Before millions of forever-young baby-boomers began aging, they placed their elderly parents into "assisted living."
But that grim final act won't fly for the Now Generation.
Enter, Dr. Kenneth Cooper (author of the 1968 bestseller "Aerobics") and his $2 billion Cooper Life at Craig Ranch residential wellness community outside Dallas, Tex. His target: Wealthy boomers. As he told The New York Times, "They've got the money. Now they want to live long enough to enjoy it." Who could argue?
The concept? Combining luxury living with medical services in a healthy lifestyle setting pioneered by such trend-setters as Miraval Life and Canyon Ranch.
Besides aerobics classes, monthly fees include physicals, doctor house calls (fondly recalled by boomers), concierge services, exterior home maintenance, (can you spell, "stress reduction?"), lectures and a social whirl.
Residents can occupy houses, town homes, brownstones and condos from $400,000 to $2 million, set amid a hospital, parks, gardens, schools, shops, offices, restaurants and a hotel on 151 acres. Extra costs? Specialists, surgical procedures, personal trainers, nutritionists and meals.
Sounds like a golden niche, but count me out. It's all a bit too homogenous and perfect. But that's just me.
