MCLEAN, Va., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunrise Senior Living (NYSE: SRZ) announced today that it is hosting Mother's Day brunches and Father's Day cookouts at nearly 300 of its senior living communities in the United States and Canada, with proceeds benefitting the American Diabetes Association and Canadian Diabetes Association. The events are part of Sunrise's Taste of Sunrise series, which allows the public to experience Sunrise's Dining program, while supporting an important cause that affects many seniors. Visit www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com/TasteofSunrise for additional information and to make a reservation at a nearby community.

"Sunrise residents regularly enjoy fresh, home-cooked meals made from scratch and tailored to their preferences and wellness by a team of trained culinary professionals," said Tim Whelan, vice president of Dining Services for Sunrise. "In addition to bringing families together to enjoy delicious meals to honor their mothers and fathers, we also chose to support organizations that raise awareness for a serious dietary issue many seniors face."

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimates that about one out of four Americans over the age of 65 has some form of diabetes. These 10.9 million seniors are at high risk for a range of complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy and amputation. Similar challenges are found in Canada, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association. One in four Canadians will be either living with diabetes or prediabetes by 2020, and more than 20 people are diagnosed with the disease every hour of every day.

The American Diabetes Association recommends eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruit, whole grain, non-fat dairy foods, fats and lean meats or meat substitutes. Sunrise's menu features these and additional meal choices appropriate for residents with diabetes and other dietary needs, such as selections that are lower in sodium and fat, and high in fiber, to make it easier for them to enjoy a variety of foods while maintaining their health. The menu is composed of the highest quality of seasonal and regional ingredients, and residents are engaged in the menu planning process so their dining experience helps them feel right at home.

Most Sunrise Mother's Day brunches will be held the weekend of May 7-8 and Father's Day cookouts will be held the weekend of June 18-19. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 10. Mothers may enjoy the Mother's Day celebration at no cost, and fathers may enjoy the Father's Day celebration at no cost. Sunrise will donate 30 percent of the proceeds to the charities - the American Diabetes Association in the U.S. and the Canadian Diabetes Association in Canada. Call a nearby community to learn the specific date and time for each event. Learn more information about the events included in the Taste of Sunrise series by visiting www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com/TasteofSunrise.

About Sunrise Senior Living

Sunrise Senior Living, a McLean, Va.-based company, employs approximately 31,700 people. As of March 31, 2011, Sunrise operated 317 communities located in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a unit capacity of approximately 31,100 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