It's Easy to be Green!

On April 21st, Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline was recognized at the 2016 Centre County Green Business Partner luncheon. This annual event highlights businesses and institutions in the area that have distinguished themselves as role models by demonstrating a commitment to waste reduction and environmentally friendly operating practices. Juniper Village prides itself as being environmentally conscious through its signature program, Green Canopy.

 The Green Canopy program highlights Juniper Village as being the first long-term care company to have a building in the LEED program. As a company, many other environmentally sound efforts include: eliminating Styrofoam, recycling materials at all campuses based on community recycling programs, use of "low flow" equipment, and using H2Orange2 cleaning products rather than traditional cleaning chemicals.

Join Juniper Communities as we continue to help protect our planet!

Bavarian Bash!

The weather was absolutely stunning for Sunday's Nittany Valley Symphony post-concert reception at the Willows dining room and patio. Long-time supporters of the local symphony, Juniper Village at Brookline hosts an annual gala that caters to the theme of one particular concert. This year's performance, "German Romantics," featured the works of great German masters of the 19th century.

The after party was buzzing with around 90 guests, who enjoyed German and Austrian food and drink, with menu items including homemade sausage and sauerkraut, hand-cooked pretzels, and Rindfleischsalat served on Bierbrot, crafted by our friends at Herwig's Austrian Bistro in downtown State College. Fine wine and German beer was on tap, and guest sampled from a number of different desserts, including just-baked German chocolate cake, while mingling with long-time friends and making new acquaintances. Cheers!

Let them eat cake!!!

April 5th marks a very special day at all Juniper Communities as it is a day to celebrate founder, Lynne Katzmann's, grandmother, Oma. Oma was Lynne's inspiration for creating a community that nurtures the spirit of life through all seasons. This philosophy of breaking down walls of ageism is the backbone to Juniper Communities. Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline took this day, Oma's birthday, as an opportunity to celebrate with cake! Residents, staff, and visitors were offered cake at both The Inn and The Pines throughout the afternoon. The daily newsletter publication also highlighted this event to the residents throughout Senior Living. Special days such as today are great reasons to come together and celebrate as a community; creating moments of memories filled with laughter and love.

Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline has a new smile to share.

Laura Rush joined the Juniper family in March as the concierge for The Inn & Willows. When friends, family, and guests enter the doors to 1930 Cliffside Drive, they are sure to be greeted by Laura. Concierge services are part of Junipers' Signature Program, First Impressions, which promotes a sense of welcome, comfort, and peace. Juniper associates, such as Laura, fosters a sense of camaraderie and belonging while promoting resident independence and individuality.

Laura, and her husband, Jay, live in Boalsburg raising their two teenage girls and caring for their two dogs, Oscar & Chewy. Laura was born and raised in Boalsburg, graduated from State College Area High School and went to college at Toccoa Falls in Georgia.

Please help welcome Laura to Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline.

2015 Successful Outcomes

Dancing Irish Lassies

Several members of the Rince na Leon Irish dance group at Penn State stopped by Juniper Village at Brookline recently to showcase some traditional Celtic moves. Residents and friends were treated to two sets of performances, both soft and hard shoe, as well as several informative discussion sessions. Attendees delighted in hearing about each girl's background, as well as the history of the group and of Irish dance itself. 

The cultural extravaganza boasted Irish-themed fare, including Guinness beer bread, Reuben dip with toasted rye, and beer & cheese soup. Irish coffee and a special "McDoogles" punch was also on tap. 

April 2016 Events in State College, PA: Believe in Yourself

Do you know that embracing a healthy lifestyle promotes brain health as well? This month we embark on our quarterly Alive in All Season theme of Healthy Aging: Let Wellbeing Thrive. Throughout April we will focus on brain health and encouraging you to Believe in Yourself. We will learn more about how physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, cognitive activity, and social engagement can help keep both your body and brain healthy and potentially reduce your risk of cognitive decline. At the 2014 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, results of a two-year clinical trial of older adults at risk for cognitive impairment showed that a combination of physical activity, nutritional guidance, cognitive training, social activities and management of heart health risk factors slowed cognitive decline. It’s never too late to make changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Join us this month as we expand our knowledge of brain health and take steps to boost our brain health through our Healthy Brain series featuring our Daily Brain Builders and Wii Games designed to promote cognitive activity. Continue your research by perusing our Healthy Aging Resource Library, filled with volumes of information to help you and your loved ones age well. And, don’t forget to join us for our Brain Healthy Luncheon where we will nourish mind, body and soul. We look forward to sharing this month of healthful thinking and encouragement to Believe in Yourself – you can do this!

Our fabulous April 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

§  Caring for People with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Habilitation Training Curriculum one day session by the Greater PA Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association created to prepare attendees, already familiar with Alzheimer’s and dementia care, to train direct staff in a wide array of care settings, and provide trainers with the tools and knowledge to return to staff with a consistent, vetted curriculum taught in various settings for 20 years on April 14^th beginning at 8:00 am. (RSVP to 814-235-2005.)

§  Healthy Aging Lecture Series: Move It Physical Activity and Aging presented by Christine Phillips, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Healthy Aging, as we learn how to develop personal strategies based on the most current science and knowledge of physical activity, exercise, and workouts compared with simply reducing sedentary behavior preceded by a light breakfast on April 14^th at 9:00 am. (RSVP to 814-865-4776 or psuhealthyaging@gmail.com.)

§  German Romantics – Nittany Valley Symphony Post Concert Reception for a grand celebration of German culture, following the Nittany Valley Symphony’s German Romantics concert, as we delight in the tastes of sausage, bacon and sauerkraut filled potato croquettes, mini black forest cakes, and German wine and beer on April 17th at 6:00 pm. (No RSVP required; concert information and tickets at www.nvs.com.)

We look forward to sharing our April 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as you Believe in Yourself.