Brookdale Senior Living has added a chief nursing officer to its C-suite, promoting seven-year company veteran Kim Elliott to the role. Read more about Kim's appointment on the Nashville Post.

Andy Celis is often the youngest person walking the floors of neighborhood assisted living facility Brookdale White Rock. He got his start in caretaking at an early age when his grandfather began facing declines in health from dementia. Celis cared for his grandfather through high school, and then decided to pursue caregiving as a career shortly after his passing. Working in the memory care field brings a sense of comfort to Celis, he said... To continue reading about Andy's calling in memory care and how we serves residents of Brookdale White Rock head over to the Lake Highlands Advocate.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Investors have picked over almost every reopening trade imaginable. But there is a fresh opportunity as the senior-living industry rebounds from an especially harsh pandemic blow. It wasn’t just that nursing homes and related facilities were early epicenters of Covid-19 outbreaks, which gave would-be customers an obvious reason not to send their relatives to one. The industry was also hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic: Demand for senior-living services is sensitive to the economy as residents and their families often need to come up with the money themselves, especially following the financial turmoil that has beset long-term-care insurance providers. Read more from Charley Grant and The Wall Street Journal.

Enrichment classes are a dime a dozen in retirement facilities, but a crop of high-end senior living communities in New York City is offering next-level workshops, taught by local artists and experts from local museums and cultural institutions. “It is certainly a lot more than bingo,” said Andrew Young, a senior public relations specialist at Brookdale Senior Living, which operates nearly 700 senior housing facilities nationwide. At Brookdale Battery Park City, an independent living facility right on the Hudson River, residents have had the chance to attend lectures given by dancers from the New York City Ballet, who perform and talk about the history of a particular show and share details about their performances.

It was a beautiful Thursday morning at the Brookdale Senior Living in Lodi. There was sun, clear skies and butterflies. Yes, butterflies. “It’s a wonderful day and it’s a wonderful life.” Mauriel Lautt, a resident at the facility, said.

Effective diversity, equity and inclusion in programs must do more than talk about workplace fairness or train employees about bias; they also must work to counter discrimination and promote representation. That’s according to a panel of senior living and skilled nursing leaders who spoke this week during a panel titled “Finding success in increasing diversity and inclusion,” one of three sessions in the 2021 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum.

Brookdale's own Juliet Holt Klinger helps families better understand what the signs to look for when a loved one may have Alzheimer's.  "In the early stages, you may begin to notice that the person isn't as active or pursuing their hobbies and interests as they normally would. They may drop out of a beloved card club or take a pass at the opportunity to go on a trip," says Juliet Holt Klinger, Gerontologist and Senior Director of Dementia Care for Brookdale Senior Living. "As cognitive issues become more of a challenge for the person, they may withdraw themselves from activities that could place them in a position to have their deficits highlighted, especially in front of friends or family, for fear of being judged."

National Armed Forces Day is Saturday, which is a day to honor military heroes. So, FOX 32 talked to the one and only 96-year-old Richard Andrew, who has many amazing war stories from his time in World War II.

Old Glory is flying once again outside Brookdale Senior Living in Alexandria. The center dedicated a new flag on Monday, June 14. Last year, both hurricanes destroyed both the flag and the flag pole. In honor of Flag Day, Brookdale dedicated a new pole, an American flag and a Louisiana flag. The staff says they’re proud to display it once again. “Any opportunity that we can have to celebrate our veterans and their spouses, we take advantage of that. And, so it’s a great day to be barbequing and have our residents out before it gets too hot and just about them. It’s a celebration for our residents and for veterans,” Kimberly Pepitone, Sales for Brookdale Senior Living.

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.

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.