Surrounded by family and fellow residents of Brookdale Jackson Oaks, Claribel Herndon celebrated her 105th birthday. When asked what the secret to longevity of life is, Herndon preached the power of knowledge. "God has been good to me to let me live this long, and I've tried to encourage the young people to learn all they can and go to school," she said.

If you stop by Brookdale Newberg, you may run into Elton and Betty Denner, who have been married for 82 years. And they might share some of their advice for a lifetime of love. "[It's] simple," says the couple's daughter. "Patience, don’t win an argument, do things together, with each other and the Lord."

Sherry Starnes, Executive Director of Brookdale Greeneville, spoke to a local women's club about the assisted-living community and explained the many positive aspects of residing in such a long-term care environment.

Richard and Rhea Butler are celebrating 74 years of marriage. They were childhood sweethearts and starting dating in high school. Foster kids have been an integral part of their lives. Rhea always wanted to be a mother, but, due to fertility issues, she was never able to get pregnant. That didn’t stop the Butlers from taking in and caring for several foster children. They began serving as foster parents in 1972 and have fostered at least 18 children, even officially adopting one of their foster kids.

Kids from a local church in Waco, Texas, spend their Saturday hanging out with residents at Brookdale Lakeshore. "[Their] day becomes monotonous sometimes,” said Heather Gillaspie, Brookdale Lakeshore's Executive Director. “Having these little bright spots just means everything to them.”

Claribel Herndon turned 105 years old at Brookdale Jackson Oaks. The community threw her a special birthday celebration. “We’re very excited to honor her. She is quite the lady and has lived many years and seen many things, many things,” said Amber Storey-Knight, resident programs director at Jackson Oaks.

Clairbel Herndon turned 105 on January 7, 2025. She is a part of just 0.03% of people 100 years or older. She celebrated her birthday with her friends and family at Brookdale Jackson Oaks. Jackson's Mayor, Scott Conger, stopped by to wish her a happy birthday.

Sam Jaquez celebrated his 100th birthday at Brookdale Canton. He served in the military for a good chunk of his life, in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. But Sam's friend say he never talks about his military service. "He is a proud man."

Residents at Brookdale Palma Sola helped celebrate one of their oldest - Jules Hagen, who just turned 104 years old. Jules served in the Air Force as a command engineer for aircraft and later as a tax attorney. These days, Jules takes it easy, feeding squirrels and building puzzles.

Jules Hagen looks back on his 104 years of life with a sense of humor. But his life was also full of two things: determination and hard work. In fact, that's the advice that Jules wants to give to the younger generations. "I've been brought up that the way to live is to work. You gotta work."

At 104 years old, Jules Hagen says he feels pretty good. “I’ve had a good life," he says. "Very unusual. I’ve been trained funny.” He served in the Air Force during World War II, but on the ground, as a Command Engineer. “Do what they tell you in the service,” Jules says. “Don’t argue with them.”

Happy birthday to Doris Walters - one of Brookdale Texarkana's oldest residents, and one of the first birthdays of the new year! Doris spent her 100th birthday among friends and families at her community.

Four residents of Brookdale Sparks spoke with KOLO about the New Year’s resolutions they are setting and the reasons why. When asked what advice they would give to people setting their New Year’s resolutions, a major theme was to be reasonable and pick realistic goals you can work towards achieving.

Leroy Williams has seen more Christmases than most. 2024 was his 100th! He's worn many hats: fighting in WWII, a teacher, and a superintendent. But Leroy says his secret to long life comes from his first job: "Milking cows and pitching hay. It was a hard job."

A program launched by high school students this year hopes to foster connections with dementia patients. These volunteers head to local senior communities for crafts, walks, and singing. “A lot of times, people just need someone to sit with them and listen,” said Johnny Bindea of Brookdale Chambrel Williamsburg. “They may be missing their children and grandchildren, and they may feel disoriented and agitated. Even an hour spent with them counts for so much.”