Brookdale Senior Living Earns 'Best Pet Workplace' Certification

The nation's largest senior living provider recognized for its pet-friendly policies and culture.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:08am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a smiling dog in a Brookdale Senior Living employee vest, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the benefits of pets in the senior living workplace.Brookdale's pet-friendly policies bring joy, comfort and companionship to senior living residents and employees alike.Brentwood Today

Brookdale Senior Living has earned the Best Pet Workplaces certification from WUF World, an organization that promotes the human-animal bond. The certification recognizes Brookdale's commitment to creating a positive and engaging environment for both residents and employees through the inclusion of pets across its 584 communities and at its corporate headquarters.

Why it matters

Allowing pets in the workplace has been shown to boost employee morale, collaboration, and overall well-being. As the first senior living operator to earn this designation, Brookdale is setting an industry-leading example of how to thoughtfully integrate pets into the senior living experience.

The details

Brookdale enables residents to live with their pets, enjoy visits from therapy animals, and utilize dog-walking services. The company also now allows headquarters-based employees to bring their dogs to work, with one dog per day permitted in the building. Brookdale supports its 'pet parents' with benefits like pet insurance covering virtual vet visits.

  • Brookdale earned the Best Pet Workplaces certification in 2026.
  • Brookdale enabled headquarters-based employees to bring their dogs to work earlier this year.

The players

Brookdale Senior Living

The nation's largest senior living provider, with 584 communities across the country.

WUF World

An organization that elevates the human-animal bond and provides certification for pet-friendly workplaces.

Jaclyn Pritchett

Brookdale's Chief Human Resources Officer.

Nick Stengle

Brookdale's CEO.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal at Brookdale is to create places to live and work where residents and associates feel truly supported. The Best Pet Workplace certification provides us with a valuable framework to have dogs in our offices and communities nationwide. We're excited about the positive impact this will have on engagement, collaboration and overall well-being.”

— Jaclyn Pritchett, Chief Human Resources Officer, Brookdale Senior Living

“Extending this philosophy to our Community Support Center [headquarters] team through the best Pet Workplace certification is a significant milestone in our industry. We believe supporting the well-being of our associates ultimately enhances the high level of care and compassion we deliver to residents and their families every day.”

— Nick Stengle, CEO, Brookdale Senior Living

What’s next

Brookdale plans to continue expanding its pet-friendly policies and programming across its senior living communities, further integrating the human-animal bond into the resident and employee experience.

The takeaway

Brookdale's commitment to creating a pet-friendly workplace demonstrates how senior living providers can leverage the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship to foster a more positive, engaged, and collaborative environment for both residents and staff.