Mini Dance Marathon Ignites Spirits at Wellspring

Each year, Penn State students organize THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. This 46-hour dance marathon benefits the Four Diamonds Fund for children battling cancer at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. In January, residents, family members, and staff helped to show their support for this great cause by participating in Wellspring’s Mini THON, a 46-minute dance party that transformed the community’s Gathering Room into a dance club! Smiles and laughter were abundant, as the crowd moved to the tunes of the Andrews Sisters, the Temptations, Count Bassie, and other favorites. As the clock ticked down and the dancing drew to a close, the party continued in Wellspring’s Country Kitchen. Dancers and supporters alike were treated to specialties from our H’art and Soul of dining program, featuring a wide spread of miniature savory eats and sweet treats! The theme for Penn State’s 2017 THON is “Ignite Hope Within”. We can certainly say that Mini THON ignited our spirits at Wellspring, and we pass that torch of excitement to the Penn State students as they dance for hope this February 17-19.

2016 Year in Review

Fireworks, champagne toasts, and party poppers filled the air at the stroke of midnight, marking the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. The New Year is sure to bring with it many new memories, laughs, and accomplishments which could not have been made possible without the foundation that had been cultivated from previous years. 2016’s passing marked the end of an incredible year for Juniper Village at Brookline. Not only did the campus celebrate its 2^nd anniversary with Juniper Communities, but it was recognized as one of the best communities to provide exceptional care and services to older adults. Juniper Village at Brookline received numerous prestigious awards in 2016 including: 

·        Bronze Award for Excellence through the American Health Care Association to both Juniper Village Rehabilitation/Skilled Care and Juniper Village Senior Living  

·       Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) Employee of the Year Award was given to Denny Yeager, Environmental Services of Juniper Village Senior Living 

·                2017 Best Of Senior Living Award through SeniorAdvisor.com was awarded to Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living  

·                Best of State College Silver Award for a Senior Living Community

As those of us at Juniper Village at Brookline look ahead to 2017 with our new goals, new hopes, and new determination firmly set, we are eager to continue to lead the way in senior living services not only in the State College area, but nationally as well.

For more information on how you can be the first to be informed on exciting news and events at Juniper Village at Brookline, please email Kathryn Bainbridge at kathryn.bainbridge@junipercommunities.com.

January 2017 Events in State College, PA: Welcome New Beginnings

Welcome to 2017! What a wonderful time for us to reflect on the past year and forge ahead with new beginnings. January is a time to begin again; a time when we make (and sometimes break) our New Year’s resolutions and focus on how we want to improve in the coming year.

January is also the month that Juniper Village begins our Winter Alive In All Seasons theme of Creative Expressions: “Explore Your Creativity” where in January we will focus on music! Do you know that research shows that music can help us physically by easing pain, helping us sleep better, eat less and enhance our blood vessel function? It is also suggested that music can help us mentally by reducing stress, relieving symptoms of depression, elevating mood, decreasing anxiety and improving cognitive performance. Because of this, Juniper Communities has adopted the Music & Memory program.

Through the use of MP3 players and headphones our teams download personalized music for each resident. These musical favorites tap deep memories and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present. Learn more about our Music & Memory program by talking with our Connections Director and consider making a donation to this worthwhile program. We accept donations of new or used iPods, new over the ear headphones and iTunes gift cards.

Join us this month as we explore our creativity through music with outings to local musical performances, Elvis’ birthday celebrations and concerts by our Joyful Noise Choirs. We invite you to Welcome New Beginnings at Juniper Village and make a resolution to join us for activities and events throughout the year!

Our fabulous January 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care include our:

§ Blood Drive with the American Red Cross because one blood donation can save three lives, so join us as we partner with the American Red Cross for our annual blood drive as employees and the general public are invited to participate, and first-time donors are welcome on January 4th from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm. (To RSVP please call Mary Ann at 814-235-2005.)

§  Mini THON with the 2^nd Wings Band as the 2017 THON committee has announced this year’s theme to be “Ignite Hope Within”, so Wellspring gears up to ignite and excite staff, family, and friends with a miniature dance marathon of their very own, while members of the THON committee will be present to speak about the largest student-run philanthropy effort in the entire world, and after that, the THON committee members and attendees will boogie down and cut a rug to popular dances spanning over various decades, then at 3:15, we’ll conclude our Mini THON with miniature refreshments to relax, rehydrate, and refuel on January 16^th at 2:30 pm. (No RSVP required.)

§  Glen Campbell “I’ll Be Me” Film Screening a documentary of the “Goodbye Tour” of country singer Glen Campbell, who used his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease to bring music and awareness across America in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Juniper Village offers a free screening of this inspiring film, and attendees will enjoy a specialty popcorn bar on January 25th at 6:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

We look forward to sharing our January 2017 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care with you as you Welcome New Beginnings.

Celebrating the Season with Traditions Old and New

This month at Juniper Communities, we’ve taken time to celebrate the little things. Whether it’s honoring long-standing traditions, enjoying the small wonders of the winter season, or creating something special for the holidays, we’ve set aside time to nurture the spirit of joy throughout the month of December.

We at Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline have kept the holiday spirit vibrant by celebrating an old tradition and creating something new! Many of us have warm memories of baking (or eating!) fresh Christmas cookies with those we love. At Wellspring, we honored that tradition with our ever-popular Confectionery Cookie Creation and Exchange. This event is becoming a favorite tradition for residents, associates, and families alike. This year, not only did we exchange homemade sweets, but we also learned how to make melting snowman cookies, courtesy of the expert instruction by our Connections Director Kaitlin Hoover, and Connection Associate Katie Rimmer. A collection of colorful candies, snow-white icing, and fluffy marshmallows were transformed into creations that looked too good to eat!

For the first time ever, Wellspring held a Trail of Trees event and contest, in which departments decorated trees to represent the work they do. The entries were extraordinarily creative, from the Wellness team’s friendly snowman, to Environmental Service’s green-friendly ornaments and miniature laundry line made out of recycled materials, to Dining’s glittering food tree with chef photos, to Connection’s jolly Juniper giraffes. Residents, families, and associates voted for their favorites, with the winning team receiving a $50 donation to the charity of their choice. The winner was … (drum roll please)… the friendly snowman tree! The Wellness team has chosen the Alzheimer’s Association as the beneficiary of their prize. This new event was such a hit, that it just may become a new tradition.

We at Wellspring, wish you and your family time to celebrate things big and small this holiday season, as you relish in the warmth of family traditions and discover new joys in the coming year.

The Season of Giving More

Juniper Village at Brookline hosted their 2nd Annual Trail of Trees event during the month of December.  The Trail of Trees showcases a glittering array of trees which were painstakingly decorated by community businesses, organizations, and Juniper staff. Twenty-five trees in total filled the Senior Living buildings walking path, creating a festive holiday atmosphere.

Throughout December, residents, family, friends, and community members were invited to stroll the Juniper Campus and vote on their favorite trees. On the evening of December 21st, a cocktail reception was held in which all in attendance were welcome to make their final votes prior to the winners being announced. The Board members of the Centre County Geriatric Interest Network were the guest judges and decided the first through third places, and the tree with the most overall votes was announced as the Grand Prize People's Choice Winner. All winners received donations made to the charity of their choices.

*       Grand Prize People's Choice Winner: Good Shepherd Preschool
                Donation of $250.00 made to: Good Shepherd Preschool
*       People Choice for a Juniper Department: Juniper Village Housekeeping
                Donation made to: Centre County PAWS
*       1st Place: Juniper Village Directors of Community Relations
                Donation made to: Bob Ott Seed Grant through the Centre County Council of Human Services
*       2nd Place: Juniper Village Business Office
                Donation made to: Centre County PAWS
*       3rd Place: Adult Transitional Care
                Donation made to: The State College Food Bank

All trees will continue to be on display for the duration of the holiday season for all to enjoy. The Trail of Trees Event at Juniper Village at Brookline is just one more way that Juniper continues to Keep the Spirit throughout the holiday season by providing fun filled opportunities to support those community members most in need.

Memories Light the Sky at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring

Each family has its own story to be told. Recently, Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Brookline celebrated those personal stories with the Cherish Your Journey Balloon Release. This unique event brought together families, friends, and residents to reminisce. Thoughts of loved ones from the past and present were written down on tags and tied to buoyant balloons. These eco-friendly balloons were extra special, because they were illuminated from within to represent the lights that memories hold in our hearts. They also were filled with forget-me-not flower seeds to sprinkle the earth with “memories” to bloom in the spring. While residents and guests prepared the balloons, they also enjoyed freshly-baked chocolate bread and festive punch.

The program featured a reading of a poem that perfectly captured the evening’s theme:
Floating freely through the air

Is a special balloon with all my care,

That I have released to the skies above,

It’s really important – it carries my love.

So please be watching for it to come by,

This special balloon I released to the sky.

I know you’re in my heart, and that gives me peace.

So it’s with all my love, this balloon I release.

The event culminated with everyone donning warm coats and sweaters to release their balloons high into the night sky. Although the air was cold, hearts were warm.

The Sounds of Music

Anyone visiting us here at Juniper Village at Brookline would be hard-pressed not to feel the Holiday spirit, as the campus starts to come alive with abundant decorations and festive holiday dress. We recognize the importance of also focusing on spreading good cheer through song and fellowship as well.  On December 5th the hills and halls of Juniper Village at Brookline were filled with the sound of (holiday) music provided by the Nittany Knights Barbershop chorus. The Nittany Knights are a thirty-person auditioned men's a Capella chorus which specialize in a barbershop style, four-part harmony.  This harmonious group has been entertaining the Centre region for over fifty years and is always a crowd pleaser when they pay their special visits to our Community. Joining our festive residents in attendance of this special concert were local community members, family, friends, and anyone looking for help in finding their own holiday cheer.  All in attendance were treated to an evening of seasonal favorites in a toe tapping and finger snapping program.

A holiday celebration of music would not be complete without a proper seasonal spread of holiday delights.  Not wanting to be outdone by the wonderful sounds of the season our very own Dining Services Director, Kris Kishbaugh, joined in the festivities by providing a traditionally themed assortments of cheeses, pickled vegetables, house made chips and crab dip, cheesecake bites, and a sampling of local wines. Certainly a pairing of our favorite things to help remind all of us of the joy of the Holiday season.


So long, farewell, and the very merriest of holidays from your friends at Juniper Village at Brookline.