Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Harriet Goes Dogsledding
Harriet M., 90, has always had a penchant for adventure. Throughout her life, she has striven to live her passion of adventure by travelling to various locations. About 7 years ago she had the opportunity to travel to Alaska where she was scheduled to go on a...
Stan Soars in an AT-6
Stan W., 85, from Wilmington, North Carolina, was born and raised in Liverpool, England. During WWII there was a variety of good and bad air activity in and around Liverpool, including air raids in 1940 and 1941. At this time, Stan and his brother had a bedroom full...
Jan Returns to South Padre Island
Jan, 78, is a mother of three and committed member of her community. She has spent many years giving back as a member of her church’s women’s groups and is always readily available to bake for congregants who are going through a tough time. Aside from being a loving...
Joanne D., 80, Goes to Disney World
At 80 years of age, Joanne D. of Rochester, NY had always longed of going to Disney World, but had never gotten the chance to. Her Wish of a Lifetime was to go to Disney with her daughters for the first time. When Joanne was raising her kids in New York, Disney was a...
Ernie Goes Back Out on the Town
Ernie, 86, of Denver, Colorado is a loving man whose positivity and love of life has allowed him to overcome many obstacles. Even after living through the Great Depression, working many labor intensive jobs and undergoing a very stressful divorce, Ernie has been able...
Mary L., 98, Takes to The Skies At Last.
Mary L., 98, of Bradenton, Florida, has dreamed of being ‘weightless’ since she saw the first man on the moon. Mary has experienced many adventures in her life, and flying a plane was always one that she dreamed of doing. Even at 98 years old, Mary is out to prove...
Jimbo visits the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
91-year-old Jimbo Wandless, of Broadway, VA, proudly wears his Air Force hat in honor of his service and his Air Force crew during WWII. At 18 years old in 1943, Jimbo enlisted in the Air Force. During WWII, he served in the Eighth Air Force as a staff sergeant and a...
Jim Goes Hang Gliding
Jim Willis, age 87, a cancer survivor and great-grandfather of 20, is a Brookdale resident at Freedom Village at Bradenton in Florida. Over a decade ago, Jim had the opportunity to go hang gliding, but his flight was cancelled due...
Betty Receives Autographed Tom Selleck Photos
Betty H., 86, from Brookdale Pikesville in Baltimore, MD, collected autographs as a child. As a girl, Betty would wait outside of the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore and get autographs from the actors and actresses as they left. As an adult, Betty became a big fan of...
Ida’s Grandson Visits From Hawaii
For Ida Mae G., age 99, of Roanoke, VA, family means everything. Growing up on a ranch in North Dakota, Ida Mae was born to a mother who was Sioux Native American and an English father. Because of her heritage, she was placed into an Indian School. Though native...
Norman Hears his Favorite Willie Nelson Tunes
74 year-old Norman, a resident of Brookdale Boynton Beach, claims that Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” is the theme song to his life. His Wish of a Lifetime was to have a band come to his community so that he could enjoy the songs of his favorite musician with his...
Barbara Attends Shen Yun, a Colorful Asian Production
Barbara M., 87, of Brookdale Cortona Park in Brentwood, CA, reminisces about her time in Japan where she and her husband, who both served in the Navy, were stationed in the 1960’s. At 87 years old, Barbara still thinks about her time living abroad. Her Wish of a...
June’s Special Dinner
June, 85, from Appleton, Wisconsin, is described by those who look after her as a very compassionate woman. Unfortunately, for the past 18-20 years she's been bound to a motorized scooter due to spinal and muscular problems, and has endured difficulties due to her...
David has a Classical Concert in his Community
David, 102, enjoys a classical concert in his community with Wish of a Lifetime® from AARP, savoring timeless music
Dora has a Circus in her Community
Dora is an 87-year-old resident of Brookdale Weddington Park in Matthews, North Carolina. Her Wish of a Lifetime was to have a circus brought to her community. Dora has been living at Brookdale Weddington Park for several years now, and she was always known to play...
