Meet Our Experts

Carol Cummings, Senior Director of Optimum Life Engagement

Carol Cummings is a nationally recognized expert on senior health and well-being. As the senior director of Optimum Life engagement for Brookdale, Carol is responsible for the creation of programs and services designed to integrate whole-person wellness into Brookdale’s culture. She has earned multiple awards for her programs, including the International Council on Active Aging Innovator Award and the Assisted Living Federation of America’s Best of the Best. As a Certified Wellness Coach and Certified Wellness Practitioner, Carol is truly an avid student and engaging teacher with a passion for helping older adults live life to the fullest.

 

Kim Estes Elliott, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services

Kim Estes Elliott has a master’s degree in Nursing Executive Specialty Track from Chamberlain College of Nursing and is proficient in building and leading clinical programs to meet regulatory compliance and accreditation standards while exceeding clinical quality goals. Her experience across the post-acute care continuum includes Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF) Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) Assisted Living (AL), Hospice, Home Health, Independent Living and Personalized living. She successfully maintains the highest ethical standards while developing and implementing corporate processes and policies for Brookdale communities. Kim also serves on the Argentum Clinical Quality Executive Roundtable, is on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Central Florida University School of Nursing and is a member of the Nightingale Society.

 

Juliet Holt Klinger, Senior Director of Dementia Care

Juliet Holt Klinger is a gerontologist specializing in person-centered programs for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. As a trainer and program designer for close to 30 years, she has developed and operationalized programs for national companies representing both skilled nursing and assisted living levels of dementia care. In her role for Brookdale, Juliet currently designs and innovates care pathways and programming for Brookdale’s 500-plus dementia care communities. Brookdale’s dementia care solutions span from its newest early-stage dementia care communities to skilled nursing and assisted living levels of care.

 

Jonathan Ruchman, Senior Director of Customer Experience 

Jonathan Ruchman brings more than 25 years of knowledge in customer experience and brand marketing to Brookdale. As senior director of customer experience, he is responsible for managing Brookdale’s overall customer experience, with a focus on resident and family engagement. To better understand a day in the life of residents and associates, Jonathan moved into a community before reporting to his office at Brookdale’s headquarters. This unique experience helps him deliver Brookdale’s mission of enriching the lives of seniors every day. Jonathan is a member of the BEST Standards Committee and is a designated Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP). He founded the Customer Experience Professional Association (CXPA) Nashville Network and is dedicated to growing the profession in Middle Tennessee.

 

Andrew Smith, Senior Director of Innovation and Growth Strategy

Andrew Smith supports the organization’s strategic planning, partnerships and innovation efforts. This includes partnering with Brookdale’s department leaders to enhance operations, as well as identify and develop new senior living products and services. Graduating from Vanderbilt University with his master’s degree in organizational behavior, Andrew has a passion for helping large organizations find new ways to solve challenging problems. His training as a Project Management Professional (PMP) has helped him drive cross-functional initiatives forward.