Allan Bien is a proud new resident of Griggs Farm. A devoted father of five sons, three of whom live nearby, Allan has deep roots in the area. One of his sons, also a PCH resident at Princeton Community Village, is a psychologist and played a key role in helping Allan transition into his new home. Allan felt fortunate when the apartment, which was built to accommodate a resident with special needs, became available to move in. “It's a beautiful, welcoming home,” he says appreciatively, adding that it’s been a comfortable and inspiring place to begin this next chapter of his life.

Allan is using his Griggs Farm apartment not only as a home but also as his artist’s studio. He didn’t always consider himself an artist but says he “started life as one” before an autoimmune disease left him partially paralyzed in 1981. The setback redirected his career into the energy industry, where he worked with public utilities until retiring in 2006. Since then, Allan has returned to his early passion, using oil painting, drawing, and sculpting as emotional outlets and creative expression. His latest series, Devolution, is a visual self-portrait chronicling the arc of his life, begun before his stroke and now will be continued as part of his healing process.

Before moving to Griggs Farm, Allan lived nearby at Montgomery Township in a home built in 1773 for over 50 years, where he and his late wife raised their five sons. After retirement, he became a full-time caregiver following his wife’s serious fall in 2010, which led to years of health issues until her passing in 2023. After her death, maintaining the house on his own became overwhelming, especially after a stroke that affected his mobility and finances. After ten months in a rehabilitation center, Allan moved into his Griggs Farm apartment, and support from Medicaid and insurance helped furnish his new apartment with necessities. Today, Allan feels settled and supported, especially with the help of a dedicated assistant and periodic visits from his family.

With a resilient spirit and thoughtful approach to healing, Allan remains hopeful about the future. He plans to begin physical therapy soon to regain more function on his left side and continues to manage stress through classical music and painting. He’s also interested in joining the Griggs Farm Sustainability Group, bringing insight from his career in the energy sector. Though his journey has been marked by challenges, Allan says, “Progress is slow, but there is progress.”