Brookdale community writes happy tale

Izzy is here to stay, and residents are wagging their tails with delight.

Izzy, a 10-year-old rescue dog, moved to Brookdale Kingston in Kingston, Tennessee, last year with her owner. She was immediately welcomed at the senior living community. It even got a little rough during the holidays. “She got so many treats over the holidays that she didn’t feel well for a few days, but she’s back to being herself now,” says Lesa Fuller, Brookdale Kingston’s sales and marketing manager to local CBS affiliate WVLT.

After her owner died, Brookdale Kingston decided to become her forever home. “We realized her home was here with us and so she has stayed. She is part of the family here now. The residents always want to know where Izzy is and what she’s doing. There’s never a shortage of people to pet her.”

Izzy now serves as the front-door greeter whose reputation precedes her. “We even have people from outside our community asking about Izzy,” Fuller says, explaining she’s popular on the community’s Facebook page.

When she’s off the clock, Izzy chases a squeaky rubber chicken and joins residents at parties and other social gatherings.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.