Dr. Lyle Parker lives at Brookdale Wilmington. He was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, but he combats it through his photographs. Dr. Parker has hundreds of photos taken during his time in Vietnam. "A very foreign and strange place," he recalls. "It wasn't really a scenic country."
Read moreResidents at the Brookdale Middleton Century Avenue senior living community got to enjoy a "senior" prom on Thursday, and 105-year-old Emilie Novotoy was crowned the Prom Queen. She says it's not something she gets to experience every day. "They put a crown on me to see if I can behave," she joked.
Read moreIn Yakima, Washington, senior living communities are teaming up with a local baseball team for the second annual Alzheimer's Awareness Night set for June 9. That includes Brookdale Yakima. They're putting on a fundraiser leading up to the game, and auctioning off 44 special jerseys that the baseball players will wear to the game and autograph. They hope to raise $8,000 this year. All proceeds will go to Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Read moreBrookdale Healthplus is meant to help residents live their healthiest lives, and by extension stay in their care setting for longer. That includes in memory care. “It's such an important element of taking care of their health care needs, and making sure that that's convenient and on site,” Brookdale's Kim Elliott told Memory Care Business. “It's just critical… that you're taking care of the obvious … and you're taking care of those underlying concerns that you don't necessarily see or deal with every day.”
Read moreAfter being acquired last June, Brookdale Castle Gardens has now officially rebranded. Residents held a Hollywood-themed party. Employees say the rebranding won't cause any major changes, just some much-needed upgrades. "We look forward to celebrating that with Brookdale, and new resources available to us, and maybe a spruce up here and there. And welcome more families and support them throughout whatever their journey is."
Read moreIn 2024, Brookdale plans to rapidly grow its Brookdale HealthPlus program – to expand to 129 communities. In an interview with Senior Housing News, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Kim Elliott explains how bringing Brookdale Healthplus to a community can transform it. “We intentionally disrupt a senior living community and every single element of the way that it runs changes,” she added. “It is a major transformation, and there's a lot of work.” Communities using Brookdale HealthPlus have seen 78% fewer urgent care visits, 36% fewer hospitalizations for residents and 63% more completed annual resident wellness visits.
Read moreA group of veterans had their dreams come true, including three Brookdale residents. As part of a "Dream Flight," they flew over Bakersfield in a 1944 Red Stearman, a biplane used by the Air Force and the Navy during World War II. “I'll tell you, it was so much fun," said Bob Lechtreck, one of the residents. "It's something else, I didn't know where I was half the time, but I saw a lot of the town.”
Read moreOur mission to enrich seniors’ lives is much more than a job for these Brookdale associates. It’s a connection to honor loved ones or a continuation of a calling that began earlier in life. In the video below, hear from three of our Brookdale associates about the personal reasons they chose a career serving seniors.
Read moreFor the first time in months, residents at Brookdale Oswego Springs were reunited. In January, a tree fell through an apartment. It triggered the sprinkler system, which caused damage to a lot of the building. Thirty residents were forced out of their homes. Now, they're back together. “We're so glad to have it over with and to have them back home,” said Connie Guardino, who lives in the building. “We hope this never happens again."
Read moreIn her free time, Jean Koppernalle knits scarves for soldiers. She's made over 500 of them for Operation Gratitude, a non-profit that sends care packages to troops. "It makes me feel like I'm worthwhile," Jean says. "Keeping me busy, and probably more alert."
Read moreInterior designer Stephanie Acevedo is featured in Brookdale's "Make it Mine" series. You can watch Make it Mine episodes on YouTube @BrookdaleLiving.
Read moreOn Memorial Day, our nation pauses to remember the men and women who gave their lives serving our country. We honor their memory, their sacrifice, and their loved ones, many of whom live or work in a Brookdale community. Brookdale Senior Living is proud to remember and honor those who fell, and we are grateful for their sacrifice in service to our country and our community.
Read moreAt 103-years-old, Faye Colyer has plenty of spirit. "I'm glad I'm 83!" She teased when she entered the dining area. And her secret to such a long life? "Stay away from the doctor's office!" she said with a big smile. "That's all I know."
Read moreBrookdale has a new community in Vestal, NY. It's called Brookdale Castle Gardens, a re-branding of a community that's served seniors for over 30 years. Jay Smith, a DDO at Brookdale, came to Castle Gardens to share in the celebration. ”We fully believe in enhancing the lives of those we serve, so we are really proud of the robust programming we bring to the community."
Read moreResidents at Brookdale Summer Ridge got to dress up and dance for a prom, complete with a DJ, professional photographer, classic cars, and, of course, the crowning of a prom king and queen.
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