Chef Prepared Meals
Here at Glenbrooke, our residents experience exceptional dining options and services. We offer three delicious and healthy meals daily with new and exciting menus. We strive to provide various menu options to satisfy everyone's needs.
Our skilled culinary team and dining service team aim to bring exceptional meals right to your table. Our Executive Chef prepares meals with only the freshest ingredients throughout the year to nourish our residents daily. Our goal is to keep all of our residents healthy and happy when dining with Glenbrooke.
Life Enrichment Programs
Although the care for our residents here at Glenbrooke is the top priority, we emphasize the opportunities for our residents to socialize amongst themselves, make new friends, and find new hobbies. We offer plenty of opportunities and events for our residents to do just that!
We offer planned activities both on-site and off-site. We offer adventurous social outings off our property to allow our residents to explore their local community. We host game nights, social outings, and residents are welcome to start their own clubs. Our activity and craft room is an excellent place for residents to socialize, play a game of cards, or discover their creative side. Our library gives a comfortable space for residents to settle down with a good book and enjoy quiet time. These activities and many more give our residents the chance to enrich their minds, body, and soul here at Glenbrooke.
Wellness Programs
The health and wellness of you or your loved ones here at Glenbrooke is essential to us. Whether you want to take a walk outside or visit our fitness center, our community has taken care of it. Our community offers a variety of services based on strength and skill level. Physical activity is a perfect way to stay healthy at any age!
Residents who want a more structured fitness schedule can attend our instructed fitness classes. We have an open gym where our residents have the freedom to stay active on their own. Our fitness center also offers fitness classes such as water aerobics in our seasonally heated pool. Paved walking paths are right outside our doors if residents want to take a walk around our beautiful property. With so many options, our residents are sure to find a fitness activity that suits them!
Mentor Betty Jackson, right, shares a laugh during a memoir writing class she facilitates at Glenbrooke in Palm Bay. Class members include Mardelle Hansen, left, Samantha Truckenbrodt, Joanne McDonald, Bobbi Leigh, Margie Boehoer and Sherry MacLean.
Senior authors writing, publishing their life story books
By Linda Jump - Senior Life
Betty Whitaker Jackson tried to retire from teaching three times. But since moving into Glenbrooke Senior Living last fall, she has been leading a Monday afternoon memoir writing class for residents.
"At meals together, I started hearing stories, like Al, who was a Vietnam veteran and Connie, who was in 15 foster homes before she was four years old, and I knew I had to preserve them for their families," Jackson said.
Monday afternoons she volunteers to mentor "You Are Unique," a memoir writing class at the Palm Bay community.
The rest of the week she types and formats their stories into books to be published every four months. So far, "Monday Memoir Moments" and "Monday Memoirs: You Are Unique" are available through Amazon for $5 and $7. Any profit is returned to the facility's employee Christmas fund.
"We aren't allowed to tip the staff, so this is a way to show our appreciation," Jackson said.
A third book, planned for November publication, is in the works. The community's art class is being asked to provide sketches for inclusion in the book. Two dozen writers attend her class, choosing one of her monthly prompts.
Wendy Hoover, Glenbrooke's Life Enrichment director, said Jackson's class is "amazing They have book signings with author stations and she makes each resident writer feel so special. Their families are excited to have their stories."
Betty Jackson, right, asks a question of Joanne McDonald at a recent memoir writing class entitled "You Are Unique." Class members write stories about their life that are published every four months.
Mardelle Hansen, one of the authors, said her daughter brought her flowers for the book signing.
"I've never been in a writing group and didn't think I could do it; now it's like a flow," she said.
Connie Knodt never told her four children the stories about her childhood. "Now they know."
Jackson taught secondary language arts for 40 years and is a Master and National Board-Certified Teacher. She has written 33 books, including her recent Seaside Saga series. She has published fiction, memoirs, poetry, children's books, nonfiction, devotional guides and anthology chapters. She won first place in the "Reader's Digest Life Rich Memoir Writing Contest."
"Betty is our inspiration to record our memories," Margie Boehmer said.
Jackson said class members have become a writing family. "They share the deepest secrets of their lives, forgive each other and become close friends."
Joanne McDonald welcomes the camaraderie. "I enjoy writing now," she said.
As a recent class ended, member Samantha Truckenbrodt quipped, "I think we should stay. We need another hour." Heads shook in agreement.