PSU Pep Rally Fun!!

Penn State football season is in full swing, and Wellspring residents are getting in on the fun! A recent day-long celebration got everyone primed for game day with festive tailgating foods, games, and a spirited photo booth, complete with super-fun props! 

Whatever we are doing, it must be working, because PSU game through with a BIG win. Let's go State!

You're invited! Great fun for a GREAT cause!

September 13 – 19 is National Assisted Living Week

Understand the senior living options available

This year, National Assisted Living Week’s theme is Nourishing Life: Mind, Body and Spirit and celebrates the countless ways assisted living caregivers nurture the whole resident. This has been the basis of Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care’s mission since we began and is certainly a goal of the industry.

With the percentage of the U.S. population over age 65 steadily increasing, it is important to understand the many options available in specialized residences and the level of care they provide for the growing and varied needs of seniors.

In addition to the type of community, it is equally important to find one that offers compassionate care, unparalleled access to healthcare – preferably onsite, programming that will stimulate you such as Music & Memory, and a commitment to continued improvement.

Personal Care/Assisted Living residences are for seniors who require the least amount of care. Meals are provided along with assistance in medication management, bathing, and dressing, if needed. Housekeeping and laundry services may also be available. Community social activities or outings may be offered, and depending on their preferences and budgets, residents may have the option of choosing a private room or a shared apartment.

Although some Assisted Living residences may provide services for seniors with cognitive impairment, a Memory Care residence is a specialized community for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Providing 24-hour supervision and security, the Memory Care environment is designed to meet the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s patients.

A Skilled Nursing Care residence, sometimes known as a nursing home, provides the highest level of care for its residents as well as round-the-clock availability of medical care. Seniors in these communities may be incontinent or require assistance with eating, walking, and moving about the bed.  Skilled Nursing Care residences usually provide long-term care for seniors who are too sick or frail for other types of residences.

In recognition of National Assisted Living Week, remember, when independent living becomes too difficult, moving into a senior living community that offers appropriate levels of care based on an individual’s need can often be the best solution.

Plozner-Chafa Speaks to ACAP Group

The Centre County chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents (ACAP) recently invited Liz Plozner-Chalfa, Executive Director at Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care, to speak to its members on recognizing the early stages of dementia in a loved one.

ACAP is an organization with the mission to support adult-child caregivers who care for their parents and also themselves. Educational programs presented by area experts, information, and related resources are provided to any caregiver, healthcare professional, or other community member who is interested.

"Being able to reach out and help others who are searching for answers about their loved one and dementia is part of what makes my job so meaningful," Plozner-Chalfa said, adding, "It's about caring for our Wellspring residents,of course, but also caring for the greater community."

September 2015 Events in State College, PA: Spread Your Joy

As the air begins to cool and summer wanes, Juniper Village ends our “Stay Connected” series by recognizing Friendship and Joy. What is it that brings you joy? Is it the wet nose of a newborn pup? The smile of your first grandchild? The taste of a triple chocolate ice cream cone? Whatever it is we invite you to share that joy with others at Juniper Village this month.

Much attention has been paid to studies regarding the effects of stress on your health, but what about the effects of joy? The landmark “Nun Study,” as it's often known, revealed that positive emotion is correlated with longevity: 90% of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Of the 678 sisters in the original study about four dozen are still living. So go ahead, grab that triple chocolate cone it might just extend your life!

This month we invite you to “Spread Your Joy” as we honor our friendships in our Red Hat and Villager clubs and our Best Friends events; get our hands dirty at our Friendship Daffodil Project; and celebrate with our Birthday Party and House Warming Initiatives.

Our fabulous September 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring include our:

§  Friendship Lunch and Learn as Evelyn Wald, MS, M, DIV, talks about the importance of social groups and friendships in maintaining positive mental health at any age, so bring a friend or two, on September 9^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

§  Football with Friends as we gear up for a Penn State football home game, Wellspring opens their doors to friends, family, the community, and all campus locations of Juniper Village at Brookline to tailgate in style with plenty of snacks and refreshments, a wacky photo booth, and a Penn State football documentary playing on September 18^th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale Fundraiser for Big Brothers/Big Sisters for a sit-down or take-out meal and delicious treats with a program that will teach you how you can make a difference in the life of a very special child through Centre County’s Children and Youth initiative that fosters positive friendships on September 23^rd at 5:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our September 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring with you as we Spread Your Joy.

Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline: Your Partner for Successful Outcomes

We want to be your partner of choice in the new shared savings environment. At Juniper Communities, we have been collecting critical data for nearly 10 years. For example, we closely monitor residents to assure successful returns from either the hospital or rehabilitation setting.

Another contributing factor to acute re-admissions is infections, in particular Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The senior population can be extremely susceptible to infections and proper care and monitoring is paramount. Our wellness response team is skilled in recognizing symptoms of UTI in order to provide proactive interventions that reduce the need for hospitalization.

Another common cause of both initial hospitalizations and rehospitalizations is medication errors. Changes to medication regime whether after a scheduled physician appointment or emergency hospitalization can leave patients confused about what medications are most current. Our wellness team is responsible for medication reconciliation and management, a process which virtually eliminates medication errors.

Communication is key and Juniper Village, Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline takes communication to the next level through:
• Use of Electronic Health Records (Point Click Care)
• Optimized care transitions protocols
• Full implementation of INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers)
• Use of a highly recognizable and consistent transfer information packet
• Focus on resident and care giver education and engagement
• Individualized care and service

The REEL Deal!

In the spirit of all things environmental this month, Wellspring residents were treated to an afternoon of fun in the sun with the world's most knowledgeable fly-fishing entomologist, Greg Hoover. Widely-acknowledged as such, Hoover teaches entomology at Penn State, and serves as the faculty advisor to the Penn State Fly Fishing Club. He was the recipient of the George Harvey Award for unselfishly promoting the sport of fly fishing through teaching of others, and is the co-author of the book, Great Rivers, Great Hatches. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame around here, however, is the fact that he's Connections Director, Kaitlin Hoover's father.

Hoover spoke to residents about the sport of fly fishing itself, some key influences in the sport, and showed the flies (made of different materials to mimic a real insect) that are used to lure fish in for the big catch. He also talked about set up of the fly fishing rod and reel, and offered a little "Casting 101" for those interested. Thanks for a great day, Greg!