Retire in style
These continuing-care retirement communities garner four- or five-star Medicare nursing home ratings and accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
Entrance fee: $120,000 to $133,000 (prorated refund for the first 50 months)
Monthly fee: $2,550 to $2,585 (stays the same for all levels of care)
Highlights: Located on a 56-acre property near Mobile Bay, Westminster Village has many perks: a heated indoor pool, a woodworking shop, gardening areas, a fitness center (staffed with professional exercise physiologists), a fully equipped library and three modes of transportation. But an even bigger draw is the temperate weather: Residents dodge both the sweltering summer heat of Florida and the snowy winters of the north.
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Last updated February 19 2009: 1:12 PM ET