At Brookdale Valencia live some of the bravest women of their generation. A new documentary called Route 66 Women highlights how women overcame gender discrimination and segregation. They joined the Navy during World War II as part of the Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES. The documentary was screened at Brookdale Valencia senior living center. Through the film, the women are sharing their stories and history for generations to come.

At Brookdale Cleveland, Bobbie and Betty Sue are continuing a decades-long friendship. They met 35-years-ago, and learned they have the same birthday! And when Betty Sue moved to Brookdale Cleveland, Bobbie wasn't far behind. "They took me up and there was Betty, the real Betty, and she'd come about two weeks before I did." Now, whatever they're doing - playing bingo, synging hymns, or catching up - they're doing it together.

It's only been a few months since Shirley McMinn and Mary Wearsler rekindled their friendship, but some call the pair inseparable. Shirley and Mary grew up in the same part of Alliance, went to the same church, danced, and twirled batons as majorettes in the Alliance High School marching band. Now in their nineties, the two were reunited when Shirley moved into Brookdale Alliance senior living community this spring and discovered Mary lived there, too.

Just .027 percent of the U.S. population is made up of centenarians. And many of them live at Brookdale communities, including Doris Zahorsky and Mildred Kitchens. Doris notes her secret to not just a long life but a happy one, too, is "to keep busy.” She added, "Stay active and keep moving." Mildred, who served as a social worker and teacher, says “know what you want, find a way to get it, and do not give up,” she said. It's as simple as that. Oh, and “try everything," she added.

At 100 years old, John Hodges Sr. does not look his age. But in 1943, he joined the Army, fighting in World War II. And 80 years later, he got to fly to France for the anniversary of D-Day. He was greeted with cheers, flags and support from the airport to France and back again. John said it brought him back to his deployments all those years ago. “I couldn't understand them, and they couldn't understand me, but you know a smile goes a long way."

Anita Korman, Hannah Tannenbaum, Renee Dopkin, and Louise Katz all live at Brookdale Creve Coeur. They often eat meals with one another, play blackjack, sit outside and kibbitz and occasionally go shopping. “My mother used to say,” says Anita, “that a stone should be alone. A person needs people.”

At Brookdale Grandon Farms, six seniors have built a special bond: with a weekly poetry and art club. Lisa Farabelli started it about a year and a half ago. “You have to get involved. You can't stay in your room,” she says. “We have a like a girlship. We've really grown tight.” The club has helped them find friendship in a world where loneliness is reportedly as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

In the 90s, Sandy Parker lived in Utah working in foster care. She had 10 little infants, and her work resulted in her being named Utah's mother of the year. And that led to a different honor: she was chosen to carry the Olympic flame through one mile of Utah on its way to Atlanta. “I was having the time of my life,” Sandy remembers. ”You're so exhilarated! You just fly!”

Katie Nasello and Juanita Fitzgerald - two residents at Brookdale Alexandria - share some advice on National Friendship Day. “First of all, you can't stay withdrawn," Juanita says. "You have to come right out and say ‘Hi how are you, my name is...’ because that is the only way you can establish friendship, to introduce yourself because that person needs someone. I need someone to share things with.”

A podcast interview with the "Trash Queen of Tiverton" - Joyce Andrews. Joyce has been cleaning the roads around her home for years, and says she has no plans to give up her title any time soon.

In 1996, the Olympic Torch came to Ogden, Utah. And Sandy Parker was chosen to help carry it to Atlanta. "I just had to sit down and think, what do you mean, I really will get to hold that?" And Sandy still gets excited remembering it 30 years later. "I just was so thrilled."

In Oklahoma, Paul McCann is celebrating his 101st birthday. He's a World War II veteran, and served from 1941 to 1962. Brookdale Edmond Danforth threw him a big party for his birthday, complete with a massive sign reading "Happy Birthday Paul" planted outside of his community. Paul is also the newest member of Oklahoma's Centenarian's Hall of Fame.

The average amount of time spent in the military is roughly six years. Ted Trousdale, at Brookdale Melbourne, served nearly five times that long - for 28 years. It left him with a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and plenty of stories. He served on a submarine during the Korean War - "You have lots of assignments. You've got to sort of learn to develop everything” - and part of the Air American Campaign in Vietnam. "It was highly classified, and we had to wear civilian clothes all the time because we weren't supposed to be in Laos and Cambodia or even Thailand at the time." Ted says he's proud of his 28 years of service. "I'm glad I did it."

Mary Immordino and Beatrice Blondo are two of a dozen kids. Raised in Brooklyn, now the sisters live together at Brookdale Franklin, in Tennessee. And at the community, they are famous for their donuts. "We love to make them, and we love to share them with others."

R.C. might be the kind of dog many overlook: 12 years old, hard of hearing, and blind. But he was exactly the companion Barbara Fontaine needed at Brookdale Cape Coral. Since adopting R.C., Barbara says she's much happier. The two are a perfect pair. "He needed me," Barbara says. "And I needed him more."