The Juniper Spirit Award

Latasha “Tasha” Alexander 

Soars above all others.

Tasha embodies the values of compassion, attentiveness, and responsiveness, that we hold dear. Each and every day she demonstrates her competence and caring for everyone at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center. She embodies our mission by nurturing the spirit of life in each individual whose life she touches.

About Latasha Alexander

Tasha has been employed at The Spearly Center for six years! She initially began her career at The Spearly Center as a CNA, and was promoted to Social Worker and now serves as lead Social Worker for our community.

We admire Tasha’s intuitive and compassionate approach to all situations. She consistently demonstrates a willingness to provide assistance where needed and has the tenacity to resolve even the most complex issues that arise. Tasha makes everyone feel welcome with her friendly demeanor, amazing smile and quick wit. She possesses an innate ability to provide psychosocial services to all in need.

Tasha was born in Peoria, Illinois and was raised in Miami, Florida. When she is not at work, Tasha enjoys her five children, ages 16, 15, 9, 7 and 3 years of age. She has been married for 11 years and owns a mixed breed dog. She loves chicken and fried fish and used to be a track star. Tasha’s original inspiration for working in long term care came from caring for her grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease. She also helped the elders at her church and knew from a young age that it was her calling to care for others. Tasha is advancing her education through current coursework in criminal justice.

Juniper Village- The Spearly Center is honored and proud to have Latasha Alexander as an integral team member.  

The Year 2015 Home Improvement Updates

We have had a busy year at The Spearly Center! Our team has been working hard all year to improve our resident community. These are just a few of our accomplishments.

2015 Improvements and Achievements...

• New stylish dining room chairs throughout all dining areas in the facility.
• Full implementation of the program Music & Memory program designed to bring personalized music into the lives of the physically & mentally handicapped through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
• New resident mobile banking program which promotes resident autonomy & financial independence.
• New durable & attractive dressers & nightstands in resident rooms.
• New uniform facility signage throughout facility including, but not limited to residents rooms, offices, common areas & units.
• Current Administrator awarded “NHA of the Year” for the State of Colorado.
• Creation of a gero-psych unit on the Pinon which serves the elderly behavioral residents offering a quiet, more secluded, less stimulating environment safe for residents experiencing memory loss & behavioral issues.
• New comfortable relaxation chairs for the front lobby & foyer areas.
• Acquisition of a new facility minivan to increase resident appointments & outings, improving the resident’s quality of life.
• Facility award for “Best Nursing Home in Denver for 2015 ” by the Denver Business Journal.
• Implementation of Connect 4 Life, Juniper Communities program which is long term care living’s first truly integrated model of care & service, emphasizing a richly active & engaged approach to health living & aging.
• New “Rehabilitative Rhythms” music program to teach residents living with traumatic brain injury to play musical instruments of their choosing.
• Implementation of “Skype” or “Face Time” communication programs for pre-admission screening  for potential new residents.
• First time Spearly wedding! The happy couple were married at Spearly, enjoying a beautiful ceremony & reception.
• Creation of designated space for new employee training & on-going education.
• New stone walkway in front of the facility as well as other landscaping improvements.
• Increased resident choice driven menu options including but not limited to hamburgers, fruit plates, raviolis, deli sandwiches, hot dogs & breakfast breads.
• New installation of a stationary bicycle on the Spruce unit in the gentleman’s corner area.
• Acquisition of upgraded medical & environmental equipment, including, but not limited to hot water heaters, mechanical lifts & specialty beds.

Coming in 2016….

• Remodel of  main kitchen & dishwashing areas.
• Remodel of outdoor area on Juniper & Pinon units.
• Remodel of shower room & spa on Pinon unit.
• New state of the art electronic door alarm system to promote community safety.
• Remodel & implementation of a resident skills area with emphasis on resident cooking & return to community programs.
• New cushioned chairs for common areas.

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.