Findlay assisted living facility celebrating National Assisted Living Week

FINDLAY, Ohio — Brookdale Findlay is gearing up to celebrate National Assisted Living Week with a slate full of activities designed to bring joy, community and connection to its residents.

The annual celebration, first observed in 1995, runs from Sept. 7-13. Staff at the assisted living facility in eastern Findlay have planned a variety of events, including socials, a fashion show, a pizza party and live music.

“I’m looking forward to the whole week the most,” said Debra Darling, resident program coordinator at Brookdale Findlay. “Every day is going to be a different adventure for us, and it’s great to see things that people don’t usually do and they have so much fun doing it.”

Brookdale is home to about 18-20 residents who gather daily for B-Fit classes, which feature chair exercises and active movement. For resident Verna Smith, who has lived at Brookdale for nearly three years, the weeklong celebration is one of the highlights of the year.

“I think it’s really good. I enjoy doing that and helping out,” Smith said. “This is a great week coming up and we enjoy everything.”

Smith not only participates in the B-Fit classes, but also leads them on occasion. On weekends, the program becomes entirely resident-driven.

“I love the exercise and the people,” Smith said. “We’re very close to each other and we help each other.”

For both staff and residents, the week is about more than activities. It’s about building community.

“It makes me feel really good. I feel really happy. Happy is right here, of the heart,” Smith said.

Darling added that the sense of family at Brookdale makes the community special. “I love the fun we have, the laughter we have, the camaraderie, the family that we have here at Brookdale Findlay,” she said. “It’s not like assisted living, it’s like coming home.”