When the new facility opens in the fall of 1998, Marian Manor will convert some of its rooms to apartments for independent living. It is built right on a beach overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and has 16 acres of grounds. It also has 50 assisted-living units as well as a healthcare center with 75 beds. Westminster-Canterbury opened in 1981 as a joint venture of the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia and the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. It is open to any person age 65 or older who can live independently.
Apartments range in size from studios to two-bedroom units.
Most have full-size kitchens. The smallest studio apartments sometimes are available immediately. Amenities include one prepaid meal a day, weekly maid service, bed and bath linens, 24-hour security, an indoor swimming pool, a whirlpool, a steam room, gardening areas and a full roster of activities. As residents need more help, they can move to assisted living and a nursing home that are part of the facility. Admission to Westminster-Canterbury requires paying a sizable entrance fee that guarantees lifetime occupancy in an apartment, the Assisted Living Center or Health Care Center.