We Lead with Clarity, So You Can Feel at Ease
Time spent looking for your future home should be supported by transparency, and we’re happy to provide it. Here, you’ll find answers to any questions you may have about Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC), big or small.
It’s understandable for common questions to arise as you weigh your senior living options, and our aim is to eliminate as much ambiguity as possible. If you don’t see your question answered here, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (804) 438-4000! Our team loves connecting with future residents like you, and they’re ready to help you take the next big step toward senior living in Irvington.
Starting the Journey
What is a CCRC, and what is the benefit of moving to one?
A CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) is a senior living community that offers multiple levels of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, within the same campus.
The benefit is that RWC residents can transition between levels of care should their needs change without relocating, providing continuity, convenience, and peace of mind.
How do I know if it’s the right time for senior living?
Deciding when to make a move can be challenging. Sometimes the signs are clear, but often, prospective residents are uncertain about the right time. To help you navigate this important decision, this brief survey was designed to help you clarify your needs and preferences, ensuring you make the best choice for you and your family.
Where is RWC located, and what are some things to do in the area?
Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC) is located at 132 Lancaster Drive in Irvington, Virginia, in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Northern Neck. Surrounded by the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region, Irvington offers a relaxed, small-town atmosphere while being just minutes from neighboring Kilmarnock and White Stone.
There is plenty to enjoy both on and off the water. Residents and visitors can explore boutique shops and local restaurants, attend farmers’ markets and community events, visit museums and historic sites, enjoy boating and fishing, play golf, visit local vineyards, or simply take in the area’s waterfront scenery.
Nearby favorites include Steamboat Era Museum for local maritime history, The Tides Inn for waterfront dining and recreation, and The Dog and Oyster Micro-Vineyard and Oyster Bar. The broader Northern Neck also offers nature preserves, parks, historic churches, museums, and miles of shoreline to explore.
At RWC, you can enjoy an active community right outside your door, while still having the history, charm, waterways, and activities of the Northern Neck close to home.
What are the living options?
At RWC, our housing options exceed those of standard senior living communities. We offer a wide range of independent living options, including senior community apartments, cottages, single-family homes, suites, and private rooms.
RWC also offers assisted living, memory care, nursing care, and at-home care services.
How active are residents?
As active as they want to be! About 85% of RWC residents participate in some form of exercise routine, but staying active here goes far beyond fitness.
Residents can swim in the heated 75-foot lap pool, work out in the fitness center, participate in yoga, Tai Chi, strength and balance classes, walk more than two miles of campus trails, take art classes, enjoy woodworking, attend concerts and educational programs, join resident-led activities, and take trips to restaurants, museums, theaters, and other destinations.
The best part is that there’s no pressure to fill your calendar. Some residents are involved from morning to evening, while others prefer a quieter pace.
Financial Information and Resources
Is RWC a good financial fit for me?
We’ve partnered with MoneyGauge to give you a clearer picture of your finances. Answer just seven questions about your age, income, and assets to receive a preliminary assessment through their secure online tool. Your information remains confidential and won’t be shared with third parties.
How much does it cost to live at RWC?
At RWC, a one-time entrance fee guarantees access to the healthcare you need, should your circumstances change. RWC offers many residence types and pricing options, with entrance fees currently starting at $177,783 and monthly service fees based on the residence selected.
But RWC is much more than a residence. As a Life Plan Community offering Total LifeCare, a portion of your Entrance Fee helps provide for future healthcare, while your monthly fee covers many of the services, amenities, and conveniences of community living. Total LifeCare allows you to gain greater predictability for future healthcare costs. If you later need assisted living or nursing care, your monthly fee remains essentially the same, with additional meals being the primary added cost. This provides greater predictability and protection against rising long-term care costs.
Think of RWC as an all-inclusive lifestyle with a plan for the future. You can enjoy services, amenities, and maintenance-free living today, while knowing you can access higher levels of care if your needs change.
As entrance and monthly fees can vary, please contact us at (804) 438-4000 or marketing@rw-c.org for more specific information.
Do you offer refundable Entrance Fees?
Yes. RWC offers two Entrance Fee options. Our 50% refundable option provides a 50% refund of the Entrance Fee according to the terms of the residency agreement. We also offer a traditional Entrance Fee option that is reduced by 2% for each month of occupancy up to 49 months.
What does the monthly service fee include?
RWC’s monthly service fee, separate from the entrance fee, combines many expenses you may currently pay separately at home. It includes utilities, lawn and grounds care, interior and exterior maintenance and repairs, weekly housekeeping, 30 meals per month per person, transportation services, and access to campus amenities.
Residents also enjoy our Wellness Center and fitness classes, art classes, cultural and educational programs, concerts, speakers, performances, community events, and a full calendar of social opportunities.
As entrance and monthly fees can vary, please contact us at (804) 438-4000 or marketing@rw-c.org for more specific information.
Does my monthly fee stay the same if I need assisted living or nursing care?
Under RWC’s Total LifeCare contract, residents who later need a higher level of care maintain significant protection from the full market-rate cost of that care. The monthly fee remains essentially the same, with additional meal costs generally being the primary additional charge.
Can I use my long-term care insurance at RWC?
Yes, depending on your individual policy and the level of care you receive, your long-term care insurance benefits may apply while living at RWC.
Because every policy is different, our team can help review your long-term care insurance policy with you to better understand your coverage and how it may work with RWC’s LifeCare program.
What happens if I outlive my financial resources after moving to RWC?
RWC has a financial qualification process to help determine that residency is a financially appropriate long-term choice before you move in.
However, we understand that circumstances can change. For residents who were financially qualified when they entered RWC, but later outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own, RWC’s Foundation Fellowship Fund will provide financial assistance so they can continue to call RWC home.
Understanding Health Services atRWC
What is LifeCare?
LifeCare provides the security of knowing that if your health needs change, you have access to higher levels of care right here at RWC.
Residents can transition from independent living to assisted living or nursing care when needed, while their monthly service fee remains essentially the same. The primary additional cost is for additional meals associated with the higher level of care.
This provides greater predictability for future healthcare costs and helps protect residents from paying the full market rate for assisted living or nursing care.
Do I have to meet health and financial qualifications to move to RWC?
Yes. RWC has health and financial qualification requirements for independent living. RWC reviews each prospective resident individually based on their current circumstances. Because RWC’s Total LifeCare program includes a commitment to provide access to future care, prospective independent living residents complete a health qualification process before admission.
Can I wait until I need care to move to RWC?
RWC’s LifeCare program is designed for residents who enter through independent living and meet our health and financial qualification requirements. We reserve our higher levels of care for RWC LifeCare residents.
Waiting until you need significant care may mean RWC is no longer an option. Therefore, we encourage people to explore the community and understand where they stand while they are still living independently.
Planning ahead doesn’t mean you have to move right away—it simply gives you more choices for the future.
Do I still need Medicare if I live at RWC?
Yes. LifeCare does not replace Medicare or your health insurance. Medicare does not pay for independent living or the cost of becoming a resident of a Life Plan Community, though it may cover certain qualifying healthcare services according to Medicare rules.
Does RWC offer assisted living, memory support, and nursing care?
Yes. RWC provides assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing care as part of our continuum of care. These higher levels of care are primarily reserved for current RWC LifeCare residents.
What if my spouse needs a higher level of care, but I don't?
One advantage of RWC’s LifeCare program is that spouses can receive different levels of care while remaining part of the same community. If one spouse needs assisted living or nursing care while the other remains in independent living, monthly service fees remain essentially the same, with additional meals for the higher level of care being the primary added cost.
Living the RWC Lifestyle
Are meals included?
Yes. RWC’s LifeCare contract includes 30 meals per month per person as part of the monthly service fee. The meal plan is flexible and can be adjusted monthly for more or fewer meals, with a corresponding adjustment to your monthly fee.
RWC offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, and you choose which meals you’d like to enjoy based on your meal plan and schedule.
What dining options do you offer?
Enjoy casual dining daily at the Lakeside Grille, which features a selection of delicious chef-prepared main courses, appetizers, soups, and desserts. For a more formal experience, the Lancaster Room accepts dinner reservations on select days and for special events.
Can family and grandchildren visit?
Absolutely! Family and friends are always welcome at RWC. Your guests can visit you in your own home and enjoy time with you throughout the community. For overnight visitors, RWC also offers guest apartments for a reasonable fee.
Is RWC pet-friendly?
Absolutely! RWC is a pet-friendly community, so you’ll often see residents walking their furry friends around campus. Please note that pets are only permitted on the first floor of the apartment building and are not permitted in the dining rooms or common areas, such as the Chesapeake Center. Please contact us at (804) 438-4000 or marketing@rw-c.org for more information.
What are some events and things to do at RWC?
Our most popular events are our dinner and dance parties, where we hire the area’s best bands, and our Dining Services team provides outstanding food and drinks. Our trips to historical sites, concerts, and other local attractions are always a fan favorite. Art is also a cornerstone of life at RWC. We host monthly rotating exhibitions from various artists for our residents to enjoy, and our watercolor and other art classes are consistently popular.
On the intellectual side, RWC is proud to host guest speakers on campus for lectures that engage and inform the community. In the past, we’ve featured notable speakers, including best-selling author David Baldacci, ABC News correspondent Ann Compton, and White House photographer Michael Geissinger.
What is the Rappahannock Club?
The Rappahannock Club is designed for people considering RWC for their future, as well as those waiting for a particular residence style to become available.
Members receive priority notification of available residences and opportunities to experience RWC before moving, including invitations to events, programs and other community experiences.
How do I join the Rappahannock Club?
To join the Rappahannock Club, complete an application indicating your residence preferences and anticipated timeframe, and submit a $1,000 refundable deposit. Once you’re a member, you’ll receive priority notification of available residences that may match your preferences, along with opportunities to stay connected and experience life at RWC while you plan for the future.
Do you have a pool and fitness center?
Yes. RWC has a 75-foot indoor lap pool open year-round, with swimming, water walking, and aqua fitness classes. Residents also have access to fitness and wellness opportunities designed to support an active lifestyle.
Enjoying Resident Life and Homeownership at RWC
What are the living options?
Our housing options exceed those of standard senior living communities. RWC offers senior community apartments, cottages, and single-family homes in a beautiful 165-acre community. Residence sizes and floor plans vary, giving residents a range of choices based on their lifestyle and preferences.
RWC also offers assisted living, memory care, nursing care, and at-home care services.
What's available right now?
Residence availability at RWC can change quickly. You can view our current available apartments, cottages, and free-standing homes at https://rw-c.org/available-housing/.
Our community representatives can also provide the most up-to-date information, including residences that may be coming available soon.
Can I renovate or personalize my residence?
It depends on the residence. RWC may complete renovations and updates before offering a residence, while other residences may allow the incoming resident to make certain selections or customizations. Any changes must follow RWC’s renovation and decorating guidelines.
Do I have to mow my lawn or take care of exterior maintenance?
No. RWC handles lawn care, grounds maintenance, and many routine home-maintenance responsibilities, giving you more time to do what you enjoy. Residents who enjoy gardening can also participate in RWC’s community garden, where they can grow their own plants, flowers, and vegetables.
How do I schedule a tour?
A personalized visit is one of the best ways to experience RWC. Our community representatives can arrange a time that works for you and tailor the visit around what you’d most like to see.