Allison Condran discusses senior living services at Brookdale Grandon Farms in Mechanicsburg

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What are the keys to being able to offer a variety of senior living services in one location, such as personal care and memory care? 

The key is giving residents a voice and meaningful choices in their daily lives. We have an active resident council that shares feedback and requests, and I make it a priority to listen and follow through whenever possible. This is our residents’ home, and it’s important they feel a sense of pride in it. By truly hearing our residents and working hard to meet their wishes, we’re able to help create an environment that supports a variety of needs all in one place. 

How can people prepare in advance for their senior living needs? It is difficult to anticipate health needs, but are there some core things everyone should consider and prepare for? 

Planning ahead is an important step people can take when it comes to senior living. I recommend starting with your finances early and exploring all available options. For some, long-term care insurance can be a valuable tool, while others may qualify for benefits such as those offered to veterans. Speaking with a financial advisor can help you understand what’s available and can help create a plan that fits your situation. 

Just as important as financial planning is communication. Have conversations with your loved ones sooner rather than later about your wishes and preferences for the future. Giving older adults a voice in these discussions can help ensure their wishes are respected and leads to better outcomes for everyone involved. 

Brookdale Grandon Farms highlights amenities such as nearby Creekview Park and pet-friendly apartments. Why are amenities like these important? 

Amenities like these play a big role in helping residents feel comfortable, connected and truly at home. At Brookdale Grandon Farms, our residents love walking to Creekview Park and enjoy the natural surroundings, including wildlife like deer, turkeys and groundhogs. It can help create more of a peaceful, country-home atmosphere. 

Inside the community, we focus on creating cozy, meaningful moments as well. We host fireside chats each morning by the fireplace, and it’s common to hear residents sharing stories about what they’ve seen that day or simply enjoying each other’s company. They take pride in the space and appreciate the little details, from the décor to the sense of community. 

These kinds of amenities may help ease the transition from living at home to moving into a community setting. More importantly, they can help foster joy, connection and a sense of belonging, which are important for overall well-being as we age. 

What is one activity you enjoy now that you hope to be able to continue as you get older?  

One activity I really enjoy is our painting club. I’m not a painter myself, but I love watching our residents create and express themselves through art. We have a wall filled with their paintings, and it’s incredible to see what they produce. You can truly feel the pride and joy they get from it. 

It’s something I hope to be able to do more of as I get older: to sit down, paint and experience that same sense of creativity and fulfillment. Seeing how much happiness it brings them is inspiring and it’s definitely something I’d love to do one day. I like to say I’ll let them lead the way for now, but that’s what I want to do when I “grow up.” 

Freelance writer Jennifer Botchie Deinlein 

About Allison Condran 

Allison Condran, 51, joined Brookdale Grandon Farms in Mechanicsburg in 2023. She began her career in the U.S. Army, where she became an LPN. After the Army, she worked in memory care and as a healthcare director in a senior living setting. 

Condran also earned her personal care home administration license from Penn State University. 

She and her husband reside in Lower Paxton Township and have three children and two grandchildren — one born just last week.