September 2015 Events in Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills include our:

§  Caregiver Support Group Meeting to gain support and education as this month we will discuss the benefits of socialization at our monthly support group meeting approved by the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and affiliated with the National Alzheimer’s Association on September 10^th at 1:30 pm.

§  Grandparents’ Day Social with a variety of delicious treats and musical entertainment by fan favorites, Liz and Duke, everyone is welcome to join us for this free event on September 13^th at 3:00 pm.

§  Seniors for Safe Driving Course seminar designed for drivers over the age of 55 who want to improve their driver’s safety and receive a 5% discount on their automobile insurance premium for 3 years after taking the course on September 29^th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. (RSVP to 1.800.559.4880; cost is $16.00 and pre-registration is required.)

§  Benefits of Laughter workshop to discover the many healthy benefits of laughter with local laughter coach, David Russell, and learn how laughter can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure and help lift your spirits on September 29^th at 2:30 pm.

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

Juniper Village at Forest Hills' Barnyard Petting Zoo

Juniper Village at Forest Hills has gone to the dogs, the pigs and the baby goats!! On Friday, August 14^th, Juniper Village at Forest Hills hosted a Barnyard Petting Zoo for our wonderful residents, deserving staff, and all their families.  As you can see, everyone had fun feeding the baby animals, and the residents particularly enjoyed reminiscing about the farms and animals they had when they were growing up.

Juniper Village at Forest Hills: Your Partner for Successful Outcomes

We want to be your partner of choice in the new shared savings environment. At Juniper Village at Forest Hills, we have been collecting critical data for nearly 10 years. For example, we closely monitor residents to assure successful returns from either the hospital or rehabilitation setting.

Another contributing factor to acute re-admissions is infections, in particular Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The senior population can be extremely susceptible to infections and proper care and monitoring is paramount. Our wellness response team is skilled in recognizing symptoms of UTI in order to provide proactive interventions that reduce the need for hospitalization.

Another common cause of both initial hospitalizations and rehospitalizations is medication errors. Changes to medication regime whether after a scheduled physician appointment or emergency hospitalization can leave patients confused about what medications are most current. Our wellness team is responsible for medication reconciliation and management, a process which virtually eliminates medication errors.

Communication is key and Juniper Village at Forest Hills takes communication to the next level through:
• Use of Electronic Health Records (Point Click Care)
• Optimized care transitions protocols
• Full implementation of INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers)
• Use of a highly recognizable and consistent transfer information packet
• Focus on resident and care giver education and engagement
• Individualized care and service

August 2015 Events in Pittsburgh, PA: Breathe in Life

As we continue our summer focus on Staying Connected, we devote our August 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village in Forest Hills to connecting to the Environment. One of our Signature Programs is the Green Canopy Program. This program is designed to support healthier living for our residents and staff through environmentally conscious communities and events. This program directly supports this month’s focus on the environment and our vision to make the world a better place, a place where each of us can live fully throughout all seasons of life.

Margaret Mead reminds us that “We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.” To that end, Juniper Village has created Green Teams in each of our communities to support our environmental initiatives by assisting with our recycling and energy efficiency programs – such as using CFL light bulbs and Energy Star rated appliances, while making suggestions for additional programs to increase quality of life and promote sustainability in our communities. Have you met your Juniper Village Green Team? This month during our August 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills our Green Teams will share their mission with the greater community by heading up initiatives to help others learn how to live a more sustainable life through our Wide-Scale Recycling Programs, our Environmental Stability Program and the Implantation of our Green Teams. Stop in for one of our educational programs, recycling and upcycling events or anything else that strikes your fancy this month with our August 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills as we Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills include our:

§  Caregiver Support Group Meeting approved by the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and are affiliated with the National Alzheimer’s Association as This month we will discuss how the environment can affect dementia patients, and ways to create a more calming environment for your loved one on August 12^th at 1:30 pm.

§  Baby Animal Petting Zoo with a visit from our friends at The Barnyard Petting Zoo to hold and feed baby rabbits, goats, lambs and pigs, and learn about the animals, how they are raised, and how best to care for them on August 14^th at 3:00 pm.

§  4th Annual Outdoor Summer Concert as this year we kick up our heels and dance to the sounds of Stampede, one of Pittsburg’s premier country/rock bands while residents and guests can also enjoy an outdoor BBQ and plenty of down home treats on August 20^th at 6:00 pm.

§  Diabetes Support Group Meeting each month for a variety of Diabetes related topics, speakers and tips, to discover how knowledge, education and understanding of the illness can make living with Diabetes a little easier on August 26^th at 1:30 pm.

§  The Bird Man Presentation as we experience the thrills and laughter of exotic birds when John Lege, better known as the Bird Man, brings us his unique bird show on August 28^th at 3:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our August 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills with you as we Breathe in Life.

We Love Volunteers!

On Thursday, July 16^th, Juniper Village at Forest Hills hosted a special Volunteer Appreciation Lunch. Residents, family members and guests gathered together to thank and acknowledge the many resident family members, community members and professionals this past year who have volunteered their time and energy to make Juniper Village a special place to live. "Volunteers help with all areas of the community including: activities, gardening, musical entertainment, and prayer services," stated Hope McDonough our Connections Director, "and we are grateful for their service."  More than a dozen volunteers attended, each receiving a beautiful certificate and gift of appreciation from the community.

4th of July at Juniper Village at Forest Hills

Here at Juniper Village at Forest Hills we celebrated the 4th of July a little early, on July 3rd. The fun started at noon with Juniper Village's dietary staff preparing a delicious summer seafood boil featuring shrimp, crab and corn on the cob. After lunch, local historian, Jeff Flohr provided us with a presentation on the history of the American Flag. Then later that afternoon our residents and guests were treated to a musical presentation by Dennis Smalley honoring all of the armed forces.  What a wonderful day for celebrating our country's history and honoring those who served!!

July 2015 Events in Pittsburgh, PA: Stand in Integrity

With our July 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills this month we kick off our summer quarter Alive In All Seasons theme “Stay Connected” where we will strive to stay connected to the community and the environment. Throughout July we will focus on staying connected to our community through Volunteerism, where we Stand In Integrity. The biggest and most visible benefit of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers work magic in unifying communities. Through volunteer work you are able to connect with your community on a deeper level and help to make it a better place to live and grow. But what we don’t always realize is that volunteering is a two-way street. Volunteers benefit as much as the causes they support. Through volunteering you make new friends, expand your professional, social and support networks and boost your social skills. So, give it a try and experience the benefits of giving of yourself.

If you are looking for opportunities to share your time, check with our Connections Directors to see what opportunities we have, or join us in one of our volunteer projects. Also plan to join us during our July 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills as we recognize our Ambassador Program, focus on our Resident Computer Center and training or any other calendar item that catches your eye.

Our fabulous July 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills include our:

§  American Independence BBQ because it just wouldn’t be Independence Day without an old fashioned cook out so bring some family or friends and join us as we celebrate the holiday with a traditional BBQ that costs just $5.00 for guests and is free for residents with a limit of 2 guests per resident and tickets are required for attendance on July 3^rd at noon.

§  History of the Flag Presentation as local Flag collector and historian, Jeff Flohr shares some surprising facts and information about our American Flag at an event that is free for residents and guests on July 3^rd at 1:30 pm.

§  Independence Day Celebration as we commemorate our great nation’s Independence with a patriotic and therapeutic musical presentation by local entertainer, Dennis Smalley, which is free for residents and guests although RSVPs are encouraged on July 3^rd at 3:30 pm.

§  Caregiver Support Group Meeting approved by the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and are affiliated with the National Alzheimer’s Association as this month we will discuss ways to connect with your loved one on July 8^th at 1:30 pm.

§  Diabetes Support Group Meeting as all Borderline, Pre, Type I and Type II Diabetics and their families are welcome to attend for a variety of Diabetes related topics, speakers and tips to learn how knowledge, education and understanding of the illness can make living with Diabetes a little easier on July 28^th at 1:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our July 2015 events in Pittsburgh, PA at Juniper Village at Forest Hills with you as we Stand in Integrity.