The Power of Music

Last week, Wellspring residents were treated to the magical sounds of composer and pianist Arthur Goldstein. A Pittsburgh native who now resides in State College, Goldstein achieved national recognition in 1984 upon winning the Golden Cinema award for best American documentary film for the soundtrack to "Magic in the Afternoon.” His repertoire includes Baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist, modern and jazz pieces, as well as original compositions and new and recent works by American composers. Goldstein currently teaches music history courses at Penn State University and piano at The Music Academy in State College. As can be seen in the photos, residents thoroughly enjoyed the show!

Excellence in Care Award for Juniper Brookline

Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline recently celebrated its "Excellence in Care" Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) certification with a combination open house/charity art auction. To earn the status of “Excellence in Care, Dementia Care Program of Distinction,” Juniper Village underwent a comprehensive on-site evaluation and consultation by an AFA Excellence Specialist to ensure compliance with AFA’s national standards on care quality and ability to sustain performance. This status is considered the highest hallmark of recognition by AFA for long-term care communities offering services for the memory impaired.  The review period covers the years going forward of 2015-2017. Meanwhile, Wellspring residents spent a month preparing works of art on canvas, as well as decorative bottle creations for the evening’s auction. In all, the masterpieces raised nearly $500 for the Central PA Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Community members, friends and family, and colleagues packed Wellspring’s library and common areas in support of this very special accomplishment. Wellspring at Brookline is Juniper Village’s fifth AFA-certified community, out of only 48 memory care communities nationwide. “Juniper Village at Brookline truly exemplifies the intent of our Excellence in Care program, to elevate the quality of care for people with dementia,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and chief executive officer. “AFA is proud to recognize this organization for providing its clients with optimal care and nurturing their spirits.”

“The Excellence in Care Award is an honor and an affirmation of our staff’s dedication and person-centered programming,” explained Liz Plozner-Chalfa, Executive Director of Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care.  “We are excited and proud of our affiliation with the American Foundation for Alzheimer’s”.

Get more information on the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's Excellence in Care program.

March 2015 Events in State College, PA: Your Treasure Is Within

Treasure hunting has been around forever! The search for riches has evolved from archaeological digs revealing lost treasure to present day treasure hunts such as television’s “The Amazing Race”. Much has been written about the allure of treasure, but one thing that we’ve come to realize is that the treasure within is the most valuable of all. Each one of us has a treasure within and through our March 2015 events in State College, PA we will be exploring that treasure at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care - be it your ability to sing, play a musical instrument, recite dramatic prose or balance a spoon at the end of your nose. No treasure is too small! In the immortal words of Captain Jack Sparrow, “Not all treasure’s silver and gold, mate.”

With our March 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care we end our Creative Expressions Series with a focus on Performance. Please join us during our March 2015 events in State College, PA while we recognize “Your Treasure is Within” as we provide opportunities to express yourself through our weekly drama clubs and by attending theatrical performances. If step dancing and corned beef and cabbage is more your thing, sample all that is Irish with our annual St. Patrick’s Day party or walk the red carpet and share your movie trivia skills at our Oscar Party.

Our fabulous March 2015 events in State College, PA include our Jim Weiss Performance featuring one of our resident’s favorite entertainers who we are privileged to see return on March 14^th at 4:15 pm; our Arthur Goldstein Performance as this nationally-recognized pianist, composer and music history professor at Penn State wows us with his extensive repertoire that includes Baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist, modern and jazz original compositions and recent works by American composers on March 20^th at 4:15 pm; our Creative Corner Terra Cotta Pot Decor where residents will be able to beautify their homes by making attractive and colorful clay vessels on March 25^th at 6:30 pm; or our Comedy Sketch and Improvisational Sketch allowing residents to tap into their creative side while having a good laugh on March 28^th at 2:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our March 2015 events in State College, PA, so check out our calendar for more!

Dance MaraTHON

The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer.  Since 1977, THON has raised more than $114 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.  THON 2015 is taking place from February 20th-22nd, 2015 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.  However, our residents at Wellspring couldn't make it to the actual event, so we hosted our own Dance MaraTHON on site!

Proceeds are being donated to the Penn State THON.  Our residents have enjoyed all types of music and dance this month, from our new Music & Memory program to dancing the night away.  This is all part of our initiative to bring music and the arts to life for even our most frail elders. Our residents danced for 25 minutes, hydrated, and then danced for 20 more minutes!!!

You Gotta Have Heart!

February is American Heart Month, and Janie Provan and Anissa Rupert Ilie from Juniper Village at Brookline are pleased to be serving on the Executive Leadership Committee for the Central PA chapter of the American Heart Association’s 2015 Heart Walk, set for Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Millbrook Marsh in State College.

The Heart Walk exists to make healthier, longer lives possible for everyone, by raising funds to help reduce cardiovascular diseases and strokes. To join or support Team Juniper Village at Brookline, or for more information on the walk visit our team page HERE.

Awaken Your Passion: February Events

This month at Juniper Village we continue our Creative Expressions Series with a focus on Art.

Creating art for many of our seniors has been a lifelong passion, for others it may have been a casual hobby or serious vocation. Whatever the reason, art has substantial benefits to our bodies, minds and spirits! In Successful Aging, John W. Rowe, MD, and Robert L. Kahn, PhD, discuss key aspects of successful aging: low risk of disease, high mental and physical functioning, and being actively engaged in life. Expressive art activities promote active engagement in life in positive, healthy, and fulfilling ways - in other words, nurturing the spirit of life. Recent studies further indicate that older adults who participate in art programs have fewer doctor visits, use less medication, and experience a lower rate of depression – all resulting in lower healthcare costs.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Print Making with Annie Swincinski, a Local Artist/ Arts Fest Winner, who will demonstrate the printmaking process and showcase some of her creations as she uses her art as a therapeutic outlet to express her emotions and facilitate her personal transformations on February 2^nd at 2:00 pm (1950 Cliffside Drive Rehab and Skilled Care); our Paint Your Art Out Wine and Chocolate Event extending a special invitation to those in our community who help us to help others including those who work in the fields of senior living and healthcare to join us and local artist Susan Robb for a fun-filled evening as we sip Seven Mountains Wine Cellars wine and sample some delectable chocolate creations while you paint your own wine glass to take home as a reminder of how much we appreciate all you do on February 16^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (1900 Cliffside Drive Willows Senior Living Dining Room); or our First Annual Wellspring Artist Auction as our residents will be working all February long to awaken their passion and creativity through artistic expression using different mediums like, painting, drawing, jewelry making and mosaics, the residents will then hold their first annual in-house art auction to sell their various works and proceeds will benefit the Greater PA chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, so come take in unique hand-crafted art and enjoy hors d'oeuvres while supporting a worthwhile cause on February 26^th at 2:00 pm (610 W. Whitehall Road Wellspring).

Look through our calendar and plan to join us this month and “Awaken Your Passion” as we explore various mediums to expression through weekly art programs and visits to local art museums. Or, if art isn’t your thing, tailgate with us during the Super Bowl, await the Ground Hog’s prediction, our join in one of our festive celebrations on Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day or Mardi Gras.

Virtual Dementia Tour

This week Juniper Village at Brookline held its Virtual Dementia Tour and Create Your Playlist event as part of the Alive Inside/MUSIC & MEMORY movement. The Second Wind Dreams “Virtual Dementia Tour” (VDT) is a sensory experience that simulates a variety of dementia symptoms, providing participants with a unique opportunity to comprehend and empathize with what it must be like to experience this brain disease. By building a more accurate perception of one’s behaviors, the VDT enables a better understanding of the needs of those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. A wide range of participants took part in the VDT, each expressing how powerful the exercise was. “I always thought that I was patient and spoke slowly and clearly with our residents,” said one caregiver, adding “Now I’ll slow myself down even more. I will be more patient and aware of their needs.” Many area professionals were so enthusiastic about the activity, that they requested it as training for their own staff and colleagues.

MUSIC & MEMORY tells us that personalized music helps those with dementia—and a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges—“find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.” That’s why, before their tours began, the 18 participants in attendance had individualized consultations and started their very own personalized iPod music playlists for their loved ones. You can learn more about MUSIC & MEMORY and how you can get involved at http://www.junipercommunities.com/MusicMemory/.