January 2016 Events in Denver, CO: Welcome New Beginnings

Happy New Year! January is the time when we all welcome new beginnings and set resolutions to make this year better than the last. But how does one keep those resolutions throughout the year ahead? The New York Times offers four suggestions: First, make a concrete plan, something visual to embed it to memory. Second, put something you value on the line – is it your health or your pocketbook – keep that in mind when you are tempted to break your resolution. Third, bundle your temptations. For instance, you want to exercise more, but struggle getting to the gym and you also have a fondness for gossip magazines but feel they are a waste of time. Combine the two – read the magazines only at the gym! And fourth, seek social support. You can achieve more by pursuing goals with the help of a mentor.

Still haven’t made any resolutions? Resolve to join us every month for a wide variety of events and activities. This month we explore our creativity through music with outings to local musical performances, Elvis’ birthday celebrations and concerts by our Joyful Noise Choir. We invite you to Welcome New Beginnings and make regular visits to Juniper Village part of your new year’s goals!

Our fabulous January 2016 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Spearly Sidekick Super Star Karaoke: Elvis Presley as the “King of Rock and Roll” still reigns, our annual birthday bash to honor this musical icon will be filled with energy, enthusiasm and Spearly’s own Karaoke Super Stars, so we would like to invite friends, family and our neighbors to this event to come mix and mingle with our Spearly family, enjoy some peanut butter and ‘nana bites, and sing one of your own Elvis favorites in the Country store on January 8^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  2^nd Annual Disco Fever Dance Off as we are reminiscing to the 70’s in this disco inferno dance party, and this invitation is extended once again to our friends, family and neighboring communities, so feel free to wear your favorite ensemble that showcases your personality as our local disc jockey will play tunes from Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Blondie and other popular artists of that era on January 21^st from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  Joyful Noise Choir Concert because music is comforting, inspiring and beneficial for just about everyone, our Spearly residents would like to share their musical talents with you, so please join us as we host our first vocal performance event, the Joyful Noise Choir Concert, accompanied by light refreshments on January 30^th at 11:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our January 2016 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Welcome New Beginnings.

December 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Celebrate Little Things

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.

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.

Our fabulous December 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§   Celebrate The Little Things Holiday Soiree because Arthur Conan Doyle said it best, “It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important,” so family, friends and our surrounding community neighbors are invited to attend this warm, festive event and Celebrate The Little Things with us with live holiday music, great food, refreshments and door prizes will be in full swing, so please join us in our Country Store on December 10^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Spearly Traditions Eggnog Social as time-honored Holiday Traditions are always meaningful and fun, like building snowmen, making a gingerbread house, lighting the menorah, and singing traditional Holiday songs are all family favorites, so Family Members, Friends and Partners in Caring, please join us in our Country Store for this social gathering as we relax, sip eggnog, and discuss our own family traditions and learn about new ones on December 24^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Spearly New Year’s Eve Rock-A-Palooza to enjoy music, dancing, food, games, prizes, party favors and FUN with all the festive, friendly camaraderie taking place in our Country Store, so let’s rock out and welcome the New Year on December 31^st at 2:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our December 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Celebrate Little Things.

DRCOG Visits!

In late October, Juniper Village at the Spearly Center had the privilege of receiving Mr. Anthony Graves, Director of Regional Affairs for Mayor Hancock and member of DRCOG’s (Denver Regional Council of Governments) Board of Directors, and Ms. Shannon Gimbel, Ombudsman Program Manager for the Area Agency on Aging and DRCOG. 

The purpose of the visit was for Mr. Graves to learn more about the services that Juniper Village at the Spearly Center provides.  These services include behavioral health services, chronic care management for residents with multiple co-morbidities, secure placement, long-term Medicaid placement, VA placement (both short and long-term) and others. Mr. Graves’ main goal was to get a feel for the work we do at the Spearly Center and in the Ombudsman Program, as well as other programs managed within the Area Agency on Aging at DRCOG.  Mr. Graves is very concerned about the looming “baby boomer” population explosion in Colorado and the lack of resources for people who are quickly approaching the 65+ age group. 

Ms. Gimbel praised the services provided by Juniper Village at the Spearly Center, as well as Susan Pappas, nursing home administrator, and the entire Spearly Center interdisciplinary team for their dedication to the individuals they serve. Both Ms. Gimbel and Mr. Graves expressed how impressed they were by the good work done at Juniper Village at the Spearly Center. 

November 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Cherish The Journey

Family is a simple word, with complex meaning. To some family is the people you are related to by blood, but to some family is the people you choose to hold in high regard, and to others family isn’t people at all, but animals – our beloved pets.

Regardless of the definition, family plays an important role in our personal journey. As the saying goes, “Family is what you make it.” Whether made of blood relatives, friends, colleagues or pets, your family can offer you the support you need to thrive.

This month we celebrate family and reflect on our personal journeys while creating new memories for the future. Join us as we reminisce about these journeys through autobiographical journaling. Plan to share with those less fortunate through our annual food drive from November 1-30 with all non-perishable food items being donated to a local food bank. Also interact and share with others through our community support groups, and know that you are not alone. Throughout the month we will also be hosting several family events as we celebrate family and give thanks. We encourage you to review our calendar and join us for any or all of our events and Cherish The Journey!

Our fabulous November 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  International Sandwich Day event as our Partners in Caring, First Responders, family members and community neighbors are invited to sample a variety of sandwich creations with multiple breads, wraps, meats, veggies and spreads to choose from at this fun, informative and tasty event to be held in our Country Store on November 3^rd at 2:30 pm.

§  American Pride Veteran’s Day Celebration as our men and women who have proudly served our country will be honored on this very special occasion, and friends, families, and our Partners in Care are cordially invited to this heart-warming celebration with live music, pie and refreshments served for this patriotic gathering, so please join us in our lovely Spruce neighborhood on November 11^th at 10:00 am.

§  Spearly Family Thanksgiving Dinner because lifelong friendships, family commitment and great food are the recipe for a memorable Thanksgiving, and it’s the time of year when meaningful conversations nurture the spirit of life, so family and friends are invited to join us in our lovely dining room for this savory meal with all the trimmings on November  26^th at noon.

We look forward to sharing our November 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Cherish The Journey.

Introducing: Mr. Sterling Perry and Mrs. Susie Perry

On Wednesday, October 7^th, 2015 at 2:00 pm, we were witness to a beautiful celebration as our beloved resident Mr. Sterling Perry wed the love of his life, Susie, another favorite resident of ours here at Juniper Village at the Spearly Center in our Town Hall Room. The ceremony was officiated by our Connections Director, Amy Foster, CTR, and attended by a wealth of friends and family of both the bride and groom. A wonderful time was had by all at this moving expression of love and life in all stages.

Rocking Out for Fitness!

It was during my 3 month backpacking trip to Central America in 2013 when I got certified in Zumba. The love for dance, fitness, and the Latin culture is what led me to teaching! I went on to get certified in Group Exercise to learn how I can offer more to my classes. Gaining this education taught me the importance of Stretch & Strength training for all levels. Now I instruct S.O.S (Stretch or Strength) classes, Boot Camps and small group trainings for those who share the goals of increasing flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, stamina, and losing weight through my fitness and nutrition company, FIT&NU. I absolutely LOVE what I do and the purpose it serves for others’ health and well-being, especially my dear friends at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center!

- Brittney Rae Reese, Zumba/Group Exercise Instructor (www.FitANDNU.com or fitandnu@gmail.com) 

Music and Memory: Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

Earlier this year Juniper Communities introduced the Music & Memory program in all of its Wellspring Memory Care communities. The response to this innovative program has been overwhelmingly positive. We are proud to announce that we are now rolling out the Music and Memory Program into our Assisted Living, Personal Care and Skilled Nursing communities as well.  Juniper Village – The Spearly Center is proud to kick off this program with two events scheduled in the upcoming months and invite you to join us!

October 9 at 2:00-4:00 PM: ALIVE INSIDE SCREENING An inspirational and emotional story left the audience humming, clapping and cheering at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. The film dramatically portrays the power of music and memory. Complimentary refreshments will be served during the screening along with discussion on how music impacts each of us daily, especially those who live with dementia. Please RSVP by calling 303-458-1112.

 

November 13, 1-4 PM VIRTUAL DEMENTIA TOUR The Virtual Dementia Tour offers a rare glimpse into the world of a person with dementia. Through the use of specially designed goggles, gloves, headphones and other adaptive equipment, the tour simulates the loss of vision, auditory perception, mobility and other impairments experienced by the estimated 47 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. Please RSVP by calling 303-458-1112.

If you are able to make any of our upcoming events, or have questions about Music and Memory, please contact our Connections Director at 303-458-1112.

October 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Show Your Colors

Every October we turn our Alive in All Seasons focus to holidays and sports as we “Keep the Spirit” during this last celebratory quarter of the year. Sporting events are inevitably part of that celebration for many families.

According to Dr. Renee Clauselle, founder of Child and Family Psychology, “Bonding over sports — the highs and lows of the game — strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things.” Think of sports as an opportunity to connect with others over a favorite – or even rival – team and learn more about each other. Even strangers can learn more about where they grew up, which teams they support, which sports they played and how those sports are different today. You may even learn something about your loved ones that you never knew. Perhaps great-grandma played softball in a women’s league during college. That would be something to pass along to future generations! Watching a sporting event can become so much more than plays and scores; it can become an opportunity to learn the history of someone you love.

Join us this month and “Show Your Colors” as we sponsor a local sports team, get into the spirit of the season with our Halloween Costume Party and honor those associates who go above and beyond with our annual Juniper Spirit Awards.

Our fabulous October 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  World Vegetarian Day: Tasty Samples as we enjoy tasty foods that are nutritious AND delicious because eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables has many benefits including lowering your calorie intake, getting much needed vitamins and minerals, and reducing the risk of many diseases, so family, Partners in Caring, and community neighbors are invited to come to our Country Store and sample vegetarian Colorado favorites as well as International delights on October 1^st at 2:30 pm.

§  5^th Annual Show Your Colors Spearly Tailgate Party back in full swing with live music, games and fun, and festive food, as this hearty invitation is extended to our First Responders, Partners in Caring, family, friends, and community neighbors, so please join us on our front lawn for this gathering celebrating sports, and wear your favorite team gear to show your colors because special guests will be there too, so you won’t want to miss this popular event on October 15^th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  Spearly Ghostly Gala as we invite family and friends to our Halloween celebration, so come sing and dance with the ghost with the most and enjoy spooky snacks and bubbling beverages in our Country Store as we celebrate this exciting holiday with prizes awarded in several categories for costumes, so come one, come all and be prepared to “boo boogie” if you dare on October 30^th at 2:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our October 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Show Your Colors.

Sue Pappas named Nursing Home Administrator of the Year

Sue Pappas of Juniper Village at the Spearly Center won the Colorado Healthcare Association Nursing Home Administrator of the Year last night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Denver, Colorado on September 17, 2015.  This is an incredible honor and was the result of a nomination submitted by Sue’s team members at the Spearly Center.

Sue Pappas is the nursing home administrator for Juniper Village at the Spearly Center.  Juniper Village at the Spearly Center is licensed as a skilled nursing community in the state of Colorado.  But it is truly much more than that.  Juniper Village at the Spearly Center serves many adults and seniors with special needs.  Nearly 50% of the residents at the Spearly Center live with psychiatric diagnoses the impact their ability to live successfully in the world at large.  Many of these folks also have additional medical diagnoses that have impacted them even further. 

Sue has been with Juniper since January 8, 2010. “Juniper Village at the Spearly Center is a special place.  Under Sue’s leadership, the building has been transformed into a real community—a place that truly nurtures the spirit of life in residents and Associates both.  Sue walks the talk and that is what we are all about.  Thank you Sue for being such a great example for us all.”  Stated Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO, of Juniper Communities.

Sue has led the charge for additional programming and community improvements that have truly enhanced the lives of every resident at this community.  We are proud to call her part of the Juniper family.

Butterfly Release

At the Spearly Center we “Nurture the Spirit of Life”. One of our themes is The Environment: “Breathe in Life”. Recently, we held an event called Natural Wonders Release a Butterfly With your Sidekick. Residents, Staff and Visitors enjoyed the metamorphic process of caterpillars turning into Butterflies, especially the Butterfly release on such a beautiful day.

September 2015 Events in Denver, CO: 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 Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Spearly Sidekick Spread Your Joy Social as we cordially invite friends, family and neighbors to this sampling of “spreads” to celebrate friendship, so join us on our Outdoor Patio with  a variety of fruit, vegetable and cheese spreads and spread the joy of friendship on September 10^th at 2:30 pm.

§  7^th Annual Spearly Sidekick Photo Shoot because everyone loves to take photos with friends, this fun and memorable activity is one of Spearly’s most anticipated events of the year since it brings joy, laughter and camaraderie to family members, residents, staff and visitors to the Spearly community, and professional portraits are provided and costume changes are encouraged on September 17^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  Friendship Gathering Amish Friendship Bread Tasting because breaking bread among friends is a time-honored tradition, Amish Friendship Bread is started by one and given to many, symbolizing the gift that never stops giving, so our Partners in Caring, First Responders, and community members are invited to break bread with us and share stories of friendship in our Country Store on September 24^th at 11:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our September 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Spread Your Joy.

Goodwill Donation Station

Here at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center, our Residents enjoy giving back to the community. For the month of July, we introduced a mobile Goodwill Donation Station.  Residents, their family members, and our generous staff donated a total of 167 items including shoes, baby clothes, toys, and adult clothing that will go to help those less fortunate in the community.

August 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Breathe in Life

As we continue our summer focus on Staying Connected, we devote our August 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village in The Spearly Center 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 Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center 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 Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center as we Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Colorado Cuisine BBQ because Colorado is known for having over 300 days of sunshine per year and enjoying the outdoor environment can be as simple as sitting on the patio and spending time with friends and loved ones, so we welcome our family members, friends, first responders and neighbors to this festive Colorado style BBQ with live music on our sunny Outdoor Patio on August 7^th at 11:00 am.

§  Natural Wonders Release A Butterfly With Your Spearly Sidekick because nature is like life; it’s precious, it’s beautiful, and it’s delicate, and all living things are natural wonders, and to witness life in nature can be a joyous occasion so staff and their Spearly Sidekicks will release butterflies to show appreciation for the beauty nature brings, so please join us on our Outdoor Patio for this special occasion on August 13^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Aloha Breathe In Life BBQ because "A is for Aloha" meaning greetings and welcome with love; "L is for Launa" meaning friendly...a feeling from the heart; “O is for Ololi" meaning pleasure...of being helpful and kind; "H is for "hauoli" meaning happy...the happiness of sharing; "A is for Akahi", meaning humble...in giving and serving; so come join us as we celebrate staying connected to our environment in true Hawaiian fashion with a lovely Luau BBQ as Rocky will be performing live music and sizzling, grilled treats will be served on August 21^st at 11:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our August 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Breathe in Life.

Team Spirit Shines at the Spearly Center

At Juniper Village The Spearly Center, we recognize that nurturing the spirit of life does not just apply to our residents!  Without our incredible staff, we simply could not deliver on our promise of quality care and service to our residents.  At the Spearly Center, we started an associate morale committee.  This committee is spearheaded by Barbara Pridemore, our staff development coordinator.  Each month we provide an opportunity for recognition and celebration.  For the month of July, we celebrated with a delicious 4th of July holiday BBQ, gifts for our team members, and entertainment provide by Sa'Rye - daughter of Brianna, our daytime concierge.

Thanks go out to all our associates.  Our Spearly team embodies the Juniper values of communication, collaboration, and FUN!

July 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Stand in Integrity

With our July 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center 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 Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center 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 Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Goodwill Donation Station because here at The Spearly Center we enjoy giving back to the community, and one man’s trash may be another man’s treasure, as all month long we will be accepting donations of clothes, books, shoes and small items for Goodwill Industries from residents, family members, staff, and the community, so look for our mobile drop box in our community from July 1^st to July 31^st.

§  Stand In Integrity BBQ because our Juniper family believes that staying connected to the community is beneficial to all, we would like to extend a sincere invitation to our Partners in Health Care, First Responders and family members to this holiday BBQ as Dave Hidalgo will be performing festive American classics and grilled favorites of the summer will be served on our Outdoor Patio on July 3^rd at 11:00 am.

§  Spearly Volunteer Appreciation Celebration because volunteers benefit Spearly residents by providing meaningful companionships, self-worth, and opportunities to meet new people, and here at The Spearly Center, our residents truly appreciate our volunteers, and our volunteers truly appreciate our residents, so please join us in our Country Store as we celebrate our wonderful, dedicated volunteers on July 11^th at 2:30 pm.

     We look forward to sharing our July 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Stand in Integrity.

Memorial Day

Here at The Spearly Center on May 25, 2015 we celebrated Memorial Day with a BBQ that the Residents enjoyed. The Residents gathered on the Outdoor Patio for some great BBQ favorites as well as live musical entertainment with Dave. The day was good with nice sunny weather!

June 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Live in Wellness

We close this quarter’s theme of Healthy Aging: “Let Wellbeing Thrive” with a focus on Food, as we Live in Wellness through our June 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center. Hippocrates advises, “Let food be thy medicine”. Research shows that eating a well-planned, balanced mix of foods every day has many health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. But, food has other benefits. There are also emotional needs that are satisfied by food. Most of us have fond memories of food from days gone by. Whether it was our mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies, a hotdog from a street vendor or our wedding cake, food has a way of transporting us back to the past. It is in that spirit that Juniper’s dining program is called the H’art and Soul of Dining. The philosophy is that we impart spirited service, companionship and nourishment through the sharing of good food. In addition to meeting our resident’s unique nutritional needs, we also meet their emotional and social needs as well.

Join us for our June 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center to share in our hydration program, complete with healthy snacks and learn more about healthy food and wellness with our dietitian presentations as we continue to Live in Wellness.

Our fabulous June 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Tea & Me: A Tea Bar Social because the Spearly family has partnered with our friendly neighbors to host this warm-hearted event, so Friends, family and the surrounding neighbors are cordially invited to a special tea social to listen to live music and sample teas from around the world on June 11^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  Father’s Day BBQ: Summer Solstice as the Spearly family would like to honor and pay tribute to all fathers on this wonderful holiday, so friends and family are invited to this festive gathering on our lovely Juniper patio, with a special invitation extended to our first responders for a quick bite on the go, as music will be provided by Dave Hidalgo, so we hope you can join us on June 19^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

§  Spearly Iron Chef Challenge because Spearly loves a friendly competition, so it’s that time again for the secret ingredient challenge, as family and friends are invited to this exciting cook-off which will be hosted on our sunny Juniper patio, and our guest judges will vote for the best culinary creations while our residents enjoy the selections with music and entertainment provided by Dan Mc Clerran on June 25^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our June 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center!

Team Spearly at the 2015 NAMI Walk

Every year, residents, staff and family members participate in the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk, or NAMI Walk.  This event is for fundraising and creating support and awareness about mental illness.  Team Spearly was large this year with 20 participants!  The weather was perfect, the crowd was festive, and there were plenty of organizations with booths with information on services, support groups, and snacks.  Live music really got the walkers excited to be a part of this supportive event.  A great time was had by all who attended, and Team Spearly cannot wait until next year’s NAMI Walk.  

2015 Juniper Leadership Conference Awards

Juniper celebrated its 27^th anniversary this year.  Each year communities are honored for their achievements in critical operational and financial areas.

Awards were presented at the 2015 Juniper Leadership Conference, held this year in Baltimore’s historic inner harbor.  Awards were presented by Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, and Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training & Operational Oversight.

At the recent Juniper leadership conference, Juniper Village at the Spearly Center was presented the Juniper Innovation Award in recognition of implementation of Connect4Life in 2014.

May 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Grow Strong Daily

Fitness is on our mind during our May 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with our Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily”. As you know, physical activity is good for you both physically and mentally. Regular physical activity can help you to continue to do the things you love and stay independent as you age. Exercise can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and reduce symptoms of some chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and balance issues.

But, if exercise has not been a part of your daily routine how do you take that first step? Start by making it fun! Turn a walk around the block into a scavenger hunt – search for daffodils, birds, squirrels or lucky pennies. Instead of a dip in the pool, create an adventure as you pretend to swim with the dolphins. Rather than send your co-worker an email, walk to her office and communicate face to face, double the benefit with a smile! What’s important is to make it fun and just start – today!

Join us for our May 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center as we will Grow Strong Daily with Fitness Five, and walk “cross country” with our Route 66 Walking Program and learn more about keeping our hearts fit at our Healthy Heart Luncheon. We look forward to sharing these and many other activities with you this month. Peruse this month’s calendar, and we will see you soon!

Our fabulous May 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

§  Grow Strong Daily Fitness Fair because maintaining a healthy lifestyle for every resident is the goal of the Spearly community prizes can be won as residents take part in group and individual exercises, healthy body trivia, and other events and we welcome our friends, first responders and neighbors from the community to this fun and educational event on our sunny Juniper patio on May 8^th from 10:00 am to noon.

§  National Alliance for Mental Illness Walk held in Centennial, Colorado is a wonderful opportunity to show your support for mental illness while enjoying a nice leisurely walk and Team Spearly will have a booth to showcase our wonderful community and the residents we serve while networking with our Partners in Health Care with light refreshments served after the walk on May 16^th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

§  Memorial Day BBQ: Remembering Our Heroes and we would like to invite family and friends to share this memorable occasion, as we remember our men and women who have served in the Armed Forces with entertainment provided by Dave Hidalgo on our sunny Juniper patio and a variety of grilled favorites served on May 25^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our May 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center!

Have You Ever Wondered How Spearly Got It's Name? It's Simply Remarkable...

Juniper Village-The Spearly Center was named for James Luther Spearly a very special individual who truly nurtured the spirits of our residents, staff and the community at large.  Jim, died prematurely of brain cancer at the age of 44 on September 28,1994.  In his short life though he left a remarkable legacy.

Jim was both brilliant and humble with tremendous knowledge of public policy, particularly around mental health issues. Jim received his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin where he published a number of noted articles about community mental health as well as child abuse and neglect. Jim also received his law degree from the University of Texas.  After completing his studies, Jim served as legislative counsel for the Texas Senate where he rewrote the Texas Mental Health Code transforming as outdated code into one of the most progressive in the nation.  He moved to Colorado and became the Administrative Vice President for Naropa University in Boulder.  While there he co-founded Naropa’s Department of Gerontology and Long-term Care Management. He served as Co-Director of Naropa’s Gerontology Department until his death.

During that time, Dr. Spearly worked with Juniper Communities and Pinon Management to develop and implement exceptionally strong psycho-social programming at what was then known as Hillside Care Center. As part of his work at the community, Jim introduced interdisciplinary teams that equally focused on psycho-social as well as medical care. The transformation in the lives of the residents and staff was as dramatic as in any long term care community today that embraces the culture change movement.

We all live in the midst of Jim Spearly’s legacy today at Juniper Village-The Spearly Center.  We are unique individuals who are celebrated for who we are and for the beautiful fabric of a community we weave together, nurturing the spirit of life!

~Sue Pappas, NHA

The Spearly Center

Spearly Volunteers In Action

Volunteering  for an organization like The Spearly Center provides reciprocal opportunities for both residents and volunteers alike.  Spearly has a group of young volunteers that visit weekly; Dulce, Miguel, Amanda, Bianca, Dalia, Jasmine, and Sofie.  Residents truly look forward to these visits and enjoy socializing, playing games, singing along to music, and doing arts & crafts projects with them.  Volunteers benefit our residents by providing meaningful  companionships, self worth, and opportunities to meet new people.  Additionally, our volunteers receive benefits from this experience as well.  Relationship building, learning the Life Story of an older adult, and self efficacy are all experienced by our devoted volunteers.  Here at The Spearly Center, our residents truly appreciate our volunteers, and our volunteers truly appreciate our residents.

“I enjoy their visits every weekend.  I think they’re special.”

  Grace, Spearly Resident

“Seeing their smiles every Saturday morning makes it all worth it”

  Dulce, Spearly Volunteer  

“I like it when we have a big group playing cards… that’s a lot of fun!”

  Kenya, Spearly Resident   

“At the end of the day all that matters is having fun and everyone coming together as one.”

  Miguel, Spearly Volunteer

April 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Believe in Yourself

Welcome to April - the name derived from the Latin word Aperire meaning “to open”; the month when everything starts to bloom and come alive. What better time to really put forth your best efforts and see the true beauty inside than the month in which everything begins anew! Diana Ross, in the Wiz, advises “believe in yourself, right from the start. You'll have brains; you’ll have a heart; you’ll have courage to last your whole life through if you believe in yourself.” So let’s put our best foot forward, believe in ourselves and we can move mountains!

Join us for our April 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center as we pull pranks on April Fool’s Day; honor Jesus Christ on Good Friday, followed by hiding Easter eggs; celebrate the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery on Passover; and celebrate mother earth on Earth Day and Arbor Day. Peruse this month’s calendar as we focus on the brain through our Daily Brain Builders, Wii tournaments and our Healthy Brain Luncheon. Plan to join us for any and all events. Also, check out our Healthy Aging Resource Library to learn more about the brain or any number of health related topics. We look forward to seeing you during this fun filled month.

Our fabulous April 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center include our:

Ø  Mind, Body & Spirit: Make the Connection educational gathering for our Partners in Health Care, First Responders and family members as our guest speaker will share about how an active body, engaged mind and fulfilled spirit makes an individual complete and field questions from the audience on April 9^th at 10:00 am.

Ø  Brain Healthy Luncheon: Believe in Yourself for family and friends because eating a nutritious meal is a great way to balance the energy required to maintain an active lifestyle and a short presentation will be given by our dietary manager on April 15^th at noon.

Ø  Rock Your Brain: Sidekick Trivia Challenge for a lively competition to perk up your brain and have some fun on April 27^th at 2:30 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our April 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center!

Luck Of The Irish

Every year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green.  The Spearly Center welcomed The Heritage Irish Step Dancers for a grand performance, a group of traditional Irish dance students, who perform in over fifty shows annually across the Denver metro area.  Additionally, Spearly hosted Luck Of The Irish: St. Patty’s Day Celebration, complete with festive foods, Irish music, and smiles and laughter shared by all!  May you and your family have the Luck Of The Irish all year long!

Awaken Your Passion: 5th Annual Spearly Art Show

Visual Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect. Creating art can improve well–being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive ones.  The Awaken Your Passion: 5th Annual Spearly Art Show was held in the Spearly Art Studio on February 26th and was a great success! A wide variety of individual and group art pieces were on display including acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings, sketches, oil pastel pieces, and charcoal drawings. Residents, associates and family always look forward to this fun and colorful event. Several residents submitted over 100 art pieces in this year's show, and there were about 50 attendees who voted on 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winning pieces.  Additionally, some artists were on-site exhibiting their creativity in action.  Visual Arts can truly nurture the spirit of life!

Disco Fever Dance Off!

Spearly reminisced back to the 70’s for our 1^st Annual Disco Fever Dance Off party!  Residents and staff were shakin’ a tail feather to the sounds of Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Blondie, The Trammps, Thelma Houston, and many other popular musical acts from the colorful Disco era.  Many sported afros, stylish hats and flashy 70’s funky threads as well.  Everyone enjoyed showing off their dance moves to The Electric Boogaloo, The Hustle and The Bump.  A “far out” time was had by all!  

Juniper Communities Introduces Theralink for Onsite Integrated Therapy at Juniper Village at the Spearly Center

Juniper Communities, a national owner-operator of Juniper Village senior living communities, is rolling out Theralink in all its facilities, and locally at Juniper Village at the Spearly Center. Theralink is an on-site program designed to help residents regain and maintain independence, fitness and overall wellbeing. It is being implemented through a newly established partnership between Juniper Communities and Genesis Rehab Services.

“Rehabilitation, restorative services, and fitness are vital to healthy aging and whole person wellness,” explains Lynne Katzmann, CEO and Founder of Juniper Communities. “Coordinated with other clinical services permits, Juniper will be able to provide integrated post-acute care onsite at the communities through Theralink. This is especially important for Juniper’s residents who want and need more intensive rehabilitation services in their ‘home’.”

Grant Welson, Area Director for Genesis Rehab Services states, “Juniper is taking an industry lead by creating Theralink to offer onsite therapy services where they are integrated into everyday patient care. Feedback from preliminary implementation from Juniper’s residents has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The Theralink program will provide physical, occupational, speech, and when needed respiratory therapy that is integrated into the care Juniper currently delivers. Elements of Theralink include special balance and strength training, and fall prevention programs; technology and apps that facilitate and record personal fitness training; dementia management programs that integrate cognitive and occupational therapies; cardiopulmonary management; and monthly assessment reports.

March 2015 Events in Denver, CO: Your Treasure Is Within

Treasure hunting has been around forever! The search for riches has evolved from archaeological digs revealing lost treasure to present day treasure hunts such as television’s “The Amazing Race”. Much has been written about the allure of treasure, but one thing that we’ve come to realize is that the treasure within is the most valuable of all. Each one of us has a treasure within and through our March 2015 events in Denver, CO we will be exploring that treasure at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center - be it your ability to sing, play a musical instrument, recite dramatic prose or balance a spoon at the end of your nose. No treasure is too small! In the immortal words of Captain Jack Sparrow, “Not all treasure’s silver and gold, mate.”

With our March 2015 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center we end our Creative Expressions Series with a focus on Performance. Please join us during our March 2015 events in Denver, CO while we recognize “Your Treasure is Within” as we provide opportunities to express yourself through our weekly drama clubs and by attending theatrical performances. If step dancing and corned beef and cabbage is more your thing, sample all that is Irish with our annual St. Patrick’s Day party or walk the red carpet and share your movie trivia skills at our Oscar Party.

Our fabulous March 2015 events in Denver, CO include our Heritage Step Dancers Moving with Style performance as we welcome this energetic and talented group of performers for a pleasant morning of entertainment and fun with light refreshments on March 10^th at 10:00 am; our Luck of the Irish St. Patty’s Day Celebration our annual “Green Affair” where friends, family and our Greater Denver community are invited to partake in tasty treats and mix and mingle with our dear residents as traditional Celtic music will be played and door prizes will be awarded on March 17^th at 2:30 pm; or our North High School Drama Club presentation by a talented group of individuals who has taken the time to volunteer so graciously in our community on March 26^th at 10:00 am.  

We hope to see you at one or more of our March 2015 events in Denver, CO, so check out our calendar for more!

Awaken Your Passion: February Events

This month at Juniper Village we continue our Creative Expressions Series with a focus on Art.

Creating art for many of our seniors has been a lifelong passion, for others it may have been a casual hobby or serious vocation. Whatever the reason, art has substantial benefits to our bodies, minds and spirits! In Successful Aging, John W. Rowe, MD, and Robert L. Kahn, PhD, discuss key aspects of successful aging: low risk of disease, high mental and physical functioning, and being actively engaged in life. Expressive art activities promote active engagement in life in positive, healthy, and fulfilling ways - in other words, nurturing the spirit of life. Recent studies further indicate that older adults who participate in art programs have fewer doctor visits, use less medication, and experience a lower rate of depression – all resulting in lower healthcare costs.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Will You Be Mine Valentine’s Day Social as we celebrate this heart-warming holiday with great music and tasty treats at this affair hosted in our quaint Country store for our dear family members and friendly neighbors with a chance to win a great raffle and other door prizes on February 13^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; our Celebrate the Bayou Mardi Gras Festivity exciting gala festivities taking place in our Country store and overflowing to the patio with tasty Cajun food and traditional New Orleans music so don your favorite mask and pile on the beads as we celebrate the best of the Bayou deep in the heart of Spearly on February 17^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm; or our Awaken Your Passion 5^th Annual Spearly Art Show as we showcase the creative and artistic styles of our residents with prizes awarded in several categories on February 26^th from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Look through our calendar and plan to join us this month and “Awaken Your Passion” as we explore various mediums to expression through weekly art programs and visits to local art museums. Or, if art isn’t your thing, tailgate with us during the Super Bowl, await the Ground Hog’s prediction, our join in one of our festive celebrations on Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day or Mardi Gras.

Jean Pierre and Maria Barat's Journey: French Heritage With Katie Karp, DCR

Life is a journey; you really never know when you cross paths with someone who you will become friends with. I am at The Spearly Center where I am supposed to be no doubt about that. How often do you run in to someone who has the same heritage as you in work place? Well it is happening now at Spearly.

Having  the same French Heritage as Jean Pierre, I do believe this has contributed to Jean-Pierre's  success here at The Spearly Center .  I am very humbled and blessed by working with J.P. and his wife Maria.  The timing was perfect when Mr. Barat made a decision to transition to the Spearly Center from an Assisted Living community where he previously resided for several years. With the help of our wonderful Leadership Team, particularly J.P's social worker Tasha Alexander, and our information technology /first impression Manager  Marie Lopez  ,our NHA Sue Pappas and  the rest of our team, we were able to help Jean –Pierre get packed from his old home,  and get settled in to the Spearly community. 

Through out his transition, Mr. Barat's main focus was, and continues to be, taking care of  his wife Maria who has been residing here at  Spearly for almost two years. During this entire time, Mr. Barat came to visit Maria daily, often dining with her. J.P. enjoys being here at Spearly and enjoys speaking his native language (French) with the Community Relations Director whenever possible. The Spearly Center continues to nurture the spirit of life of those we serve.