At Maris Grove, Predictable Costs Provide Freedom, Value, and Peace of Mind

Retirement should be a time to enjoy life on your terms. You've earned it! For Pete Davisson and his late wife Janet, that meant eliminating the stress of unpredictable expenses.

After researching different retirement communities, one came out on top: Maris Grove, an Erickson Senior Living community in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Boasting an inclusive, predictable monthly service package, the couple would no longer have to worry about unforeseen expenses.

And, through his cost comparison, Pete discovered that the monthly cost of living at Maris Grove was not much different than the monthly cost of living in their house.

"I found the numbers to be reasonably close to each other, so it didn't cost us any more to move to Maris Grove from a single-family house," explains Pete. "And that included food and everything!"

Now, since his move in 2017, Pete has been managing his budget with confidence and making the most of his retirement.

Predictable costs

Maris Grove's monthly service package bundles the costs of utilities; a meal plan at on-site restaurants; maintenance, including repair and replacement of appliances; access to amenities; and regularly scheduled transportation into one predictable bill.

"You write one check a month," notes Pete. "Even parking is free. It's tough not to like it!"

In fact, the package supports the more than 90% of seniors who say they want predictable monthly expenses to cover most of their daily activities, meals, and housing--according to a recent survey commissioned by Erickson Senior Living via Edge Research.

Pete, who serves as chair of the Resident Advisory Council's finance advisory committee, notes that the monthly service package is a real differentiator in the senior living industry, as some 55-plus communities require its residents to care for their lawn and shovel snow.

"People don't always understand all you get in a retirement community like this," he explains. "It's totally different than a senior community or a 55-plus community. Here, Erickson takes care of everything."

Great value

With a range of stylish floor plans to fit every taste and budget, unique restaurants serving made-to-order meals, and top-notch amenities, choosing a home in a vibrant Erickson Senior Living community like Maris Grove is money well spent.

Pete highlights the community's 160-plus clubs, large fitness center, and swimming pool. He especially appreciates the climate-controlled walkways, which connect all 18 buildings on campus, as they make it easy to get to any activity you're interested in.

"Especially in winter, it's nice to get in a two-mile walk without having to go outside," he says.

Finance Director Chris Bickel adds that Maris Grove's strong financial position allows community leaders to find ways to reinvest in the amenities and services that residents enjoy.

"Every year, we have a special budget dedicated to reinvesting in the community," he explains. "Last year, we completed a major renovation project at Brinton Clubhouse, adding an upscale restaurant, designing a bar with specials for sporting events, and expanding our fitness center. Our residents are over the moon about it!"

This forward-thinking approach not only enhances residents' quality of life but also ensures the vitality of the entire community well into the future.

Peace of mind

Most of all, Pete relishes the peace of mind that comes from the 90% refundable entrance fee--the heart of the community's pricing structure. The entrance fee, collected as part of the residency process, will go back to you or your beneficiaries, if or when you leave the community.

"We told our children that this was the best gift we could ever give them," Pete says. "We were young and healthy enough to do the downsizing and moving ourselves, rather than leaving a house full of stuff for our children to deal with later. They've thanked us many times."

Bickel, whose own parents recently moved to Maris Grove, understands this sentiment well. "For me, peace of mind is number one," he says.

He also points to the Home for Life promise.* No one ever expects to run out of money, but sometimes unforeseen issues arise that can quickly deplete your hard-earned savings and put you at risk. Maris Grove is prepared to assist eligible residents who outlive their resources. No one will be asked to leave our community because of a genuine inability to pay.

For Pete, there's no doubt that choosing Maris Grove was one of the best financial and lifestyle decisions he ever made. "I couldn't imagine being more comfortable and active than I am here at Maris Grove," he says.

To learn more about the many financial benefits of moving to Maris Grove, request more information today.

*As per the Residence and Care Agreement.

Written By Julia Collins