Kenneth Knutson grew up on a small working farm in Oregon. As one of five children, Ken was looking for an affordable path to college and applied for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy – “It’s the only service academy you can get into without a congressional appointment,” Ken said. He was one of the original crew team at the Academy and a member of the Varsity Heavyweight team that won the 1972 Dad Vail Regatta in their second year of rowing. Ken graduated from the Academy in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Science.
Throughout Ken’s 23-year service with the U.S. Coast Guard, he served in Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Following his retirement from the military, Ken moved to Edgemere and worked locally in the greater Baltimore area. He remains involved with Rosedale Baptist Church and sings in the choir. Ken also supports mission projects through his church, is a Gilchrist hospice volunteer, and works with their We Honor Veteran’s programs participating in various events and ceremonies for area veterans.
Q: What drove you to move to Brightview Perry Hall?
Ken: I purchased a home in Rosedale a few years ago, and my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson lived upstairs. When the pandemic began, they went on a tight quarantine, and it was very isolating living there. I moved to Brightview Perry Hall in 2021. Before I physically moved here, I was in a car accident. I called the Brightview Concierge from the hospital, and they immediately helped with coordinating furniture delivery and set up. I could not have been in a better more supportive environment, elsewhere.
Q: What are some activities that you enjoy at Brightview Perry Hall?
Ken: I have a group of friends that I sit with often at dinner, then three or four of us will go and shoot pool and have fun. The library has a puzzle table, so I go there and work on puzzles. They’ve brought the Sight and Sound Theatre in here recently, too. I’m getting into other activities; they are always looking for other, new things for us to do and open to suggestions.
Q: What is it like interacting with the Brightview associates?
Ken: I have an outstanding relationship with the dining servers. They really make our meals for us. They are very engaged and know everyone by name. It makes a difference here for me and many of us. We like joking with them, and our table has become the busy, raucous table.
Q: What advice would you give someone interested in moving to independent senior living at Brightview Perry Hall?
Ken: Explore everything. This is one type of community. A lot of places make you pay a lot upfront, and then you still pay every month. There is no upfront fee here, and that drew me to this place. It’s maintenance-free – you don’t worry about snow or things like that. They are very responsive as far as medical issues, and there is a level of continuing care if your health changes.
This place is like a whole family. After two or three weeks of living here, people were already talking to me in the hallways and sharing backgrounds. We look out for each other in so many ways.
Shoot some pool with Ken and his neighbors – schedule your personal visit to Brightview Perry Hall!
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
