MESA, AZ — The California-based owners of Heritage Village Assisted Living have been permanently barred from operating healthcare facilities in Arizona and ordered to pay $100,000 in civil penalties, according to a settlement announced by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in January 2026.
The agreement with Gary Langendoen and Tracy Langendoen prohibits the real estate investors from providing healthcare services to vulnerable adults anywhere in the state, as reported by the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The settlement follows multiple documented incidents of resident mistreatment at the Mesa facility during 2023 and 2024.
Documented Incidents and Family Complaints
State investigations began after families reported numerous instances of inadequate care and resident mistreatment at Heritage Village, according to court documents. Family members described incidents where residents faced physical attacks from other patients and received substandard care despite significant monthly fees.
Renee Caruss reported that her mother Carol experienced mistreatment while residing at the facility, including being attacked by another resident. "You expect with all the money they get that she would be taken care of properly — she wasn't," Caruss stated in an interview with local media.
The case gained additional urgency when the facility faced potential foreclosure and license revocation, which would have resulted in the sudden displacement of elderly residents requiring specialized care.
State Intervention and Facility Transition
According to Attorney General Mayes, state authorities took control of Heritage Village to prevent disruption to resident care during the investigation. The intervention included replacing facility management, forcing the sale to new ownership, and removing the prior owners from operating two additional Arizona facilities.
"Protecting Arizona's most vulnerable residents has been one of my top priorities since taking office," Mayes said in a statement released by her office. "In the Heritage Village case alone, we seized control of the facility, replaced its management, forced the sale to responsible ownership, and removed the prior owners from operating two other Arizona facilities."
The defendants disputed the state's allegations throughout the legal proceedings. Attorney Gary Langendoen, representing the former owners, stated that they contested the validity of the Attorney General's claims, particularly assertions he characterized as based on incomplete information from the receiver's office.
Attorney Jennifer Wasserman, also representing the former owners, emphasized that the settlement contains no admission of wrongdoing. "The health and safety of the employees and residents at Heritage Village have always been a high priority to the defendants," Wasserman said in a statement.
Family Concerns About Accountability
Despite the settlement, some family members expressed dissatisfaction with the level of accountability imposed on individuals involved in facility operations. According to Caruss, the former director of Heritage Village currently works at another care facility in Arizona.
Under the terms of the settlement, the former manager's license has been revoked and she is permanently prohibited from managing long-term care facilities, though she can continue working in other capacities within the industry, as reported by state officials.
Civil cases filed by families remain pending against other defendants, though an attorney representing victims indicated that families are unlikely to recover monetary damages through those proceedings.
Legislative Reforms Prompted by Case
The Heritage Village situation catalyzed significant legislative changes to Arizona's long-term care oversight system, according to Dana Kennedy, state director of AARP Arizona. The reforms increased penalties against facilities from $500 to $1,000 per day per resident per infraction.
Additional legislative changes include enhanced training requirements for memory care staff, expanded hiring restrictions for caregivers accused of abuse or neglect, and strengthened oversight mechanisms, as reported by AARP Arizona. The legislation also closed a licensing loophole that previously allowed operators to evade oversight by transferring licenses to other individuals.
"One important thing is it closed a licensing loophole so it prevents bad actors from evading oversight and it doesn't allow DHS they can't transfer license to another person it holds them accountable," Kennedy stated in an interview.
Federal regulations require assisted living facilities to provide adequate supervision and protection from harm, including preventing resident-to-resident altercations and ensuring appropriate staffing levels for vulnerable populations.
Resources for Families
Families concerned about care quality at Arizona assisted living facilities can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-800-677-1116. The ombudsman program investigates complaints, advocates for residents, and provides information about resident rights.
Arizona residents can also report suspected abuse or neglect to Adult Protective Services or file complaints with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides additional resources at ltcombudsman.org.
Family members selecting assisted living facilities should request inspection reports, verify current licensing status with state regulators, and visit facilities multiple times at different hours before making placement decisions.
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