November 2015 Events in State College, PA: Cherish The Journey

Family is a simple word, with complex meaning. To some family is the people you are related to by blood, but to some family is the people you choose to hold in high regard, and to others family isn’t people at all, but animals – our beloved pets.

Regardless of the definition, family plays an important role in our personal journey. As the saying goes, “Family is what you make it.” Whether made of blood relatives, friends, colleagues or pets, your family can offer you the support you need to thrive.

This month we celebrate family and reflect on our personal journeys while creating new memories for the future. Join us as we reminisce about these journeys through autobiographical journaling. Plan to share with those less fortunate through our annual food drive from November 1-30 with all non-perishable food items being donated to a local food bank. Also interact and share with others through our community support groups, and know that you are not alone. Throughout the month we will also be hosting several family events as we celebrate family and give thanks. We encourage you to review our calendar and join us for any or all of our events and Cherish The Journey!

Our fabulous November 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

§  Genealogy Lunch And Learn to discover your roots and create your own family tree at this informative luncheon with local genealogists, Dave and CeCe Eastman, and enjoy a feast of traditional family-style comfort foods as you put together the pieces of your past on November 4^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-235-2041)

§  Shopping For A Cause to start your holiday shopping here at Juniper Village at Brookline from various local consultants selling your favorite brands such as Pampered chef, Tastefully Simple, Silpada Jewelry, Thirty-One, Mary Kay and many more with a percentage of all sales going to benefit the local State College Food Bank, so please also bring a non-perishable food item for donation on November 6^th from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

§  Veteran’s Day Celebration to join us in honoring our resident veterans for their service to this great country with a patriotic presentation with special guests, music, and red, white, and blue deliciously-fun fare for our guests and the public is welcome with no RSVPs required on November 11^th at 2:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our November 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living   with you as we Cherish The Journey.

Staying Connected

Because we at Juniper understand that it takes a village to provide the best possible care for our residents, it is essential that communication be a key priority. That is why Wellness and Connections associates from our Senior Living and Wellspring Memory Care communities recently attended on-site Electronic Health Records (EHR) training, focusing on the Point of Care interactive tool.

Within the Point Click Care software used throughout Juniper Communities, Point of Care (POC) is designed for both clinical and activities associates, allowing both groups to securely and effectively communicate on individual residents' needs. 

For instance, if a Wellness associate discovers new resident "Mary's" fondness of Opera music, and knows that Mary does not typically attend activities, a note could easily be typed into POC, letting Connections know that Mary might enjoy getting out to see the Opera group that is scheduled to perform at the community the following week. Likewise, if a Connections associate notices that "Joe" is not acting like himself at breakfast, his behavior can be noted in POC for a member of the Wellness team to address, potentially alerting them to a larger medical issue. 

It is through such cutting-edge technology that we are able to work together, in addition to working with ancillary providers to provide more consistent, cohesive care. It is our goal to have Brookline senior living communities fit with Point of Care portable electronic devices, and Wellspring with secured hallway kiosks by November 1. 

Homecoming Hoopla!

WE ARE Juniper Village and WE ARE Penn State! Welcome to State College, Pennsylvania, where the Happy Valley is never happier than during PSU Homecoming Weekend! This year at Juniper Village we kicked off the festivities with a spirited tailgate celebration at our Wellspring Community. There were hot dogs, root beer floats, and those famous Grilled Stickies topped with Penn State Creamery ice cream, along with a fun photo booth for the kids and lots of community cheer!

Friday afternoon, residents and associates from across the Brookline campus loaded the "frog bus" and took to the Homecoming Parade route to show our Juniper and PSU pride! While cheering and handing out candy along the way was definitely a highlight, it was the visit and support of the Nittany Lion himself that took the show! Who is that handsome fellow with the frog bag?!

In the Kitchen with Kris Kishbaugh

Delicious Dish

With 24 years of restaurant and long-term care dining experience, Director of Dining Services and Executive Chef, Kris Kishbaugh brings a unique passion for food and zest for life to Brookline Senior Living. A natural in the kitchen—his mom taught him to use the stove at the age of eight—Kris says that while most kids were watching cartoons on Saturday mornings, he was intently watching Julia Child and taking in PBS episodes of Wok with Yan. “I have always enjoyed serving people and seeing the expressions on their faces when they really enjoy what you put in front of them,” he says.

Kris’s on-the-job experience began at the age of 14, starting off washing dishes and working his way through the kitchen. He received an associate degree in culinary arts from Luzerne Community College, and later finished his bachelor’s degree at Lock Haven University. Continuing the learning experience at local restaurants and country clubs, Kris was eventually hired as the executive chef with the Berwick Country Club. After a move to Scranton, PA, he worked in the long-term care arena for three years—his first experience working with older adults. It was during this time that, for the first time in his professional career, “[his] talents truly mattered in someone’s life.” Later, after opening and running a restaurant with his wife in Englewood, Florida, a family matter had them return home to Pennsylvania. It was at that time that Kris also returned “home” to long-term care.

“Juniper's values as a company fit my views on how service should be provided. I think the signature programs that [we] offer are an important part of nurturing the individual in body, mind and soul,” Kris said. The signature program closet to him is, of course, the H’art and Soul of Dining.

Keeping the Cafe at the Inn stocked with fresh creations 

“The H'art and Soul of Dining was one of the selling factors of the company for me. When I was touring the building and saw Beef Wellington on the menu, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a place I want to be part of!’"

"The opportunity to bring the highest quality of restaurant-style service and food choices to this population is a great blessing for a chef,” he said.

“Here at Brookline, the dietary department has the important job of providing nourishing meals to our residents.  We want our residents to have the opportunity to socialize and foster lasting relationships in our dining rooms,” he said, adding that, “We expect our service to cultivate an overall satisfaction for daily enjoyment. This type of program keeps me constantly setting standards for service through educating staff on service tips, cooking techniques, and motivating the department to move its expectations of great service to the next level.”

Kris said that, to date, his most rewarding experience with Juniper Village goes back to the Beef Wellington. “Honestly,” he shared, “Creating [that dish] this past Monday, because it was one of the meals that really had me excited was rewarding. To see the outpouring of appreciation for a job well done, to have the resident's stop you in the hall an express such gratitude, is overwhelmingly heart warming.”

“I want [dining] service at Senior Living to meet and exceed the set standard,” he said. “I want this department to be the WOW factor here!” Popular opinion says that you’re off to a great start, Kris. Welcome home!

October 2015 Events in State College, PA: Show Your Colors

Every October we turn our Alive in All Seasons focus to holidays and sports as we “Keep the Spirit” during this last celebratory quarter of the year. Sporting events are inevitably part of that celebration for many families.

According to Dr. Renee Clauselle, founder of Child and Family Psychology, “Bonding over sports — the highs and lows of the game — strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things.” Think of sports as an opportunity to connect with others over a favorite – or even rival – team and learn more about each other. Even strangers can learn more about where they grew up, which teams they support, which sports they played and how those sports are different today. You may even learn something about your loved ones that you never knew. Perhaps great-grandma played softball in a women’s league during college. That would be something to pass along to future generations! Watching a sporting event can become so much more than plays and scores; it can become an opportunity to learn the history of someone you love.

Join us this month and “Show Your Colors” as we sponsor a local sports team, get into the spirit of the season with our Halloween Costume Party and honor those associates who go above and beyond with our annual Juniper Spirit Awards.

Our fabulous October 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

§  Pumpkin Fest: Pumpkin Carving Contest a fun-for-all family event to learn basic pumpkin carving techniques while enjoying pumpkin flavored tasty treats with pumpkins and carving supplies will be provided, and you may keep your pumpkin after you are finished, or display it here in our showcase on October 6^th at 5:30 pm.

§  Dinner and Discussion on Driving Safely with representatives from HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital as they talk about using DriveABLE™ technology for determining a loved one’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle while a healthy dinner is provided on October 14th at 5:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-235-2041 and please let us know of any dietary restrictions you have when you call.)

§  Safe Trick-or-Treating for a spooky good time with children and families invited to join residents and staff for a fun evening of candy, costumes, movies and much, much more, as residents will be handing out candy and goodies to all children in costumes on October 30th at 6:00 pm. (Event open to public; no reservations required.)

We look forward to sharing our October 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as we Show Your Colors.