(Provided by Gilbert Guide's on-site reviewer)

Family-owned Waters Edge Lodge is flanked by a manicured lawn ornamented with verdant shrubs and trees. The home's wooden shingles and façade possess a New England feel. A resident sitting with the receptionist greeted us cordially when we entered the facility. We noted contemporary furnishings grouped into comfortable seating areas and the delicious aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting from the snack room.

The building is divided by the varying levels of care provided on each floor. Attractive moldings function as handrails in the wide, brightly lit hallways, which are adorned with artwork and seating areas. Mirrors or fresh flowers sit on small tables outside residents' rooms. Seven different floor plans are available. Each room features cheerful drapes and bright carpet, a walk-in closet and a private wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Many of the rooms have balconies. All boast scenic views; some look out onto nearby Chuck Corica Golf Complex. Each room has been thoughtfully provided with foldaway cots for overnight guests.

Lamplight softly illuminates the attractively furnished living room. Expansive windows frame gorgeous views of a nearby lagoon. Residents congregated here in small clusters as they waited for dinner. An extra-wide entrance at the rear of the building, broad enough for wheelchair and motorized scooter users, opens to a neighboring shopping center. We smiled to see an adult tricycle parked in the backyard, a beautifully landscaped area graced with vibrant flowers, shrubs and trees. Pathways connect the front and back yards and also access seating areas.

Our guide, the admissions director of fifteen years, politely asked after residents' well-being as we toured. We were very pleased to meet the activity director, an energetic seventy-year old gentleman. Residents enjoy a busy calendar of activities that includes yoga, meditation, tai chi, a knitting club, happy hour and outings to wine country. Multidenominational religious services include Communion and Shabbat. One recent activity was a tour of a Hindu temple in Fremont; the outing was part of a "World Tour," in which residents explore a region of the world through entertainment, cuisine and outings pertaining to that area.

Residents of Waters Edge Lodge receive priority for rooms at Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility, also located in Alameda.