Blog Posts
Reap the Health Benefits of Gardening for Seniors at RWC
Gardening is a great hobby for people who like to stay active, get plenty of fresh air, and accomplish something useful in their free time. It also offers a surprising array of health benefits,
RWC Resident Larry Hammond Honors St. Patrick’s Day with His Bagpiping Talent
With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury is taking a moment to spotlight the remarkable talent of one of our residents. Bagpiping, widely recognized as a hallmark of Scottish tradition, has also played
Why Virginia Is the Best Place To Retire
Plenty of Americans finish long workdays and weeks dreaming about where they’ll retire and what kind of life they’ll have during their golden years. If you’re researching retirement location options, it’s important to bear
How CCRCs Can Relieve Retirement Anxiety
Reaching retirement can be a joyful time in your life: it comes with the promise of far more leisure time than you previously had, and almost complete autonomy over your schedule and lifestyle. However,
Finding Love in the Golden Years: The Story of Bill and Milena at RWC
Love can be found in the most unexpected places, and for Bill Estell and Milena VanSant it was at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC) a continuing care, total lifecare retirement community. It all started when Milena
News Releases
RWC 2022 Accomplishments: A Year of Community Growth and Development
Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury had a highly successful year in 2022, with a wide range of accomplishments and new developments that further enhanced the community for staff and residents alike. Nineteen new residents moved into the
RWC Opens Residential Memory Care Home On Its Campus
Small House designed for residents with mild to moderate memory challenges Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC) today announced the opening of the latest in its continuum of care offerings – The Small
Irma Burke Celebrates Her 107th Birthday at RWC
Born in Lancaster County when Woodrow Wilson was president and World War I was well under way, Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury resident Mrs. Irma Burke celebrated her 107th birthday on Sept. 25.
Military Veterans Honored with RWC November Show & Performance
Get to know RWC residents who served in U.S. Armed Forces Like many members of the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation, Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury residents are reluctant to be in
RWC Residents Volunteer as Citizen Scientists to Increase Monarch Butterfly Populations
Residents plant more than 200 milkweed plants in 2022 to attract declining species With the numbers of monarch butterflies that migrate annually across North America decreasing considerably over the last
Upcoming Events
At RWC, you can do as little or as much as you want.
Click around on our CALENDAR to see what may be coming up or of interest. The calendar is full of activities on and off campus.
Healthy Eating Forum
Wednesday, March 22—11:00 AM—Auditorium
RWC’s expert dietician, Tara Mathis, will share invaluable insights on the topics of health, nutrition, and special diets. From vegetarian and gluten-free options to low-fat, vegan, low-sodium, and sugar-free alternatives, she’ll address your questions and provide plenty of ideas to help you make informed dietary choices. RSVP by Friday, March 17.
Call: 804-438-4877 or Email: [email protected] Reservations required. Seating is limited.
Spring Fling
Community members are invited to shop ‘til you drop 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on March 30, as RWC’s Activities Committee presents “Spring Fling” featuring hand-made items that make nice gifts and remembrances for upcoming holidays such as Easter and Mother’s Day.
Residents are donating handmade sale items including soaps, scrubs, sachets, spring décor and much more!
Tools and Resources
Making the move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is a big decision. To make sure relocating to Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury is the right move for you or your parents, we’ve compiled some handy resources and online tools.
RWC is not just a CCRC, but a Total Life Plan Community. You and your family can choose which works best for your situation. While the fees are higher when you select a Total Life Plan, you are ensured the continuum of care for life from independent living to assisting living to health care and even memory care. In fact, 89 percent of our current residents chose the Total Life Plan for this peace of mind.
Marketing Brochure and Fees
Request our Marketing Brochure and Fees to find out about our various fee structures and refundable plans and about the RWC Foundation that helps ensure that residents whose financial resources have been exhausted in spite of prudent planning can remain at RWC.
Living Options
Situated on 165 wooded acres, RWC has more free-standing homes than most retirement communities – 46 homes with 1 or 2-car garages in a variety of floor plans and up to 2,200 square feet. We also offer 77 cottages and 33 apartments from studio apartments to two-bedroom, two bath – some with a beautiful view of our 7-acre manmade lake.
Virtual Tours
While nothing beats an in-person tour, you can take a sneak peek at a variety of our housing options via our 360-degree virtual tours.
MoneyGauge Survey
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about moving to a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is that they cannot afford it. Answer 7 questions to find out if RWC is the right financial fit for you.
CCRC Tax Benefit
The IRS allows medical deductions for residents who itemize their deductions from gross income. A portion of the monthly fee may for independent living residents may qualify as a medical expense deduction (usually about a third of the entrance fee or somewhere near 30%) on your taxes. To find out about the current year’s exact percentage, contact RWC’s Marketing Team because the percentage fluctuates.
Finances are not the only consideration, of course. Many people wait to move to a CCRC because they are reluctant to admit that they may need a bit of extra help now or in the future.
Roobrik Tool
You can find out which options for the next stage of life are the best fit for you or your family with this quick survey tool that assesses if it’s the right time to downsize and the potential need for assistance.
RWC Blog
Our blog is full of useful posts about everything from why the holidays are a great time to talk to your parents about moving to a CCRC, why fall is a good time to move, 3 reasons seniors delay the decision to move, the joys of pet ownership for seniors and more! You can find answers to many of the questions within these blog posts.

Jerry H.
“The residents have been most welcoming and friendly. The staff is very helpful, thoughtful and friendly.”

Lloyd and Valda F.
“The freedom of being able to choose just how much, or how little we do, as a couple, or individually each day is a gift. The spontaneity of the RWC lifestyle is an elixir.”

Helene and Peter B.
“These are our 5 favorite things about RWC not in any particular order: our residence and neighbors, the friendly staff, an excellent library, the facilities at the Life Enrichment Center, and especially all who cook, prepare, and serve our food.”
Testimonials
Research testimonials and reviews about any community you are considering. Resident and staff comments can help shed light on what it’s like to live or work in the CCRC.
Other resources that may help with your decision:
- Home Solutions – concierge services that take care of things like picking up your groceries, scheduling appointments, planning special events and more
- FAQs – Answers to frequently asked questions
- Rappahannock Club – Join our future residency club to “try before you buy.”
- Relocation Services – RWC has a list of approved and vetted local Realtors, home staging experts, downsizing pros, moving companies and more. Contact RWC’s Marketing Team.
- Support Services – Find out about on-site support services available to residents and the community such as our Fit for Life wellness program, At Home with RWC, Parkinson’s, Memory Care and Grief support groups.