Welcome To Wise

About Us

WISE – Wellness Institute for Senior Empowerment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering older adults and their informal caregivers with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to improve quality of life and health outcomes.

We understand the unique challenges this population faces. That’s why we focus on identifying and addressing health-related social needs through evidence-based assessments that guide the creation of personalized care plans. In addition to assessments, we offer veteran respite, companion care, and access to essential support services.

As a nonprofit, we partner with other community-based organizations to bridge service gaps and connect individuals with the resources that best meet their needs—ensuring everyone can age with dignity, support, and empowerment.

Vision Statement

At WISE, we aim to revolutionize how older adults and caregivers embrace aging with dignity, fostering communities where aging is supported and empowered.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to give older adults and informal caregivers a voice in the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to improve health outcomes and enhance their quality of life. We specialize in comprehensive assessments that identify and address individualized needs for improved well-being.

Our History

WISE - Wellness Institute for Senior Empowerment - was founded from insights gained through our founder's dissertation, VOICE© (Views of Informal Caregivers and the Elderly). Key findings from this research highlighted critical unmet and often unassessed needs among older adults and their informal caregivers.

In response, we developed robust proprietary diagnostic tools and partnered with industry experts to assess and address these needs—laying the foundation for our mission, to support aging individuals and their families with empathy, innovation, and evidence-based care.

Philosophy

At WISE, we believe older adults and their caregivers deserve a meaningful say in their care. Our proprietary assessments offer just that— a long-awaited VOICE©. Our approach prioritizes each individual’s unique needs from their perspectives, guiding the creation of personalized care plans. Rooted in the principles of VOICE© (Views of Informal Caregivers and the Elderly), we honor their voices and aim to improve quality of life and health outcomes for both older adults and their informal caregivers.

Welcome To Wise - Team

Meet The Team

At WISE, we’re proud to be guided by a national team of compassionate medical and mental health professionals who share over 120 years of experience in geriatric care. Our diverse team includes graduates and leaders from institutions like Harvard, UT Austin, Syracuse University, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Texas Tech.

Most importantly, the voices of older adults, caregivers, and community leaders continue to shape our mission—ensuring that everything we do is grounded in real needs, real stories, and real care.

At WISE Care, our strength lies in a compassionate and dedicated team committed to empowering older adults and caregivers. Meet the people redefining aging—one meaningful connection at a time.

Dr. Nekilee Hughes

Dr. Nekilee Hughes, Executive Director and Founder of WISE, brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare and long-term care administration. A proud U.S. Army veteran, who honorably served for eight years before beginning her healthcare career as a Long-Term Care Assistant Administrator, with a focus to improve quality of care in skilled nursing facilities.

During that time, she formed deep connections with residents and their families and gained firsthand insight into the concerns, unmet needs, and often-overlooked challenges of aging individuals and their caregivers. Realizing the urgency of those issues, Dr. Hughes left long-term care to pursue opportunities to improve the quality of healthcare on a boarder scale.

This shift led to a 20-year career at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she leads healthcare quality initiatives that promote clinical excellence. While working at one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, she earned a Doctorate of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare from University of the Incarnate Word, aiming to integrate her military, professional, and academic experiences.

Dr. Hughes earned her B.S. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and holds an MBA, along with a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification from ASQ. While completing coursework and a 1,000-hour internship in Long-Term Healthcare Administration, she was honored to be mentored by the late, Dr. Princess Jackson—former Regional Administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration and Professor of Long-Term Healthcare Administration at Tarrant County College.

Dr. Hughes is currently collaborating with faculty to publish research based on her study, VOICE: Views of Informal Caregivers and the Elderly, which continues to shape her work and the mission of WISE.

Young woman with long hair and glasses smiling indoors.

Jordan Hughes

Director of Operations - Registered Behavior Technician & Clinical Psychology Specialist
Jordan Hughes is a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with a passion for supporting individuals across the autism spectrum. She brings a unique background in clinical psychology and cognitive assessment to her role, having previously served as a psychometrist specializing in neurological research for adults aged 50 and older.

Jordan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M University–Commerce. Her graduate training included an impactful internship at the Community Psychology Clinic, where she led individual and group therapy sessions and conducted comprehensive assessments for adolescents, college students, and community members.

Before joining the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Jordan developed extensive experience with older adults—working in nursing homes and later conducting clinical assessments for individuals aged 65 to 95. Her work supported individuals with a range of diagnoses including severe depression, anxiety, aphasia, stroke, and other neurocognitive and motor challenges. She also contributed as a project program manager for a Continuing Education Program designed for cognitively high-functioning nursing home residents.

Jordan’s lifelong commitment to mental health and aging informs her person-centered approach to care and her mission to support individuals across all stages of life.

Care Coordinator Profiles

A smiling young woman with straight black hair and turquoise earrings.

Jessica, BSW - Care Coordinator

With a background in social work and a passion for advocacy, Jessica brings both heart and professionalism to her role at WISE Care. Fluent in English and Spanish, she serves as a vital bridge between clients and resources, ensuring older adults and their caregivers feel heard, respected, and understood.

Drawing from her experience in community-based programs, Jessica excels at guiding families through assessments and helping them access culturally responsive support. Her bilingual communication skills allow her to serve a wider population, ensuring that language is never a barrier to quality care.

Jessica is known for her warmth, dedication, and ability to simplify complex processes. She believes every family deserves to feel confident and empowered when making care decisions—and she’s proud to walk that journey with them.

Smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair and a navy top.

Stacy, B.S. - Senior Care Coordinator

With over two decades of experience in healthcare and case management, Stacy brings seasoned wisdom and a steady presence to the WISE Care team. Her background includes coordinating care plans, facilitating transitions from hospital to home, and connecting families with long-term support systems.

At WISE, she helps guide older adults and caregivers through personalized assessments and care coordination, always keeping dignity and independence at the forefront. Her attention to detail and deep knowledge of community resources make her a trusted partner for families navigating complex care needs.

Colleagues and clients alike appreciate her calm demeanor, practical insight, and genuine compassion. Stacy believes that aging well starts with access, respect, and a clear path forward—and she’s honored to be part of that process.

Dr. James Brooks

Advisor
Dr. James Brooks holds a B.A. from St. John Fisher University and earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He completed postdoctoral studies in gerontology at Syracuse University and was honored as one of the Educational Psychology Department’s “Top Five Graduates” during its centennial celebration — a recognition of his enduring contributions to the field.

Dr. Brooks began his career on a national platform with the National Caucus and Center on the Black-Aged, leading age-related initiatives in Washington, D.C. He later served as a gerontologist on the Psycho-Geriatric Unit at the Rochester Psychiatric Center. His passion for elder education led him to spend 20 of his 48-year career in gerontology designing innovative continuing education (CE) programs for high cognitive functioning nursing home residents.

This pioneering work began in Texas, in partnership with the Continuing Education Department of Tarrant County and later expanded to New York through a unique gerontology club supported by Genesee Community College. There, nursing home residents were given the opportunity to audit college courses and engage in lifelong learning alongside traditional students.

In addition to developing CE courses for older adults, Dr. Brooks also spent over a decade as a professor of geriatric psychology — a dual focus that uniquely bridges both sides of aging education.

Dr. Brooks brings unmatched depth to the WISE Care team. His lifelong commitment to understanding, educating, and empowering older adults reflects our mission in action. His work exemplifies what it means to meet aging with dignity, intellect, and innovation — making him an invaluable resource to our organization and the communities we serve.

Dr. Neal Hall

Advisor
Dr. Hall is a trained ophthalmologist and internationally acclaimed, award-winning poet. With over two decades in private medical practice, he has also authored seven volumes of poetry—translated into eight languages—that explore themes of social justice and systemic disparities. His powerful work has led to invitations to perform and speak across the U.S. and globally, where he engages with academics, community leaders, and activists.

Dr. Hall’s unique background bridges the worlds of medical science and literary arts, offering a rare and compelling perspective on the human experience. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, his M.D. from Michigan State University, and completed his surgical subspecialty training in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

Social Services - MLSW

Advisor

Human Resources