Veterans Day offers a poignant opportunity to honor veterans in the United States, and senior living communities circle the date on the calendar each year and develop events and activities to make sure their resident veterans know that they are appreciated. In addition, many senior living communities have committed to shining a spotlight on veterans in a variety of ways throughout the year.
“Without a doubt it is significantly important that we honor our vets every day,” said Sara Kyle, vice president, resident experience for Experience Senior Living. “They exemplify patriotism and pride – iconic qualities that are both ageless and timeless. They are heroes, and when they call our communities home it’s doubly important to all of us – each and every day.”
Here is a look at how some senior living communities have strived to feature their resident veterans.
Brookdale Senior Living: Giving veterans a chance to share their stories
Monty Mitchell, vice president for talent acquisition at Brookdale Senior Living, said the company’s communities recognize and thank residents and associates who served on Veterans Day each year in different ways. For instance, this year, in Nashville, Brookdale hosted resident veterans for a panel discussion.
Walter Hall, HR business partner for Brookdale, noted that veterans often have faced extraordinary challenges and recognizing their services fosters a sense of dignity and respect that can enhance their quality of life.
“In a senior living community, veterans may experience a unique sense of camaraderie and identity linked to their military service, and celebrating them can help reinforce these connections,” Hall said. “It also creates opportunities for them to share their stories, passing on lessons of resilience, duty and patriotism that enrich the lives of fellow residents, staff and families. Recognizing veterans’ service isn’t just a celebration; it’s an essential way to honor and validate their life experiences, supporting a fulfilling and connected life in their senior years.”
Juniper Villages: ‘A core part of many residents’ identities’
A leadership team spokesperson for Juniper Villages said it is important in senior living to see each resident as an individual and to honor what makes them unique.
“For many of our military veterans, their time in the military is an important part of what makes them who they are and how selflessly they served our nation, a core value of serving in the U.S. military,” according to the spokesperson. “We are mindful to recognize that being a veteran or the spouse of a veteran is a core part of many residents’ identities.”
Juniper Villages communities feature a Wall of Honor with the names and photos of resident veterans and have a color guard recognition on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Juniper Villages communities also hold pinning ceremonies to recognize military veterans.
Individual communities enjoy a range of year-round partnerships and projects. For instance, Juniper Village at Washington Square partners with Support the Troops New Jersey, whose members visit the community’s veterans regularly and routinely bring them handmade cards thanking them for their service, among other gifts. Support the Troops also helps put on programs for special holidays such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day. When the community needed to replace its American flag, Support the Troops helped stage a flag raising ceremony.
Meanwhile, Juniper Village at Lebanon holds programs and lectures related to the military, such as a program on the history of traditions in the military, and Juniper Village at Forest Hills sponsors a recurring veterans breakfast. Juniper Village at Brookline has connected residents with members of the local ROTC to volunteer and share stories, and the Happy Valley Chapter of Quilts of Valor visited the community to honor two residents who were World War II veterans with special quilts recognizing their service.
In addition to honoring residents, Juniper has become a partner in a military transition program called Skillbridge, which helps active-duty service members gain valuable civilian work experience during the final 180 days of their service. Juniper Communities partners with Skillbridge in all of its communities.
Experience Senior Living: From veterans’ lunches to Dream Flights
Several Experience Senior Living communities had plans around Veterans Day this year. For instance, a retired lieutenant colonel made a presentation at Gallery at Port Orange in Port Orange, Florida, where the community has a wall of honor for veterans, and at the Gallery at Cape Coral, independent living, assisted living and memory care vets rode on the community’s bus during the Cape Coral Veterans Day Parade.
Sancerre at Palm Coast in Palm Coast, Florida is one of many senior living communities that has worked with Dream Flights, an organization that offers free flights in restored World War II-era Stearman biplanes. According to Dream Flights, the organization has honored close to 6,000 veterans and seniors living in long-term care communities since 2011 with rides in the open-cockpit plans. Following the flight, the Dream Flyers receive a signed Dream Flights baseball hat, and friends and family gather around the Stearman for a group photo. The Dream Flyers receive a customized certificate with a photo of them sitting in the cockpit of the plane.
This year on Veterans Day, Sancerre at Palm Coast had a live band and a steak cookout, culminating with a ceremony at its veterans wall. On an ongoing basis, the community hosts a Vet-to-Vet Cafe once a month with rotating veterans visiting the community to speak with resident vets. The community encourages resident veterans to plan events, too, and maintains active involvement with the local ROTC and color guard, hosting them at events throughout the year.
At Experience’s The Gallery at North Port in North Port, Florida, the community has a veterans’ lunch once a month that includes games of bocce ball or corn hole with young visiting marines, and it also hosts a weekly war movie showing in its theater. The community makes sure to arrange lectures for veterans and their wives about updated benefits for veterans. On Veterans Day each year, the community organizes an outing to nearby Pine View School for breakfast, parade and assembly.
Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm: Supporting active service members
At Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm, an Atlas Senior Living community in Lexington, Kentucky, residents embrace the opportunity to set aside time to serve current military personnel. For the third straight year, residents donated and bagged hundreds of candy bags for care packages organized by Military Missions, a local nonprofit dedicated to uplifting service members.
“This effort not only brings a sweet treat to those serving far from home but also fosters a sense of connection and appreciation for their sacrifices,” said Jackie Wiggam, resident services manager at Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm. “We’re grateful to contribute to this important cause and look forward to continuing our support in the years to come.”
Anthem Memory Care: A sense of purpose
Jennifer Boonstra, senior life engagement director for Anthem Memory Care, said Anthem communities participate in a variety of activities for Veterans Day, such as providing acts of service to veterans organizations and creating blessing boxes for active service members.
“Anthem believes in providing opportunities for our residents to have a connection to the world outside of the community and to celebrate our residents’ identity,” Boonstra said. “Despite a dementia diagnosis, our residents still want to give back and help out wherever they can. Our veterans sacrificed so much for our country and our freedom – it’s important to honor that. It gives our residents a sense of purpose to be able to do those things.”
For instance, Morningside Place, an Anthem Memory Care community in Overland Park, Kansas, hosted a Veterans Day recognition ceremony this year. The event featured music, a color guard, visits from dignitaries and memorabilia tables. Morningside Place veterans participated in a flag-folding ceremony and paid tribute to former resident veterans who had died.
“The military was a significant time for our elders and one in which they take pride,” said Keith Melick, clinical services director for Morningside Place and retired Army first sergeant. “It’s heartwarming to thank our residents and other veterans in Overland Park for their patriotism.”
At Highline Place in Littleton, Colorado, resident veterans are scheduled to visit with members of the National Guard on Nov. 14 to trade stories of their time in the service.
“The military was a significant time for our elders, and one in which they take pride,” said Bobbie Rogers, life engagement director for Highline Place and retired Army sergeant. “Our seniors will enjoy connecting with the next generation of brave men and women who serve our country. We celebrate their patriotism.”
Buda Oaks: Ensuring veterans feel valued and appreciated
At Buda Oaks, an assisted living and memory care community in Buda, Texas, residents recently attended a veteran pinning ceremony at the senior center, and the Buda chapter of the AMVETS nonprofit helped memory care residents with a flag-changing ceremony. Other recent activities included residents attending a VFW event and an AMVETS breakfast.
Crista Wallace, community relations director for Buda Oaks, said celebrating veterans is essential and promotes emotional well-being by connecting those with similar experiences. It helps to reduce isolation and to spark new friendships between fellow vets.
“These celebrations also offer educational opportunities for younger generations (families, staff, and all visitors who attend these activities) and ensure veterans have access to necessary support services that we would not know of without these gatherings,” Wallace said. “Recognizing and celebrating veterans helps to ensure they continue to feel valued and appreciated in their later years, it preserves their legacy, and it enhances their quality of life.”
