Brookline Welcomes Connections Director, Larry Glace!

Juniper Village Rehabilitation and Skilled Care at Brookline is pleased to introduce Larry Glace as our new Connections Director. A Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation graduate of Lock Haven University, Glace is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who credits a close relationship with his grandparents for his passion of working with the geriatric population. A native of Tyrone, PA, Larry spent much of his youth spending time enjoying outdoor activities like hunting and fishing with his grandfather, and was especially close with his grandmother, as well. 

With a little less than a month with Juniper, Larry says that besides working with residents, it is the great team work and collaborative efforts between departments and communities within Brookline that he enjoys the most. Please join us in welcoming Larry to our Juniper family!

A Murderously Good Time!

Juniper Village at Brookline and the State College Community Theater recently teamed up for a great cause and hilariously-fun evening with their very own murder mystery dinner fundraiser. "The Wedding from Hell" performance filled the house and raised more than $800 for the American Heart Association's annual Heart Walk, held this September in State College. Team JVB kicked off its charity efforts with its own twist on the Theater's popular murder mystery series.

The "ceremony" consisted of a drunken judge, broken bridal shoes, funeral flowers, tons of exes, and of course, a murder. Members of the SCCT worked with audience members to sort through clues and solve the mystery. A wonderful time was had by those in attendance, all while helping a tremendously worthwhile cause. If you would like more information on how you can join and/or support Juniper Village at Brookline's Heart Walk team, please e-mail Anissa Rupert Ilie for more details.

June 2015 Events in State College, PA: Live in Wellness

We close this quarter’s theme of Healthy Aging: “Let Wellbeing Thrive” with a focus on Food, as we Live in Wellness through our June 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care. Hippocrates advises, “Let food be thy medicine”. Research shows that eating a well-planned, balanced mix of foods every day has many health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. But, food has other benefits. There are also emotional needs that are satisfied by food. Most of us have fond memories of food from days gone by. Whether it was our mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies, a hotdog from a street vendor or our wedding cake, food has a way of transporting us back to the past. It is in that spirit that Juniper’s dining program is called the H’art and Soul of Dining. The philosophy is that we impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through the sharing of good food. In addition to meeting our resident’s unique nutritional needs, we also meet their emotional and social needs as well.

Join us for our June 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care to share in our hydration program, complete with healthy snacks and learn more about healthy food and wellness with our dietitian presentations as we continue to Live in Wellness.

Our fabulous June 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care include our:

§  What is a CSA Event to get to know your local farmers with Friends& Farmers, Plow Share, Tait Farm, and other local Community Sustainable Agriculture participants with an on-site fresh foods cooking demonstration and discussion of Juniper Village at Brookline’s new role as a pick-up location on June 10^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Father’s Day Barbeque and Bluegrass to celebrate your Father’s Day with a delicious “Man Size Meal” that Dad will surely love and spend some time with the patriarchs of Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care and the community at large this special day enjoying the delicious food and entertainment that we will be featuring on June 13^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-238-3139.)

§  Penn State Hershey “Live in Wellness” Lunch & Learn to join us for a delicious take on healthy eating and living your best life with Penn State Hershey’s Katelyn Bodenschatz, RN, who will discuss heart healthy, low-salt and low-fat, diets and how to live well at any age with a nutritious lunch provided on June 16^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

§  Farm to Table Juniper Family Picnic a hometown affair, complete with a band, clowns for the kids, and plenty of fresh locally-sourced treats for residents, friends, and family of Juniper Village at Brookline on June 28^th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. (RSVPs required; see invitation.)

We hope to see you at one or more of our June 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care!

2015 Juniper Leadership Conference Awards

Juniper celebrated its 27^th anniversary this year.  Each year communities are honored for their achievements in critical operational and financial areas.

Awards were presented at the 2015 Juniper Leadership Conference, held this year in Baltimore’s historic inner harbor.  Awards were presented by Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, and Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training & Operational Oversight.

At the recent Juniper leadership conference, Juniper Village at Brookline Skilled Rehabilitation and Care was presented the Juniper Culture Award in recognition of “walking the talk” and leading the implementation of Juniper’s Culture and Signature Programs in the midst of a full acquisition transition in 2014.

She's Got Spirit... How 'Bout You?

Clockwise, from top: Laughard and her nominators; with supervisor, Matt Nevling; Cathy's cake; with Administrator, Kathy Russell

Juniper Village Rehabilitation & Skilled Care is proud to introduce our latest Juniper Spirit Award winner, Cathy Laughard. Instead of trying to explain the many ways in which Cathy deserves this honor, below is an excerpt from a letter written by her supervisor, Matt Nevling. We think you'll see what makes Cathy so special to us all.

"I feel that no one embodies the qualities and hard work that the Juniper Spirit Award recognizes as well as Cathy. The goal of the reward is to identify those workers who not only do their basic jobs well, but go beyond them to make our campus a better place. I have never met anyone who fits those criteria more than Cathy Laughard.

Cathy has been one of our head cooks since before my time here. During her long career, she has endured many changes, embracing them all with a great attitude. She reports to work daily with a positive attitude and upbeat personality that spreads among the staff in the kitchen. She is a warm, welcome presence for new employees trying to find their place, as well as a dependable supervisor for those who are experienced in their positions.

Of all the positive qualities that Cathy possesses, the one that is most deserving of this award is her dedication to the residents. This dedication goes above and beyond what most are willing to do. Cathy frequently finds time in her day to visit with residents to discuss the upcoming meals. She works hard to customize dishes and go off-menu to provide our residents with foods that they want, no matter how particular the request. Her warm personality also puts new residents at ease and allows them to feel a level of control when their current situation may not normally allow such feelings.

Overall I cannot say enough about Cathy. I am thankful for her hard work and leadership and making even my own days here better."

From all of us at Brookline, congratulations, Cathy!

A Meal That Matters

Making a difference in the community is an important part of what we at Juniper Village do each and every day. Not only do we believe in nurturing the spirit of life in our own residents, but also in the residents of the greater State College community. This is why a number of Juniper Village at Brookline associates were proud to represent our organization at the 10th annual State College Area Meals on Wheels (SCMOW) benefit dinner. As the longest-running corporate supporter of SCMOW, and the only platinum-level sponsor, JVB associates were treated to front row seating at the event and the opportunity to meet keynote speaker and Penn State football head coach, James Franklin. 

Since 1971, SCMOW has served more than a million meals, and is now able to serve meals three times per week to those in the State College Area School District. According to SCMOW Board President, Bill Haner, the total amount raised at this year's dinner is slated to be between $45,000 and $50,000, which will tie or exceed the organization's record fundraising amount! 

May 2015 Events in State College, PA: Grow Strong Daily

Fitness is on our mind during our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Nursing with our Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily”. As you know, physical activity is good for you both physically and mentally. Regular physical activity can help you to continue to do the things you love and stay independent as you age. Exercise can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and reduce symptoms of some chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and balance issues.

But, if exercise has not been a part of your daily routine how do you take that first step? Start by making it fun! Turn a walk around the block into a scavenger hunt – search for daffodils, birds, squirrels or lucky pennies. Instead of a dip in the pool, create an adventure as you pretend to swim with the dolphins. Rather than send your co-worker an email, walk to her office and communicate face to face, double the benefit with a smile! What’s important is to make it fun and just start – today!

Join us for our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Nursing as we will Grow Strong Daily with Fitness Five, and walk “cross country” with our Route 66 Walking Program and learn more about keeping our hearts fit at our Healthy Heart Luncheon. We look forward to sharing these and many other activities with you this month. Peruse this month’s calendar, and we will see you soon!

Our fabulous May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Nursing include our:

§  Author Cindy Keith: Caregiver Manual for People with Dementia and Book Signing where you can learn more about how to care for loved ones suffering from memory impairment on May 7^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Penn State University Master Gardeners Present: Feed Your Plants and Watch Them Grow as they give us professional tips on how to get the most from our green thumbs on May 18^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Get Fit Don’t Slip Class to see how staying healthy and engaging in physical activity can help minimize the risk of falls on May 21^st at 2:30 pm.

§  Murder Mystery Fundraiser as we engage with intriguing and amusing entertainment while enjoying a delicious meal to benefit our favorite charitable causes on May 30^th at 5:30 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehab and Skilled Nursing!