A Day in the Gem City

It was a perfect fall day filled with sunshine for the residents of Juniper Village at Meadville to go to Erie for lunch and a drive around Presque Isle State Park, a 7 mile stretch of public beaches, wetlands and fishing sites. They learned many fascinating facts about Erie and the peninsula like The City of Erie, Pennsylvania has had many names such as The Bay City, The Lake City & Gem City.  Erie is the name that stuck largely due to the lake but also because it was the name of the Native American tribe that once resided on the southern shore.  Nothing better than a visual to absorb a bit of our great states history.

November 2015 Events in Meadville, PA: Cherish The Journey

Family is a simple word, with complex meaning. To some family is the people you are related to by blood, but to some family is the people you choose to hold in high regard, and to others family isn’t people at all, but animals – our beloved pets.

Regardless of the definition, family plays an important role in our personal journey. As the saying goes, “Family is what you make it.” Whether made of blood relatives, friends, colleagues or pets, your family can offer you the support you need to thrive.

This month we celebrate family and reflect on our personal journeys while creating new memories for the future. Join us as we reminisce about these journeys through autobiographical journaling. Plan to share with those less fortunate through our annual food drive from November 1-30 with all non-perishable food items being donated to a local food bank. Also interact and share with others through our community support groups, and know that you are not alone. Throughout the month we will also be hosting several family events as we celebrate family and give thanks. We encourage you to review our calendar and join us for any or all of our events and Cherish The Journey!

Our fabulous November 2015 events in Meadville, PA at Juniper Village at Meadville include our:

§  Veterans Day Luncheon for a complimentary meal to help us cherish and thank our Veterans as we will be holding a Veterans service with a special guest speaker on November 11^th at 11:30 am. (RSVP to 814-333-4400 by November 5^th.)

§  AIAS Thanksgiving Dinner as we give thanks with family and friends for our Alive In All Seasons Thanksgiving Dinner that is free for residents and $5 for guests with kids 5 and under eating free on November 12^th at 4:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-333-4400 by November 6^th.)

§  Lunch and Learn Crawford County Historical Society for the Mead Family Genealogy Presentation to learn about the David Mead family genealogy at the historic David Mead Inn as you experience a special part of Meadville history with a complimentary lunch provided on November 20^th at noon. (RSVP to 814-333-4400 by November 15^th.)

We look forward to sharing our November 2015 events in Meadville, PA at Juniper Village at Meadville with you as we Cherish The Journey.

Oktoberfest

It was a gorgeous October evening here at Juniper Village at Meadville. The music was hoppin' and the lederhosen were stylin'. Oktoberfest has been a tradition since October 12, 1810 when the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese Von Sachsen-Hildbughausen was celebrated. Each year at Juniper Village, we like to keep the traditions alive with a polka band, a beer and a great time!

October 2015 Events in Meadville, PA: Show Your Colors

Every October we turn our Alive in All Seasons focus to holidays and sports as we “Keep the Spirit” during this last celebratory quarter of the year. Sporting events are inevitably part of that celebration for many families.

According to Dr. Renee Clauselle, founder of Child and Family Psychology, “Bonding over sports — the highs and lows of the game — strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things.” Think of sports as an opportunity to connect with others over a favorite – or even rival – team and learn more about each other. Even strangers can learn more about where they grew up, which teams they support, which sports they played and how those sports are different today. You may even learn something about your loved ones that you never knew. Perhaps great-grandma played softball in a women’s league during college. That would be something to pass along to future generations! Watching a sporting event can become so much more than plays and scores; it can become an opportunity to learn the history of someone you love.

Join us this month and “Show Your Colors” as we sponsor a local sports team, get into the spirit of the season with our Halloween Costume Party and honor those associates who go above and beyond with our annual Juniper Spirit Awards.

Our fabulous October 2015 events in Meadville, PA at Juniper Village at Meadville include our:

§  Oktoberfest Celebration featuring the Keystone Bavarians and social networking with delicious refreshments on October 8^th at 4:30 pm.

§  Lunch and Learn Seminar with Genesis Therapy about how to stay active in the later years and the benefits of continued physical fitness on October 16^th at noon.

§  Trick or Treat on Chestnut Street as Halloween is a favorite holiday for many and we all enjoy seeing the cute little children in their costumes on October 29^th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our October 2015 events in Meadville, PA at Juniper Village at Meadville with you as we Show Your Colors.

Nurturing Mind, Body, and Spirit with Juniper Village at Meadville

The residents at Juniper Village in Meadville had a great time learning the many benefits of laughter for the mind, body, and soul with Meg Maly of Asera Care Hospice. This was just one of our many featured events during National Assisted Living Week and part of our ongoing wellness programs.

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 Meadville’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.

September 2015 Events in Meadville, 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 Meadville, PA at Juniper Village at Meadville include our:

§  Laughter, Love and Friendship Dinner for a meal and a laugh as Meg Maly from AseraCare will speaks on the vibrancy you can have in life by inviting in love and friendship on September 10^th at 4:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-333-4400 by September 4^th.)

§  Dolls from Around the World with Nancy Manning from SouthernCare Hospice as she displays and presents information about dolls from around the world and all participants are encouraged to bring their own dolls that are special to them for sharing on September 15^th at 3:30 pm. (No RSVP required.)

§  Celebrating Friendships and the Little Things in Life Lunch and Learn with Pastor Kent from Cochranton Community Church will present on the importance of friendships and celebration in life as a complimentary lunch is served on September 15^th at 3:30 pm. (RSVP to 814-333-4400 by September 14^th.)

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