Press Release

Two associates of Brookdale Senior Living, an industry-leading owner and operator of senior living communities, will be joining Leeza Gibbons’ team in the Army of Change to climb Mount Washington, N.H. to help champion both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

On Saturday, July 31, Sara Terry, vice president of Optimum Life for Brookdale, and Carol Cummings, manager of the Optimum Life program development for Brookdale, will scale the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 feet, Mount Washington. With them, they will carry a flag with photos of 75 Brookdale caregivers.

"Just as our caregivers seem to move mountains every day while caring for our residents, we are symbolically climbing this mountain to honor and recognize these caregivers," said Terry. "Our hardworking associates enrich the lives of our residents, and work tirelessly every day to care for not only our residents, but for their own family members as well."

The Army of Change project began in 2005 by two advocates to help raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research by scaling mountains. This team formed "10 Mountains – 10 Years (A Quest for the Cure)" and goes from Mont Blanc in 2006 to Mount Everest in 2015.

Leeza’s Place is the signature program of The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. It is a place for caregivers which offers free programs and supportive services to educate, empower, and energize caregivers impacted with chronic and progressive illness.

Brookdale’s flag will feature several photos of caregivers from its communities nationwide. The company owns and operates independent living, assisted living and dementia care communities and continuing care retirement centers. In all, Brookdale operates 564 communities in 35 states with the ability to serve approximately 52,000 residents. The company has approximately 35,000 associates, a large majority in a caregiving role.

"Our partnership with The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and Leeza is an important part of our commitment to providing resources to our associates and family members," said Terry. "This is a very purposeful activity to help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, and we are proud to play a role in this opportunity."

A way of life offered exclusively by Brookdale Senior Living at its communities for residents and associates, Optimum Life® focuses on six key dimensions - emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and purposeful.

Brookdale Senior Living is also involved with The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation through its Ultimate Chef America events nationwide this year. Proceeds of silent auctions during the events will go to The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Thus far, nearly $30,000 has been raised.