Case Studies

Brookdale Senior Living Community Case Study (USA)

Brookdale Senior Living Solutions is the largest provider of retirement communities in North America, boasting around 1500 facilities and accommodating the needs of over 100,000 senior residents.

Brookdale pride themselves on catering to all levels of care that a senior may need, be it independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing or transitional care. By catering to all needs and care levels of the resident, Brookdale are able to capture and care for the full spectrum of abilities and requirements of all senior citizens.

Each resident’s bathing needs are assessed on an individual basis, with some bathing themselves daily, to others that receive showers with the assistance of a Care Associate.

A Care Dryer was installed in February 2016 at The Cumberland, a flagship Brookdale property located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. The dryer was installed in one of the 80 private residences in the luxury facility, and the residents were invited to temporarily relocate to the test room to bathe and experience the dryer.

The overwhelming majority of users loved the dryer and took advantage of its ability to warm the body and room whilst disrobing in front of the infra-red heat lamps. After bathing, the residents activated the dryer a second time and stood or sat in front of the unit to dry themselves with limited movement or stretching required.

One resident described this experience as “Delightful, it felt good in my joints, good in my bones” Another resident explained “The dryer was very soothing, very warm, easy, and I got very dry. I could have my own privacy and I liked it very much”

Other notable comments included how soothing the dryer felt in arthritic joints, that it was a wonderful addition for less physically able residents and that it helped retain some privacy and dignity after washing.

As a result of the temporary dryer trial, Brookdale and Care Dryers are planning the installation of a dryer in a communal bathing facility to expand the accessibility of the product to those with memory care needs, the mobility impaired, and those that require the use of a side-entry tub.