By Scott James | The New York Times
The restaurant at Fountaingrove Lodge has a sweeping view of California’s Sonoma County, a panorama one might expect at a five-star resort. The grounds include an impressive wine cellar, spa, bank, fitness center, movie theater and a large outdoor swimming pool.
“I love the water aerobic courses,” said William Baird, 71.
But Fountaingrove Lodge is a not a resort — it is a retirement community, part of a new breed of luxury supportive senior housing. These upscale communities offer a continuum of care from independent living to failing health, allowing people to age in one place for a relatively fixed price, but with amenities common in exclusive hotels and high-end cruise ships.
