Sunrise Senior Living Celebrates 30th Anniversary

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunrise Senior Living (NYSE: SRZ) will honor its 30th anniversary on Monday, December 5, with celebrations at nearly 300 communities across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Since its founding in 1981, nearly 350,000 residents and their families have chosen Sunrise for their senior living needs.  

"For 30 years, Sunrise has focused on serving our residents with best-in-class care," said Mark Ordan, Sunrise's chief executive officer. "We are also very proud of our team's success in creating a strong business for our next 30 years."

In 1981, the Klaassens took the first step toward establishing a new kind of senior living when they converted an old nursing home into an assisted living community in Oakton, Va. The Klaassens created a homelike environment with the unique approach to care that would become the foundation of Sunrise, their resident-centered philosophy. During that first year, the Klaassens cared for the residents themselves, as well as made the community their own home.

"Thirty years ago, the available long-term care options for seniors were both limited and institutional," said Paul Klaassen, co-founder of Sunrise Senior Living with his wife, Terry. "Our vision was to build a new long-term care model where seniors truly felt at home and also received the care and services they needed."

Terry Klaassen continued: "Living with the residents in the first Sunrise 30 years ago was the most powerful thing I have ever done. Sharing meals, creating pleasant days and providing care gave us the foundation for the principles that have guided and remain the hallmark of Sunrise for three decades."

Sunrise pioneered the way assisted living and personal care are delivered today through a variety of special touches, known as the Sunrise Signature Experience. Each resident at Sunrise is cared for by a consistent team of dedicated care managers who form rich relationships with the residents. Team members receive special training through Sunrise University where they learn how to provide care that enriches the mind, body and spirit of each resident and gives peace of mind to their loved ones.

In addition to assisted living, many Sunrise communities also have Reminiscence Neighborhoods, specially designed for those with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss, as well as independent living for seniors who wish to enjoy an active lifestyle without the worries of home maintenance. A number of communities also provide skilled nursing services. Sunrise offers a number of resources and support for families including a blog that include news articles, tips, advice and other information related to seniors.

Read more about Sunrise's 30th anniversary celebration, including "Sunrise Stories" shared by residents, team members and families at www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com/30. To find a local Sunrise community and learn more about their 30th anniversary celebration, visit www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com.

About Sunrise Senior Living

Sunrise Senior Living, a McLean, Va.-based company, employs approximately 31,700 people. As of September 30, 2011, Sunrise operated 311 communities located in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a unit capacity of approximately 30,700 units. Sunrise offers a full range of personalized senior living services, including independent living, assisted living, care for individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss, as well as nursing and rehabilitative services. Sunrise's senior living services are delivered by staff trained to encourage the independence, preserve the dignity, enable freedom of choice and protect the privacy of residents. To learn more about Sunrise, please visit http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com.

Contact:
Lauren Bentley
Corporate Communications
(703) 744-1871

SOURCE Sunrise Senior Living