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.