From Dwayne J. Clark

​Setting the Record Straight: What The Stranger Got Wrong

On May 23, 2025, The Stranger published an article titled "What’s Behind the Gilded Doors of Aegis Senior Living," presenting a series of claims about Aegis Living and our founder, Dwayne J. Clark.

Let us be clear: we support investigative journalism. But what was published was not that. This one-sided narrative ignores facts, fails to verify public records, omits context, and amplifies claims from sources with clear, undeclared bias.

​It’s also important to understand the agenda behind the article. The Stranger reporter Connor Kelly has established a pattern of publishing labor-driven exposés that follow a predictable formula: targeting a founder, amplifying union voices, and omitting critical, independently verifiable information. His work focuses almost exclusively on organizations undergoing unionization campaigns, and his sourcing reflects that bias. This article is no exception.

Not coincidentally, the SEIU union, which is actively attempting to unionize Aegis, is now aggressively distributing this article online. Their goal isn’t objective information-sharing. It’s political. They want Aegis to unionize and are willing to use any media, regardless of accuracy or integrity, to further that aim.

​

​This letter exists to correct the record, not with opinion, but with facts.

​

1. The Question of Dwayne J. Clark’s Corrections Career

Claim: The article questions whether Dwayne ever worked at a maximum-security prison.
Truth: He did—and the records prove it.

From the Washington State Penitentiary HR Department:

“Mr. Clark was employed as a Correctional Officer from 12/10/1979 until 3/31/1981 (when he transferred to another facility)... This information is from a brief paper/card record (old school) within our local HR Department.”
—Lisa Whited, Human Resource Consultant, Washington State Penitentiary (May 2025)

​

​

​

​

This was easily verifiable. The reporter didn’t check. That is not journalism—it’s narrative-building.

2. Mischaracterizing Memorabilia and Design at Aegis

Claim: The article criticizes Clark for displaying a bicycle allegedly owned by Robin Williams, implying performative wealth.

Truth: Dwayne bought the bicycle at a charity auction, where the proceeds were donated. The bicycle holds special meaning for Dwayne because Robin Williams suffered from Lewy Body Disease, the same disease his mother died from. It is displayed at the Aegis Living Home Office as a memory trigger, reminding us that our lives are fragile and we must work to create moments of laughter and joy. In fact, at Aegis Living, design is therapy, and that bicycle, like so many of our design choices, is part of a larger, intentional effort to support residents living with memory loss. Across our communities, you'll find nostalgic spaces: vintage Winnebagos, classic cars, old-fashioned barber shops, diners, garden sheds, music rooms, and yes—even a bicycle once owned by Robin Williams. These are not vanity items. They are therapeutic tools.

They are designed to:

• Spark long-term memory recall

• Encourage social connection

• Promote emotional comfort in residents living with dementia

This approach is backed by the Alzheimer’s Association and gerontological design experts. It is a best practice in memory care—and a signature of Aegis Living’s commitment to innovation and humanity in elder care. To imply that these spaces are symbols of personal indulgence is to completely misunderstand their purpose and ignore their positive impact on thousands of residents and families every day.

3. Misrepresenting Philanthropy and Social Impact

Claim: The article questions the legitimacy of Queen Bee Café, the Potato Soup Foundation, and charitable donations made by Dwayne J. Clark and the Clark Family Foundation.

Truth: These criticisms reflect a lack of investigative effort and a fundamental misunderstanding of Aegis Living’s culture of giving. Every fact the reporter needed was publicly available, but never pursued.

• Queen Bee Café is more than a coffee shop. It operates as a mission-driven social enterprise, donating all net proceeds to local nonprofits. Beyond that, it’s an active force in the community, regularly supporting local fire departments, public schools, and neighborhood initiatives across the Pacific Northwest.

• The Potato Soup Foundation has supported over 200 Aegis employees during times of crisis, covering medical bills, housing emergencies, and family needs. Employees believe in it so deeply that many voluntarily donate from their own paychecks. That’s not something you fake—it’s something you earn.

• The Clark Family Foundation has issued grants across Washington and beyond, helping nonprofits in education, food security, elder care, and the arts. This is all a matter of public record, with 990 tax forms easily accessible to any reporter who takes the time to look.

Instead of researching, the article speculated, suggesting that quiet generosity is somehow suspicious. But the truth is simple: the Clark family doesn’t seek credit. Giving back is not a headline, it’s a value. Philanthropy is embedded in the Aegis Living DNA. Whether helping an employee avoid eviction, funding a classroom’s supplies, or ensuring a local firehouse has what it needs, our communities know the difference. And our team members live that difference every day. To dismiss that is inaccurate and disrespectful to the thousands of people whose lives have been positively impacted by this work.

​

4. Misleading Labor & Union Claims

Claim: Aegis is hostile to unions, under investigation for labor violations, and exploiting workers.

Truth: The article amplifies union rhetoric without context, balance, or disclosure that the union filed most of these claims, not neutral observers, regulators, or unaffiliated employees.

Let’s be clear:

The article claims 47 labor complaints involve Aegis. It's just false. The reality, as available online for fact-checking, is that only 23 formal complaints were filed, and more than 20 came directly from SEIU as part of their political strategy to pressure Aegis leadership into unionization. These are not independent, third-party accusations. During an organizing campaign, they are part of the union’s standard pressure tactics. Framing these as objective evidence of wrongdoing, without disclosing the source, is not only misleading but also deliberately manipulative. It creates the illusion of a pattern when most complaints originate from a single party with a vested interest in the matter.

Aegis is not under federal sanction or subject to a labor investigation for systemic violations. These are filings, not findings. We welcome the transparent review process.

Refuting the Notion That Aegis

Exploits or Undervalues Staff

As for the suggestion that Aegis exploits or undervalues our team members, the evidence overwhelmingly proves the opposite:

• Named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Mental Wellbeing by Newsweek

• Rated 4.2 stars on Glassdoor—based on real employee feedback

• Recognized as the #1 Assisted Living provider in the U.S. by Seniorly

• Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from McKnight’s Senior Living

• Known for advancing team members from caregiver to General Manager through structured development paths

We don’t just offer jobs. We build careers:

• Above-industry staffing ratios

• Tuition reimbursement and career growth support

• Mentorship pipelines that turn ambition into leadership

In 2023, while CNA turnover hit 85% nationally (source: AHCA/NCAL), we preserved jobs, raised wages, and retained our people.

​

5. Resident Care & Quality Oversight

Claim: The article references lawsuits and caregiver misconduct to suggest widespread problems with resident care.

Truth: Aegis adheres to the highest standards of safety, accountability, and excellence in senior care. When incidents occur, we don’t delay, deflect, or deny. We take action.

​

Let’s address the article’s references directly:

• The 2018 class-action lawsuit mentioned was a systematic class action lawsuit involving over a dozen companies. We assumed no fault and resolved without any admission of wrongdoing. Despite that, we used the moment to raise our own bar—because we believe in leading through continuous improvement.

• The caregiver involved in the cited incident was immediately suspended, investigated by law enforcement, then terminated by Aegis and prosecuted by the state. Aegis fully cooperated with the impacted families and the authorities from the outset. That was an isolated case, handled with zero tolerance and full transparency.

• These incidents are exceptional, not systemic. The article implies a pattern without evidence.

Meanwhile, here’s what we’ve done proactively:

• AI-powered fall prevention systems

• Third-party quality audits

• In-house therapy programs to boost resident health and reduce hospitalization

We serve thousands of residents. Everyone deserves—and receives—our full commitment to safety, dignity, and world-class care.

6. Fines and Complaints—Manipulated Without Context

Claim: Aegis has received fines and complaints, suggesting a pattern of poor performance or unsafe care.

Truth: The article fails to mention that every senior living provider operating at scale is subject to complaints and procedural fines, especially in a tightly regulated field.

We have served 40,000-50,000 residents across 39 communities since we started, operating in the second most regulated industry in the U.S. (behind nuclear power). That means:

• Unannounced inspections

• Dozens of overlapping state and federal oversight layers

• Constant visibility by ombudsmen and family watchdogs

It is deeply misleading to frame isolated complaints or minor fines—none of which were tied to harm or neglect—as systemic failure.

What the article left out:

• The cited fines were procedural, fully resolved, and unrelated to care quality

• Complaint rates indexed to occupancy show Aegis is in line with or better than industry benchmarks

• There is no record of unresolved systemic violations or repeated safety concerns

Omitting this data is not a matter of investigative rigor—it’s narrative distortion.

7. On Affordability and Advocacy

Claim: The article quotes Dwayne J. Clark saying, “There’s no money in affordable senior housing,” implying callousness or indifference.

Truth: That quote was extracted from a broader discussion about the industry's structural financial challenges. It is misleading to present it in isolation as evidence of indifference because the full context shows Clark advocating for systemic change.

What the article omitted:

• Clark was addressing the absence of sustainable funding mechanisms, such as underfunded reimbursements and outdated financing models

• He has spoken at major industry events like the Senior Living Innovation Forum, where he called for public-private solutions to make affordability viable

• He has highlighted the need for Medicaid reform in platforms like Senior Housing News and LinkedIn

• The quote in question was part of a solution-driven conversation about how to make affordability work, not an excuse for avoiding it

Suggesting indifference is not just unfair, it ignores Clark’s decades-long leadership in solving the problem rather than hiding from it.

What The Stranger Left Out

While the article made space for rumors, grievances, and half-truths, it made no room for publicly verified, third-party recognition of excellence. Here’s what was conveniently excluded:

• Aegis Living Greenwood was named the 2025 Best Senior Living Community in Seattle

• Aegis holds a +38 Net Promoter Score, higher than Disney, Amazon, and the Ritz-Carlton

• Dwayne J. Clark received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Senior Housing Innovation

• Aegis was awarded the 2025 Best Family-Owned Business in Washington State

These aren't marketing claims. They are measurable, documented accolades from independent organizations.

This isn’t spin.
It’s a track record.
It’s public.
And it’s earned.

Final Thoughts

To our residents, families, employees, and partners: we know who we are. We know that care delivered with empathy, rigor, and creativity changes lives. We know that truth still matters, even when it’s less clickable. And we know that leadership invites scrutiny, but deserves fairness. We will not be defined by headlines written without integrity. We will be defined by the care we provide, the people we support, and the communities we uplift.

To discover the true Aegis, visit us. Our doors are open.

With appreciation,
Dwayne J. Clark