Juniper Village at Brookline Receives 2016 Bronze National Quality Award

Juniper Village at Brookline received the 2016 Bronze National Quality Award for the high level of care they provide to frail elderly and disabled residents. The award honors nursing homes, assisted living residences and personal care homes for providing quality care to their residents. Bronze award winners demonstrate a commitment to providing a caring professional staff culture as they work with patients, residents and families to ensure high quality care and a high quality of life for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“Quality care is every long-term care providers’ top priority,” said W. Russell McDaid, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA). “These facilities have demonstrated their commitment to quality care by choosing to participate in the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s rigorous quality awards program, and actually achieving the award is a testament to the caring, professional way their caregivers and staff work with residents and their families. We are so proud they are being recognized with this distinction and we congratulate all of them.”

The award is the first of three distinctions — Bronze, Silver and Gold — that the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living announce each year as part of its National Quality Award Program, which began in 1996.

Facilities begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations. Bronze applicants must demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. A team of trained examiners reviews each Bronze application to determine if the facility has met the criteria. As a recipient of the bronze award, these facilities may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the silver level, and after that the gold level.

Silver Quality Award winners will be announced on June 30. Gold Quality Award winners will be announced on August 12.

GIN in the Evenings

Centre County Geriatric Interest Network (GIN) was recently treated by Juniper Village at Brookline to a seasonally inspired after-hours event. On a beautiful spring evening, area healthcare professionals were invited to participate in an outside networking event geared towards bringing a community of caregivers together in order to collaborate and inspire while being treated to Juniper's professionally prepared light fare which included fruit kabobs drizzled with Mexican chocolate, smoked chicken pops with chipotle barbeque sauce, brick fire pit beef, and spring themed cocktails. Centre County GIN is compiled of community based providers, which serves in partnering with Juniper Village through our Partners in Caring Signature Program. Partners in Caring is one Signature Program that promotes relationships between Juniper staff and community agencies to provide a holistic approach to care for our residents.  Juniper's nine Signature Programs are the backbone to the highest quality of care to our residents. The other Signature programs that shape the quality of care to the Juniper Community include Connections, First Impressions, Green Canopy, Juniper University, Pride in Practice and Performance, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., and H'Art and Soul of Dining. To learn more about how these programs help us "Walk our Talk," visit our website or any Juniper Communities campus.

June 2016 Events in State College, PA: Live in Wellness

What is wellness? The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as "a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential." At Juniper we believe in fostering this definition of wellness everyday by offering programs and services that help our residents achieve their full potential. As we wind down our Healthy Aging series, this month we focus on Food by highlighting our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program.

Throughout our lives the most important discussions, revelations, decisions and announcements have transpired around the dinner table. When company came over we caught up on the latest gossip over coffee and fresh baked goods. If you needed advice from your parents, it was often given while enjoying Mom’s delicious pot roast on a Sunday evening. Why should that be any different when you enter your retirement years in one of our communities?

With the kitchen often being the heart of the home, we have developed H’Art and Soul of Dining with this in mind. This program strives to impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through sharing the joy of good food – just like home! Our dining program is designed to not only meet resident’s physical needs, but their emotional and social needs as well. We believe this program provides a perfect balance of nutritious and delicious food choices, comfortable atmosphere and ambiance, social interaction, cleanliness and a spirit of service.

Indulge with us this month as we focus on the “heart” of the home with program offerings centered on food and nutrition such as our hydration program with healthy snacks and juices and educational presentations by a dietitian. Join us in June as we Live in Wellness.

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

§  “Kooking” with Senior Living Chef Kris Kishbaugh in the kitchen for a delicious demonstration, featuring fresh pastas from Centre region favorite—artisan pasta and ravioli experts—Fasta & Ravioli Company with some homemade sauces and a dash of creativity, we’ve got a recipe for good taste and good times on June 20th at 2:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

§  Juniper Family Picnic as residents, family members, and invited guests look forward to this event all year long because we’ll have tons of classic cook-out food and drinks under the big tent, along with live entertainment for all ages on June 26th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. (Watch for your invitation!)

§  Lunch & Learn: Live in Wellness – Dietary Needs for Seniors with registered dietician and Juniper Village at Brookline dietary consultant, Shawnee Kelley, for this informative (and delicious) take on what we need to keep our bodies operating well at any age with a menu to include strawberry mesclun salad and pecan crusted cod on June 29th at noon. (RSVP to 814-235-2041 and let us know of any dietary restrictions.)

We look forward to sharing our June 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as you Live in Wellness.

Bone Up on Bone Health

Why does sunscreen prevent the absorption of Vitamin D, what is the difference between calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, and why is it important to know the answers to these questions when it comes to bone health? Answers to these questions, and others, were given to residents and guests at Juniper Village at Brookline as they enjoyed a Lunch & Learn presentation by Dr. Bobbi Millard from Penn State Health. Residents and other attendees were provided valuable information on the importance of healthy bones; including a discussion on supplements, osteoporosis, and risk factors. Information was also provided on prevention to bone deterioration including the importance of exercise. Dr. Millard shared that weight-bearing exercises 5-6 days per week are key to maintaining bone health as well as muscle strengthening 2-3 days per week.  While gaining valuable information on bone health, guests enjoyed a delicious, bone healthy lunch featuring a calcium rich mixed green salad, chicken marinara served on a bed of pasta, and a crème fruit parfait. Lunch and Learn presentations are just another way that Juniper Village at Brookline provides continuing education programs for residents and community members. For more information on receiving notices for further events like this as well as the answer to why does sunscreen prevent the absorption of Vitamin D, please call Kathryn Bainbridge, Director of Community Relations at Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline or visit www.junipercommunities.com.

A Holiday Full of Grace

Mother's Day is a time to recognize those women who have done more for us than any other. Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living decided that a holiday this special could not come soon enough, celebrating this very special holiday a week early.  We welcomed these amazing matriarchs, their families, and their friends to a Mother's Day Brunch. These honored guests enjoyed a variety of tasty treats provided by the campus chef including an assortment of pastries, salads, meats, breads, and an extra special champagne punch to mirror the extra special mothers that grace our hallways and our lives everyday. The buffet brunch was served in both personal care areas of The Inn and The Pines, as well as the dining room at The Willows independent living. Over four hundred attendees participated in the event and each female resident was presented with a carnation boutonniere.

It is holidays like these that provide extra moments of celebration to the amazing residents at Juniper Village Senior Living.

May 2016 Events in State College, PA: Grow Strong Daily

We all know that regular physical activity is great for overall health. But do we all understand the dangers in being inactive? Studies indicate that sedentary lifestyles are risky. For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn't happen just because they've aged. It's usually because they're not active. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses. In recognition of those facts, Juniper nurtures wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit through our innovative Signature Programs such as Connect4Life, Connections and H’Art and Soul of Dining.

We continue our Healthy Aging Series with a focus on Fitness. In the wise words of J.R.R., Tolkien, "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." This month we will Grow Strong Daily so as to not wither, but to thrive as we develop strength in bodies, minds and spirits.

This month we invite you to join us as we Grow Strong Daily with activities such as our Daily Brain Builders, Wii, and our Brain Healthy Luncheon. We also invite you to expand your knowledge in our Healthy Aging Library.

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

§  Penn State Lunch and Learn Bone Up on Bone Health as we join Dr. Roberta Millard from Penn State Hershey Orthopedics, as she discusses the importance of bone health as we age, and talks about the best in bone-heathy diets, exercise, and the warning signs of Osteoporosis and other related conditions, while a healthy lunch is served on May 18^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

§  Senior Safety Seminar with Benchmark Therapies whose certified physical and occupational therapists provide tips and facts to decrease falls and other safety risks to include demonstrations and uses of adaptive equipment that could help you and your loved ones stay independent and safe on May 17^th at 6:30 pm.

§  GIN in the Evening Centre County Geriatric Interest Network (GIN) exciting networking event for all area healthcare professionals who work in, around, or are interested in geriatric healthcare with wonderful food and drink, and sparkling conversation and donations will be accepted for the Multiple Sclerosis Society on May 25^th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. (No RSVP Required.)

We look forward to sharing our May 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as you Grow Strong Daily.

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!