Includes Program Designed to Delay Alzheimer's Progression THE VILLAGES, Fla., Apr. 29, 2015 - With Alzheimer's soaring in Florida, a $26 million senior living community with a program designed to slow the advance of early-stage dementia has opened in The Villages. Brookdale Place at Freedom Pointe also offers care for those in the more advanced phases of Alzheimer's as well as assisted living. Brookdale Place, which provides accommodations and care on a monthly rental basis, is located at 1700 El Camino Real. Florida is currently home to 480,000 people 65 and above with Alzheimer's disease, a figure the Alzheimer's Association projects will rise 50%, to 720,000, by 2025.

Twenty-two apartments in Brookdale Place are dedicated to residents of its early-phase dementia program, called Clare Bridge Crossings. "Research shows that programming tailored to people in the disease's initial phases can make a big difference in sustaining their abilities and possibly delaying its advancement," said Juliet Holt Klinger, M.A., senior director of dementia care for Brookdale, which operates the community. "A major focus of Clare Bridge Crossings is maintaining residents' cognitive capacity and working to slow down dementia's progress. We have designed the program to build up brain synapses and resilience and to provide joy and purpose."

For people whose dementia has advanced past the early stage, Brookdale Place provides the Clare Bridge memory care program, which encompasses 40 apartments. Tailoring its programming to individual interests, Clare Bridge engages residents emotionally, socially and physically to provide meaning, pleasure and the ability to live to optimum capacity. Brookdale Place's Clare Bridge apartments are organized around a town-center concept offering a media center and area for residents to gather, life stations that prompt reminiscing and a therapy kitchen for participation in cooking and baking. Clare Bridge residents also have access to a secured courtyard for walking and gardening activities.

In addition, Brookdale Place offers 43 assisted living apartments, including one-bedroom with a choice of three sizes, studio and studio deluxe, all with upscale finishes. A 60,000 square-foot three story building, Brookdale Place provides an array of amenities, including community-wide wifi, a café, four restaurant-style dining rooms, a salon and spa with aromatherapy and massage, and available therapy and home health services.

"With the need for care increasing, we've designed Brookdale Place to offer innovative programming in the upscale environment that matches the interests and needs of seniors today and into the future," said Walt Stroly, executive director of Brookdale Place. Florida has America's largest proportion of residents age 60 and above, according to the state's department of elder affairs, which says its median age of 40.7 is America's highest. By 2030, seniors will represent over 40% of the state's population compared to about 24% now.

Brookdale Place at Freedom Pointe is located on the campus of the continuing care retirement community Freedom Pointe at The Villages. In addition to accepting residents from the general public, Brookdale Place is an option for those residing in the CCRC.

For more information about Brookdale, visit brookdale.com.

Contact: Kristin Puckett, 615-564-8481, kpuckett@brookdale.com

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Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the leading operator of senior living communities throughout the United States. The Company is committed to providing senior living solutions 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 1,150 communities in 46 states and the ability to serve approximately 111,000 residents. Through its ancillary services programs, the Company also offers a range of outpatient therapy, home health, personalized living and hospice services.

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