Jim and Cheryl Painter Share Why They Love Living at The Grandview

Jim and Cheryl Painter were diligent in researching their senior living options, and their search ranged from coast to coast. They were looking for a retirement community in a great location with a solid reputation that offers beautiful homes and a range of activities.

After considering several continuing care retirement communities near San Diego, Cal., and Annapolis, Md., they found that The Grandview, an Erickson Senior Living community in Bethesda, Md., checked all of their boxes.

Recently, the Tribune spoke with the Painters to learn more about their move to The Grandview and how they knew it was the right choice for them.

Tribune: What led you to consider The Grandview?

Cheryl: We had a house in Annapolis and a condo in Washington, D.C. I wanted to stay in this area so we could stay close to our friends and our doctors.

Jim: Erickson has been doing senior living for a long time, which was important to us. When we looked at a community in Annapolis, they seemed to know what they were doing, but we kept thinking, "This is their first rodeo." When we heard about The Grandview, we joined the Priority List, [which saved our spot in line for a future residence.]

We attended some community events, where we got to sample the food. Overall, it was a very positive experience.

Tribune: Can you tell me about your new home?

Jim: We joined the list late in the process, so we weren't sure what was going to be available, but we got the floor plan we liked. Initially, we were going to be on the fourth floor, but we asked George [Mishraky, the community's sales director,] to let us know if the same floor plan became available on a higher floor. He called us a few weeks later and let us know that we could be on the tenth floor. We absolutely love it!

Cheryl: Our house in Annapolis was on a hill, so we had a view of the Chesapeake Bay with the boats going up to Baltimore. And our condo in D.C. was on the 14th floor, so we are comfortable living in high places. When George called to ask if we were interested in a tenth floor unit, we said, "How soon would you like us to come sign the paperwork?"

Tribune: How did The Grandview help make your move easier?

Jim: We sold both our house and our condo before moving here. The community recommended vetted real estate agents for our house in Annapolis, which sold in four days. Getting recommendations to experienced real estate agents who really know the local market was a big plus.

We also used a moving company that The Grandview recommended, who were pros in every respect.

Tribune: What are some ways you've gotten involved on campus?

Jim: There's a really impressive range of activities and social events to try out. Very early on, Cheryl and I discovered a happy hour at the rooftop restaurant. As the bartender, Julio, could tell you, we are up there multiple times a week!

Tribune: Has it been easy to meet new people?

Jim: Yes. There are a number of residents who worked for the federal government, like us. I recently got an email from a neighbor who worked for a foreign assistance agency, and I worked for USAID for many years. I also ran into a guy who's a retired State Department foreign service officer, so we are getting some of us together for dinner.

Tribune: Now that you've settled in, do you feel at home at The Grandview?

Cheryl: Yes! I love our home, which has two bedrooms, two baths, and a sunroom. On our balcony, we can even see the sunrise.

Jim: We've got a great view out here to the west. One of the most appealing elements of this particular apartment is that it's on the end, so it has windows on three sides. We've got amazing views and beautiful sunsets.

To learn more about the ways you can explore senior living, request more information today.

By Gregory J. Alexander