ABOUT THE GRAND RESIDENCE
One Family. Forty-Two Years. The Same Promise.
For more than four decades, the Polachek family has cared for older adults across Pennsylvania. What started as a small personal care home in 1984 became The Grand Residence, a senior living community serving Upper St. Clair and the South Hills, still run by the same family that started it all.
Where Our Story Began
In 1984, Bill and Kathy Polachek opened a small personal care home in Donora, Pennsylvania. They had a couple of residents and a simple idea: care for people the way you'd want your own family cared for, in a place that actually felt like home.
Kathy came from social work. Bill had spent years working in Pennsylvania's state hospitals. Between them, they saw a gap nobody was filling, older adults who needed real care but didn't want to lose their dignity or their lives to get it. So they built something better, starting with that first little home and growing from there.
Forty-two years later, that idea hasn't changed one bit.
Our Mission
They Built the Place They'd Want to Live
When it came time to build The Grand Residence, Bill and Kathy didn't just build another senior living community. They studied communities all over the country, and then they asked themselves one question: what kind of place do we want to live in ourselves one day?
That question shaped everything. The apartments came out far larger than anything else on the market. The dining became a real restaurant, not a cafeteria. Every choice was made to feel like a home, warm and welcoming, nothing like the institutions people expect. That was the whole point, and it still is.
FAMILY-OWNED. FAMILY-LED.
Still Run by the Same Family
Forty-two years on, the Polacheks are still here. Melissa Polachek, the Executive Director, grew up in this business and has spent nearly twenty years in this building. She knows every guest by name.
The people who run this community are in it every day. No head office, no corporate chain, no waiting on someone two states away to make a decision. If you have a question, the person who can answer it is right down the hall.
A Team Families Know and Trust
42+ YEARS
Family-Owned Experience
20+ YEARS
Executive Director in the Building
25+ YEARS
Director of Nursing Since Opening Day
12+ YEARS
Average Full-Time Staff Tenure
Guidance You Can Trust
Call us with your questions, even the ones you're not sure how to ask. If we're the right place, we'll make it simple. If we're not, we'll tell you, and help you find who is. No pressure, no script, just a straight conversation with someone who's done this a long time. We know every community around here, and we'll help you for free, whether you end up with us or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of senior living and care does The Grand Residence provide?
The Grand Residence is a senior living community in Upper St. Clair, with care that ranges from light daily help to full, complex support, all under one roof. Some residents live independently and just need a hand now and then, while others need full assistance day to day, and most fall somewhere in between. Whatever the need, the care grows as it changes, so no one ever has to move to get more of it.
Does The Grand Residence support residents with memory loss?
Yes. The Grand Residence supports residents living with dementia, Alzheimer's, and other memory changes, with daily cueing, reminders, and patient, familiar care. Many residents experience some cognitive change over time, and the team is experienced in supporting them while keeping daily life as normal and comfortable as possible.
Can couples live together in senior living if they need different levels of care?
Yes. At The Grand Residence, a couple can share the same apartment even when one is fully independent and the other needs significant daily care. Each person receives the level of support they need while staying together. This is one of the things that sets the community apart from most senior living in the South Hills.
How much does senior living cost at The Grand Residence?
Pricing depends on the apartment and the level of care, but unlike many communities, the base rate already includes care, medication management, help with daily routines, and regular wellness checks, with no surprise add-on fees as needs grow. Because every situation is different, exact pricing is shared during a quick conversation rather than listed online. Families are welcome to call for a straightforward answer.
How do you move into The Grand Residence?
Moving in starts with a conversation and a tour of the community in Upper St. Clair. If it feels like the right fit, the next steps are simple: a free nursing assessment, help with the paperwork, and a move-in date. Once everything's in order, move-in can often happen within just a few days.
Still have questions? Choosing senior living is a big decision, and you don't have to make it alone. Call and talk to someone who's done this a long time.
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to know if The Grand Residence is right is to walk through the door. Take a tour, meet the team, have lunch if you like. No pressure, no sales pitch, just a chance to see what life here actually feels like.