SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Randy Ashcraft and her big brother, George Nale, are siblings who have shared many
experiences together over the years and continue to strengthen
their close relationship with each other. Randy's Wish of a
Lifetime to ride in a hot air balloon with George allowed them to
share a special experience together recently after talking about it
for 20 years. They used to watch hot air balloons float over
George's front porch in Morgan
Hill, dreaming about someday taking a hot air balloon ride
together.
"I have wanted to do this for a long time. It was so beautiful,"
Randy said of their trip soaring over California's wine country.
Randy spent many years teaching school to elementary and special
needs students. She loved working with children with special needs
as she cared for her own daughter with Down syndrome. Like so many,
Randy has faced obstacles throughout her life losing; her husband
and a brother and having her leg amputated for health reasons.
Losing her leg has limited her from participating in many physical
activities, but mentally she is strong and forges new relationships
in her senior living community greeting new residents, volunteering
for the book club and recently starting a Bunco group. Randy, 82,
is a resident of Brookdale San Jose.
In 2010, Brookdale Senior Living and Wish of a Lifetime formed a
partnership to provide a helping hand in making some of the dreams
of Brookdale's residents come
true. To request a Wish, residents fill out a Wish application
explaining an experience they would like to have fulfilled and how
that experience relates to one or more dimensions of Brookdale's Optimum Life® platform.
Optimum Life cultivates whole-person wellness through fulfillment
in the six key dimensions: purposeful, emotional, physical, social,
spiritual and intellectual. Since the partnership's inception, more
than 600 Brookdale seniors have had their Wish granted.
For more information about Brookdale and Wish of a Lifetime visit
brookdale.com and seniorwish.org.
About Brookdale
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) is the
leading operator of senior living communities throughout
the United States. The Company is
committed to providing senior living solutions primarily within
properties that are designed, purpose-built and operated to provide
the highest-quality service, care and living accommodations for
residents. Currently Brookdale
operates independent living, assisted living, and dementia-care
communities and continuing care retirement centers, with
approximately 1,135 communities in 47 states and the ability to
serve over 110,000 residents. Through its ancillary services
program, the Company also offers a range of outpatient therapy,
home health, personalized living and hospice services.
About Wish of a Lifetime
Wish of a Lifetime™ fosters respect and appreciation for
deserving seniors by fulfilling their life-enriching Wishes.
Founded in 2008 by two-time Olympic skier, World Cup gold medalist,
entrepreneur, and former NFL football player Jeremy Bloom in living honor of his grandmother,
Wish of a Lifetime has made over 1,000 Wishes come true for seniors
in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. The organization aims to create a positive shift
in the way society views and values aging by sharing the stories of
its inspiring Wish recipients with those of all generations. After
experiencing a wish, 93 percent of Wish recipients stated they felt
their quality of life improved and 76 percent said they felt their
overall health improved. To learn more about the organization or to
help fulfill a senior's Wish visit www.seniorwish.org
Contact: Kristin Puckett,
615-564-8481, kpuckett@brookdale.com
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SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living Inc.