Sonrisa Senior Living

Sonrisa Senior Living offers a wide range of care, so people can get independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, or continuing care all on one campus, and they have apartments with several floor plan choices like studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms, so folks can pick what works best for them, and the homes often have small kitchenettes for making snacks or drinks. There are common areas both indoors and outdoors, where you'll find things like a living room, fireplace, theater, pool, outdoor grill, gym, spa, salon, and spaces for pets, and folks spend time talking, playing games, or just enjoying the sun and breeze, depending on the day. Their dining includes Gourmet Bites Cuisine, which means meals get served with attention to quality, taste, and special diets, especially for those who have trouble with regular meals. For people who need extra support, like help with bathing, dressing, or medication, the staff provides assisted living services, and for folks with memory issues like Alzheimer's or dementia, there's Prema Memory Support℠, specialized activities meant to prevent confusion or wandering, and social programs to help people feel engaged and safe. Therapy services happen right on-site, and the place runs a regular program and activity calendar, so residents can join in classes, events, or outings-even public events-and there are partnerships with groups like SAGE and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sierra College for more lifelong learning. Sonrisa runs signature programs such as Watermark University, 360Well®, EngageVR® for virtual reality fun, and Resident Ambassadors to help new residents settle in. The community is pet-friendly, has Wi-Fi and high-speed internet, and offers safety and convenience features like handicap accessibility and programs like Accushield and a Technology Concierge. There are tools, glossaries, reviews, and real stories to help residents and families plan and make sense of senior care, and the facility has won recognition for friendly staff and engaging activities, which helps people feel at home. Residents can take tours, look at photos, watch videos, and see 3D tours to get a better idea of daily living. There are options to use different sources of payment, including benefits for veterans, Medicare, and Medicaid, which can help with costs.

Sonrisa Senior Living is managed by Watermark Retirement.

Watermark Retirement Communities is a premier senior living operator managing over 70 communities across 21 states with approximately 5,800 associates, ranked as the nation's 9th-leading senior housing operator by the American Seniors Housing Association. Founded in 1985 by David Freshwater and David Barnes as The Fountains in Tucson, Arizona, the company pioneered wellness-based senior living in collaboration with the University of Arizona Center on Aging before rebranding as Watermark in 2006. Headquartered in Tucson, Watermark became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation in March 2024, following Keppel's initial 50% acquisition in 2019, with Paul Boethel succeeding the founders as CEO while Freshwater continues as Chairman Emeritus.

The company's signature Watermark University is an award-winning intergenerational learning program where residents, associates, family members, and local experts—including museum curators, university professors, and world-renowned doctors—teach dozens of classes ranging from watercolor painting and ballroom dancing to language learning and sculpture workshops. Named among Fortune's Top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Watermark provides comprehensive training through programs like GO (General Orientation) Ripples, Leadership by Design workshops, and specialized sales systems focused on understanding buyer motivations and customer service excellence.

Watermark's innovative Prema Memory Support℠ program features Naya caregivers—named after the Sanskrit word for "guide" or "person of wisdom"—who are Certified Dementia Practitioners trained through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. The Thrive Memory Care experience includes secure courtyards, multi-sensory environments with fresh flowers, music therapy, and sensory gardens. Their groundbreaking Thrive Dining (Gourmet Bites) program transforms nutritious meals into attractive, bite-sized portions that residents can enjoy independently without utensils. The Dementia Awareness Experience uses virtual simulations including impairment gloves and vision-loss glasses to help associates develop deeper empathy and understanding.

The company leads the industry in technology innovation with EngageVR, a virtual reality program using Oculus Quest headsets that enables residents to travel virtually to the pyramids of Egypt, swim with whales, or reconnect with veterans from their battalions in virtual living rooms. The 360Well wellness program integrates four key circles—mind, body, spirit, and community—to promote holistic health and independence. Through partnerships with the University of Arizona's Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute and Curana Health for value-based care delivery in Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania, Watermark continues advancing senior care research and innovation.

Following a "shrinking to grow" strategy under new leadership, Watermark focuses on operating premium communities while maintaining its founding philosophy that they are "a wellness company that happens to provide housing and services for seniors," committed to creating experiences where residents truly feel at home with purpose, possibility, and joy.