Spearly Celebrates the Little Things

Every year the Spearly residents look forward to receiving holiday gifts from several volunteer organizations within the community. This partnership has been very successful. The gift wrapping gathering provides an opportunity for leadership to share holiday stories while nurturing the spirit of life in their wonderful community.

Celebrate The Little Things 2014 Holiday Party at the Spearly Center

The Holidays are always a very special time at The Spearly Center.  On December 18^th we held our very festive Celebrate The Little Things Holiday Party.  The hot chocolate was warm and toasty, the live entertainment from Just The Two Of Us was delightful and fun, and there was plenty of holiday cheer to be spread by residents, family members and staff alike.  This time of year, the little things in life become a little more special for everyone.  From our home to yours… Happy Holidays from The Spearly Center. 

No-Shave November At Spearly

No-Shave November is a unique way to raise cancer awareness.   What better way to grow awareness than with some hair?  The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.  Here at The Spearly Center, we support all who are affected by cancer.  Residents and staff alike always look forward to this annual cause.

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!

Spearly Sidekicks

Every September, the Alive In All Seasons theme is Friendship: Spread Your Joy.  Here at the Spearly Center, we have the Spearly Sidekicks program.  Each staff member is paired with a resident and acts as the resident’s Spearly Sidekick, providing advocacy, encouragement and companionship.  Every September we celebrate the Spearly Sidekicks program with our annual Spearly Sidekicks Photo Shoot, where residents and their Sidekicks dress up in wacky costumes for portraits.  This year, Jerry Lucero enjoyed his picture with his sidekick Cathy so much, he decided to re-create it in a drawing.  Jerry, commenting on the program, stated, “Cathy makes me laugh when we hang out.”  Cathy replied, “I enjoy hanging out with Jerry.  He makes me smile, and I love watching him do his art work.”  

Celebrate Little Things: December Events

This month is all about celebrations! Not only will we be celebrating holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, but we will also celebrate the little things that make life worthwhile. Little things such as the reassuring touch of a friend’s hand, a kind word from an acquaintance and a warm smile from a stranger.

In our all too busy lives we sometimes forget to honor the simple things in life that bring us peace and joy. Most experts recommend that we allow 10-20 minutes of relaxation and stress relief each day. Making time for that can even be a stressful experience! During this busy month of baking, shopping, visitors and juggling tasks take time to remember what is really important.

Here are some tips to keep holiday stress in check: Acknowledge your feelings - you are not alone as holiday stress is not uncommon. Be realistic with expectations - you can only do so much, learn to say no. Ask for help when needed - everyone wants to be needed and may feel more included by being able to contribute. Plan ahead to minimize unplanned expenses and tasks. Take a breather - take a walk at night and do some stargazing, listen to soothing music, or get a massage. Above all enjoy all the holidays have to offer by sharing time with others.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Tree Trimming Social: Traditions and More to join us in our cozy country store for fresh pastries and a warm beverage as we decorate our tree in a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends while enjoying holiday favorites from Daniel on the piano on December 4^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; our Celebrate the Little Things: Holiday Party for great music, tasty cuisine and good company with music provided by our favorite duo” Just the Two of us” and door prizes to get you in the party mood on December 18^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; or our Culinary Cultural Foods of the World  as we come together to prepare tasty dishes from the Virgin Islands, Haiti, Mexico, Ghana, France and the United States, and  hear music from around the world while sampling theses tasty treats on December 29^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm!

Look through our calendar and join us during the busy month of December for our annual cookie exchange and holiday celebrations. Take time to Celebrate Little Things with those you love!

Fun At Hill’s Harvest Farm & Pumpkin Patch

October is always a great time of year at The Spearly Center.  On October 22^nd Spearly residents visited Hill’s Harvest Farm & Pumpkin Patch.  It was a beautiful, crisp autumn day.  Pumpkins of all sizes were picked which were used for carving, decorating and pumpkin bowling.  Additionally, everyone enjoyed a tractor-pulled hayride.

Cherish the Journey: November Events

Life is a journey filled with lessons, celebrations and special moments that ultimately lead us to our destination, our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth and we may encounter many challenges. Some of these will test our courage, strengths, weaknesses, and faith. Along the way, we may stumble upon obstacles that must be overcome. But, sometimes these obstacles are really blessings in disguise, although we may not realize it at the time. How we react to the situations we face will determine what the rest of our journey will be like.

This month Juniper Communities will honor our Families and cherish the journey we have taken together. November is all about celebrating the bonds we share and recognizing where we’ve been and where we’re going. We will do this through autobiographical journaling, reminiscing about family celebrations and breaking bread together in Thanksgiving. In order to support our families along this journey we will continue to develop our support groups and provide additional resources when needed. We will give back through our Annual Food Drive. From November 1 through November 30 all non-perishable food items collected will be donated to a local food bank.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Annual Food Drive where you can drop off non-perishable food items for a local food bank anytime all month long; our Veteran’s Day Celebration: United in Courage event as our men and women who have proudly served our country will be honored at this very special patriotic gathering on November 11^th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am; or our Cherish the Journey: Spearly Thanksgiving Dinner where family and friends are invited to join us in our lovely dining room for a tasty meal with all the trimmings then stay and mingle afterward with some spiced tea for a tour of our lovely community on November 27^th from noon to 2:00 pm.

Look through our calendar and plan to join us for family celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners and many events and activities allowing us all to reflect and Cherish the Journey!

At The Spearly Center, We Know How To Have Fun! See It For Yourself!!

At Juniper Village at the Spearly Center, we know how to care for others, we know  how to have fun, and we certainly know how to make a difference in others' lives.

On Thursday, October 16^th, we celebrated Our Annual Tailgate Party. For the last 4 years , our Connections Dream Team have organized and made this event very successful for our  residents, our staff  and the entire community. This is one of the most popular events here at The Spearly Center. Residents and staff look forward to it every year.

This year, with Bronco Cheerleaders here, taking pictures with residents, staff, family members, and neighbors, it was once again an event to remember!  Every resident received  an autograph! The weather was great and provided a beautiful ambiance. Our Dietary Manager, Sam, and her team, grilled hot dogs and bratwurst with all the fixings. One of our favorite entertainers, Dave Hildalgo, performed for us all afternoon, and different game stations were available for staff and residents. With more than sixty residents and over fifty staff and visitors in attendance on our front lawn and parking lots, it was quite an event!

Show Your Colors: October Events

October brings forth vibrant color in our foliage as well as our sports teams. Our high school football teams will be in full swing and hockey season will prepare to fill the stands with team colors and spirit. Juniper Communities will also be honoring our colors with many sports-themed activities and events. We will be enjoying the changing colors of the season as we transition from summer to fall and the crazy costumes of our annual Halloween celebrations.

While showing our colors we not only focus on our team colors, but also showing our true colors. We recognize that working together as a team, results in better coordination of care, better quality of care and as a result better lives for our residents. This is evidenced by our excellent clinical outcomes data. We are happy to see the results of collaboration resulting in decreased re-hospitalizations and better quality of life for our residents.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Spearly Harvest Social: Gathering of Friends a wonderful opportunity to foster great friendships while enjoying the beautiful colors of the season with tasty samples from our community garden and entertainment by Daniel on the piano for our surrounding neighborhood, family and friends on October 15^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; our Spearly 4^th Annual Tailgate Party: Rock Your Colors with live music, games and steamy favorites from the grill on our front lawn for our first responders, family and friends on October 16^th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm; or our Spearly “Boo Boogie” Halloween Dance  party with the ghost and the goblins in our cozy country store with  prizes to be awarded in several categories for costumes and a raffle for a basket filled with “spooky” treats on October 31^st from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm!

Please look through our calendar to celebrate the spirit of autumn with us and Show Your Colors!

Karp Appointed Director of Community Relations Juniper Village – The Spearly Center

Juniper Communities is proud to announce the appointment of Katie Karp as Director of Community Relations for Juniper Village - The Spearly Center in Denver, CO. In her role she will be in charge of admitting new residents, developing relationships with case managers and referral sources, and educating the community about what Spearly does and why.

“I hope to be able to continue to educate the community about mental illness and be part of the change of greater awareness and acceptance,” said Katie Karp. “I have worked in a long-term care living facility but never this type of setting. It has been an eye-opener for me and I am humbled. I hope to be able to make a difference in our residents’ lives.”

Juniper Village - The Spearly Center is home to approximately 135 residents and 130 professionals dedicated to providing person-centered, skilled nursing care in a therapeutic community. Those living at The Spearly Center are primarily individuals living with chronic mental illness, brain injuries, or neurological disorders.

“I am very fortunate to become part of Juniper Communities. The Juniper philosophy and passion for serving others is reflected in our founder and CEO Lynne Katzmann, to the Spearly Administrator Susan Pappas, to the rest of the Spearly team. I am looking forward to growing in my role and making a difference in what we do as caregivers,” expressed Karp.

Katie Karp attended Northeastern University. She feels blessed to be able to be in Denver with her husband of 18 years and their two wonderful boys, Erik  and Alexander.

The Magic Carpet

As the magic carpet of lives began to unfold at Juniper Village-Spearly Center I knew that I was in a very special and spiritual place, a hidden gem of sorts. In my world of nursing there is a known fact that locating clinical sites for our schools of nursing is a difficult and sometimes daunting task. It is with gratitude to the selflessness of administration and the staff at Juniper Village-Spearly Center where their relentless arms of acceptance allowed us into their community to embrace their residents and learn about each of them and their uniqueness as individuals.

I feel very fortunate as faculty at Denver School of Nursing to be provided with the opportunity to bring in our students and build upon the uncompromising commitment to the quality of life for the individuals living in the community as well as those who call this their place of work.  I have found the Spearly experience to be about meeting the needs of individuals emotionally, physically and spiritually and enriching the lives of others. It is a vibrant and nurturing community and I would recommend those seeking a holistic approach to care to discover this hidden gem located near the heart of downtown Denver.

Mary Pat DeWald

Spread Your Joy: September Events

September signifies the end of summer with Labor Day celebrations and the Autumnal Equinox on the 23^rd. In this last month of our “Stay Connected” series we aspire to connect with our friends and embrace the theme of Spread Your Joy.

The Mayo Clinic tells us that friends are good for your health. They can help you celebrate good times, provide support during bad times, prevent loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends increase your sense of belonging and purpose, boost happiness, reduce stress, and improve your self-confidence and self-worth. Friends can also encourage you to increase healthy habits – it’s always better to walk, run, swim or exercise with a friend. And friends don’t always have to be of the human kind either! Several studies have shown that heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Spearly Friendship Fiesta featuring festive entertainment with thirst-quenching libations and tasty chow on September 12^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; or our 6^th Annual Sidekick Photo Shoot where we dress up and get a little silly to make lasting memories on September 25^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Please look through our calendar and join us for any events that can help you stay connected, cultivate friendships and Spread Your Joy!

101st Army Band Brass Ensemble

The Spearly Center came alive on August 11^th as the 101^st Army Band performed a brass ensemble concert for our residents and staff.  The talented band, part of the Colorado National Guard, performs throughout our colorful state at various venues.  A variety of patriotic songs were played which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.  This performance was especially meaningful for all of our dedicated veterans who call Spearly home.  The Spearly community continues to nurture the spirit of life… through care, through commitment, and through music.

PAWS At The Spearly Center

Here at The Spearly Center, we believe in PAWS- Pets Are Wonderful Support. Residents really enjoy regular visits with their furry friends Indigo, Sandy and Hazel. Studies show that pet interactions can have tremendous health benefits which promotes an active body, engaged mind, and fulfilled spirit.

+ Improved Physical Health. Petting, playing with, and walking a dog can promote physical exercise, improving fitness, circulation and range of motion of your body's extremities. Also, the more exercise you get can help fight weight gain and obesity. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health revealed that more than 2,000 adults who walked their dogs regularly were in better shape, and were less likely to become obese.

+ Stress Reduction and Heart Health. One study in the American Journal of Cardiology found that people who interact with pets regularly had hearts that adapted better to stressful situations. The American Heart Association cites a number of studies that found interacting with pets may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some data even indicates that interactions with pets help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

+ Increased Self-Esteem. Visiting with pets provides an emotional support system. Pets innately know when we need them most, which gives us a feeling of belonging and a self-esteem boost, which is especially effective in depression reduction. Pets are even being used to help our nation's Veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. A 2014 study in the Journal of Applied Developmental Science found that young adults with a strong attachment to cats and dogs also reported feeling more connected to their relationships and communities.

Breathe in Life: August Events

Our Alive in All Seasons’ theme for August is The Environment. Our communities will focus their efforts on maintaining healthy environments through environmentally conscious activities. Our “Green Canopy” program emphasizes designing and operating buildings that meet new standards of environmental sustainability. We are proud to be the first long-term care company with a building in the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

According to research by Go Green, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour; 25 billion Styrofoam cups and 40 billion soft drink bottles and cans each year. Eighty-four percent of the average American’s household trash can be recycled. If we recycled just 1/10 of our newspapers 25 million trees could be saved. Are we all doing our part?

Join us this month as we learn more about the environment, expand our wide-scale recycling program, learn more about environmental sustainability programs and work with our community Green Teams to promote our “Green Canopy” initiative. We encourage you to accompany us on this environmental journey so that we can all continue to Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Let’s Go Green BBQ for a health-conscious gathering with some of the usual trimmings and festive music by Dave Hidalgo on our sunny Juniper patio nestled in our Highlands Neighborhood on August 8^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm; our Breathe In Life Hawaiian Luau festive party with great music provided by Just The Two Of Us and a variety of refreshments held in our Country Store on August 21^st from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; or our Alive in All Seasons Carnival event on our Juniper patio featuring your favorite carnival treats like kettle corn, candied apples, and snow cones with carnival games for prizes on August 28^th from 10:00 am to noon. Take a look at our calendar and join us for any and all activities that will help you make the most of these last few weeks of summer.

Active Body, Engaged Mind, Fulfilled Spirit

In addition to the professional treatment you receive for your mental
health disorder (which may include medication and/or psychotherapy),
the healthy living habits you develop and practice are equally
important parts of managing your illness. Your lifestyle (including
your eating habits, exercise patterns, sleep, recreational activities,
social relationships and more) can have a significant impact on how
you feel and function, and how well your mind and body respond to your
mental health treatment plan.

Taking steps to develop a healthier lifestyle can pay enormous
dividends by reducing stress and improving your physical health, both
of which can improve your mental health as well. Students with mental
health disorders are at a higher risk for some unhealthy behaviors.
You may find it challenging to make healthy choices and manage your
stress effectively. Here at The Spearly Center we strive to promote an
active body, and engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit throughout all
seasons of life.

Jennifer Harris of Juniper Village at Aurora Promoted to Regional Director of Operations

Juniper Communities, one of the largest owner-operators of assisting living properties with revenues at $62 million, has named Jennifer Harris Director of Operations for the Colorado region.  Previously she was the Executive Director of Juniper Village at Aurora, recruited there in May, 2008 as the Wellness Director. She was promoted after one year to Executive Director.

In her new position, Harris will oversee the operations of three of Juniper’s Denver metro properties – Aurora, Louisville, and The Spearly Center – and expects to take on more as Juniper continues its expansion in this marketplace.

Lynne Katzmann, Founder and CEO of Juniper spoke about Harris’s abilities, “Jennifer has been a strong leader at Juniper for many years.  She proved her abilities not only in two different positions at Aurora but also in special project work throughout our portfolio.  At Juniper, our mission and culture drive our success so promoting from within makes a lot of sense as our new leaders not only have proven skills but also understand and believe in our mission!”

In her role as Executive Director of Juniper Village at Aurora, Harris led the Aurora team to be recognized by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America with its ‘Excellence in Care, Dementia Care Program of Distinction’ designation in 2009-11, 2011-13 and 2014-16; also, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Leader in Dementia Care for 2012 and 2013. Under her leadership, Juniper Village at Aurora was the first community to fully implement an electronic heath record system and received numerous corporate awards for customer satisfaction.

“It has been my great pleasure to work with Jennifer in multiple roles and projects over the years.  She brings an incredible level of operational strength and wisdom to her work with our Colorado communities.  I have no doubt that she will continue to foster our Juniper mission and community success in her new role as regional director,” said Cindy Longfellow, National Director of Sales and Marketing.

Jennifer Harris started her career in healthcare 21 years ago as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She went on to nursing school and has been a licensed nurse for 16 years.

“I have loved working with elders and especially with the Dementia population. My journey in healthcare has been so much more rewarding than I ever thought it would be,” Jennifer said.

Stand in Integrity: July Events

July is the month in which we celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks, cook outs and by cherishing our own personal freedoms. Nelson Mandela reminds us “to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” In that spirit join us as we honor those who “Stand in Integrity.”

Dr. Barbara Killinger, PhD, offers this definition of integrity: “Integrity is a personal choice, an uncompromising and predictably consistent commitment to honor moral, ethical, spiritual and artistic values and principles.” To “Stand in Integrity” does not mean that you are flawless or perfect, it means that you admit your shortcomings; you have influence, not because people like you, but because people trust you, believe you, and follow you.

We will also celebrate this month’s Alive in All Seasons theme of Volunteerism by volunteering our time to others, honoring those who volunteer with us, including our Resident Ambassadors; and learning more about volunteer opportunities in the greater community.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our July 4^th BBQ Celebrating Summer featuring tasty selections from the grill and delicious sides with live music and entertainment out on our lovely patio on July 4^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm; our Volunteer Social: Honoring our Friends cordially invite our friends in health care and the surrounding communities to join us for live music and light refreshments in our cozy country store on July 17^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; or our Beat the Heat Sumer Bash serving light refreshments while our favorite duo Just the Two of Us performs out on our patio on July 30^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Take a look at our calendar and join us for any and all activities that will help you make the most of these last few weeks of summer. 

Live in Wellness: June Events

The month of June is named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. It is no wonder that so many weddings occur during the month of June. As is such, Juniper Communities will be reminiscing about and celebrating weddings throughout the month. June is also the month with the longest daytime hours of the year in the northern hemisphere. Make the best of the extended days by celebrating wellness!

Can the choices you make really affect your health and wellness? Absolutely! Cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke and injury, the major causes of death and health problems, can all be prevented by choosing a healthy lifestyle. Simple changes like choosing not to smoke, seeing your doctor regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough sleep all contribute to longer life.

This month we finish our quarterly Alive In All Seasons theme of “Let Wellbeing Thrive” by engaging in activities focused on food and nutrition. Look for our consistently health snack and juice options at our hydration stations and dietitian presentations. Our H’Art and Soul of Dining Program will also be showcased as we implement the addition of more regional favorites – focusing on fresh and scratch made, our signature soups and muffin of the day as well as the new grill menu.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Father’s Day BBQ on June 13^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm; our Taste Test Challenge on June 19^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; and our Iron Chef Cook-Off on June 25^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Join us this month as we Live in Wellness.

Team Spearly Joins The 2014 NAMI Walk

Team Spearly continues to live fully throughout all seasons of life. This spring, we supported the National Alliance for Mental Illness and participated in the 2014 NAMI Walk for the fourth year in a row! This year's NAMI Walk was held on May 17th at the beautiful Centennial Center Park in Centennial, Colorado, located just 14 miles outside of Denver.

Spearly residents, staff, and family members (both two-legged and four-legged) enjoyed the sunshine and crisp Colorado air as they exercised and socialized during a wonderful event to show support and raise funds for mental illness. The Spearly Center also had a booth with information about recent renovations at Spearly, a raffle, and giveaways. It's always special to take part in a community event for a common goal. A great time was had by all! If you would like to join Team Spearly for next year's NAMI Walk, please let us know... we would love to walk with you!

"My first NAMI Walk was really enjoyable... it was amazing!"
~Aisha (Spearly Staff)

"It was a lot of fun. The sun felt good. There were a lot of people there."
~Jackie (Spearly Resident)

"It was a great experience. It was really inspiring to see all the support that the booths represented. The residents had fun in the community."
~Michael (Spearly Staff)