Priority List Member Knew The Grandview Was Right for Her

Sara Atherton--a longtime Bethesda, Md., resident--was among the first retirees to hear about The Grandview, an Erickson Senior Living community opening in Bethesda in fall 2025.

"I've lived in the area for 38 years," she says. "I knew right away that The Grandview was where I wanted to live! I wanted to stay close to my doctors, the grocery store and library that I frequent, and shops at Georgetown Square."

Eager to be part of a vibrant, new community in the town she proudly calls home, Sara joined the Priority List in October 2022--just weeks after the Sales Center opened.

Now, she's making the most of her Priority List status by securing her desired apartment home, taking advantage of moving services, and attending social events where she can meet her future neighbors.  

"The staff members at The Grandview's Sales Center have gone out of their way," Sara says. "They've been so helpful, and the events and activities they plan to encourage us to meet future neighbors are wonderful!"

Planning ahead

After touring the Sales Center and learning about the community's stylish apartment homes and industry-leading amenities, Sara didn't waste any time signing up.

"I'm a planner, so I recognized that the earlier I got my name on the Priority List, the better chance there was that I would get the floor plan I wanted," says Sara. "Plus, the $1,000 deposit to join is totally refundable, so I had nothing to lose."

Sara's planning paid off, as she was able to reserve her dream apartment home. "I chose The Dupont--a large layout with one bedroom, one and half baths, and a den," she notes. "I love how all of the floor plans include an outdoor balcony."

But Sara's planning didn't stop there. After securing her apartment home, she met with a senior move manager--referred to her by Erickson Realty and Moving Services--to help her determine how her furniture would fit in her new living space.  

"The senior move manager measured all of my furniture and then sent a floor plan to show where the pieces will go, which was very helpful," Sara says. "I'm excited to look for a nice sofa bed to go in the den!"

Getting involved

After solidifying her moving plan, Sara looked into the educational and social opportunities for Priority List members. The classes offered by Oasis, an organization that provides lifelong learning programming, caught her eye.  

"I really enjoyed the one on Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral," she notes. "The art historian who taught the class was an expert."

She's also flexing her leadership muscles, coordinating the bridge and canasta groups for Priority List members. "I have been playing bridge since college, so I was asked to head up the bridge group," says Sara. "We now have about 30 bridge players."

She adds, "Then, they needed someone to organize the canasta group, as there were people who had played with their grandparents and wanted to relearn it. They taught themselves, which isn't easy! I just started playing myself. The more experienced bridge players want to have a duplicate bridge group, so I'm working on that too."

Sara has also joined the Priority List's fitness club, led by fellow member Carol Roth.

"Once I'm settled in my apartment home, I'll have even more time to do fun activities like these," says Sara. "No more shoveling snow for me!"

Sara will also be able to take advantage of top-notch amenities. "I'm going to visit the aquatics center, and the rooftop restaurant and wine bar look nice," says Sara.

And off-campus spots she knows and loves will be just minutes away! "As a theater buff, I have season tickets to the Round House Theatre in Bethesda. I enjoy going to the movies nearby at the AMC Montgomery 16 as well," she notes. "I'm so glad that I'll be close to my old neighborhood."

To learn more about senior living at this vibrant community, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.