Spearly Center Restorative Gym Gets An Extreme Makeover

The Spearly Center and Genesis Rehabilitation Services teamed up to participate in a nationwide contest called Extreme Makeover Rehab Edition.  Prizes for winners include enhanced therapy equipment, gift certificates and lunch.  This was a collaborative effort between Genesis, Restorative Nursing, Administration, Environmental Services and the Connections departments.  The new gym boasts improved open area organization with less clutter and an inviting and motivating facelift, promoting optimum functionality.  Many Spearly residents have stated, “The gym looks bigger,” and “This room makes me want to exercise.”  New additions to the improved gym include new wall colors, artwork, posted schedules for therapeutic groups, and a Celebration Success Stories board.  Stop by and check it out! 

2015 Successful Outcomes

April 2016 Events in Denver, CO: Believe in Yourself

Do you know that embracing a healthy lifestyle promotes brain health as well? This month we embark on our quarterly Alive in All Season theme of Healthy Aging: Let Wellbeing Thrive. Throughout April we will focus on brain health and encouraging you to Believe in Yourself. We will learn more about how physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, cognitive activity, and social engagement can help keep both your body and brain healthy and potentially reduce your risk of cognitive decline. At the 2014 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, results of a two-year clinical trial of older adults at risk for cognitive impairment showed that a combination of physical activity, nutritional guidance, cognitive training, social activities and management of heart health risk factors slowed cognitive decline. It’s never too late to make changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Join us this month as we expand our knowledge of brain health and take steps to boost our brain health through our Healthy Brain series featuring our Daily Brain Builders and Wii Games designed to promote cognitive activity. Continue your research by perusing our Healthy Aging Resource Library, filled with volumes of information to help you and your loved ones age well. And, don’t forget to join us for our Brain Healthy Luncheon where we will nourish mind, body and soul. We look forward to sharing this month of healthful thinking and encouragement to Believe in Yourself – you can do this!

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

§  Food For Thought Brain Healthy Luncheon because keeping your brain healthy and fit is just as important as keeping your body healthy and fit, and along with cognitive activities, eating certain foods like berries, fish and nuts can aid in nourishing the brain, family, friends and Partners in Caring are cordially invited to dine with us for a brain healthy meal in our Main Dining Room on April 15th at noon.

§  Spearly Sidekicks Earth Day Extravaganza as Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 to demonstrate support for the environment we live in and continues to be celebrated today worldwide in over 192 countries, so join us as we give thanks to mother Earth on this joyous occasion in our Country Store, as refreshments will be served, and family, friends and community members are welcome to attend on April 22nd at 2:30 pm.

§  Mad Science Presents Spin, Pop, Boom with an organization that teaches and demonstrates the wonders of science, and you will be amazed when the Mad Scientist is able to defy gravity in this energetic and spectacular hands-on presentation, as community neighbors, Partners in Caring, friends and family are welcome to attend this fascinating lesson about chemistry on April 28th at 11:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our April 2016 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as you Believe in Yourself.

March 2016 Events in Denver, CO: Your Treasure is Within

As we bring down the curtain on our Creative Expressions series we focus this month on Drama. Juliette Binoche said, “I think acting is about forgetting yourself in order to give the best of yourself. It's passing through you more than you're creating it. You're not the flower, but the vase which holds the flower.”

Through dramatic performance we are able to forget about ourselves while becoming someone else, if only for a moment. We can be transported to another time, another place and another way of thinking. With all of our inhibitions set aside we focus this month on breaking out of our shells to share a bit of ourselves with wild abandon through our weekly drama clubs which will culminate in a fantastic performance or reading of dramatic prose. We invite you to join us in this enlightening journey of self-discovery through the magic of theater this month. We will also be attending theatrical performances around town, where we can let our inner critic loose. One last opportunity to become someone else is offered during our Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, where everyone can be Irish for the day. Join us as we feast on traditional Irish foods such as corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, shepherd’s pie and more! Lastly, March would not be complete without honoring the dramatic achievements of others with our own Oscar Party. This month we invite you to let your inner star shine at Juniper Village.

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

§  Celtic Pride St. Patrick’s Day Social as Celtic Pride and the Luck of the Irish are in the air, friends, family and our Greater Denver community are invited to partake in this festive celebration to dine on tasty green treats and mix and mingle with our dear Spearly residents while traditional Celtic music will provided and door prizes will be awarded, and don’t forget to wear green on March 17^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Spring Is In The Air 1^st Day of Spring Fling since spring is a magical time of year as flowers and trees are awakening from winter, the weather is becoming warmer, and people become more active, so what better way to celebrate the spring equinox than to celebrate with The Spearly Center as friends, family, and community members are invited to celebrate this festive and meaningful day with yogurt Fruit Parfaits and assorted beverages served in our Country Store on March 20^th at 2:30 pm.

§  Easter Celebration Luncheon because Easter is a traditional holiday important to us all as for some, it holds a significant spiritual meaning, and for others, it’s a perfect time to relax and visit with family and friends, and this year’s Easter Celebration Luncheon will feature Honey Glazed Ham, Roast Beef, Scalloped Potatoes, Roasted Zucchini and Lemon Meringue Pie, so family, friends and community neighbors are cordially invited to join us for this splendid meal in our Main Dining Room on March 27^th at noon.

We look forward to sharing our March 2016 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as Your Treasure is Within.

Fun With Photography

Residents and staff pose for pictures during our Fun With Photography activity in the Pinon neighborhood as well as the Country Store. Celebrating friendship in February at The Spearly Center during the Valentine’s holiday season. Photos with friends are always fun!

February 2016 Events in Denver, CO: Awaken Your Passion

In February we turn our Alive In All Seasons focus to art and invite you to awaken your passion with us. Leo Tolstoy defines the activity of art as “To evoke in oneself a feeling one has experienced, and... then, by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling.”

This month we will transmit our feelings using many different mediums to let other share in our experiences, feelings and passions. We will travel through art around the world and experience art as it is meant to be – inspirational and transformative. We will feel the cool breeze and smell the fragrant blossoms of Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France as we gaze upon In the Garden and the Water Lilies series. We will feel the angst of Vincent Van Gogh as we admire his passionate works such as Vase with Twelve Sunflowers and The Starry Night. We will also pour our passion into our own creations evoking memories of the past to share with the future.

Please join us on this journey as we visit local art museums and create our own art through weekly craft programs. Celebrate with us as we recognize Valentine’s Day with sweets for the sweet and Fat Tuesday foods and fun at our Mardi Gras party.

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

§  Faire La Noce Mardi Gras Soiree translates to “Live It Up” in French, and we would like to invite our family, friends and our first responders to stop in and mingle with our dear Spearly family, so don your favorite mask and pile on the beads as we celebrate the best of the Bayou on February 9^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  Spearly Sidekicks Valentine’s Celebration to foster great friendship while spreading joy and love, so please join us as we celebrate this heart-warming holiday with great music and tasty treats on February 14^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  6^th Annual Spearly Art Show as we showcase the creative and artistic styles of our residents including water color paintings, acrylic paintings, sculptures, sketches, and photography, so please join us as we welcome our guest judges from the community to help celebrate this wonderful event on February 25^th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our February 2016 events in Denver, CO at Juniper Village at The Spearly Center with you as we Awaken Your Passion.

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.