Up, Up and Away in a Beautiful Balloon for a San Jose Senior's Wish of a Lifetime

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, [e-mail]

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SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living Inc.

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