Come on a Safari with me!

The Kowiachobee Animal Preserve came to Juniper Village at Naples! We saw a skunk, a Cockatoo, and some even held a snake! Residents and families enjoyed this educational hands-on experience. We had plenty of Jungle food on hand, including a delicious animal cracker snack mix! Of course, we also enjoyed healthy vegetable sticks with fresh fruit and cheese. A wild time was had by all!

June 2015 Events in Naples, FL: Live in Wellness

We close this quarter’s theme of Healthy Aging: “Let Wellbeing Thrive” with a focus on Food, as we Live in Wellness through our June 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples. Hippocrates advises, “Let food be thy medicine”. Research shows that eating a well-planned, balanced mix of foods every day has many health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. But, food has other benefits. There are also emotional needs that are satisfied by food. Most of us have fond memories of food from days gone by. Whether it was our mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies, a hotdog from a street vendor or our wedding cake, food has a way of transporting us back to the past. It is in that spirit that Juniper’s dining program is called the H’art and Soul of Dining. The philosophy is that we impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through the sharing of good food. In addition to meeting our resident’s unique nutritional needs, we also meet their emotional and social needs as well.

Join us for our June 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples to share in our hydration program, complete with healthy snacks and learn more about healthy food and wellness with our dietitian presentations as we continue to Live in Wellness.

Our fabulous June 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

§  Celebrating Dad Family Luncheon with Juniper Village at Naples’ Father’s Day Western BBQ to enjoy some good ol’ BBQ including baked beans, corn bread and coleslaw, so put on your cowboy hat and ride over on June 17^th from noon to 1:00 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368 by June 11^th.)

§  Peanut Butter and Jelly Happy Hour because during the school year, Collier county school district makes sure that every child receives a lunch and doesn’t go hungry, even if they can’t afford it, but during the summer months that doesn’t happen, so bring in jars of peanut butter and jelly to help those in need on June 25^th from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our June 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples!

2015 Juniper Leadership Conference Awards

Juniper celebrated its 27^th anniversary this year.  Each year communities are honored for their achievements in critical operational and financial areas.

Awards were presented at the 2015 Juniper Leadership Conference, held this year in Baltimore’s historic inner harbor.  Awards were presented by Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, and Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training & Operational Oversight.

At the recent Juniper leadership conference, Juniper Village at Naples was presented the Juniper Referral Outreach Award in recognition of achieving the highest number of Assisted Living referrals in 2014.

May 2015 Events in Naples, FL: Grow Strong Daily

Fitness is on our mind during our May 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples with our Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily”. As you know, physical activity is good for you both physically and mentally. Regular physical activity can help you to continue to do the things you love and stay independent as you age. Exercise can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and reduce symptoms of some chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and balance issues.

But, if exercise has not been a part of your daily routine how do you take that first step? Start by making it fun! Turn a walk around the block into a scavenger hunt – search for daffodils, birds, squirrels or lucky pennies. Instead of a dip in the pool, create an adventure as you pretend to swim with the dolphins. Rather than send your co-worker an email, walk to her office and communicate face to face, double the benefit with a smile! What’s important is to make it fun and just start – today!

 

Join us for our May 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples as we will Grow Strong Daily with Fitness Five, and walk “cross country” with our Route 66 Walking Program and learn more about keeping our hearts fit at our Healthy Heart Luncheon. We look forward to sharing these and many other activities with you this month. Peruse this month’s calendar, and we will see you soon!

Our fabulous May 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

§  Celebrating Mom Family Luncheon so come enjoy a delightful meal and delightful company with mom while you take a stroll through the “garden” and dine with us “el fresco” as we enjoy wonderful dishes from nature’s bounty on May 8^th at noon. (RSVP to 239-598-1368)

§  Friends of Debbie Family and Friends Support Group hosted by Debbie Fulton of the Alzheimer’s Support Network for this month’s topic of Communication and Levels of Dementia while light refreshments are served on May 13^th at 2:30 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368)

§  Blessing of the Veterans to show your support and honor our Veterans, as we celebrate the men and women that served our country with Chaplain Jim Fondriest of Vitas Hospice who will conduct this honorable ceremony so exercise your right to wear your Red, White and Blue, and join us for a most memorable afternoon on May 20^th at 2:30 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368)

We hope to see you at one or more of our May 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples!

April 2015 Events in Naples, FL: Believe in Yourself

Welcome to April - the name derived from the Latin word Aperire meaning “to open”; the month when everything starts to bloom and come alive. What better time to really put forth your best efforts and see the true beauty inside than the month in which everything begins anew! Diana Ross, in the Wiz, advises “believe in yourself, right from the start. You'll have brains; you’ll have a heart; you’ll have courage to last your whole life through if you believe in yourself.” So let’s put our best foot forward, believe in ourselves and we can move mountains!

Join us for our April 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples as we pull pranks on April Fool’s Day; honor Jesus Christ on Good Friday, followed by hiding Easter eggs; celebrate the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery on Passover; and celebrate mother earth on Earth Day and Arbor Day. Peruse this month’s calendar as we focus on the brain through our Daily Brain Builders, Wii tournaments and our Healthy Brain Luncheon. Plan to join us for any and all events. Also, check out our Healthy Aging Resource Library to learn more about the brain or any number of health related topics. We look forward to seeing you during this fun filled month.

Our fabulous April 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

Ø  Spring Time Healthy Luncheon for we need more than nutrients essential; our human brains, have so much potential; assorted berries, a memory boost; apples protect us, cancers reduced; cherries fight inflammation; dark chocolate boosts our circulation; oysters provide us with plenty of zinc; aging and healing, there is a link; eggs and fish, will build our brains; all these foods, have countless gains; come feast and learn on April 15^th from noon to 1:00 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368 by April 8^th)

Ø  Healthy Habits Healthy You discussion led by Dr. Catherine Cruikshank, director of education from the Florida Gulf coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s association, to show you how healthy habits can mean a healthier body and brain on April 21^st from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368 by April 21^st)

Ø  Kowiachobee Animal Preserve Happy Hour to enjoy refreshments and drinks while meeting the animals and getting up close with Ricky the Tortoise, Sidney the Cockatoo or Baby the Skunk as the animal keepers let you in on some interesting stories on April 23^rd from 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm. (RSVP to 239-598-1368 by April 16^th)

We hope to see you at one or more of our April 2015 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples!

Juniper Communities Introduces Theralink for Onsite Integrated Therapy at Juniper Village at Naples

Juniper Communities, a national owner-operator of Juniper Village senior living communities, is rolling out Theralink in all its facilities, and locally at Juniper Village at Naples. Theralink is an on-site program designed to help residents regain and maintain independence, fitness and overall wellbeing. It is being implemented through a newly established partnership between Juniper Communities and Genesis Rehab Services.

“Rehabilitation, restorative services, and fitness are vital to healthy aging and whole person wellness,” explains Lynne Katzmann, CEO and Founder of Juniper Communities. “Coordinated with other clinical services permits, Juniper will be able to provide integrated post-acute care onsite at the communities through Theralink. This is especially important for Juniper’s residents who want and need more intensive rehabilitation services in their ‘home’.”

Grant Welson, Area Director for Genesis Rehab Services states, “Juniper is taking an industry lead by creating Theralink to offer onsite therapy services where they are integrated into everyday patient care. Feedback from preliminary implementation from Juniper’s residents has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The Theralink program will provide physical, occupational, speech, and when needed respiratory therapy that is integrated into the care Juniper currently delivers. Elements of Theralink include special balance and strength training, and fall prevention programs; technology and apps that facilitate and record personal fitness training; dementia management programs that integrate cognitive and occupational therapies; cardiopulmonary management; and monthly assessment reports.

March 2015 Events in Naples, FL: 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 Naples, FL we will be exploring that treasure at Juniper Village at Naples - 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 Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples we end our Creative Expressions Series with a focus on Performance. Please join us during our March 2015 events in Naples, FL 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 Naples, FL include our The Calendar Girls Performance by a song and dance team made up of 30 delightfully dangerous, doggie-lovin divas who will delight us with their song and dance performance on March 12^th at 3:00 pm; our St. Patrick’s Day Family Luncheon may the road rise up to meet you and may the wind always be at your back on your way here as it’s time for the wearin’ of the green at a delicious Irish lunch with family and friends on March 17^th at noon; or our Veteran Pinning Ceremony as we honor those that served our country with The Collier County Honor flight and a special performance by Curt Smythe of patriotic tunes for all to sing along on March 25^th at 3:00 pm.  Please RSVP for these events by calling 239-598-1368.

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