The Giving Season

This holiday season Juniper Village at Brookline residents and associates were busy spreading cheer throughout the State College community. All JVB communities were official Toys for Tots collections sites, helping to collect three large boxes of toys this year for more than 3,000 less fortunate Centre County children. Since 1987, The Nittany Leathernecks Detachment, a community service organization composed of active, retired and former Marines, has headed the Toys for Tots mission in Centre County—considered one of the area’s premier charity events. The Centre County Toys for Tots campaign accommodates all religious protocols—in concert with economic eligibility—for Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Kwanza during the December-January holiday seasons.

But that’s not all! Additionally, nearly 1,000 pounds of food and more than $200 in donations were collected for the State College Food Bank this year. Large grocery carts donated by Weis Market on South Atherton Street in State College (as well as $25 worth of groceries) were placed in three main lobbies at JVB, where they were quickly filled to the brim. Carol Pioli, executive director of the food bank—which serves over 300 area households per month—said that “offering a simple ‘thank you’ doesn’t feel enough, because [Juniper Village at Brookline is] helping to provide a basic need to those that are less fortunate.”

With monetary totals not yet in, JVB was one of 10 State College area businesses that teamed up for the “We Are The Kettles” Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. Local companies and organizations spend a day ringing that famous bell around State College, and Red Kettles are decked with company logos, while associates bundle up for a good cause. This year, 10 JVB associates volunteered their time to the campaign. We even had one very special volunteer who commuted all the way from the North Pole!

The Power of Music

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America believes that when used appropriately, “music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements” in those with dementia. Shawna Mitchell, Wellspring connections associate could not agree more. A recent graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Shawna earned her degree in music therapy and discovered her love of working with the geriatric population while completing her clinical studies at a skilled nursing community. Her main goals at Wellspring include decreasing resident anxiety, and working to showcase just how individuals benefit from musical therapies.

Shawna enjoys sharing a wide variety of music with “the amazing residents”, and shares that she enjoys coming to work every day to implement the knowledge she gained in school. “The gift of music is such a powerful thing,” she said. “It truly is a universal language and it is my pleasure to share that beauty”.

Juniper Communities Appoints New Regional Director of Wellness and Wellbeing

Juniper Communities announces that Melissa “Missy” Ebner has joined Juniper as Regional Director of Wellness and Wellbeing. Missy brings a wealth of experience in nursing care, especially with seniors to her position. From a clinical perspective, her role will be to oversee the entire portfolio of clinical care and support for the residents, provide clinical oversight, and staff training. She is a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in every state where Juniper currently has communities.

“We are very excited to have Missy join the Juniper family,” expressed Lynne Katzmann, CEO of Juniper Communities. “She comes to Juniper with a wonderful background and deep experience in the clinical complainants of senior living. She will be a great resource for our community wellness teams and to the home office team in this changing healthcare environment.”

Missy’s interest in working with senior living communities is that they offer residents more freedom than skilled nursing settings. “The seniors can be taken care of in a homelike environment and you can become a friend, not seen as a nurse or caregiver,” she explained. “Juniper’s staff is wonderful at treating the residents as a parent or grandparent, this doesn’t always happen in institutional settings.”

Juniper Communities owns and operates Personal Care, Assisted Living, Memory-Care, Skilled Nursing and Independent Living communities in NJ, FL, CO and PA.

“Nobody is as forward thinking as Juniper. They are far ahead of the curve in the industry and where healthcare is going. The staff I’ve observed go above and beyond, always doing more even though no one is looking,” Missy described of her building level observations.

Missy Ebner has worked in the healthcare industry since 1987. She received her LPN from the James Martin School of Nursing in 1987 and her RN from Excelsior College in 2005. She is a resident of Willow Grove, PA and born and raised in Pennsylvania. She has been married to Henry Ebner for 26 years and has three children, Corey, Shane and Cassidy.  Something her family and friends know about her is that she loves to shop the Outlets, and loves a good bargain!

The Wonderful World of Oz

Halloween is a fun time at Juniper Village; and this year was no exception as residents, family members and associates transformed Wellspring into the Land of Oz! The building itself was decorated head-to-toe with everything from the Great and Powerful Oz’s hot air balloon and Emerald City backdrop, to Dorothy’s house atop what was once the Wicked Witch of the West.

Associates dressed as memorable characters from the classic movie, as residents greeted a crew of eager trick-or-treaters. There were festive snacks for residents, and candy and trinkets for the little ones, all of whom had a fabulous time! Bringing the essence of Halloween—and all special events—to our residents is one of the many ways Juniper Village associates nurture the spirit of the holidays right here… proving that there really is no place like home.

Celebrate Little Things: December Events

This month is all about celebrations! Not only will we be celebrating holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, but we will also celebrate the little things that make life worthwhile. Little things such as the reassuring touch of a friend’s hand, a kind word from an acquaintance and a warm smile from a stranger.

In our all too busy lives we sometimes forget to honor the simple things in life that bring us peace and joy. Most experts recommend that we allow 10-20 minutes of relaxation and stress relief each day. Making time for that can even be a stressful experience! During this busy month of baking, shopping, visitors and juggling tasks take time to remember what is really important.

Here are some tips to keep holiday stress in check: Acknowledge your feelings - you are not alone as holiday stress is not uncommon. Be realistic with expectations - you can only do so much, learn to say no. Ask for help when needed - everyone wants to be needed and may feel more included by being able to contribute. Plan ahead to minimize unplanned expenses and tasks. Take a breather - take a walk at night and do some stargazing, listen to soothing music, or get a massage. Above all enjoy all the holidays have to offer by sharing time with others.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our First Weekly Intergenerational Book Club discussing works of interest to people of all ages on December 5^th at 10:00 am; our “Cookie Jar” Time Slips Activity and Family Council Meeting to allow residents and families to engage with staff to make our community even better on December 17^th at 6:30 pm; or our Dan Stevens Musical Performance featuring the sounds of the season on December 23^rd at 4:15 pm!

Look through our calendar and join us during the busy month of December for our annual cookie exchange and holiday celebrations. Take time to Celebrate Little Things with those you love!

Juniper Village at Brookline Walks to End Alzheimer's

On Saturday, October 11^th, 46 teams comprised of 601 walkers laced up their sneakers and took to the track to end Alzheimer’s disease!  This year’s State College Walk to End Alzheimer’s—involving the most participants in the walk’s history—was held at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, home of the State College Spikes minor league baseball team. Letters from area caregivers, as well as a local man in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, were shared during the opening ceremony. Penn State men’s basketball coach, Pat Chambers, who lost his father to the Alzheimer’s, offered a motivational speech to the crowd of supporters, urging all to fight the disease that according to the Alzheimer’s Association, will triple to around 13.8 million cases by the year 2050.

Team Juniper Village at Brookline was a corporate sponsor of the walk and raised the second-highest team amount, bringing in just over $5,474. The event raised a total of $66,229.47, which directly benefits the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s overwhelming to see such an outpouring of support from both our Juniper Village and State College area communities,” said Liz Plozner-Chalfa, executive director of Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline. “This disease is a devastating one, but efforts such as this key fundraiser give us all hope for the future.”

Family Fall Festival

Harner Farm of State College and Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline hosted their seventh annual Fall Festival to benefit the Central PA Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Each October, Wellspring and the Harners team up for a fun family day filled with kids’ games, face painting, live entertainment, food, baked goods, and Harner’s famous Halloween corn maze! What began as an idea to hold a small carnival in the parking lot of Wellspring, developed into one of the most anticipated seasonal events in State College. Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline executive director, Liz Plozner-Chalfa, who initiated the idea in 2008, is still pleasantly surprised each time the event grows. “I never dreamt that the festival would be where it is today”, she said. “We owe many thanks to the Harner family for their willingness to host this year after year, and to the community for their continued support.”

This year, Juniper Village associates from all Brookline communities, along with their spouses, children, friends, and neighbors worked at the festival. When the four-hour event drew to a close, just under $2,500 was collected for the worthwhile cause. A productive day, indeed!

Cherish the Journey: November Events

Life is a journey filled with lessons, celebrations and special moments that ultimately lead us to our destination, our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth and we may encounter many challenges. Some of these will test our courage, strengths, weaknesses, and faith. Along the way, we may stumble upon obstacles that must be overcome. But, sometimes these obstacles are really blessings in disguise, although we may not realize it at the time. How we react to the situations we face will determine what the rest of our journey will be like.

This month Juniper Communities will honor our Families and cherish the journey we have taken together. November is all about celebrating the bonds we share and recognizing where we’ve been and where we’re going. We will do this through autobiographical journaling, reminiscing about family celebrations and breaking bread together in Thanksgiving. In order to support our families along this journey we will continue to develop our support groups and provide additional resources when needed. We will give back through our Annual Food Drive. From November 1 through November 30 all non-perishable food items collected will be donated to a local food bank.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Annual Food Drive where you can drop off non-perishable food items for the State College Area Food Bank anytime all month long; our Veterans Day Celebration honoring those who have served this country and fought for our freedoms on November 11^th at 2:00 pm; our Traveling Antique Show displaying interesting treasures from bygone eras on November 17^th at 4:00 pm; or our Family Fest Harvest Meal for residents and family or friends featuring all the traditional fixings in a warm atmosphere on November 23^rd at noon.

Look through our calendar and plan to join us for family celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners and many events and activities allowing us all to reflect and Cherish the Journey!

Weekend Winedown Raises $14,000 for Alzheimer's Association

For the third year in a row, the Weekend Winedown—an Alzheimer’s fundraiser—sold out in just two weeks! In just one night, this signature event raised over $14,000 for the Central PA Alzheimer’s Association.

The Village at Penn State, Home Instead Senior Care, and Juniper Village at Brookline came together in 2012 to create an event to raise funds for the Central PA Alzheimer’s Association. This year’s Winedown, held Friday, October 3rd, at Seven Mountains Wine Cellars hosted more than 350 guests. There was a silent auction, and nine unique food stations along with a photo booth which helped guests catch memories with friends! This year’s Weekend Winedown event ended in success by raising over $14,000 for the Central PA Alzheimer’s Association to help End Alzheimer’s. Representatives from Home Instead Senior Care, Juniper Village at Brookline and The Village at Penn State are honored to work together to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.  

Brookline Assisted Living Facility Welcomes New Leadership, Initiatives

by Michael Martin Garrett

Angeline Hunter, 91, has lived through many changes in her life. 

She’s seen State College and Penn State grow since she moved to the area in 1943, and after her husband’s death in 2008, she watched the evolution of the well-established Brookline Village retirement community.

Since moving to Brookline in early 2013, there's been one more change she’s had to adjust to: Brookline’s acquisition by the national assisted living organization Juniper Village.

Sitting outside on Tuesday among Brookline’s handsome buildings and greenery - surrounded by friends, family and fellow residents - Hunter listened to Juniper CEO Lynne Katzmann lay her out her vision for the newly christened Juniper Village at Brookline facility at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“You all have welcomed us with warmth, generosity and open hearts and minds,” Katzmann said. “Thank you for letting us be a part of this community.”

Katzmann said Juniper Village had been aware of Brookline’s “legacy of excellence” before it ever acquired the facility. Though Juniper has a lot to live up to, she’s sure that the Brookline team and residents will be able to work together to continuing improving the lives of State College’s senior citizens.

She said some of Juniper’s priorities are keeping things exactly the same: many of the staff from before the acquisition are still at Brookline, and Katzmann has no plans to disturb the facility’s beautiful campus.

But, perhaps more importantly, she looks forward to bringing new activities and initiatives to Brookline. Katzmann says Juniper Communities was “green long before it was fashionable,” which continues to this day with a focus on recycling and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Recently certified by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America as maintaining the rare distinction of “excellence in care” at its facilities, Katzmann says Juniper Communities is excited to increase the quality of care of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients...

Anissa Ilie, director of community relations with Juniper Village at Brookline, says another major change will be updating all medical records to a digital format, which will make record-keeping and caregiving more efficient. 

Another focus of the change in leadership was to “hit the ground running” and interfere with the resident’s daily lives as little as possible during the transitionary months, Ilie says...

Read Michael's full article on StateCollege.com.

Juniper Village at Brookline Participant in Benchmark Study on Dementia and Delirium

Juniper Village at Brookline is continuing its participation in a major study on dementia and delirium out of the College of Nursing at Penn State University.  The study is called Reserve for Delirium Superimposed on Dementia and Brookline has been an active participant in the study since its inception in 2010.  This September, a presentation was made at Juniper covering the research results to date on the general evaluation and management of delirium.

The purpose of the RESERVE DSD study is to test the efficacy of cognitive stimulation for resolving delirium in persons with dementia subsequent to a hospitalization. The research is testing a non-pharmacological intervention for delirium in the form of recreational activities. The ongoing, five-year clinical trial will conclude in 2015. Dr. Ann Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN and Dr. Donna Fick, PhD, GCNS-BC FGSA, FAAN received a grant to conduct the research from the National Institute of Nursing Research in the amount of $2,405,344.

“Juniper Village is pleased to provide support for this very important research whose eventual findings will benefit our residents by allowing us to better identify those suffering from delirium. The findings will then help us to best treat those residents, enriching their daily quality of care,” explained Janice Whitaker, RN, BSN, NCSN, M.Ed., Juniper Village Rehabilitation and Skilled Care at Brookline Wellness Director.

Currently, 35 residents of Juniper Village at Brookline have participated. At the time of a resident’s move into Juniper’s rehabilitation and skilled care community, residents who seem a good fit for the study, are referred as potential candidates. If the resident – including family members who might be the decision maker – decide to participate, release forms are completed and forwarded to the College of Nursing. They then contact the resident and or family member, and enter them into the study. Student nurses engage with these residents and track their progress throughout their stay.

“Juniper Communities has been committed to innovative dementia care for more than a decade.  We are so proud that our programs have been nationally recognized but more pleased that we have positively impacted the lives of those we serve and their families,” stated Lynne S. Katzmann, Ph.D., President and Founder of Juniper Communities.

Check out local news video for more on this story.

Show Your Colors: October Events

October brings forth vibrant color in our foliage as well as our sports teams. Our high school football teams will be in full swing and hockey season will prepare to fill the stands with team colors and spirit. Juniper Communities will also be honoring our colors with many sports-themed activities and events. We will be enjoying the changing colors of the season as we transition from summer to fall and the crazy costumes of our annual Halloween celebrations.

While showing our colors we not only focus on our team colors, but also showing our true colors. We recognize that working together as a team, results in better coordination of care, better quality of care and as a result better lives for our residents. This is evidenced by our excellent clinical outcomes data. We are happy to see the results of collaboration resulting in decreased re-hospitalizations and better quality of life for our residents.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Community Celebration Open House and Ribbon Cutting to warmly welcome us as the newest member in the Juniper Communities’ family Juniper Village at Brookline providing senior living, rehab/skilled nursing, and memory care with our uniquely successful programs and activities on October 14^th from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm; our Fall Festival and Walk to End Alzheimer’s Fundraiser sponsored by Juniper Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline and Harner Farm featuring fun and fellowship benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association on October 19^th at noon; or our Friendly Pet Visits with our beloved Missy and Maizy on October 31^st at 11:00 am!

Please look through our calendar to celebrate the spirit of autumn with us and Show Your Colors!

Spread Your Joy: September Events

September signifies the end of summer with Labor Day celebrations and the Autumnal Equinox on the 23^rd. In this last month of our “Stay Connected” series we aspire to connect with our friends and embrace the theme of Spread Your Joy.

The Mayo Clinic tells us that friends are good for your health. They can help you celebrate good times, provide support during bad times, prevent loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends increase your sense of belonging and purpose, boost happiness, reduce stress, and improve your self-confidence and self-worth. Friends can also encourage you to increase healthy habits – it’s always better to walk, run, swim or exercise with a friend. And friends don’t always have to be of the human kind either! Several studies have shown that heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Garden Party featuring tasty refreshments and energizing music on September 2^nd at 2:00 pm; our Dan Dropkin Guitar Performance featuring our favorite tunes courtesy of a great entertainer on September 12^th at 11:00 am; or our Intergenerational Bible Study for fellowship, faith and praise on September 28^th at 2:30 pm.

Please look through our calendar and join us for any events that can help you stay connected, cultivate friendships and Spread Your Joy!

Taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to a Whole New Level!!

On August 29th, Juniper Village at Brookline took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to a whole new level with a REALLY big bucket!  Note, that we challenged the home office team. They will have to think of something good for when they are all together!  But, I am not sure there's any way to top this. 

Mount Nittany Medical Center’s 24th Annual Golf Classic

Associates from Juniper Village at Brookline were out in full force at the Mount Nittany Medical Center’s 24^th Annual Golf Classic on Saturday,  August 16, in State College. Juniper Village sponsored the “Closet to the Pin” contest and awarded cash prizes and Juniper goodies to three lucky golfers during the event’s awards dinner. The outing, which raises funds for the area’s premier hospital, brought in over $143,000 this year, which will go towards the construction of the facility’s “Healing Garden”, to be located contiguous to the hospital’s cancer pavilion and accessible via the main lobby of the Medical Center, and provide stress relief for patients, families and physicians and staff, while offering a quiet and beautiful space for the community, as well. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

Breathe in Life: August Events

Our Alive in All Seasons’ theme for August is The Environment. Our communities will focus their efforts on maintaining healthy environments through environmentally conscious activities. Our “Green Canopy” program emphasizes designing and operating buildings that meet new standards of environmental sustainability. We are proud to be the first long-term care company with a building in the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

According to research by Go Green, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour; 25 billion Styrofoam cups and 40 billion soft drink bottles and cans each year. Eighty-four percent of the average American’s household trash can be recycled. If we recycled just 1/10 of our newspapers 25 million trees could be saved. Are we all doing our part?

Join us this month as we learn more about the environment, expand our wide-scale recycling program, learn more about environmental sustainability programs and work with our community Green Teams to promote our “Green Canopy” initiative. We encourage you to accompany us on this environmental journey so that we can all continue to Breathe in Life!

Juniper Communities Purchases Brookline Village, Increases Portfolio Size 25%

Juniper Communities has announced that as of close of business July 9, 2014, it has acquired Brookline Village in State College, PA for a cost of $35,500,000. The Brookline property covers a full spectrum of retirement and senior healthcare living options. The acquisition will increase Juniper’s size and resident capacity by 25%.

Juniper Communities purchased Brookline Village using cash from its balance sheet and debt from a local bank.

“At Juniper, we are committed to a double bottom line, one of strong financial performance coupled with providing superior quality of care and service in our residences,” said Lynne Katzmann, Founder and CEO. “This property and its outstanding reputation for excellence will greatly enhance Juniper’s overall portfolio mix and strength of offerings in the region, making it a very attractive investment.”

The Brookline property consists of five buildings with a total of 274 units: 116 skilled nursing/rehabilitation, 38 memory care, 87 personal care, and 33 independent living. The expansive main campus is comprised of independent living apartments, two personal care communities, and a skilled nursing/rehabilitation and long-term care facility. A short distance from the main campus is a free-standing, purpose-built memory care community.

Juniper Communities is a privately held New Jersey-based company that owns and operates assisted living, personal care, memory care, independent living, and skilled nursing facilities. It is ranked one of the largest providers by most industry sources with 2013 revenues at $62 million, concentrating its operations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and Colorado.

“The Brookline property has been a labor of love for the Coldren family for two generations. The campus and all of the community’s buildings are in impeccable condition,” Katzmann said in describing the transaction. “Some minor updating may be needed, but more importantly, we look forward to implementing our signature programming across the campus.”

Juniper’s signature programming includes an award-winning dementia care program known as Wellspring Memory Care, a comprehensive electronic health records system, an integrated connections and activities program referred to as Alive in All Seasons, plus others. All are designed to foster the Juniper mission of nurturing the spirit of life in each individual served.

According to Katzmann, Juniper looks forward to partnering with the local providers and businesses in the area to help maintain their high standards for innovation, cost-effectiveness and quality operations. This is the seventh campus of senior living properties Juniper holds in Pennsylvania.

Juniper Village at Brookline, as the campus will be named, has held a reputation for excellence over the last 50 years that Juniper will maintain. Located in the serene valleys of Mt. Nittany in picturesque Central Pennsylvania, Juniper will continue to support the caring and professional staff who are dedicated to ensuring security, care and compassion, peace of mind and comfort for the individuals who call the community, home.

About Juniper Communities, LLC.

Juniper Communities, founded in 1988 operates long-term care communities in NJ, FL, PA and CO. Juniper is dedicated to Nurturing the Spirit of Life in each individual served and believes the keys to healthy aging are an active body, an engaged mind, and a fulfilled spirit. The company’s mission is to serve its stakeholders, residents, families, employee associates, and investors with excellence and strong dedication to the company’s hallmarks of quality, value and innovation. For more information on Juniper call 973.661.8300 or visit www.junipercommunities.com.