January 2016 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  Elvis Presley’s Birthday Tribute as we celebrate our theme of Music, we are always so excited to spend an afternoon together remembering one of America’s greatest icons of Music since there would be no music as we know it today without the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, so join us as we remember Elvis’s special day with a tribute concert, Elvis’s favorite refreshments, and all of Elvis’s chart topping songs on January 6^th at 2:00 pm.

§  2016 New Beginnings Community Kick Off as this year we will be kicking off 2016 with a truly hopeful anticipation, so join us as we gather together to celebrate all things new and fresh while we enjoy great winter refreshments, great musical entertainment, and great fellowship with our family and friends on January 12^th at 2:00 pm.

§  New Beginnings of Fitness and Health Presentation with Genesis Rehab because as we know, during the holiday season, we all get a bit lax in our fitness goals and routines, and we often pay the price for that in increased body pain, inflexible body parts, and, worst of all, we may have added a few inches to our waistlines, so join us along with the Genesis Team as we re-focus for the new year in attaining new fitness and health goals on January 18^th at 1:30 pm.

We look forward to sharing our January 2016 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Welcome New Beginnings.

Celebrating The Little Things!

Wow!  It is truly so hard to believe that we are already at Christmas of December 2015!  We "kick it up" at the Holiday Season here at Juniper Village of Williamstown!  I like Emeril's philosophy of "Bam" to bring the heat to make this time of year the most special for all of our residents, families, friends, and team here at Juniper of Williamstown!  We celebrate the little precious things of life all year long, but when it comes to the Holiday Season we add our "BAM" on to it in a very big way!  Everyone has enjoyed wonderful reunions with many families that are still and will always be a part of our community! We enjoyed wonderful Hanukkah celebrations with traditional Klezmer music, Hanukkah stories and the lighting of the Menorah with all the special blessings that come with it!  In addition we had a bang up Holiday Team party which the residents & families also enjoyed with great food, great people and great dancing......

And to keep it going we celebrated our Annual Community Wide Holiday Event, with beautiful music, treasured holiday refreshments, games, and of course Santa and his very special Elf!  Everyone is still chatting about what a super event it was!

We, here at Juniper Village of Williamstown, want to wish all of you a truly Happy Holiday Season & we look forward to seeing you at all of our upcoming celebrations and events in 2016!  Join us as we create memories together and make this New Year the first of the very best New Year's to come!

Celebrating Every Moment In Williamstown!

Wow!  It's hard to believe it is already December!  Everyone is hustling and bustling around and the air is filled with holiday melodies, cookies baking, and families and friends stopping in to bring good cheer!

We kicked off the Holiday Season with our Annual Community Wide Holiday Extravaganza! It was the most joyous day. Residents, families, and friends throughout the community enjoyed a very special day with Amazing Holiday Music, plus an Extravagant Display of Holiday Decadent Refreshments and many surprises!  Even Santa and his Elf stopped by to join in all the fun!  I heard rumors that Santa had a little trouble parking his sled with all his reindeer, as the parking lot was so full, so he took a special spot on the roof!  But Santa gets a PASS!

We wish you all a beautiful Holiday Season and remember to Celebrate Every Little Thing, as they become the Very Special Things that make our Family Traditions Year After Year!

December 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§   Annual Holiday Extravaganza as we will enjoy a beautifully festive holiday party to experience the warm traditions of the season with delightful music, dancing, décor and family and friends, while we celebrate the special little moments of the holiday season that create memories to last forever, so we invite everyone to this magical celebration with surprise special guests on December 4^th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

§  Holiday Cookie Exchange as we invite everyone to bring their favorite traditional cookie of the holidays and share them with us, so we may enjoy a wide variety of traditional holiday cookies of the season while listening to beautiful holiday music and having a great time catching up with family and friends on December 5^th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

§  Holiday Community Performance featuring Special Guest Guitarist, Justin Weiner in this mastery guitar special holiday performance with this wonderful celebration of music and artistry during the holidays as we celebrate the magical gift of music on December 30^th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our December 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Celebrate Little Things.

Cherishing The Journey of Life In Williamstown!

As we begin this month of November we celebrated with our Annual Candle Light Vigil in Honor of our Very Precious Residents who had their home-going through this past year!  We joined together to celebrate their beautiful spirits and the precious lives they lived, as their families continue to live with their memories residing deep within their hearts forever!

In addition, we welcomed new team members to Juniper Village sharing in a fun welcome & of course a great photo session! We welcome them to the Juniper team of Williamstown!

Residents have been enjoying the wonderful harvest season with great events, activities & of course, remembering and honoring our Vets here at Juniper Village and within our Nation with a very special concert with our young protégé, Gianni! Gianni assisted me in honoring our vets in a special way & learned what his freedom means and the sacrifice our vets have made to provide it for young Gianni and everyone in this great nation!

Join us this month as we continue to celebrate Family and "Cherishing The Journey of Life!"

Halloween Celebrations at Williamstown!

As we end the month of October here in Williamstown, it wouldn't be complete without a huge Halloween Celebration!  Residents, families and all of the Juniper Team had a great time with numerous celebrations and even our pets got in on the act dressing up for Halloween!

We enacted skits with our special Halloween characters, did spooky, fun crafts, danced, sang, ate lots of chocolate and had a blast. Every day is a celebration of life here in Williamstown and we closed our month of October showing our "True Colors" here at Juniper Village!

Don't miss what's coming in November and feel free to stop in and join us, the coffee & hot chocolate are ready and we have the corner on cozy here at Juniper of Williamstown!

November 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  Annual Community Candlelight Vigil as we will join together to celebrate the lives of our precious family members and friends that have passed on during the year and come together in friendship, honor, and memory to dedicate this time to them and the lives they lived so well, as we gather in prayer, with gentle music and refreshments on November 5^th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  Family Support & Physical Health Presentation with our Genesis Therapy Team on how we all can support the ongoing journey of staying active and engaged in mobility at all stages of life as we carve out time to support those we love in their physical endeavors to regain strength, balance, flexibility, and overall physical health because it is always more fun when you engage in movement together with family and friends, so let’s stay fit together on November 9^th at 1:15 pm.

§  Harvest Blessing Family/Community Celebration Event as we enjoy beautiful music, seasonal harvest refreshments and the beautiful company of families, friends, and neighbors with a positive, inspirational message and special blessings from our Leading Rabbi, Priest, and Pastor in our local community on November 19^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our November 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Cherish The Journey.

Benefits of the Small House Model: the Gold Standard for Memory Care

At Juniper Communities we have long subscribed to the belief that the keys to healthy aging include staying physically active and socially connected. For some of us, doing one or both can be more difficult over time.  This is particularly true of some individuals who are living with memory loss. Our job as caregivers and partners in caring is to facilitate new ways of helping residents to be connected to the community - their home - while at the same time fostering a sense of independence.

Environmental features are key in both keeping people physically active and connected with others. A 2011 study by Dr. Margaret Calkins, Ph.D., an internationally recognized leader in the field of environments for the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia,  found that people who lived in small group or cottage settings had less disruptive behaviors and greater socialization.  They (and their families and the staff who cared for them) were also more satisfied—happy.

Another study done in 2011 in the Netherlands by Hilde Verbeek titled Redesigning Dementia Care concurred.  Her research indicated that residents in small-scale living communities were significantly more socially engaged and displayed fewer physically non-aggressive behaviors, such as wandering, than residents in larger, traditional settings.  They experienced greater wellbeing and less stress—they were happier. The study also found that residents in this “person-environment model” developed an individually meaningful experience of choice, mastery and relationship.  They developed a feeling of “at-homeness” or happiness!

Understanding the Small House Model

Caroline Cantley in her 2002 book Put Yourself in My Place stated that there is broad agreement that desirable dementia care homes be small scale, which she defined as 6-14 residents.  Getting much larger, she and her colleagues said, is a distinct move away from a “family feel” towards something more institutional.  Different research provides other specific numbers, Dr. Calkins suggests between 9 and 24 residents, but they all are within this general range.  Larger communities may mitigate their size with their layout, such as linking several smaller houses together to achieve economies of scale.

Juniper has been well ahead of the trend as we have owned and operated two types of small house models for more than a decade.  Two of our small house models, Aurora and Louisville, both in Colorado, were purpose built by Juniper in 1999 and 2000 respectively, as part of our initiative to provide leading-edge care to residents living with memory impairments. These two communities include four small houses, each with 12 or 13 rooms, virtually all private, surrounding a town hall area. Each town hall provides destination locations consisting of multiple familiar spaces such as an office suite, game room, library, country store, and gymnasium, where residents from all houses can go for additional services or programs. In this model, where the houses are linked, all staff are readily available to assist if needed.

Juniper’s other three memory communities although not purpose built by Juniper, were acquired between 2006 and 2014, in part based on their similar design.  All three are based on a small house or cottage model.  For instance our community in Naples, Florida is a campus with six small cottages, each home to 15 residents in a combination of private and semi-private rooms, spread across lovely grounds connected by walking paths and gardens.  Another, acquired around the same time, has three neighborhoods of 12 residents each in a combination of private and semi-private rooms, which open onto a central common area.

In both models, residents at Juniper’s communities live within a short walk to the living room, kitchen and dining areas.  The environment is homelike; there are no nurses’ stations and no medication carts that block the hallways.  Staff wear polo shirts, not scrubs, and are trained to engage residents in activities of daily living, as well as social and recreational activities.  In both models, there are large, accessible and safe outdoor spaces surrounding the community.

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Showing Our Colors

"Show Your Colors" at Juniper Village of Willliamstown!  As we welcome my favorite season of the year, Fall & Harvest Season, we are super excited here at Juniper Village of Williamstown!  We are all decked out in our harvest decorations and there is cinnamon & apples in the air, football is on the TV and we are having a blast!

This month, we will celebrate many joyous events & activities with a focus on "Showing Our Colors"!  We enjoyed a wonderful fall kick off inter-generational event with our Rowan freshman students and they are such wonderful young men and women; we are so proud of them and their goals!  We also had a game day with our grade school students and the residents now have their favorite and youngest bingo caller!  We are busy welcoming new residents to our community and helping them make new friends and enjoying the fall sports and beautiful harvest happenings within our community!

Join us this fall for many wonderful, rich and joyous events!  Happy Harvest!

October 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  “Show Your Colors” Sports Fitness presentation by our fabulous Genesis Rehab team about how to stay active in the later years on October 12^th at 3:00 pm.

§  Fall Harvest Celebration event with “Big Cheese Pizza” as we enjoy the changing of the seasons and welcome this wonderful time of year on October 22^nd at 3:15 pm.

§  Children’s Trick or Treat event as Halloween is a favorite holiday for many and we all enjoy seeing the cute little children in their costumes on October 31^st at 2:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our October 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Show Your Colors.

Spreading Your Joy in Williamstown

As we come to the end of September, we continue to "Spread Our Joy in Williamstown!"  Residents, families and friends throughout the local communities had a wonderful September 2015 season at Juniper Village!

We celebrated with a Rosh Hoshana Traditional Jewish Cultural Celebration and Resident Luncheon featuring all traditional foods of the Holiday, residents enjoyed traditional Klezmer music as well as a wonderful historical presentation!

We also kicked off Assisted Living Week and Grandparents Day with a very festive celebration with delicious refreshments, music and more! We also were given the high honor of participating in the "Freshman Welcome" for Rowan University this year and residents, families and friends enjoyed a wonderful luncheon and game day with the new Rowan Freshman!  It was a joy to make welcome these students and make many new friends!  We also enjoyed a wonderful Bake Sale spearheaded by our Executive Director, MaryJane Eicke that raised wonderful donations to be shared with the Alzheimer's Association of Delaware Valley! Residents also enjoyed many of the healing arts during Assisted Living Week such as reflexology, yoga, meditation and more!

We hope you will stop by and enjoy our upcoming events in October and remember to Spread Your Joy everywhere you go!

Juniper Village at Williamstown recognized for outstanding resident and family satisfaction

Excellence in Action award recognizes exemplary commitment to quality

Juniper Village at Williamstown is pleased to announce it has received the Excellence in Action award from My InnerView by National Research Corporation. This honor recognizes long term care and senior living organizations that achieve the highest levels of satisfaction excellence, as demonstrated by overall resident satisfaction scores.

"The Excellence in Action award isn't just any quality performance award," said Jason Stevens, Senior Vice President of Business Development at National Research. "Rather, it's an award that defines what it means for providers to provide the right kind of care—patient-centered care—for their residents, families, and employees. It's an honor and well-deserved accomplishment for repeat winners and new organizations alike."

Juniper Village at Williamstown is a two building campus consisting of assisted living and Wellspring Memory Care. It is home to 87 residents, located at 1640 Black Horse Pike. It provides specialized programming and healthcare including the use of the Music & Memory program.

“Our Williamstown team truly goes above and beyond to provide quality, individualized care and service to our residents. I see this every day that I am present in their community. The results of our customer satisfaction surveys validate their incredible efforts,” expressed Linda Donato, vice-president of operations for Juniper Communities.

Samples of questions asked on the survey include, “What is your recommendation of this facility to others” or “What is your recommendation of this facility as a place to live?”

Juniper Communities’ focus on the total well-being of each resident, providing personalized care coupled with innovative healthcare practices, has made it a recognized leader and the first choice among many patient/resident referral sources. Its’ Connect4Life model which provides onsite health and physical therapy care, is regarded as the most forward looking practice by industry sources for 2015.

Grandparent’s Day with Juniper Village at Williamstown

This Year we celebrated Grandparent's Day in conjunction with our Assisted Living Week Kick Off! We also had as special guest, "The Very Best Grandparent Ever!"  We also celebrated with one of our housekeeper's grandsons who has become so dear to our community; he has become everyone's grandson!

Resident's enjoyed a very special lunch, celebration of music, games and more! Remember being a grandparent is a Very High Calling & You are the gift to the new generation!

September 13 – 19 is National Assisted Living Week

Understand the senior living options available

This year, National Assisted Living Week’s theme is Nourishing Life: Mind, Body and Spirit and celebrates the countless ways assisted living caregivers nurture the whole resident. This has been the basis of Juniper Village at Williamstown’s mission since we began and is certainly a goal of the industry.

With the percentage of the U.S. population over age 65 steadily increasing, it is important to understand the many options available in specialized residences and the level of care they provide for the growing and varied needs of seniors.

In addition to the type of community, it is equally important to find one that offers compassionate care, unparalleled access to healthcare – preferably onsite, programming that will stimulate you such as Music & Memory, and a commitment to continued improvement.

Personal Care/Assisted Living residences are for seniors who require the least amount of care. Meals are provided along with assistance in medication management, bathing, and dressing, if needed. Housekeeping and laundry services may also be available. Community social activities or outings may be offered, and depending on their preferences and budgets, residents may have the option of choosing a private room or a shared apartment.

Although some Assisted Living residences may provide services for seniors with cognitive impairment, a Memory Care residence is a specialized community for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Providing 24-hour supervision and security, the Memory Care environment is designed to meet the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s patients.

A Skilled Nursing Care residence, sometimes known as a nursing home, provides the highest level of care for its residents as well as round-the-clock availability of medical care. Seniors in these communities may be incontinent or require assistance with eating, walking, and moving about the bed.  Skilled Nursing Care residences usually provide long-term care for seniors who are too sick or frail for other types of residences.

In recognition of National Assisted Living Week, remember, when independent living becomes too difficult, moving into a senior living community that offers appropriate levels of care based on an individual’s need can often be the best solution.

Spreading The Joy of Friendship!

This month at Juniper Village of Williamstown as we celebrate our "Alive In All Seasons" theme of: Friendship: "Spread Your Joy", we began with receiving an "Awesome" New Jersey State Survey!  As we know in Healthcare it doesn't get any better than that!  We celebrated with all of the Juniper Team & friends with a fun celebration and as you can see by the photo of our "Maintenance Director-Tyrone" we also enjoyed another amazing cake by our Friends Liscio's Bakery right here in town!

In addition, we welcomed a new friend/resident to our community who is also a Major Eagle's Fan like all of us here in Williamstown! She experienced a great welcome celebration!  We also enjoyed the beautiful friendship of an inter-generational game day and there is nothing better than the friendship of our children and grandchildren! I always say, if you want to experience joy, just get around children and puppies, a smile is just around the corner!

Residents also enjoyed a beautiful day out visiting a beautiful sacred shrine and a shared prayer experience with their friends!  It was a truly beautiful experience!

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

September 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  September 11^th Remembrance as we honor those who lost their lives, especially those who sacrificed so that others might live, on September 11^th at 3:00 pm.

§  Assisted Living Week Kick-Off and Erev Rosh Hashana as we begin our celebration of Rosh Hashana and offer gratitude to all those who make assisted living facilities true homes for their residents on September 13^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Spreading the Joy of Friendship presentation by Deb Gabrieli who will share with us all the ways that offering friendship to others is also a blessing to ourselves on September 17^th at 3:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our September 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Spread Your Joy.

"Keeping It Green" in Williamstown!

As this month of August begins to wind down, summer beach days sadly draw to a close and college students begin to settle in their dorms, it is time to clean out the old and welcome in the new!

As we continue our Celebration of the Environment: "Breathe in Life" theme, we are Keeping it Green at Juniper Village in Williamstown!  We just hosted our 5th Annual Free Community Wide Shredder Event!  We had an overwhelming attendance at this year's event!  People were lined up all down the Black Horse Pike past the new Walmart waiting in line to shred all of their documents! Our Very Own Shredder Expert, Tim, advised me later that the truck has a capacity of 10,000 pounds & we filled it to 3/4 full!  We had over 150 cars full of people here to celebrate a beautiful summer event, while doing something great for the environment! It was a great time had by all!

Our residents also enjoyed our Summer Gardens tour outing as well, having a wonderful day enjoying the environment!  The ladies looked like Hollywood Divas!

We hope you will join us for our upcoming fall events and we will "See You In September" as the song goes!

We've Got a Lot Going On!

This month we kicked off our “Alive in All Seasons” theme of: The Environment: "Breathe in Life"! as we were treated to a wonderful and very informative presentation on "Living In The Green" by: Ferida Wolff.  Ferida is a published author, strict vegetarian, and dedicated environmental activist!  If that isn't enough, she is also the sister of our very own employee, Ronnie! Ferida had a very interactive audience.

We then enjoyed welcoming new “Best Friends”, including our Maintenance Director Ty and resident Stu at our “Best Friends” Social.

We also hosted our Annual "Back To School" Book Bag Event, benefiting "Bells School" of Washington Township, NJ, with Su Canzonese, one of their wonderful teachers, and Pat, one of their nurses! Everyone enjoyed a great summer beach party, in honor this year of our beloved resident Doris Densten. We collected a great volume of new book bags and supplies for the children to head back to school with this year!  We also enjoyed the traditional Jamaican Steel Drum music as well as an Ice Cream Sunday fest.  Everyone had a great time.

Don't forget our Annual Free Shredder event will be held on Thursday, August 13th from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. You don't want to miss it!

August 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: Breathe in Life

As we continue our summer focus on Staying Connected, we devote our August 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village in Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown as we Breathe in Life!

Our fabulous August 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  Living In The Green Presentation with Ferida Wolff who will share with us small steps we can all take to make a big collective impact on our environment on August 4^th at 3:00 pm.

§  Back To School Outreach Event to assist those less fortunate in returning to their education positioned for success on August 6^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Annual “Free Shredder Event” as we invite our community to bring in their unneeded files and paperwork to be securely disposed of on August 13^th at 10:00 am.

We look forward to sharing our August 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Breathe in Life.

We Love Volunteers!

This month as we celebrate our "Alive in All Seasons" theme of: Volunteerism: "Standing in Integrity", it is our sincere hope that you will join us as we celebrate all of the wonderful people who live their lives in service to others!

Here at Juniper Village of Williamstown we are ever aware of such beauty that resides in the hearts of everyday people living their busy daily lives, yet always creating time extending their heart in service to others!  Our community has been a recipient of many such individuals and we have just hosted our Annual Volunteer Luncheon in sincere gratitude!  It was a beautiful day & a very joyous occasion!

In addition, our residents hit the streets giving service to the men & woman who have dedicated their lives in service to the public, and the many friends throughout our local area. We brought gifts and refreshments to our local Police, Fire, Ambulance and First Aid Squads and took them totally by surprise!

It was a great afternoon and we surprised many friends of Juniper of Williamstown, such as our Turnersville Care Dealership and more! Everyone had a blessed and beautiful day!

We hope you will join us in thanking our Military, Police, Fire, Ambulance, Rescue & all of the wonderful people in our nation and around the world who live their lives "Standing in Integrity" and giving service to others!

Mary Jane Eicke appointed to role of Executive Director of Juniper Village at Williamstown

Juniper Communities is pleased to inform the community that it has appointed Mary Jane Eicke as the new director of its two building campus known as Juniper Village at Williamstown. The prior executive director, Maria Ciocca, relocated to Naples, FL to take the helm of Juniper Village at Naples, one of Juniper’s buildings in that locale.

“I am so thrilled to be the executive director at Juniper Village at Williamstown. My interests and philosophy in caring for the elderly lends itself perfectly to Juniper’s motto of being alive in all seasons of life,” said Mary Jane Eicke upon her appointment.

Her history in the health care field has been mainly in long-term care. She is a licensed LTC administrator and a Registered Nurse (R.N.). Prior to Juniper, Mary Jane worked for Revera Health Systems.

“My entire career has focused on the geriatric population, for which I have the greatest love and respect,” stated Mary Jane. “Working with this population has provided me with such knowledge of that generation, learning from their lives and personal experiences.”

As the executive director, she plans to continue to provide quality care in the areas of mind, body and spirit; and, maintaining programming that nurtures the spirit of life in each resident they touch. “Something Juniper is known to be exemplary for,” she stated.

Mary Jane Eicke graduated from the Saint Francis School of Nursing in Jersey City, then went on to achieve her BS from Upsala College in East Orange at night while working full-time during the day. She resides in Little Egg Harbor with her husband, Charles, and golden retriever, Rusti. Mary Jane is very proud of her children, two wonderful sons and her daughter-in-laws. The real love of her life is her grandson Parker, who is 13 years old.

Summer Kick Off!!

This month as we begin July 2015, we celebrated with a Community Summer Holiday Kick Off Event! Residents, families, friends and care associates enjoyed a high energy, patriotic festive event. We celebrated with the great patriotic music that has been performed since the beginning of our Great Nation! We all enjoyed a great party with dancing, games, balloon art, summer refreshments and much more! In addition, we celebrated special birthdays for our residents with prizes & more!

We so look forward to enjoying this summer with all of our Juniper friends & families and we invite you to join us for all of our summer celebrations & events!

Happy Vacation Season Everyone!

July 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: Stand in Integrity

With our July 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  4th of July Patriotic Tribute Event featuring the best patriotic songs of the U.S. as we honor our great nation and celebrate the “freedom” that so many men and women of integrity gave of themselves to obtain as we honor The United States of America and all of our service men and woman who are the true heroes we look up to and we thank all of our military and keep them all in our hearts and prayers on July 4^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

§  Annual Volunteer Celebration Luncheon as we honor the Juniper Spirit of Volunteerism that resides in all of the wonderful volunteers that have given service to our community and honor all of our precious volunteers with a beautiful, festive summer luncheon complete with strolling music and more to recognize the gift of service these volunteers have so freely given to our community and others with their true heart of giving as we stand together with hearts full of gratitude to the caring service all volunteers across the globe on July 16^th from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our July 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown with you as we Stand in Integrity.

Food and Friends

As we conclude the month of June 2015, our residents, care associates, families and community wide friends have enjoyed our "Alive in All Seasons" Theme: Food: "Live in Wellness"!  Our dining team here has really gone all out under the direction of Raymond Bradley Richardson, with delicious & beautiful dining experiences and entree presentations that entice our desires!

In addition, we have enjoyed wonderful dining out trips to sample the most delicious foods in our local area and if that isn't enough, residents have been enjoying the most delicious fresh veggies and fruits of the season.

We also celebrated our Juniper Associate Appreciation week in June this year!  What a wonderful experience it was to give thanks to all of our team for all they do and the beautiful service they provide to all of our residents and families!  Everyone joined in the week long celebrations and enjoyed every moment!

We have so much more to come & invite you to join us for our summer events to come!

Living in Wellness!

As we enjoy our Juniper Alive in All Seasons Theme This month, of Food: "Live in Wellness", we are engaging in many wonderful new experiences!

First, we have welcomed our new Executive Director, Maryjane Eicke this month at Juniper Village of Williamstown.  Maryjane is enjoying the process of getting to know our wonderful residents, families and all of our wonderful community friends here in Williamstown! In addition, we have also welcomed our new Maintenance Director, Tyrone Beal.  Tyrone is also enjoying his new beginnings in our community!

As part of our celebrations we have been enjoying many delicious food items.... but Maryjane has introduced all of us to the best bagels ever!

We also have given out our awards for all of our Route 66 Fitness winners and had a beautiful celebration!  All of our residents did great and enjoyed their accolades, awards and prizes!  We are so very proud of all of them!

As we continued on in our month residents enjoyed a wonderful day out in Cape May enjoying a delicious lunch and of course we all enjoyed our last stop of the day, our favorite Ice Cream Shop for homemade ice cream sundaes, frozen yogurt and more!

Join us as we continue to celebrate "Living In Wellness" this month at Juniper Village of Williamstown and don't forget to stop by and meet our new Executive Director, Maryjane Eicke and our new Maintenance Director, Tyrone Beal!

Fitness With A Flair

As we bring the month of May to a close, we were delighted to celebrate the winners of our Annual "Route 66" Fitness Challenge!  The top winners of each category were super excited to receive their honors, awards & prizes!  We are so proud of all of them, as they pushed their endurance and are "Growing Strong Daily Together" at Juniper Village of Williamstown!  Everyone who participated did receive a special gift from Juniper along with our Partners in Caring, Genesis Rehab!  We had a great celebration and everyone that participates is a WINNER!  As you participate you receive the ultimate gift, which bears no price tag high enough, the gift of increased health & wellbeing!

In addition we celebrated in Juniper style with a blow out Spring Kick Off Party with our very own resident stealing the show on his pink electric guitar with blues brother shades as he railed a rif, even Eric Claptan would be proud of!

Join us for more to come as we kick off the summer in style!

June 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown. 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  “Live In Wellness” Presentation by our Genesis Rehab Team a very informative and fun seminar where we will learn the latest in the field on creating wellness and maintaining wellness in our lives at every stage of life, so join us as we attain vibrant health and wellness together on June 8^th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  “Slight of Hand” Father’s Day Event as we invite everyone to join us for this “magical” father’s day experience as we pay honor to the greatest men in our lives, our dads with a very special Magic Show, refreshments and a wonderful time celebrating all the great stories and memories of life with our dads on June 21^st from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

§  “Nutrition For Champions” Presentation by Mary Lou Bialon M.S., R.D., L.D.N. who will provide the most up-to-date information on nutrition for optimum health with tips that the best licensed dietitians and nutrition coaches all across the globe utilize in achieving optimum wellness in training champions as we gather the latest facts for optimum health and nutrition as we live in wellness and live long and strong on June 22^nd from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our June 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown!

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 Williamstown was presented the Juniper “People on the Bus” Award in recognition of achieving the highest 2 year retention in 2014.

Growing Strong Together!

This month as Juniper Village of Williamstown we are celebrating life, health and well-being!  Join us as we celebrate every moment of life in abundant joy and vibrancy of life!

We begin our month of May with a Themed Luncheon & Cinco de Mayo Celebration with a very spicy traditional Mexican Lunch, beverages and special dessert!  We celebrated with the traditional music of Mexico and experienced Mexican dance!  Everyone was so colorfully dressed and full of energy..... They loved the beautiful instruments and their favorite part was keeping the rhythm!

We also celebrate our very special Nurses here at Williamstown and throughout the communities, as they keep the pulse and are at the center of Growing Strong Together in our communities!

We hope you will celebrate every moment of life with joy and treasure the little things of life.  They create magic!  Join us as we continue our celebrations throughout the month of May!

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Visits Juniper Village at Williamstown

Juniper Communities Founder and President Lynne Katzmann was privileged as she was asked to meet with New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno to discuss senior living and elder care issues in the state of New Jersey. The meeting took place May 6th at Juniper Village at Williamstown, one of our dual levels of care campuses that offers both Wellspring memory care and Village assisted living. The Lieutenant Governor toured the facility and met with staff member and residents as she was inquiring about the impacts of regulatory statutes and assessing possible future programs. Juniper Communities President was honored to have the opportunity to share her insights with the Lieutenant Governor while learning about policies and legislation from the Governor's office. Look for more from these two influential women in the near future.

May 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: Grow Strong Daily

Fitness is on our mind during our May 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

§  “Days of Wine and Roses” Mother’s Day Concert for an afternoon of rousing music and delectable refreshments to share with mom on May 10^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Spring Community Block Party as we have fun while enjoying entertainment and tasty treats with our families and friends on May 21^st at 2:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our May 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown!

Believe The Best In Yourself!

This month as we conclude our many wonderful presentations, events and surprises, we were delighted to celebrate our "Alive in All Seasons" theme of: The Brain: "Believe in Yourself".

In keeping with our theme, we ended our month with the beautiful welcome of both new residents and new staff!  We love to greet our new residents, families and associates with a warm welcome and celebrate their Belief in the Best of Themselves!  Join us as we make them feel at home in their new environment at Juniper Village of Williamstown.

In addition, residents, families, community friends and associates enjoyed a wonderful game day experience hosted by: Terri Theisen, Assistant V.P. Servicing & Closing of Love Funding Corp.  It is Love Funding's belief & mission to go out into the community providing acts of love.  It was a great day & everyone enjoyed Terri.

We also were treated to a very special presentation by: Dr. Martin Forsberg, M.D., Psychiatrist/Assistant Professor-School of Osteopathic Medicine-NJISA. & several of his current Medical Students.  Dr. Forsberg gave a very informative and engaging presentation on the "Science of a Healthy Brain". He provided great, state of the art information on the latest studies offering benefits for our brain health & maintenance as we age! It was greatly enjoyed by all who attended!

Join us next month at Juniper of Williamstown!

Music Therapy For Alzheimer's at Juniper Village at Williamstown

Residents at Juniper Village at Williamstown sat in rocking chairs on a recent afternoon, with earbuds in place, as they listened to music with hopes the songs will bring back some memories.

Recently, Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care Community in Williamstown unveiled a program that utilizes music to aid residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, or other forms of dementia.

There are currently eight people in the program, and everyday for about 15 to 20 minutes they sit together and listen to personalized playlists.

Each of the residents in the program has Alzheimer's, or a stage of dementia. None of the cases seem to be the same, so they each react differently when they hear a familiar song.

"What happens with Alzheimer's is the brain shrinks, and different parts of the brain control different parts of the body, memory and speech," said Marie Crocca, Juniper Village executive director. "Music tends to take them away, back to their memories."

The music can also help improve the quality of life, relieve boredom, enable memory, reduce or eliminate agitation and provide restoration of identity.

Read more of this story from the South Jersey Times.

Photo by Stephanie Maksin of the South Jersey Times.

"Celebrate Life"

This season as we kick off the month of April, we celebrate Life! There is no better celebration of life than treasuring moments with loved ones and friends, creating new memories together!  We kicked off the month of April with our annual Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt! What a beautiful and fun event.

Residents, families and friends and associates celebrated a beautiful Easter Festive Morning with special Easter pastries, muffins, coffee bar, special spring music and much more!  The Easter Bunny even hopped on over to celebrate and share the joy of a beautiful sunny morning with us!  The Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success and the kids loaded up on Easter Eggs!

Please join us as we continue to celebrate the beautiful moments of life! We will celebrate Passover and many more wonderful spring events! See you Soon! Happy Easter and Passover to all from Juniper of Williamstown!

April 2015 Events in Williamstown, NJ: 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown 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 Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown include our:

Ø  Annual Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt Event a wonderful event that celebrates family, fun and tradition as we enjoy delightful seasonal refreshments, beautiful music, and, of course, the Easter Egg Hunt for all the kids and our very special guest, The Easter Bunny, will be on site to hop along and take photos with all the kids on April 4^th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

Ø  Red Hatters’ Spring Fling Event a fabulous afternoon celebration where we will enjoy seasonal refreshments along with games, prizes, and a great social time with friends throughout our entire community, so don’t forget to wear your Red Hats on April 15^th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Ø  The Science of A Healthy Brain by: Dr. Forsberg, Psychiatrist to present the latest studies in the Science of creating and maintaining a healthy brain and teach us about the cutting edge science on the components that allow us to live our lives to the fullest with a healthy brain at all stages of our lives on April 17^th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our April 2015 events in Williamstown, NJ at Juniper Village at Williamstown!