Celebrating Tradition with Performance

At Juniper, during the month of March we celebrated opportunities with performances of many kinds.  Included in the many and various opportunities that were offered were the Drama Club, Sing-a-longs, Scarf Dancing, Music Therapy, a Pom Pom Dance, One Accord Musical group performance, Poetry reading, a dance party, and we wouldn’t let the month pass without the Irish High Step Dancers performing on St. Patrick’s Day…it’s a long standing tradition! 

According to Wikipedia:  Irish step-dance is a style of dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It can be performed solo or by troupes. Two types of shoes are worn; hard shoes, which make sounds similar to tap shoes, and soft shoes, which are similar to ballet slippers. Dancers stiffen their upper bodies while performing quick, intricate footwork. Costumes are considered important for stage presence in competitive Irish step-dance. There are several levels of competition available for both individuals and groups.

The nature of the Irish dance tradition has changed and adapted over the centuries to accommodate and reflect changing populations and the fusion of new cultures. The history of Irish dancing is as a result a fascinating one. The popular Irish dance stage shows of the past ten years have reinvigorated this cultural art, and today Irish dancing is healthy, vibrant, and enjoyed by people across the globe.

Being able watch the young dancers move with such vibrancy, intent, and detail is always a joyful experience.  The smiles of the on-lookers brighten the room every time!  Being able to enjoy such performances with good friends, families, and acquaintances…and let’s not forget the delicious corned beef, cabbage, along with the rest of the very delicious meal would be the luck of the Irish.  With that said, we can all be a wee bit Irish on St. Patty’s Day.

Believe in Yourself: April Events

April, the month where we play innocent pranks on April Fool’s Day; celebrate Springtime and Easter with egg hunts, brunches, and church; pay homage to mother earth on Earth Day; and welcome the return of America’s favorite pastime – Baseball. This month we embark on a new quarter in our Alive in All Seasons calendar where we celebrate Healthy Aging and will “Let Wellbeing Thrive”. Throughout April our focus is on the brain and honoring the theme “Believe in Yourself”. Did you know that activities that are good for your heart are also good for your brain? The American Heart Association tells us that protecting memory and brain health is a matter of keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy. Regular cardio exercise and a healthy diet not only keep your heart happy, but your brain too.

This month’s offerings include activities and events that will keep our bodies and brains healthy and renew our faith in ourselves. Educational opportunities will cover brain health topics such as brain booster activities and ways to keep fit. We will rejoice in our individuality and celebrate ourselves through life affirming reminiscent and creative activities while reminding each other to “Believe in Yourself”.

Please join us here at Juniper Village at Aurora for Drum Therapy with Helen on April 5^th at 2:00 pm; our Healthy Brain Luncheon on April 10^th at noon; our Best Friends Dying Easter Eggs activity on April 18^th at 2:00 pm; our Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt on April 19^th at 10:00 am; and our Holocaust Remembrance Discussion on April 26^th at 2:00 pm. See our newsletter calendar for a complete listing of events and come visit us during any that suit your fancy!

H'Art and Soul of Dining - New Menus with Delicious Recipes!

We are proud to announce that on April 5th our revitalized spring/summer menus will begin for our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program at all of our communities.  This new signature program will help us improve quality of life and whole person wellness for the individuals that call Juniper Village home.  We are very excited this season since the offerings will feature a delicious 5-week entrée select option featuring fabulous new choices using some of the fresh products available through our food vendors. Also, on our updated menus, we have added many lighter alternatives as well as recipes specific to each community that take into account special diets, regional tastes, food committee requests and our resident’s special needs and personal requests.  These changes to our meal plans significantly increase the variety of selections provided for our residents while focusing upon scratch made offerings and heart-healthy meals.  Furthermore, in celebration of our AIAS spring quarter “Healthy Aging,” our Grill Menus will be re-vamped to highlight healthier offerings throughout the season. In addition we will be implementing an innovative hydration assurance program served from our “Oasis Carts,” featuring a variety of flavored waters using citrus or mint or cucumbers, fresh brewed iced tea, lemonade, punch, smoothies and juices as well as nutritious snacks.

Below are some of the recipes featured on our new menu:

Carrot-Currant Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour (to measure, spoon into a cup and level)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup carrot juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup dried currants
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl whisk together butter, egg, milk, carrot juice and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and gently fold just until moistened. Fold carrots and dried currants into the mix. Scoop batter into the muffin pan and bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan (cool on a wire rack if you have one).

Yellow Squash Soup

Cooking Spray

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

1 cup diced zucchini

1 cup diced yellow squash

3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 (15 ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can diced no-salt-added tomatoes

Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; sauté 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.

Your Treasure is Within: March Events

Our Alive in All Seasons program is alive and well at Juniper Village. This quarter’s seasonal theme is on Creative Expression: “Explore Your Creativity” and serves to promote our philosophy of encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit. For March, we will turn our focus to Performance: “Your Treasure is Within”.

This month on March 2, 2014 we look forward to the 86^th celebration of the Academy Awards. As we watch popular comedian and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres host the festivities while the beautiful stars dressed in their finery walk the red carpet we can’t help to stop, to pause and reminisce of all of the great performances of past years. Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Vivien Leigh, Meryl Streep, Peter Ustinov and Dustin Hoffman; the list goes on! In addition to guessing who might win the Oscars for 2014, this month we will be learning about and experiencing all different types of great performance art, enjoying cultural events and trying our hand at acting in drama club.

It’s going to be a theatrical month at Juniper Village at Aurora filled with creativity, great experiences and memorable performances! You are cordially invited to attend our Mardi Gras Celebration Fat Tuesday Dinner Party on March 4^th at 5:00 pm, an outing to Overland High School for a Musical Performance: Once Upon a Mattress on March 5^th at 9:00 am, our St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Irish High Step Dancers Performance on March 17^th at 5:00 pm, our Creative Corner: Springtime Flower Pots activity on March 29^th at 2:00 pm, or any of our other activities (see our Newsletter for a complete listing).

So come in, and join in on the act to find that “Your Treasure is Within”.

Rodeo Days!

In the Wild West there’s a long standing tradition…attend the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado for the stock show and rodeos, in January.  One might ask the question, ‘why in January?’…well the answer is simple:  January was a practical choice because, coming after the fall harvest and before spring calving, it was a convenient time for stock growers. Denver businessmen liked the idea of a January show because the post-Christmas period was the slowest time of the year for sales. What better fix for the mid-winter doldrums than a convention that would draw large numbers of visitors and get Denverites out of their homes to see the stock show.  The first show was in 1908, where over 15,000 attendees; the show has been an on-going, all time fav’ for 108 years!!  In 2014, the attendance was a record 644,022…that’s up by over 15,000 from the year before.

There is a lot of history and growth in and around the National Western Show.  Over the years a lot has been added to draw attention and attraction to show.  Chances are if you’ve been to Denver during the Rodeo Days, you just might have been to a show!  Juniper wanted to keep that tradition alive in our spirits by taking a trip to a rodeo show…and ending the day with a cowboy dinner, back at the ranch.  Those that were able to get to the rodeo showed their grand time of enjoyment with the smiles on their faces.  It’s not everyday you get to see those cowboys lasso a sheep!  City folks have always enjoyed everything from prize-winning livestock to exhibits of farm and ranch machinery at the January extravaganza.  Attendees of our Cowboy Dinner enjoyed not only some of the best Beef Stew and Shepard’s Pie ‘round town, they had the pleasure of listening to some true blue cowboy music!

Juniper Village at Aurora Scores Excellence for Third Time

How many times can an organization be rewarded for its excellence in care? One assisted living community is still finding out. We are going for the record when it comes to being recognized for its outstanding person-centered care, staff training, and programming in serving the memory-impaired.

For the third consecutive interval, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has awarded us its “Excellence in Care, Dementia Care Program of Distinction”. This status is considered the highest hallmark of recognition for long-term care communities offering services for the memory impaired. We received it in 2009-2010; 2011-2013; and 2014-2016.

The team of reviewers from the AFA look to award the status to a company that goes above and beyond every day expectations.  Reviewers observe how the staff interacts with the residents, eye contact, voice and tone used. At minimum, 75% of the staff must be trained in the dementia care curriculum. There is also an evaluation scorecard that rates pain management, education for family and friends, quarterly in-service, observance of safety and security, and an activity program that meets need of residents.

“Receiving the designation reflects the dedication of Juniper’s staff to stay current with the skills they need to provide the best quality care to the residents. It’s also an affirmation that the programs we offer do nurture the spirit of the residents and keep them engaged in living,” expressed Jennifer Harris, our Executive Director.

We provide a continuum of care to 52 residents with dementia. We are part of Juniper Communities, which owns and operates long-term care communities in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and offers a signature program called Alive in All Seasons that focuses on residents’ wellness in mind, body and spirit.


We are the first facility in the Southwest and the 13th in the nation to earn this distinction after meeting AFA’s set of comprehensive standards in 2009.

Awaken Your Passion: February Events

This February our Alive in All Seasons’ theme is Art: “Awaken Your Passion”. In a moving quote from Honoré de Balzac we are reminded that art and passion are inextricably linked; he states, “passion is universal humanity; without it, religion, history, romance and art would be useless.” Art is truly a conduit that allows us to experience the richness and brilliance of all that life has to offer. Art can have a profound effect upon us by providing nourishment to our spirit and soul.

As you know there is always something special going on here at Juniper Village at Aurora and this February we will celebrate another wonderful month filled with memories, laughter and the opportunity to create! This month we will open ourselves to various forms of art. We will be taking field trips to local museums, learning about the Great Masters, and creating masterpieces of our own using various mediums.

Please join us for our Successful Communication Workshop at 6:00 pm on February 13^th, our Annual Balloon Bouquets Fundraiser Sale benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association that allows you to order bouquets throughout the month for pick-up from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on February 14^th, and our Art Therapy Lunch and Learn at noon on February 18^th. We encourage you to review our calendar for other offerings and attend any or all of the activities that are of interest to you.

Come get together with us for our Alive in All Seasons programs this February and Awaken Your Passion!