Coldwell Banker

Dave Schepner and his team from Coldwell Banker spread holiday cheer at Juniper Village at Meadville by delivering homemade blankets, shawls, and mittens to the senior residents.

Ho Ho Ho Merlot!

The Juniper Berries were busy again this year making wine for our holiday celebrations and Christmas giveaways.  After five years of practice, we completed a double batch of Pinot Grigio and Merlot this holiday season.

We are excited to begin our next batch.  Please join us in February for another community class on the "Art of Wine Making".  Thank you to Rich Pittner of Windy Hill Winery and those community members who have come out to enjoy our classes.  For more information call 814-333-4400 and ask for Jennifer Musone.

Beating the Holiday Blues/Changing Traditions

What are the little things that you can do to get you through the stresses of the Holidays?  Dr. Lisa May, psychologist, presented as part of the Alive in All Seasons Programming at Juniper Village at Meadville; “Holiday Blues: Managing Loss and Changing Traditions.”  Her discussion focused on ways to overcome the winter blues and tricks to deal with traditions lost or changed over the years.

The holidays can be a difficult time of year. The expectation’s we build up can be much different from our current reality, or we may be grieving the loss of a loved one or a way of life that we can no longer experience. These changes feel even more dramatic around the holidays, when it seems everyone around us has family events to plan or attend, or are knee deep in their list of holiday traditions. The holiday blues can be short lived, and pass with the taking down of the decorations, or linger well into the New Year. If you find you continue to feel sad, are not enjoying yourself, have low energy, and feel uncomfortable around others well past the holidays, it may be time to talk to a professional. The most important thing to remember about this time of year is that you will survive it. As you make your way through this difficult time in life, you will grow stronger for the experience.  The following are some suggestions for managing loss, and creating new traditions during this time of year.

1.      Give yourself permission to just be.  It’s ok to feel however you feel. There is no way that you “have” to be.

2.      Be kind to yourself. Get the rest that you need.  If you want to be alone, that is ok.  If you want to be around others, that is ok too.

3.      Accept help (and ASK for it if needed).  Recognize that you are not a burden.  Others get joy out of helping others. It is ok to tell people what you need – to talk, to be alone, someone to sit with you quietly.

4.      Find support.  If your family is unable to provide the support that you need, find it.  Support group, community staff, psychologists can all be resources for you.

5.      Avoid making comparisons.  It’s easy to watch other couples or families and think about what they have that you do not.  This will only make you feel worse.  Try to think of good memories that you have had or of your loved one.

6.      Remember you will survive.  You may not like it, but a new day will dawn and you WILL be stronger for making it through this time.

7.      When ready, incorporate a new tradition.  Elements of an old tradition may be incorporated into your newly developed traditions.

Lisa May, PhD, provides psychological services at Juniper Village at Meadville twice per month. She is a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Erie, PA, and consults with many facilities in Mercer, Crawford and Erie County. Her office can be reached at 814-877-8013 if you are interested in services for yourself or a family member.

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!

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 Beating Holiday Blues and Lost Traditions presentation by Dr. Lisa May, psychologist, on ways to overcome the winter blues and tricks to deal with traditions lost or changed over the years with a complimentary lunch on December 5^th at noon; our Alive in All Seasons: Holiday Celebration as friends and family of Juniper Village are invited to join in the festivities of the Holiday and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages as well as good entertainment on December 11^th from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm; our Juniper Jinglers Holiday Concert to celebrate the Season with the Juniper Jinglers as they perform some of our favorite holiday songs on December 18^th at 6:00 pm; or our Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit where the young and young-at-heart can have their picture taken with Jolly Old St. Nick on December 20^th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 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!

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 Center for Family Services anytime all month long; our Wine Making Class where we will teach you the art of creating various fermented fruit beverages on November 5^th at 3:30 pm; our Veteran’s Spaghetti Lunch honoring those who have served their country and protected our freedoms on November 11^th at noon; our Winter Safety Lunch and Learn featuring light refreshments and a presentation on staying healthy throughout the colder months by SouthernCare Hospice on November 13^th at noon; or our Journey Back to the Spirit of the David Mead Inn event where we reminisce over the storied past of our great community on November 20^th at 5:30 pm!

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!

Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation

Thursday, September 18^th Juniper Village at Meadville had friends from Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation visit, and they brought their friends of the feathered kind.  Did you know that a Peregrine Falcon can dive toward its prey at speeds exceeding 200 mph?  This was among the several facts that residents had learned from the up close encounters with the birds.  Other birds included a Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk and Screech Owls.  These animals are part of the education family at Tamarack, because they have been injured and rehabilitated, however their injuries have made it impossible for them to return to the wild.  Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation is solely funded by community donations.  Juniper provides programs like this to engage the mind of the residents and add to the several other quality activities available throughout the day.

Red Hats

Our ladies had a special treat this month for our Red Hat get together, a visit from none other than The Timeless Tootsies! If you are not familiar with them, they are a great group of ladies from Cambridge Springs, PA, who are all 60 or older and who dance to stay young. They joined us for our Red Hats "Fashion Show of Hats" event and graciously did the extremely difficult task of judging the custom designed hats that each lady had made. There was much laughter and dancing as they had a few of our ladies kicking their heels up while we continued the party with refreshments! I believe it's safe to say a great time was had by all.

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 Lunch and Learn on Sports Safety for a light lunch to discover safe techniques when playing sports and living an active lifestyle on October 7^th at noon (RSVP by October 6^th to 814-333-4400); our Senior Olympics where you can be the cheerleaders as residents from various senior communities compete in a variety of events on October 16^th at 2:00 pm; or our Trick-Or-Treat event when ghosts and goblins will be roaming Chestnut Street and Juniper Village will have its doors open to the children so you are welcome to donate candy or come pass out treats with the residents – costumes encouraged – on October 30^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm!

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

100 and Holding

Juniper Resident, Paul Reese celebrated his 100^th Birthday on September 19, 2014.  Mr. Reese has been a resident at Juniper Village for the last six years and is quite spry in his golden years.  From driving a car to bailing hay at the family farm to this day, he continues to live life to the fullest and is still going strong.  He attributes his strength to a good country living and his daily resistance band workouts.   

Family and friends gathered at Juniper on his birthday to not only celebrate but reminisce through the years of Paul’s life.  Paul’s first car was a 1930 Ford Coupe.  This was disclosed in a previous interview about Paul in the Meadville Tribune.  A local community resident, Mark Kilburn and Paul’s niece Lori Soff had a vision to see that Paul had the opportunity to go for a ride in his first car on his birthday.  With multiple hands, the vision became a reality and Paul received his ride in a restored 1930 Ford Coupe driven by Les Meacham.  “It made me feel so young again,” stated Paul.  

In addition to the car ride, Paul also received a Proclamation from Senator Bob Robbins office and the Mayor of Meadville, Christopher Soff.  September 14^, 2014 was officially named “Paul Reese” day in the city of Meadville.  All the residents and associates, along with Paul’s family enjoyed a slide show created by Executive Director Jennifer Musone.  The slide show displayed photographs of Paul from infancy through his 100^th Birthday as the song “Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers played.  Special historical facts about the year 1914 and cake were enjoyed at the continual celebration.

We were all truly blessed to be able to celebrate this special day with Paul and look forward to many more upcoming one hundred birthday celebrations.

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 Music and Meditation Lunch and Learn at the Lafayette Tavern on September 9^th at noon; our “A Night Down 42^nd Street” Broadway Performance as part of our Alive in All Seasons Friends and Family Dinner on September 11^th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm; our Come Meet Your Emergency Personnel Lunch and Learn honoring local First Responders on September 19^th at noon; or our Emergency Preparedness Seminar in conjunction with Force Growth LLC and Crawford County Emergency Management which is open to all community members especially small business owners and residents on September 25^th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

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

Juniper Village at Meadville keeps the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Going

Juniper Village at Meadville was nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by Juniper Village at Lebanon, which they completed on Friday, August 22nd. We decided to keep the love going in the Juniper family and have nominated Juniper Village at Shenango and Juniper Village at Williamstown!!!!!!!!!!!!! We also nominated our local Meadville City Police Station (I'm sure they will be super excited heehee). Technically you are supposed to have 24 hours to complete the challenge but I think 24 business hours would probably be ok!!! We are going to take a collection among our associates and ourselves to donate money to alsa.org as well. Can't wait to see your videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juniper Community Awards Recognition

"There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."     Ronald Reagan

In July we celebrate "Volunteerism".  This month we acknowledged our volunteers here at Juniper Village with a Volunteer Breakfast, educated our community  on becoming  Hospice Volunteers, educated community members on the Retired Volunteer Senior Program, and made pies for a community service project in Conneautville, PA.

At Juniper, we also believe in acknowledging others for sticking their necks out over and beyond.  On July 23, we held a Volunteer Recognition Ceremony along with a Wine and Cheese Ceremony for several community members.  Executive Director, Jennifer Musone & Christa Battin, President of the Meadville Chamber of Commerce acknowledged each honoree with a special written bio and plaque for their community service.

We enjoyed  and were honored to have so many other community members come out to recognize these special citizens as well.  The following individuals were recognized for their commitment and dedication to our community:

Mark Kilburn - Current Insurance Broker/Consultant for the DJB Group and former Free-lance Writer for the Meadville Tribune.  His "Personality Profiles" made so many people feel special and important.

Kim Lengling - United States Air Force Veteran  and Co-Founder of the local non-profit organization "Embracing Our Veterans".  Kim also is the owner of a local marketing consultant organization, Full Circle Events, LLC.  Her love for the Veteran goes over and beyond!

PAWS Pet Therapy - Ruth Prest and Sue Anderson - This exceptional group  of over 70 trained dogs provides exceptional pet therapy to our Elder's here at Juniper Village but also to many other local nursing facilities, schools, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations.

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!

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Tom Ridge Environmental Center Trip to learn about the ecosystem and subjects related to Presque Isle State Park on August 11^th at 9:30 pm; our Silver Splash Water Exercise at the YMCA featuring no-impact aerobics designed specifically for older adults on August 12^th at 12:30 pm; our Crawford County Fair Trips for delicious traditional foods, music, and truck and tractor pulls on August 18^th and 19^th; or our Butterfly Presentation where you can learn more about the life cycle and environmental importance of the beautiful insects on August 25^th at 3:00 pm. Take a look at our calendar and join us for any and all activities that will help you make the most of these last few weeks of summer.

Pet Therapy at the Conneaut Lake Bark Park

The therapeutic use of pets as companions has gained increasing attention in recent years for a wide variety of patients such as the elderly.  Unlike people, with whom our interactions may be quite complex and unpredictable, animals provide a constant source of comfort and focus for attention. Animals bring out our nurturing instinct. They also make us feel safe and unconditionally accepted. We can just be ourselves around our pets.  Research has shown that pet ownership can:  reduce stress-induced symptoms, lower blood pressure,  bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction, and  add years to your life.

Resident's of Juniper Village at Meadville enjoyed an outing to the Conneaut Lake Bark Park to enjoy a day of Agility Trials.  Thank you to the Conneaut Lake Bark Park for providing a day of fun and therapy for our residents.  Our next trip to the Bark Park will be to attend the upcoming "Doggy Marriage Ceremony".

 Who would have thought Pet Therapy could become so creative?  We encourage all you dog lover's to go and visit the Bark Park.  What a terrific asset to the local community!

Juniper Village at Meadville Welcomes Two New Associates

Renee Peterson as Connections Director and Brenton Steiger as Director of Community Relations

Juniper Village at Meadville is excited to welcome Renee Peterson and Brenton Steiger to their family of associates. “Renee and Brenton are wonderful additions to our team here in Meadville,” says Jennifer Musone, Executive Director. “Their energy and positive outlook on life will enhance our everyday operations and interactions with the residents and community.”

Renee Peterson, started June 17. She is in charge of developing a monthly calendar of activities and outings for the residents. Prior to Juniper, she was an activities aide in a nursing home for three years. When she first began in the industry, she didn’t think she could make it past her first day. But, her love of people and wanting them to experience the joy and purpose in the life they have left kept her in the industry.

Being in charge of activities, she hopes to bring more intergenerational events and opportunities to Juniper Village. Also, she wants to increase the number of outings each month in which the residents can participate. She will be looking at what works, what draws people to participate, and what doesn’t. Renee will also be getting feedback on the activities from the resident council.

Renee grew up in Hadley and now resides in Cochranton with her family. Her 9 ½ year old daughter Faith, loves going to Juniper and talking to the residents. She is always excited to be at the community.

Brenton Steiger started at Juniper Village at Meadville on June 18. He is the new Director of Community Relations and as such, will be providing tours and working on admissions for Juniper. He has a 12 year history in the health care field in several venues including home medical equipment, long term care, acute care, skilled nursing facilities, and personal care communities.

He is especially interested in being able to make true connections with the residents living at Juniper Village and their families. Brenton will be heavily engaged in promoting Juniper and its services, growing the community, and forging relationships between Juniper and the Meadville community-at-large.

Brenton is excited to be back in Meadville as he too grew up in the vicinity. He now resides in Vanango.

Why Transition to a Plant-Based Diet?

Juniper Village at Meadville held a Lunch and Learn with Leslie Blake of Leslie Blake Studio’s and Plant Based Nutrition Consultant.  Our community members enjoyed a free plant based lunch prepared by Leslie Blake and learned about the food and the healing power it provides when eating nutrient-dense plant-based foods.

Plant-based nutrition is consuming a diet of whole plant foods including whole grain products, legumes, vegetables and fruits that provide all the nutrients that the human body requires:  carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and sufficient calories. Did you know that many chronic illnesses can be linked to our meat, dairy, and fat-laden western diet?  Diseases such as:  heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and digestive disorders can be reduced, controlled or reversed by adopting a plant-based diet. 

The world is full of information and misinformation.  It can be challenging and overwhelming to separate what is true and what is not.  Leslie can help you achieve your health and nutrition goals as well as clear some confusion.  For more information on Plant Based Nutrition, please visit Leslie’s Facebook page, “Leslie Blake Studio’s” or call 814-967-3010.

Stand in Integrity: July Events

July is the month in which we celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks, cook outs and by cherishing our own personal freedoms. Nelson Mandela reminds us “to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” In that spirit join us as we honor those who “Stand in Integrity.”

Dr. Barbara Killinger, PhD, offers this definition of integrity: “Integrity is a personal choice, an uncompromising and predictably consistent commitment to honor moral, ethical, spiritual and artistic values and principles.” To “Stand in Integrity” does not mean that you are flawless or perfect, it means that you admit your shortcomings; you have influence, not because people like you, but because people trust you, believe you, and follow you.

We will also celebrate this month’s Alive in All Seasons theme of Volunteerism by volunteering our time to others, honoring those who volunteer with us, including our Resident Ambassadors; and learning more about volunteer opportunities in the greater community.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Alive in All Seasons Dinner and Hospice Volunteer Presentation featuring a fabulous supper and a discussion on how you can make a positive impact on other’s lives through volunteering on July 10^th at 5:45 pm; our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast where we invite all of you who have volunteered with us to enjoy a tasty meal with a hearty side of gratitude on July 12^th at 9:00 am; our Retired Senior Volunteer Program Lunch and Learn where you can dine on delicious fare while hearing about a great opportunity to socialize and share your skills with others on July 18^th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm; or our Community Volunteer Awards Recognition Wine and Cheese Reception where we will award several community members who have gone over and beyond in making people feel nurtured on July 23^rd at 5:00 pm. Take a look at our calendar and join us for any and all activities that will help you make the most of these last few weeks of summer. 

Cultivating Purpose

There are more to gardens than just plants and soil.  A therapeutic garden allows opportunity for renewed mental and physical growth.  Our Juniper Gardens allow our residents a space that is designed to meet their  physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.  Our plant-filled environment gives our residents purpose.  It allows them to continue there cultivating journey as they transition into our home-like environment at Juniper Village.

Our gardens are nurtured daily by our residents.  As part of our Green Canopy program, our residents have the opportunity to enjoy their harvest as well as share with family and friends.  Come watch us bloom!

Camping Juniper Style!

The warm weather has finally arrived and the campfires are beginning to roar.  Every summer our Juniper residents look forward to weekly campfires outside.   If you enjoy s'mores, hot dogs, hobo pies, etc., this is an event you do not want to miss.  We may even include some good old campfire tunes to add some spice.

Resident, Katherine Hart states, "This is the best time I have had in ten years!"  Katherine roasted multiple marshmallows for her neighbors as she really enjoyed her time reminiscing about the good old days.  Who says you still cannot enjoy some good sticky fingers from time to time.

Watch your monthly calendar for our evening campfires (weather permitting).  All families and friends are welcome to join in for some fun!