1. The Beginning
Every great company begins with a purpose.
For Avendelle Senior Living, that purpose was born from the vision of Esther and Douglas Cromwell, who believed seniors deserved something better than large institutional facilities. She envisioned beautiful residential homes where older adults could receive personalized care while maintaining the warmth, dignity, and comfort of living in a real home. What began as a single residence grew into one of the nation’s most respected residential assisted living organizations, earning a reputation for exceptional care, thoughtful design, and an unwavering commitment to treating every resident like family. Through her leadership, Avendelle proved that smaller homes could provide a higher quality of life while preserving independence, relationships, and dignity.
2. A Shared Vision
At nearly the same time, Gene Guarino and Chuck Bongiovanni shared a similar vision from a different perspective. Gene had spent decades teaching entrepreneurs how residential assisted living could transform senior care while creating meaningful business opportunities. Chuck, a medical social worker, entrepreneur, and founder of the nation’s first senior placement franchise, witnessed firsthand the growing need for quality residential care. Together, they founded Majestic Residences to help compassionate entrepreneurs build exceptional residential assisted living homes supported by proven systems, innovative technology, comprehensive training, and a commitment to raising the standard of care across the industry.
3. Built on the Same Principles
Seniors thrive in smaller, home-like environments.
Families deserve transparency, compassion and trust.
Exceptional care begins with exceptional people.
Although Avendelle and Majestic Residences grew independently, both organizations were built upon remarkably similar principles. They believed that seniors thrive in smaller, home-like environments. They believed families deserve transparency, compassion, and trust. Most importantly, they believed that exceptional care begins with exceptional people.
4. Growing Together
Over the years, both organizations expanded into multiple markets, earning the confidence of families, healthcare professionals, and franchise owners while helping shape the future of residential assisted living.
In February 2026, those shared philosophies came together when Majestic Residences acquired Avendelle Senior Living, uniting two respected leaders in residential assisted living.
The acquisition combined Avendelle's decades of operational excellence and trusted reputation with Majestic Residences' franchise infrastructure, marketing systems, operational support, and national growth strategy.
Together, the combined organization became one of the largest residential assisted living franchise systems in the United States and the largest residential assisted living provider in North Carolina, creating an even stronger platform to serve seniors, support franchise owners, and expand access to high-quality residential care.
5. Looking Ahead
Today, the organization continues to build upon the legacies established by Esther Cromwell and Gene Guarino while pursuing a shared vision for the future under the leadership of CEO Chuck Bongiovanni. Every new home, every franchise partner, every caregiver, and every resident reflects the same mission that inspired both companies from the beginning: to provide exceptional, relationship-centered care in beautiful residential homes where every senior is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
