Not all assisted living homes begin with spreadsheets and strategic plans. Some begin with heartbreak.
For Wanda Forden, the loss of her mother to dementia and the ongoing care of her uncle led her to imagine a different kind of place — one she wished had existed for her own family. In Arizona, where more than 650 assisted living facilities operate and many house dozens or even hundreds of residents, she built New Visions Assisted Living as its opposite: an intimate, 10-resident home where no one becomes a number and every life is known in full.
The timing aligns with broader industry trends, as national reports show a rising emphasis on personalized care and wellness-oriented environments that enhance quality of life and promote independence among seniors…