When the pandemic hit the Brookdale Chambrel senior living community in Williamsburg, Virginia, Nancy Crowell knew hopping in the car and heading to the local Harris Teeter supermarket was now out of the question. The virus was spreading fast, and Brookdale’s residents were being encouraged to stay put. Staff set up computers in the main common room and began teaching residents how to open online accounts to order groceries.

After the tough year we’ve had, many people have been called to pitch in more, especially our nurses. Emily Pharr has been a nurse since 1969 and loves helping people. She’s worked in small clinics for rural communities and home health for several years, treating patients in hospice and others with mental disabilities.

Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) made forward progress on its occupancy rate in the first quarter of 2021, and CEO Cindy Baier is hopeful that the pandemic is waning. But, she also described a highly competitive environment and anticipates pricing pressure in the months ahead.

While COVID-19 may have put a damper on Mother's Day last year, vaccines are offering a new chance at reunions for families this year. Sondra Green, a resident at Brookdale Battery Park City, will get the chance to see and hug her son Leland Stein for the first time in a year. 

Frank Glenn is on his “last patrol.” The 94-year-old Navy veteran is in hospice care. Members of Veteran’s Last Patrol, an organization comprised of military veterans, came to Brookdale Greenwood Nursing Home on Wednesday to honor the former aviation technician, who served in World War II from 1943-47.

Although COVID hit every part of life, one place where people really felt the punch was in senior living communities. As early epicenters for infections, independent and assisted living facilities had to shut down the normally communal living activities quickly in March 2020, while also trying to soften the impact for residents.

After a year of COVID-19 restrictions, Bill and Rosie George did not expect to do much for their 78th wedding anniversary, but the people at Brookdale Senior Living had other plans.

Stan Wessinger was the offensive coordinator at Sherman High School from 1971-1977. Recently, Coach Wessinger has fallen into some health problems but after his recovery Sherman Football wanted to show him around their new facilities. Coach Wessinger is now 88 years old and lives at Brookdale Willows, a senior living facility in Sherman.

Kim Martin, Executive Director of Brookdale Clinton, was named the winner in a Local Unsung Hero competition. Kim was nominated by the Community's Business Office Manager, who called out her professionalism, dedication, and associate mentorship. As the winner of the competition, Kim selected a local foundation to receive her $1,000 contribution. 

Juanita Eggers was still in high school when the Japanese bombed the United States naval yard at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Her aunt and uncle were stationed on the island when the attack occurred, and no one was sure if they were safe. Her family spent a fraught 20 hours listening to radio broadcasts, hoping for good news. While her family members were unharmed, this was the first time World War II directly impacted Eggers' life. The second was when she became a real-life “Rosie the Riveter.” On Thursday, Eggers was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her service during an afternoon ceremony at Brookdale Senior Living in Albany on Thursday.

For a two-week period, Patricia Halprin couldn’t see her husband of 63 years. She and Edwin Halprin, 81, live only a football field apart in separate rooms at Brookdale Destin, but COVID-19 had made its way into the assisted living facility, keeping them apart for their health. 

Brookdal Cushing Park resident David Levenson celebrates his 103rd birthday at a socially distanced celebration. Check out the full story with photos from the event. 

Dateline recently shared the heartwarming reunions with Brookdale West Bay residents and their families after the doors finally opened for limited contact with visitors after a year of lockdown.

Mireya Ochoa, an associate of Brookdale Salem AL, received her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and it left her with much more than a tingling feeling. WDBJ 7 in Roanoke spoke with Mireya on her reasons why she received the vaccine. Click to see her story. 

A COVID-style celebration was held Thursday for a 105-year-old Brookdale East Tucson resident, Eleanor Nesbitt. Nesbitt moved to the Old Pueblo from Indiana two decades ago.