In Integrity.

A Meal that Matters

Juniper Village at Brookline has been recognized as a platinum sponsor to the State College Meals on Wheels program for over fifteen years. Meals on Wheels is a national organization that has thrived in the State College area serving more than 1 million meals to community members in State College since its start in 1971. This home delivered meal service provides nutritious meals to high risk individuals including older adults and convalescent individuals in our community who otherwise would not be able to prepare their own meals. Nearly 150 volunteers and three paid staff provide nearly 100 meals a day, five days a week to ensure those in need receive these meals.
Juniper Village at Brookline took another opportunity to support Meals on Wheels by donating enough fresh fruit for several days of meal delivery.  Fresh fruit is sometimes a missing item of meals due to the short shelf life and the increased cost of produce, however it is "always appreciated" says Christine Tyler, the executive director of the State College Meals on Wheels program.  Juniper Village at Brookline is lucky to be a part of a larger community that serves those in need.

For more information on how Juniper Village at Brookline supports the State College and Centre County community, please visit www.junipercommunities.com or check out our Facebook page at Juniper Village at Brookline. For more information on State College Meals on Wheels, please visit their website at www.scmow.2stayconnected.com.

Juniper Village at Brookline Hosts Dinner and Discussion on Fall Prevention

Slips, trips, and falls – they can happen to us all. Recently, Juniper Village at Brookline held a “Dinner and Discussion” about fall prevention and safety awareness, featuring our Partners in Caring from RehabCare. Presenting were Corey Sheehan, director of physical therapy, and Jessica Paul, physical therapist. Corey and Jessica addressed the fear of falling that many people have, and how it can negatively impact one’s quality of life. They then provided useful tips for preventing falls, such as simple home modifications, improved footwear, and regular exercise. RehabCare provides excellence in therapy services at Juniper Village at Brookline’s Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing building, helping individuals to regain independence and improve quality of life.

As always, chef Kris Kishbaugh and his culinary team prepared a healthy and delicious meal for guests, that included roasted chicken with an orange ginger marmalade over sautéed spinach, a carrot, fennel and yam puree, and cheesecake with fresh seasonal berries.

Juniper Village at Brookline’s “Dinner and Discussions” are free to the public! To be sure you don’t miss our next event, like and follow Juniper Village at Brookline on facebook and subscribe to our blog!

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

§  Nutrition for Seniors with our very own dietician, Katherine Harr, who will be talking to us about topics on hydration, the right food choices, calorie intake, making food enjoyable, and the benefits certain foods provide our bodies, so join us for this important information along with a small healthy snack on June 16^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Dinner & Discussion Live in Wellness Dietary Needs for Seniors to join our registered dietician, Katherine Haar, for this informative and delicious take on what we need to keep our bodies operating well at any age while we enjoy a delectable dinner featuring a grilled corn and pepper salad, flank steak, and oven roasted potatoes on June 21^st at 5:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-235-2041 and include any dietary restrictions.)

§  Family Picnic to come one, come all to this annual event that residents, family members, and invited guests look forward to all year long, as we enjoy classic cookout foods and drinks under the big tent, along with live entertainment for all ages, so be sure to watch for your invitation in the mail to this party on June 25^th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our June 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Live In Wellness.

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

§  Gentle Stretching for Increased Strength with movement therapist Sue Lembeck-Edens who invites all to enjoy the benefits of gentle stretch to increase your strength as she will discuss the benefits of staying active throughout all stages of life while teaching us to stretch in the correct ways to increase strength and blood flow, so don’t miss the fun of this informative session on May 1^st at 2:00 pm.

§  Dinner & Discussion Fall Prevention because slips, trips, and falls can happen to us all, but most falls can be prevented, so join us for this informative discussion by the therapy team from Rehab Care about fall prevention and safety awareness as we will learn some exercises to strengthen our muscles and improve our balance, as well as modifications we can make for a safer home environment on May 17^th at 5:30 pm. (RSVPs and any dietary restrictions required by May 12^th at 814-235-2005.)

§  Gin in the Evening as partnering with Penn State Hershey, Juniper Village is calling all area healthcare professionals who work in, around, or are interested in geriatric healthcare, because you won’t want to miss this exciting networking event, as we will be hosting a Centre County Geriatric Interest Network (GIN) get-together with wonderful food and drink, and sparkling conversation with donations accepted for the Alzheimer’s Association on May 31^st from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our May 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Care with you as you Grow Strong Daily.