Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on progress made, as well as the women whose vision continues to shape how we care.
At CiminoCare, that story begins with Wilma Cimino, who, against all odds, started with nothing but a vision.
Seniors and their families were naturally drawn to Wilma—a mother of five children—for her work ethic and compassion. At first, she was asked to care for several seniors in her neighborhood and church, as an in-home caregiver. Those early years shaped her vision. Many of her clients eventually needed placement in a long-term home, and there was a huge lack of acceptable options. So, it was that challenging experience that redefined for Wilma what long-term assisted living could look like—not institutional, but personal. Not transactional, but compassionate. Not routine, but relationship-centered. Some years later, she and her family established their first “board and care home” on the Peninsula.
She believed that older adults deserve more than care.
They deserve dignity.
They deserve respect.
They deserve environments where they are known, valued, and supported as whole people, as family.
Today, that vision lives on in a meaningful way through her children, all of whom furthered her legacy of senior care. Her adult children often talk about growing up in assisted living roles, each having served in multiple capacities. The culture of caring is deeply ingrained in their values. Today, Wilma continues to be an advisor and cultural guidepost.
Did you know that more than 90 percent of CiminoCare’s team are women? Our hats off go to the caregivers, nurses, life enrichment leaders, dining teams, administrators, and executives. They bring empathy to hard moments, creativity to daily life, and strength to complex decisions. They have our “Shared Purpose” and are advancing the legacy that Wilma began—ensuring that care is never just about tasks, but about people.
This Women’s History Month, we extend our deep gratitude:
To Wilma Cimino, for her courage to build something different.
And to the women across CiminoCare who continue to bring that vision to life through their leadership, compassion, and commitment.
