Back To The 50's Again

The house and all of our residents were rocking last night (Thursday, January 29, 2015) with Juniper Village at Forest Hills "Back To The 50's Again" sock hop. This is our 4th year for hosting the sock hop, and each year it gets bigger and better.  Thanks to decorations, The dining room was magically transformed into an old fashioned diner and everyone dined on hamburgers, french fries and ice cream sundaes. The staff and guests were dressed in their bobby socks and poodle skirts, and we all sang along and danced all night to local Elvis impersonator, Randy Galioto's musical tribute to Elvis, the King of Rock-and-Roll!!   As you can see, it was a great time!!

Music Around the World

January is Music Month here at Juniper Village at Forest Hills.  Throughout the month our residents and visitors have been exploring the many ways in which music brings us joy.  Whether it be through listening and learning about the many different types of music like classical European music, Greek, Indian, Japanese, Native American and Australian music; playing an instrument, or getting up to dance.... Music is a part of our lives each and every day.

Juniper Village at Forest Hills: Our Clinical Outcomes Speak forThemselves

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 re-hospitalizations 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

Contact us today to see how we can assist you in managing your patient transitions.

Welcome New Beginnings: January Events

Welcome to 2015! What a wonderful time for us to reflect on the past year and forge ahead with new beginnings. January is a time for change when we make and sometimes break our New Year’s resolutions and focus on what we want to make better 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! 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. Hospitals are using music to help cancer patients manage stress and anxiety and to ease recovery in stroke patients.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Sound Therapy Techniques presentation with local Yoga instructors Gallina and Mike to learn how sounds can help with meditation and relaxation on January 9^th at 3:00 pm; 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 this month we will discuss how changing your approach can help you achieve desired results from a loved one with memory loss on January 14^th at 1:30 pm; our Benefits of Music Therapy event with  board certified music therapist Jessica Mull from Mull Music Therapy demonstrating how music can address the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of senior on January 23^rd at 3 pm; our Seniors For Safe Driving Refresher Course a  1/2 day seminar is only $16.00 and is designed for drivers over the age of 55 who have already taken the initial course and want to continue to receive a 5% discount on their automobile insurance premiums on January 27^th 9 am to noon (RSVP to 1-800-559-4880); our Back To The 50’s Again Sock Hop with local Elvis Presley impersonator Randy Galioto in “Elvis: A Tribute To The King” for an old fashioned Sock Hop musical performance and dinner that is free for residents and just $5.00 for guests and everyone is encouraged to dress in 50’s style clothing with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society on January 29^th at 5:00 pm (RSVP to 412-244-9901 by January 21^st)!

Look through our calendar and 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 habit of joining us for activities and events throughout the year!

Celebration of Trees Holiday Display

Juniper Village at Forest Hills is pleased to announce that the first, second and third place winners have been selected for their 6th Annual Celebration of Trees Holiday Display.

Third Place Winner and recipient of a $25.00 donation to the charity of their choice was Caring Hospice with their Snowman Tree. Second Place Winner and recipient of a $25.00 donation to the charity of their choice was Juniper Village's Nursing Department with their Candy Cane Tree, and the First Place Winner and recipient of a $250.00 donation to the charity of their choice went to The Garden Club of McKeesport with their Gardening Tree.

This year over 31 local businesses and organizations decorated uniquely designed trees and competed for over $375.00 in prize money for the charity of their choice.

The display is open daily from 9am till 8pm and runs until January 4th. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and vote for their favorite tree. One final prize of $50.00 will be awarded for the People's Choice Award, and will be given to the tree with the most votes.

For more information about The Celebration of Trees Holiday Display, contact Juniper Village at 412-244-9901. Juniper Village at Forest Hills is located just off of Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills at 107 Fall Run Road.

Pictured are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Celebration of Trees Holiday Display Winning Entries.

Representing the second place winner, Candy Cane Tree is Juniper Village at Forest Hills Wellness Director, Marie Pottinger (L) and Debbie Sklenar (R).

Representing the Garden Club of McKeesport with their First Place winning entry is member and tree decorator, Barbara Batyko (R) and incoming Garden Club president, Jane Miller (L).

December was a Busy Month at Juniper Village at Forest Hills

There was never a dull moment this month at Juniper Village at Forest Hills. The holiday festivities started early with our 6th Annual Celebration of Trees Holiday Display in the first floor lobby. This year,we had over 31 unique Christmas Trees all decorated in different themes by local businesses and organizations competing for prizes valued at over $375.00 for their charities. If you haven't had a chance to visit, stop by and vote for your favorite. The trees will be on display till January 4th.

The community was ringing with joyful sounds as singers and performers from the Braddock Propel High School, Trinity Lutheran Church School's Elementary and High School students, the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and the Woodland Hills Junior High School's Gifted Program's performed for the residents.

On Thursday, December 18 we held our Annual Family Holiday Celebration. Over 60 Guests, visitors and family members enjoyed a delicious holiday meal prepared by our Dietary Department, and fabulous entertainment by the Tuesday Musical Club's 22 piece Orchestra.

We had presenters from the Frick Mansion & Museum talking about Victorian Christmas Traditions, presentations on Christmas Holiday Traditions From Around the World, the History of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Traditions, the Making of Holiday Gingerbread Houses.... And somehow....among all of the many other activities... we found time for Santa to visit!!

Whew!! December was a busy month here at Juniper Village at Forest Hills....and we know it has been just as busy for you. But we hope that through all of our activities, programs, dinners and events, we were able to spread a little bit of holiday joy to you and your loved ones.

So, from our family to yours.... may you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

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!