Dan Cohen comes to Naples!

Staff members of Juniper Village at Naples were privileged to meet Dan Cohen as he presented his wonderful program- Music & Memory  to the families and friends of the local Alzheimer’s Support Network in Naples, FL. Dan Cohen is the founding Executive director of Music & Memory, Inc. Juniper Village at Naples implemented the Music & Memory program in mid-2015 and the results have been remarkable! The Music & Memory program brings great joy, relaxation and fond memories to those residents with dementia.    

January 2017 Events in Naples, FL: 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 Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

§  Elvis’s Birthday Bash as we will be kicking off the New Year with a tribute to the King, because Elvis may have left the building, but we’ll be celebrating his birthday Elvis style with one of his favorite snacks, so “It’s Now or Never” to put on your “Blue Suede Shoes” and bring your “Teddy Bear” to this rock and roll party on January 9^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. (RSVP by January 3^rd to Dinelle at 239-598-1368.)

§  Family Support Group with Debbie Fulton of the Alzheimer’s Support Network, who will lead a very helpful and informative discussion on the Music and Memory program, and how music improves the quality of life by bringing joy and fond memories to those with memory impairment on January 10^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. (RSVP by January 8^th to Dinelle at 239-598-1368.)

We look forward to sharing our January 2017 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples with you as you Welcome New Beginnings.

Pinecones!! Pinecones!! Oh what fun!

Decorating your home with your family and friends is one of the most exciting things to do during the holiday season. Nature is one of the best places to look for craft inspirations. Incorporating nature into your home decoration is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday.  What better way to use a pinecones to give a natural touch to your home decors. Today we crafted a simple pinecone into a holiday tree. Oh, what fun we had with joyful holiday music and sipping cocoa with friends.

December 2016 Events in Naples, FL: Cherish the Journey

Juniper Village nurtures wellbeing by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit. This month this custom is more evident than ever as we share our celebratory spirit - mind, body and soul. December is a month filled with holidays and celebrations, but at Juniper we like to kick it up a notch! All around the community all of your senses will be stimulated as you see traditional holiday décor, hear joyous laughter and singing, smell heavenly treats baking and taste them as well. We will celebrate all the joyous little things that make this time of year so special. Traditions both old and new will be honored. And through sharing our numerous cultures and traditions with each other we will learn more about each other, opening the door to deeper understanding.

This month take a moment to reflect on the little things that bring joy to your life. Reminisce about the traditions from your past and the new traditions you have started with your family. Celebrate the holiday season with us as we share a bit of ourselves with our annual cookie exchange and ethnic holiday celebrations. December is always an eventful month and we look forward to sharing it with you.

Our fabulous December 2016 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

§  Holiday Sweets Exchange because with the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season, why not join us for a cup of cheer and delightful appetizers, then take home a fresh baked Holiday Sweet as our Thank you to you for all you do all year on December 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (RSVP by December 7th to 239-598-1368.)

§  Celebrate the Little Things Family Luncheon as we celebrate the season of renewal and hope, come and have a delicious lunch and celebrate the little things with old friends and new, and delight in the celebration of the Holidays with your Juniper Village family on December 21st from noon to 1:00 pm. (RSVP by December 14th to 239-598-1368.)

We look forward to sharing our December 2016 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples with you as you Cherish the Journey.

Honoring and Remembering our Veterans

November 11^th- a day set aside to Honor and Remember those men and women who have bravely fought for our Freedom. Juniper Village at Naples was privileged to honor 17 Veteran residents this November – with 6 residents serving in WWII. A proud moment as one of our own family members Veteran Ray O’Keefe respectfully honored his elder Veterans with a very heartfelt speech. At Juniper Village at Naples, we honor our Veterans not only on Veteran’s Day, but every day of the year, nurturing their Spirit of Life in all Seasons.  

Juniper Giraffes enjoy Elephant Fest at the Naples Zoo

Residents, staff and families of Juniper Village at Naples took a trip to the Naples Zoo hosted by the Alzheimer’s Support Network at the annual Elephant Fest. Lions, tigers and of course giraffe’s were just some of the wonderful animals that were seen along the beautiful walking paths within the zoo. What a wonderful sight to see so many Memory Care communities coming together to support such a worthy group and cause.  Juniper Village at Naples is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Support Network in support of our residents and families.

November 2016 Events in Naples, FL: Cherish the Journey

Each November we turn our attention to Family with our Alive In All Seasons Theme: Cherish the Journey. We have always enjoyed helping our residents chronical their individual life journeys through journaling. In addition to keeping track of the daily happenings in our lives, journaling has surprising health benefits as well. University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker contends that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. He also believes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of stress on your health. Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific evidence also shows that writing your thoughts down can help clarify your thoughts and feelings, help you to know yourself better, reduce stress, and problem solve more effectively. An additional benefit of journaling is that you are leaving a legacy for future generations. Review your journal together! Reminiscing about the events in one’s life is a way to affirm who they are, what they’ve accomplished in life and relive happy times. So, pick up a pen and Cherish the Journey, the benefits are endless!

Join our journey through November as we honor and celebrate family and the journey of life with our autobiographical journaling. Help us support our greater community with our annual Food Drive and our on-site support groups. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Our fabulous November 2016 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples include our:

§  Veteran’s Day Ceremony as we honor all who fought for our freedom and our rights, so please join us and Vitas Healthcare for this very special celebration to honor our brave and bold Juniper Village Veterans on November 10^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. (RSVP by November 7^th to 239-598-1368.)

§  Navigate the Memories Family Luncheon as we celebrate our Families from our family to yours, and cherish the journey that brought us together, so join us for a Thanksgiving feast, and please bring in a non-perishable food item to donate to our annual food drive on November 16^th from noon to 2:00 pm. (RSVP early and no later than November 9^th to 239-598-1368.)

§  Dietary and Lifestyle Intervention Strategies to Address Cognitive Decline because we should all cherish a healthy body as you journey into the world of nutrition with author and dietician, John Fitzsimmons, who will guide us through the strategies of healthy eating and lifestyle choices for mind, body and soul on November 16^th at 3:00 pm. (RSVP by November 10^th to 239-598-1368.)

We look forward to sharing our November 2016 events in Naples, FL at Juniper Village at Naples with you as you Cherish the Journey.