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When was the first assisted living facility built? A brief history

The first modern assisted living facility was established in Portland, Oregon, in 1981 by gerontologist Dr. Keren Brown Wilson, marking a pivotal moment in senior care history. This revolutionary concept challenged the institutional model of nursing homes by prioritizing resident autonomy, privacy, and independence in a more homelike setting. The development of the first assisted living facility was inspired by Wilson's personal experience with her mother, who was living in a nursing home but did not require the extensive care provided there.