PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., May 29, 2015 - With the number of Florida Alzheimer's cases expected to increase drastically in the coming decade, a local senior living community plans to invest over $8 million to expand its memory care capacity and add a new program for those in the disease's initial stages. These steps by Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens come on the heels of a $3.6 million, major renovation already completed at the community, bringing a fresh look and style to the six-story community.

Currently, Florida is home to half a million people with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That number is expected to rise by 44%, to 720,000, by 2025. "The need for meaningful care that benefits those with the disease and provides support to their families is profound," said Sue Baron, executive director of Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens. "We seek to help fulfill that demand by serving more people and broadening our programs."

Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens plans to start construction this fall on a stand-alone $8 million-plus 27,200-sq.-ft. dementia care community next to its current building. Offering all private rooms, it will accommodate 39 people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. It will feature the Clare Bridge program of Alzheimer's care developed by Brookdale, the community's parent company. Clare Bridge focuses on providing meaningful, enjoyable daily life for those in dementia's middle to later stages through activities and events tailored to individual interests. It is expected to open in the fall of 2016.

Once the new Clare Bridge building is finished, residents in Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens' current memory care program, which serves 25 people, will move into it. The community will then transform their previous accommodations into the Clare Bridge Crossings program, a Brookdale initiative that seeks to slow dementia's progress for those in its early stages.

"Research shows that programs tailored to people in the initial phases can make a big difference in sustaining their abilities and possibly delaying advancement of the disease," said Juliet Holt Klinger, M.A., senior director of dementia care for Brookdale. "A major focus of Clare Bridge Crossings is maintaining residents' cognitive capacity through daily activities that build up brain synapses and resilience while providing joy and purpose."

Located at 11381 Prosperity Farms Rd., Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens offers 184 independent and 88 assisted living apartments as well as dementia care.

For more information on Brookdale, visit brookdale.com.

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

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About Brookdale

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 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 1,150 communities in 47 states and the ability to serve over 111,000 residents. Through its ancillary services program, the Company also offers a range of outpatient therapy, home health, personalized living and hospice services.

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