Juniper Village at Paramus Partners with Bergen Community College

Juniper Communities, a leading provider of senior living communities, Paramus location is excited to announce its successful collaboration with the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Bergen Community College for their annual Honors in Action project. This year's initiative, titled "Nostalgia at Play," aimed to make a positive impact in the community by engaging with older adults who are living with dementia through the creative medium of puppetry.

The project involved creating unique puppets that allowed the participants to express their creativity and share meaningful connections. Under the guidance of Amelia Urena, who passionately coordinated the event, the participants were given full creative license to design and craft their own puppets. The culmination of their efforts was a heartwarming puppet show, providing a creative outlet for everyone involved to represent and reconnect with their past through the recollection of cherished memories.

According to the leaders at Juniper Village at Paramus, the "Nostalgia at Play" project was particularly meaningful as it offered residents an interactive and enjoyable experience that goes beyond conventional therapeutic approaches. The puppetry allowed for a unique form of communication and expression, fostering a sense of connection and joy among the participants.

The Phi Theta Kappa honor society's advisors, Anna Gergen and Lisa Mayer, played a crucial role in guiding the students throughout the project, ensuring its success. Their dedication to community engagement and creative collaboration was evident in the positive impact achieved through the project.

As a gesture of appreciation, everyone involved in the project received a special gift from the students, further enhancing the spirit of community and gratitude.

“Juniper Village at Paramus extends heartfelt thanks to the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Bergen Community College, Amelia Urena, Anna Gergen, Lisa Mayer, and all the participants for making "Nostalgia at Play" a memorable and impactful endeavor,” said Connections Director Everlin Kim.

This partnership exemplifies the power of creative initiatives to bring joy and connection to the lives of older adults in our community.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation in long-term care, operates senior living communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado that emphasize residents’ well-being, interaction and security. Our communities and approach to housing and care offers residents the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve residents’ care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of our residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com

About Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) traces its beginnings to Kappa Phi Omicron, an honorary group chartered with just six members in 1910 at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. In the years that follow, Kappa Phi Omicron is one of many honorary groups in the state. In the spring of 1918, students and college presidents of eight Missouri junior colleges for women unite at Stephens College to organize one new honor society with a common mission. They choose the name Phi Theta Kappa and model the newly formed organization after the prestigious senior college honor society Phi Beta Kappa. The Phi Theta Kappa Foundation awards $1.5 million in scholarships to members each year, and four-year college partners now offer $250 million in transfer scholarships exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members. The PTK Edge suite of free online courses helps students develop key skills to successfully transfer to a four-year college and gain employment. The Society looks to the future with a renewed dedication to help all students succeed, regardless of their past mistakes or their end goals, as it continues to expand opportunities and accessibility.