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How to Find Senior Living A-Million Ideas by Andrew Millon

Nov 21, 2023

Chestnut Grove Senior Living

Andrew Millon, Marketing Director

From a Congressional Aid – to Cubs Fan – to Senior Living Superstar, Andrew Millon has always lived a life of dedication to his community through public service and healthcare career.

Recently, Andrew was selected from a deep list of candidates to lead the marketing effort at Chestnut Grove Senior Living – http://ChestnutGroveLiving.com – located at Woodman Road & Parham Road North. He was handpicked for the position by Richard McClelland a noted and experienced businessman in the Virginia assisted living industry.



Chestnut Grove’s commitment to excellence in assisted living care is exemplified by their Three-Year License from the Virginia Department of Social Services – https://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/alf.cgi – the agency that licenses assisted living in the Commonwealth.


Additionally, Chestnut Grove was voted Community of the Year in Richmond for three consecutive years by OurHealth Magazine who annually recognizes excellence in the senior living industry.


The grounds and interior of Chestnut Grove are brought to life by a Broadway cast quality of employees who have an unwavering sense of duty to their residents. The apartments and common areas are inviting and comforting. The outside grounds feature expansive and gardened outdoor courtyards complete with darting birds and squirrels.  A great location to spend time with Mom or Dad on a visit. 


Let’s Talk to Andrew


NestEasy – Let’s talk about you. Where were you born or where do you consider your hometown?


Andrew – Those are two different questions, I born in the Chicago/Hinsdale area and lived there for about eight years. We moved to Northern Virginian and I graduated from Herndon High School.  Attended VCU.  I am a midwestern guy who enjoys the southern way of life.


NestEasy  – So, are you a Cubs fan?


Andrew – Die Hard! I grew around Chicago and consider myself a city kid. After I moved to Northern Virginia, we would go back to the Midwest for visits almost every summer. 


Nest Easy – How did you get into the health care industry?


Andrew – Health care was interesting to me because I was involved with assisting my grandparent’s in their time of need. My first position was in admissions for a rehabilitation/skilled care community and then later at a home health care company.


NestEasy What is your best Senior Living idea?


Andrew – Chestnut Grove meets the needs of so many assisted living and memory care residents. I love the community and it is my top recommendation.


NestEasy – Can you describe your role at Chestnut Grove Senior Living?


Andrew – Chestnut Grove is a special niche senior living community that provides Assisted Living and Memory Care.

My role at Chestnut Grove is to find the people who are looking for help and determine what types of care and support makes sense for them in our community.


We know there are a many different options in Richmond, and each community does a lot of different things. For me, it’s about finding the right fit for the resident.


I helped three of my grandparents work through senior living options and really know the importance of making the right decision the first time. 



Not finding the right option can cause a lot of headaches and more anxiety than is needed. We want to find out what is important to everyone who comes through our doors. And find that right fit for them no matter what that means.


NestEasy – What do want Richmond to know about Chestnut Grove?


Andrew – When a resident calls Chestnut Grove home, I know, I have done my job.


NestEasy – What do you want the public to know about you?


Andrew – My role is to find the best option and right fit for a resident that is a good long-term decision – not just for today!


NestEasy – How can you assure the public that their loved one will be safe and well cared for at Chestnut Grove?


Andrew – We will be honest with you and set the right expectations. The resident experience is always evolving, and we need to keep the dialogue open. 


We are an extension of your family. Each resident’s health and well-being are deeply personal, and we want to make decisions that are specific to each resident’s needs and not their neighbors.


NestEasy – How do you help a new resident make the transition from home to Chestnut Grove?


Andrew – We want to make sure a new resident understands all the pieces of our community by the move-in date. 


NestEasy  – How do you ease and/or recognize relocation stress?


Andrew – We understand new or prospective residents often feel they are “forfeiting” independence in their lives by transferring to a new environment. We spend a lot of time educating and demonstrating to residents that they are gaining more in life at Discovery than is being relinquished by moving from their home.


NestEasy – How long have you lived in Richmond and do you like it?


Andrew – Yes. I love the city. I have been here since 2004. Richmond has become my hometown. I am stuck here in a good way. I love Richmond to its core. From the people to the things you can do downtown, to the quieter life outside the city. 


NestEasy – How did you select VCU for your education?


Andrew  – It was a bit of a fluke. I submitted my application at 11:56 PM the night of the deadline to apply and was accepted. After that, I toured VCU and fell in love with it. Being from Chicago, the VCU venue reminded me of the city way of life.


NestEasy – You are married and have a child?


Andrew – My wife’s name is Carrie and my son Kelby-James. He turns two in March. Kelby is named for his grandfather James.


NestEasy – How did you meet your Carrie?



Andrew  – My freshman year at VCU through a friend. She was a Yankees fan and I was Cubs. We poked fun at each other’s teams. For a short time, she thought I was a jerk. We didn’t talk for several months. We met again and I converted her to a Cubs fan and the rest has been a beautiful relationship.


NestEasy – Do you have siblings?



Andrew – Two brothers and one sister, all of them are significantly younger than me.   I was the older one who had to show them around and break the mold so things would a little easier for them.


NestEasy – What was the hardest thing you went through as a child? How did you overcome it?


Andrew – I had an odd childhood. My parent’s spit-up when I was very young before I was age 1. Because of the split, I had two very different childhoods. 


My mother is an artist, so economically she was below the poverty line. I spent summers with her in New Orleans and Memphis. I had a vastly different view of life in the neighborhoods that she lived as opposed to my father who lived in a very affluent life in suburbs of Chicago and DC. 


Because of these experiences, I always had a very different view on things as opposed to my contemporaries. My experiences always kept me a little bit humble. I always appreciated when I had the opportunities to do things. I had a lot of interesting experiences in my life that helped me understand who I am. I am a product of both childhood experiences and I am the better for it.


NestEasy – What is the biggest trouble you and your siblings ever got into at home or in the neighborhood?


Andrew – Me and my siblings did not get into too much trouble. It was me getting into trouble, and I would shield them from whatever happened.


NestEasy – Can you tell us a story?


Andrew – Yes. We used to play sports in the basement when it was too cold to go outside.

My Dad was hosting a Christmas party at our home had some party supplies in the basement. Dad had set-up at least thirty 30 bottles on a table. 


Prior to the party, we were playing in the basement and I threw a football pass to my brother that he did not catch. The football hit the bottles and they crashed and broke on the tile floor. It was a mess of beer and glass. That was a fun conversation afterwards.


NestEasy – Did you get punished? 


Andrew – Yes, more chores and no allowance applied to the chores.


NestEasy – Who was your favorite relative(s) when you were growing up and what did you like about them?


Andrew – I have a fun bachelor uncle named Kevin who was an attorney. He was the kind of guy who liked to go out and get a drink and have some fun. He and my grandfather treated me to a trip to Italy when I was age 14. It was one of those bus-trip tours that visited different cities. We traveled for two weeks – Pompei, Rome, Florence, Venice – it was a great time.


One afternoon the bus stopped at an Italian bar/restaurant. My uncle ended up participating in a singing contest with an Irishman, Englishman, and Australian. Myuncle’s song was“Lemon Tree” that he sung standing on top of a bar table. We brought energy to the café. The management of the café seemed pleased when we left.

I am good friends with him to this day.


NestEasy  – That is a hilarious story about your Uncle. Which family member has been your greatest coach in life?


Andrew –  My grandfather was my greatest coach. Grandfather was a WWII vet who lived by a great set of principles and he wanted his family to live by those same principles too. Extreme value on work ethic and integrity. After WWII, he started as a cashier at Sears and moved up to the corporate world in the Sears Tower in purchasing.

Because of my father’s work schedule, I would stay at my grandfather’s house two or three evening a week. We spent a lot of time together and I learned from him.


NestEasy – What sports did you play?


Andrew   I played soccer and basketball. I started off terrible at both, but eventually got better in high school. My claim to fame is that I once dunked a basketball in a game.

The high school basketball coach offered me a spot on the team my senior year. I declined because I wanted the time to study. Unfortunately for me, the team played in the state championship that year and were state runner-up champion.


NestEasy  – What did you study at VCU?


Andrew  – Started at VCU in business school. I changed to literature but soon realized that I didn’t enjoy reading. Not liking reading was a problem. So, I ended up in mass communications.


NestEasy – Do you play a musical instrument?


Andrew – Play the bass clarinet and contra-bass clarinet.


NestEasy – What is the best memory of growing up?


Andrew – Me and my family would spend time at one of my aunt’s lake house in the upper Peninsula of Michigan. Boating with a large family.


NestEasy – Thank you Andrew for your warm interview and commitment to Richmond and our healthcare community.


Jim Beck, Writer & Founder NestEasy

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