While caring for his mother, Carolyn, in the early 1980s, Tom MacDonald saw the need for a different kind of senior care community. At the time, there were limited options for active seniors who wanted a high level of services and amenities, so Tom rolled up his sleeves. Drawing on his expertise as a real estate developer and general contractor, Tom designed the earliest Carlton communities himself, and in 1985, the company opened its first senior living community in Pleasant Hill. Dr. Don Engle, a retired professor of dentistry, joined as a founding partner in 1989, bringing with him his valuable medical and business experience.

Led by President Dave Coluzzi, there are 11 Carlton communities in operation, all offering families a wide choice of highly respected programs. As one of Northern California’s most successful senior living providers, we have won national awards for resident care, health and fitness, and staff development programs. The founding family continues to play an active role, staying true to the principles we started with decades ago