Treasure the Memories of Friends

Juniper Village at the Shenango Inn celebrated National Assisted Living week with the residents and their friends and families with a, “Friendship Luncheon”.  A dessert bar was set up in the activities room, where Chef Nathan Reed prepared an array of deserts, including, mini caramel apples, chocolate cupcakes, mini lemon cheesecakes and mini cappuccino cheesecakes.  Juniper even welcomed in our furry friends to come and celebrate with us!  “Friends are the most important part of your life, treasure the tears, laughter, but most importantly the memories” – Author Unknown.

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 the Shenango Inn’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.

Buhl Day Parade

The Annual Buhl Day parade on Labor Day, that began back in 1916 here in Sharon, Pa, went off with a bang!  It was a beautifully hot, sunny day for the residents of Juniper Village at the Shenango Inn who enjoyed watching  the local marching bangs, community groups, fire trucks and more pass by.  It was special for each of them that attended to see a grandchild or other family member, that was performing in the parade.   And of course catching some sweet tasting candy was a bonus for all!  

September 2015 Events in Sharon, 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 Sharon, PA at Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn include our:

§  Healthy Chat with Genesis Rehab with our theme of Get Hip Don’t Slip as we learn more about ways to prevent falls especially during the winter months on September 2^nd at 3:00 pm.

§  Buhl Labor Day Parade Festivities as we enjoy this break from our labors and watch the marching bands and other revelers on September 7^th at 9:30 am.

§  Friendship Family Luncheon to enjoy a nice delicious meal with family and friends on September 17^th at noon.

§  Phil Crosson Magic Show for surprising and whimsical entertainment featuring slight-of-hand tricks of the trade on September 17^th at 6:00 pm.

§  Van Trip to Apple Castle as we celebrate the coming fall season in traditional fashion with fresh tasty treats and warm fellowship on September 22^nd at 1:00 pm.

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

Juniper Village at the Shenango Inn: Your Partner for Successful Outcomes

We want to be your partner of choice in the new shared savings environment. At Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn, 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.

The ability to manage pressure ulcers is key to minimizing hospitalizations. Low rates of facility acquired pressure ulcers are the result of a high level of wellness/clinical oversight and an indicator of quality care and service.

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 The Shenango Inn 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 Sharon, PA: Breathe in Life

As we continue our summer focus on Staying Connected, we devote our August 2015 events in Sharon, PA at Juniper Village in The Shenango Inn 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 Sharon, PA at Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn 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 Sharon, PA at Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn as we Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2015 events in Sharon, PA at Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn include our:

§  Sharon Fire Department Fundraiser with a spaghetti dinner plus a Chinese Auction and 50/50 drawing with all monies raised going directly to the Sharon Fire Department to help them purchase a new Fire Truck on August 6^th at 5:00 pm. (RSVP to 724-347-4000.)

§  Sip n’ Paint to benefit our local Alzheimer’s Association with Wonderstruck from Canfield, OH, who will provide all the materials and instruction while wine, cheese and crackers are served for the cost of $40 and payment is due at time of reservation on August 31^st at 6:00 pm. (RSVP to 724-347-4000.)

We look forward to sharing our August 2015 events in Sharon, PA at Juniper Village at The Shenango Inn with you as we Breathe in Life.

Paint and Sip Event

The Twilight Wish Foundation of Mercer County held a Paint and Sip event at Juniper Village at the Shenango Inn, raising money for their elder community.  Twilight Wish is an organization that grants wishes to seniors age 68 and above that may not have the financial means.  Such wishes include anything from hearing aides to a new television or even a trip to somewhere special.  Fifty five generous people came out to the event last night, which helped to raise more wishes for future senior recipients.   The next Twilight Wish fundraiser event will be October 8^th at Juniper Village; it will be a Comedy Dinner Night.  For more information about events held at Juniper Village, please contact Christa Cicuto at 724-347-4000.