SCA Partners with Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale Senior Living to Fulfill Lifelong Wishes of Four U.S. Seniors

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SCA, a leading global hygiene company and the maker of TENA® incontinence products, today announced a continued partnership with Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit organization committed to shifting how society views aging by fulfilling the dreams of seniors, and  Brookdale Senior Living, the nation's largest operator of senior living communities. Brookdale is a longtime Wish of a Lifetime Partner and SCA customer. Together, SCA, Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale will grant the lifelong wishes of four senior citizens.

"SCA shares Wish of a Lifetime's commitment to shifting the stigmas associated with aging and enabling seniors to live life fearlessly," said Michael Feenan, vice president for SCA's Incontinence Care business in North America. "Together, we look forward to making a lasting difference in the lives of seniors, so that they experience comfort, independence and dignity – regardless of their age."

SCA, Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale have worked together in the past to grant the wishes of seniors in communities across the U.S. In 2015, the group fulfilled the dreams of three women who had dedicated their lives to helping others. This year's wish fulfillment program honors four seniors who still seek adventure, despite their age and physical condition.

"Our goal is to make the world a better place to age. We are honored that SCA and Brookdale are joining us in our mission by fulfilling the wishes of these four amazing older adults and sharing their stories to inspire others," said Wish of a Lifetime Executive Director Tom Wagenlander. "Our Wish recipients show us that growing older doesn't mean we have to stop dreaming and living a life of purpose."

The wish fulfillment activities began in November and will continue through early 2017. This Saturday, December 10, 88-year-old James Salvatore of Brookdale in Williamsburg, Virginia, will finally fulfill his lifelong wish to board a submarine – something he has dreamed about since he was 8-years-old. James enlisted in the Navy at age 18, shortly following WWII. Despite his great desire to serve his country on a submarine, he was assigned to Electronics Technician duty aboard naval ships and never got that chance. With the support of SCA and Brookdale, Wish of a Lifetime will send James to a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, to tour an active military submarine. 

"This partnership makes it possible to give residents like James the opportunity of a lifetime – dreams they thought to be out of reach or impossible," said Sara Terry, vice president of Resident and Family Engagement for Brookdale. "At Brookdale, our goal is to identify enriching opportunities for our residents that support their passions and enhance their quality of life."

Additional wish recipients include:

• Roger Baker, 86, a resident of Brookdale Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, experienced his dream to get an inside look at the making of classic cars. Despite his dementia, Roger's love of cars remained a passion – one that he has held dear since childhood. Wish of a Lifetime and Roger visited an auto shop in Houston, Texas, for a personal tour from the owner of the facility and a behind-the-scenes look of the rebuilding of a classic car. At the end of his tour, Roger got the chance to take a spin in a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Convertible.
• Jenny Bond, 78, of Brookdale Meridian Temple in Temple, Texas, was granted her wish to meet an elephant. Jenny's dream stemmed from a memorable experience in 1960, when she visited a zoo in Germany where an elephant was playing the harmonica. Ten years later, Jenny returned to the zoo and saw the same elephant, playing the same song. She was touched by the simple beauty of the experience, and ever since, has wished to meet an elephant up close. Wish of a Lifetime sent Jenny to the Houston Zoo to help the zookeepers with the daily feeding and care of the elephants.

In early 2017, one additional Brookdale senior with a similar passion for adventure will see his or her wish fulfilled through this partnership.

About SCA
SCA is a leading global hygiene and forest products company. The Group develops and produces sustainable personal care, tissue and forest products. Sales are conducted in about 100 countries under many strong brands, including the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and regional brands, such as Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa. As Europe's largest private forest owner, SCA places considerable emphasis on sustainable forest management. The Group has about 44,000 employees. Sales in 2015 amounted to approximately $13.7 billion. SCA was founded in 1929, has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. For more information, visit www.sca.com.

About TENA®
The TENA® brand is the worldwide leader in the management of incontinence, with products and services for individual consumers as well as healthcare facilities throughout 105 countries. Under the TENA brand, SCA provides a full range of absorbent products tailored to the distinct needs of men and women, including pantiliners, daytime and overnight pads, male guards, protective underwear, briefs, skin care products, and underpads. With the TENA brand, SCA is at the forefront of developing products that minimize the impact of incontinence and improve the dignity and everyday lives of people living with light, moderate or heavy incontinence. For more information, please visit: www.tena.us.

About Wish of a Lifetime
Wish of a Lifetime™ fosters respect and appreciation for deserving seniors by fulfilling their life-enriching Wishes. Founded in 2008 by two-time Olympic skier, World Cup gold medalist, entrepreneur, and former NFL football player Jeremy Bloom in living honor of his grandmother, Wish of a Lifetime has made over 1,000 Wishes come true for seniors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The organization aims to create a positive shift in the way society views and values aging by sharing the stories of its inspiring Wish recipients with those of all generations. After experiencing a wish, 93 percent of Wish recipients stated they felt their quality of life improved and 76 percent said they felt their overall health improved. To learn more about the organization or to help fulfill a senior's Wish visit www.seniorwish.org

About Brookdale Senior Living
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. Brookdale operates independent living, assisted living, and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers, with approximately 1,077 communities in 47 states and the ability to serve over 105,000 residents as of September 20, 2016. Through its ancillary services program, the Company also offers a range of outpatient therapy, home health, personalized living and hospice services.

For additional information, please contact:
Jenny McGinley
Marketing Director, US
SCA Personal Care North America
610-499-3342
[email protected]

SOURCE SCA