UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 12, 2014 (September 8, 2014)

BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (615) 221-2250

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

On September 8, 2014, Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the several Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”). The following summary of certain provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions expressed therein, the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 8,955,223 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $33.50 per share. The Company also granted a 30-day option to the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 1,343,283 shares of its common stock, which was exercised in full by the Underwriters. The shares of common stock are being sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated September 8, 2014, and related prospectus, dated June 6, 2014, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-196586).

The Company agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against various liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities. In addition, the Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, and customary conditions to closing. The offering, including the shares to be sold pursuant to the Underwriters’ option, is expected to close on September 12, 2014, subject to the conditions stated in the Underwriting Agreement.

The Underwriters and certain of their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company and its affiliates. They have received or will continue to receive customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

2

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

5