April 2016 Events in Aurora, 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 Aurora, CO at Juniper Village at Aurora include our:

§  Brain Healthy Brunch because the folks here at Juniper sure love brunch and we would absolutely love for anyone who can make it to join us as we get our late morning kick-started with all kinds of brain healthy and tasty foods on April 10^th at 11:00 am.

§  Brain Healthy Happy Hour with local chef, Justin Coleman of the Ritz Carlton-Downtown Denver, who will be gracing a group of local professionals with her knowledge and presence as she guides us through healthy and creative edible options that promote brain health on a daily basis, so grab a glass of heart-healthy red wine and lend an ear to one of Denver’s most knowledgeable dieticians as she inspires listeners to help themselves and others lead a healthy lifestyle on April 30^th at 5:00 pm.

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

Gateway Rotary Donation

Imagine the surprise on the residents' faces as they unveiled the large box containing various kinds of beautiful plants donated by Gateway Rotary. A huge shout out to the rotary organization for including Juniper Village at Aurora on their list to deliver these beautiful plants.  Our residents take pleasure in caring for them daily and look forward to new blooms forming.

On behalf of the residents and staff, much appreciation and gratitude.

March 2016 Events in Aurora, 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 Aurora, CO at Juniper Village at Aurora include our:

§  Denver Nuggets LIVE to join Juniper Village and our partners in caring as we head to the Pepsi Center to watch the Nuggets beat the Lakers from a VIP Suite on March 2^nd at 7:00 pm.

§  Memory Screening as our friends at Namaste Hospice bring their highly trained professionals to provide guests with complimentary memory screening on March 7^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

§  Chili Cook Off Fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association to bring your favorite chili in a crock pot and compete for the “Best Chili in Aurora” on March 23^rd from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

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

Memories in the Making Reception

With the close of Memories In The Making for 2015, Juniper Village at Aurora enlisted the help of their residents to make goodies for the Memories In the Making reception held later that evening. These ladies were very meticulous in ensuring the tortilla roll-ups were PERFECT for the party, spreading cream cheese from edge to edge and filling them with cut up black olives then topping off with shaved ham and smoked turkey.  Their perfection was shown in the intricate way of rolling up the tortillas prior to cutting into bite size pieces. Plates were decorated with the beautiful pin wheeled tortilla roll-ups, which were later enjoyed by all.  The evening was a success with residents and family members oohing and awing over the magnificent art pieces.

February 2016 Events in Aurora, 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 Aurora, CO at Juniper Village at Aurora include our:

§  Making Shumai with John interactive demonstration where we will be making delicious and eye-catching traditional Chinese dim sum dumplings (yum, yum) on February 8^th at 1:30 pm.

§  Sweetheart Dance and Valentine Party to share some sweet treats with our sweethearts while we dance the day away to some of our favorite love songs on February 11^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Bessie’s Hope event as we partner with this wonderful organization that is bringing generations together through volunteering and mentoring programs on February 24^th at 2:00 pm.

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

January 2016 Events in Aurora, CO: Welcome New Beginnings

Happy New Year! January is the time when we all welcome new beginnings and set resolutions to make this year better than the last. But how does one keep those resolutions throughout the year ahead? The New York Times offers four suggestions: First, make a concrete plan, something visual to embed it to memory. Second, put something you value on the line – is it your health or your pocketbook – keep that in mind when you are tempted to break your resolution. Third, bundle your temptations. For instance, you want to exercise more, but struggle getting to the gym and you also have a fondness for gossip magazines but feel they are a waste of time. Combine the two – read the magazines only at the gym! And fourth, seek social support. You can achieve more by pursuing goals with the help of a mentor.

Still haven’t made any resolutions? Resolve to join us every month for a wide variety of events and activities. This month we explore our creativity through music with outings to local musical performances, Elvis’ birthday celebrations and concerts by our Joyful Noise Choir. We invite you to Welcome New Beginnings and make regular visits to Juniper Village part of your new year’s goals!

Our fabulous January 2016 events in Aurora, CO at Juniper Village at Aurora include our:

§  Elvis (Shelvis) Birthday Celebration as we celebrate the “King of Rock and Roll” and enjoy a PBJ sandwich with “Shelvis” who is a fantastic impersonator, so be ready for a real treat listening to all those Elvis oldies that we know and love on January 9^th at 2:00 pm.

§  “Alive Inside” Screening, a Sundance Festival 2014audience award recipient, and the first part of our three-part series and roll-out on January 19^th. (More details to follow.)

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

December 2015 Events in Aurora, CO: Celebrate Little Things

This month is all about celebrations! Not only will we be celebrating holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, but we will also celebrate the little things that make life worthwhile. Little things such as the reassuring touch of a friend’s hand, a kind word from an acquaintance and a warm smile from a stranger.

In our all too busy lives we sometimes forget to honor the simple things in life that bring us peace and joy. Most experts recommend that we allow 10-20 minutes of relaxation and stress relief each day. Making time for that can even be a stressful experience! During this busy month of baking, shopping, visitors and juggling tasks take time to remember what is really important.

Here are some tips to keep holiday stress in check: Acknowledge your feelings – you are not alone as holiday stress is not uncommon. Be realistic with expectations – you can only do so much, learn to say no. Ask for help when needed – everyone wants to be needed and may feel more included by being able to contribute. Plan ahead to minimize unplanned expenses and tasks. Take a breather – take a walk at night and do some stargazing, listen to soothing music, or get a massage. Above all enjoy all the holidays have to offer by sharing time with others.

Join us during the busy month of December for our annual cookie exchange and holiday celebrations. Take time to Celebrate Little Things with those you love.

Our fabulous December 2015 events in Aurora, CO at Juniper Village at Aurora include our:

§  Photos with Santa opportunity to have you and your loved ones’ portrait taken with the Jolly Old Fellow himself before he sets off to deliver good tidings and joy on December 10^th at 10:00 am.

§  Holiday Cheer Dinner for a delicious meal shared with friends and loved ones in a festive atmosphere sure to lift our spirits on December 19^th at 4:00 pm.

§  A Toast to 2016 as we bring in the New Year with champagne, delectable food items, jubilant music and vibrant dancing on December 31^st at 2:00 pm.

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