The Opal on Hermitage

The Opal on Hermitage sits in Tallahassee, Florida, and offers a broad range of care options for seniors, so folks there can get Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Adult Day Services, Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing, and both Home Health Care and Non-Medical Home Care, all under one roof. The building holds up to 60 residents and spreads everything across one floor, which really makes moving around much easier for those with walkers, wheelchairs, or just older legs. Rooms range from studios to one-bedroom options and include private or companion suites, with wall-to-wall carpet, kitchenettes, plenty of cabinet space, and step-in showers for safety, and there are also some units that offer lovely garden views. The place focuses on giving folks choices and making sure every resident can live as independently as possible, with the help they need for things like bathing, dressing, and managing their medicines, and there's always someone on staff, day or night, in case of an emergency or when a little help's needed.

They've got activities going on every day, from morning fitness classes and TED Talks to happy hours, a book club, movie nights, and music programs, so it's clear they want people to keep busy if they want to. Residents can spend time in the sun room, the fireside living room, the screened-in porch overlooking a courtyard, or outside on the well-kept walking paths or gardens, which are great for those who like a little fresh air or a bit of gardening. There's a game room, a library, a family room for visitors and socializing, plus a spa and wellness space, as well as a fitness room for exercise and staying active. There's special attention paid to healthy meals and snacks, so those with diets or food needs will likely find support there.

Health services cover a lot: there are on-site doctors and visiting specialists, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, mobile lab and diagnostic services, plus access to a pharmacy and medication reminders. Memory Care happens through the Reflections program, with secure outdoor courtyards and staff trained to work with people living with dementia or Alzheimer's, and they even offer support and resources for families to help them understand legal, financial, and care needs. Adult Day Services are available during the weekdays if families need a break or have to work. The Opal on Hermitage is licensed in Florida and regularly reviewed for compliance, holding both ECC and State License AL9181, and has even been named "Best of Tallahassee" by the local community in Assisted Living.

The community stands out for being smaller and family-like in feel, which a lot of people might appreciate, and the staff has a reputation for compassion and respect thanks to Brookdale, the larger organization that's been involved in senior care since 1978. They tailor care plans to each person's wants and needs, whether someone's independent, needs a little help, or more hands-on support. Amenities like WiFi, cable, laundry, housekeeping, salon services, and safe, clean common areas help create comfort and make daily life easier. The building's kept clean and smelling good, which isn't always the case everywhere, and with the emergency call system, families know there's help around if needed. Overall, this is a place where seniors can be as independent as they like, get involved in activities, and have care, safety, and comfort close at hand, without feeling crowded or overlooked.

The Opal on Hermitage is managed by Brookdale.

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) is the largest senior living operator in the United States, managing over 640 communities with capacity for approximately 59,000 residents across 41 states and employing around 36,000 associates. Founded in 1978 and publicly traded since 2005, Brookdale solidified its market leadership through major acquisitions including American Retirement Corporation (2006) and Emeritus Senior Living (2014), making it the only national full-spectrum senior living company. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Brookdale has topped the American Seniors Housing Association's ASHA 50 list and Argentum's largest providers list for multiple consecutive years.

The company's comprehensive care continuum includes independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Brookdale's signature Clare Bridge program, developed over 30 years ago by dementia-care experts, provides specialized Alzheimer's and dementia care through two distinct levels: Clare Bridge communities for comprehensive memory support and the Clare Bridge Solace program for advanced-stage dementia residents. The program is recognized by the Alzheimer's Association® for incorporating evidence-based Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and features secure environments, enclosed courtyards, Daily Path programming with six structured activities daily, and the InTouch technology platform offering personalized brain-stimulating games and therapeutic content.

Brookdale's holistic Optimum Life® wellness approach balances six dimensions—Purposeful, Physical, Emotional, Social, Spiritual, and Intellectual—implemented through signature programs including B-Fit (eight exercise class options), Brain Fit (mental fitness workouts), My Life Story (resident storytelling), EngagementPlus (interest-based connections), Growing Together (collaborative learning), and The Ageless Spirit (kindness and gratitude practices). The Embrace Family Partnership provides caregiver education and support for families of memory care residents.

The company's Brookdale HealthPlus® care coordination model, winner of the 2024 Argentum Best of the Best Award placing it among the top 1% of operators, is a technology-enabled healthcare service featuring dedicated RN Care Managers who proactively manage residents' health, coordinate care transitions, and help prevent avoidable hospitalizations. Communities using HealthPlus report 78% fewer urgent care visits, 36% fewer hospitalizations, and 63% more completed annual wellness visits. The Personal Solutions program delivers hygiene products, medications, and daily necessities directly to residents' doors with discreet packaging and monthly billing convenience.

Following a strategic divestiture of its home health and hospice operations to HCA Healthcare (completed December 2023), Brookdale now focuses exclusively on senior living operations while maintaining its position as the industry's largest operator, committed to its mission of enriching lives with compassion, respect, excellence, and integrity.