It’s a family affair at Maris Grove

Carol Boros and her sister Ronnie Green are extremely close. They look alike, sound alike, and have a deep friendship that extends beyond the bonds of family. So, it’s no surprise that they and their husbands, John and Frank, wound up living happily at Maris Grove, the Erickson Living-managed community in Glen Mills, Pa.

Carol recalls the night that Frank and Ronnie first mentioned the idea of moving to a Continuing Care Retirement Community, or CCRC. These communities offer seniors a vibrant, maintenance-free lifestyle filled with amenities and activities as well as higher levels of medical care should they ever need them.

“Ronnie and Frank explained the concept of a CCRC to us and were extremely positive about Maris Grove,” recalls Carol. “I didn’t know much about these communities, but it made sense to me immediately. You enjoy an independent, active lifestyle now, knowing that you’ll be cared for in the future if things change.”

“Frank is an engineer, so he researches and plans everything thoroughly,” adds John. “He pulled out a huge spreadsheet comparing eight or nine communities and concluded that Maris Grove was the best. We piggybacked on what he found, because we knew he’d looked at it from every possible angle.”

Several aspects appealed to Carol: First was having her sister close by. A close second was the peace of mind that comes with knowing they wouldn’t have to move again if their health needs changed. John agreed that the benefits were undeniable but was reluctant to leave their life in in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a charming beach town on the Atlantic Coast.

“I wasn’t ready to relocate, but after listening to multiple pitches from Carol, I saw the wisdom in being settled in one place for the long term,” he says with a smile. “Frank was persuasive, plus friends from D.C. told us they were moving to a different Erickson Living community. I thought, if two smart people we trust think it’s a great idea, we didn’t need to look further.”

Their life in Rehoboth Beach had been idyllic and, understandably, was hard to give up. John, a graduate of Ohio State University, served as a Captain in the Army Veterinary Corps, then had his own practice in Rehoboth Beach for 33 years. At a party one summer, he met Carol, a former teacher who had earned her master's degree and was working toward her EdD; they have since been married for 20 years.

The couple were avid sailors and loved everything about life in a lively beach town. After they both retired, they remained in Rehoboth for eight years. But the seed Frank and Ronnie planted about Maris Grove took root, and the couple moved into a spacious two-bedroom, two-bath apartment home in 2018.

“It’s funny that we moved in one year before Ronnie and Frank,” notes Carol, “but we were ready first. And boy, did we luck out. We wanted a balcony and space for John’s office, and we found exactly what we were looking for. When you open the door, there’s a bank of windows that floods the space with light all day. We overlook the woods, which is a gorgeous view. We absolutely love it.”

Carol says they're fortunate to have moved in before the pandemic. Both couples made lots of friends and enjoyed all the amenities, including the fitness center, Monday night dance classes, various clubs, and special events.

“Everyone here, the residents and staff, are lovely, warm, and welcoming,” she says. “We established a wonderful routine, and even though we’ve had to make adjustments, we couldn’t ask for a better situation. And having my sister here, safe, is the best part.” John agrees. “The area has so many historic and cultural sites; there’s always something interesting to do. We have our bubble with Frank and Ronnie, we work out, take daily walks, and participate safely in activities. I give all the credit to Carol, Ronnie, and Frank for convincing me to move. Maris Grove is a great place to live.”

If you'd like to learn more about the comfortable and engaging lifestyle at Maris Grove, visit MarisGrove.com or call 1-800-520-2916.

About Maris Grove: Maris Grove, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 87-acre campus in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,900 residents and 750 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Maris Grove can be found at MarisGrove.com.

Written by Dorrie Anshel