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An estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's in 2020 and the disease was the sixth leading cause of death in the nation. It was also ranked sixth in North Carolina, where there were 4,495 deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. North Carolina has seen a 160.6% increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000. Approximately 180,000 North Carolinians aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s in 2020, but an expected increase of 16.7% means this number is projected to reach 210,000 by 2025.
Alzheimer’s disease tends to develop slowly but gets progressively worse. As symptoms worsen, it often becomes impossible for individuals with Alzheimer’s to continue living at home. For individuals requiring a higher level of care and supervision than traditional assisted living offers, memory care can be an ideal solution. Memory care provides a safe, structured environment with secure, homelike accommodations where residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementias receive 24-hour supervision. Caregivers provide meals, personal care and individualized activities designed to improve cognitive function and engagement. The cost of memory care in North Carolina is $5,000, which is marginally lower than the U.S. average of $5,064.
This guide provides helpful details on memory care in North Carolina, including the average cost of memory care in the state and popular cities. It also provides information about financial assistance programs, governmental regulations for memory care facilities and free memory care resources available statewide.
North Carolina received a SeniorScore of 72%, which is equal to the national average. SeniorScore is calculated by analyzing over 100 data points from various unbiased private and government sources to create a livability index specifically geared towards seniors. The objective is to compare locations for older adults based on four unique categories, which include Recreation and Leisure, Finances, Health and Safety and General Quality of Life.
North Carolina received its highest score of 69 in General Quality of Life, despite a relatively high amount of rainfall at an average of 49.1 inches annually. However, its score was helped by an average population density and mild year-round temperature, including an average high of 69.9 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low above freezing at 46.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The state received a score of 64 in Finances due in part to an average overall cost of living and significantly lower property taxes, which were 2.07% compared to the national average of 2.79%. Assisted living costs were also lower than the national average and nursing home costs, home healthcare and adult day care were all significantly lower.
The state rated a relatively low score of 61 for Recreation and Leisure, despite having a high number of municipal parks and 551 golf courses in the state. North Carolina received its lowest score of 60 in Health and Safety likely due to the negative impact of the high overall property and violent crime rates. However, the state still boasts ample access to Medicare registered healthcare providers and numerous senior living facilities and healthcare providers. While these are all good points for the 16.7% of North Carolina’s nearly 10.5 million residents aged 65 or older, the average life expectancy in the state is 77.8 compared to the national average of 78.6.
Lake Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 120 room nursing care facility situated in Indian Trail, North Carolina. The surrounding area is densely populated, with around 33,000 residents in the 28079 zip code. With an average per-household ...
Located at 493 Piney Ridge Rd, Brookdale Forest City is a senior housing community in Forest City, North Carolina. With approximately 22,000 poeple living in the zip code of 28043, the encompassing area has a dense population. It ...
Peak Resources - Alamance is a 120 bed senior care community situated in Graham, North Carolina. With an average household income of $46,732, the facility is in a primarily middle income area. It has a dense population, with ...
Sunrise of Cary is a senior housing facility located at 1206 Chatham St in Cary, North Carolina. The encompassing area is densely populated, with about 42,000 individuals residing in the 27513 zip code. With a median household income ...
Universal Health Care-North Raleigh is located around the Northeast Raleigh area of Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a 112 unit nursing home facility. The community is in a mostly middle class area, with a median household income of ...
Located at 2778 Country Club Dr in Hampstead, North Carolina, Woodbury Wellness Center is a 112 unit senior housing community. The surrounding area has an average population density, with approximately 19,000 residents in the 28443 zip code. It ...
Pruitthealth-Raleigh is situated within the Southwest Raleigh area of Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a 150 unit nursing home facility. With a median per-family income of $54,525, the community is in a predominantly middle income area. It ...
Located at 6590 Tryon Rd in Cary, North Carolina, Cary Health and Rehabilitation is a 120 bed skilled nursing facility. With an average family income of $113,559, the facility is in a primarily upscale area. It has an ...
Five Oaks Manor is located at 413 Winecoff School Rd in Concord, North Carolina. It is a 160 room senior community. With a median per-household income of $61,136, the facility is in a predominantly middle class area. ...
Maple Grove Health and Rehabilitation Center is located at 308 West Meadowview Rd in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is a 210 unit skilled nursing facility. With approximately 57,000 people residing in the zip code of 27406, the neighboring ...
Situated in the Shannon Park area of Charlotte, North Carolina, Aldersgate is a 105 bed senior housing community. The encompassing area is densely populated, with around 55,000 residents in the 28215 zip code. With a median per-family income ...
Located at 707 North Elm St in High Point, North Carolina, Meridian Center is a 199 room senior care facility. The encompassing area has a dense population, with approximately 25,000 poeple living in the zip code of 27262. ...
Sanford Health and Rehabilitation is located at 2702 Farrell Rd in Sanford, North Carolina. It is a 131 bed skilled nursing facility. With around 39,000 residents in the 27330 zip code, the surrounding area is heavily populated. ...
Golden Living Center - Tarboro is located at 1000 Western Blvd in Tarboro, North Carolina. It is a 159 bed senior housing community. The facility is in a generally middle income area, with an average per-family income of ...
Located at 13825 Hunton Ln in Huntersville, North Carolina, Olde Knox Commons at The Villages of Mecklenburg is a 114 bed senior care facility. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with about 53,000 people residing in the 28078 zip ...
White Oak Of Waxhaw is a 100 room senior community. It is located at 700 Howie Mine Rd in Waxhaw, North Carolina. The neighboring area is densely populated, with about 46,000 individuals living in the zip code of ...
Brookridge Retirement Community is a 40 unit senior community. It is situated within the Brookridge neighborhood of Winston Salem, North Carolina. The community is in a primarily middle class area, with an average per-family income of $57,245. ...
Pruitthealth-Durham is a 125 unit nursing care facility. It is located at 3100 Erwin Rd in Durham, North Carolina. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with around 47,000 people residing in the zip code of 27705. With ...
Located at 631 Junction Creek Dr in Wilmington, North Carolina, Trinity Grove is a 100 room senior care community. The neighboring area is densely populated, with around 37,000 residents in the zip code of 28412. With an average ...
Village Care of King is a 96 unit senior care community. It is located at 440 Ingram Road Ext Box 1750 in King, North Carolina. The encompassing area has an average population density, with roughly 19,000 individuals residing ...
Memory care in North Carolina is provided in a special care unit within adult care homes, which are a type of assisted living residence. Due to specialized training and additional resources required to provide enhanced security and appropriate support services for Alzheimer's residents, memory care costs are usually higher than other types of residential care. Rates are typically 20% to 30% higher than the cost for standard assisted living care, so the memory care costs provided below were estimated by adding 25% to the assisted living costs reported in the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey.
The cost of memory care in North Carolina is approximately $5,000, which is $64 lower than the U.S. average of $5,064. Compared to surrounding states, memory care costs in North Carolina are $1,000 less than those of Virginia in the north, which has an estimated cost of $6,000. However, it’s higher than in other neighboring states. While it’s only $125 higher than Tennessee’s estimated cost of $4,875, North Carolina is much higher than both South Carolina at $4,375 and Georgia at $4,169.
The Cost of Memory Care in North Carolina’s Top Cities
While Charlotte is the largest North Carolina city by population, memory care costs are lower than many other smaller cities. However, with an estimated cost of $5,729, it’s still more than $700 higher than the state average. Raleigh is the second-largest city with more than 400,000 fewer residents, but its memory care costs are much higher at $6,656. Durham, which has a population a third the size of Charlotte, is higher still at $6,954. Thrifty seniors seeking costs lower than the state average may want to look at Greensboro and Fayetteville, where they’ll find estimated memory care costs of $4,561 and $3,991, respectively.
Senior Care Cost Comparison in North Carolina
North Carolina’s memory care cost is an estimated $5,000 per month, making it $1,000 higher than standard assisted living care at $4,000. However, it’s less than nursing home care, which is the most expensive type of residential care with an average monthly cost of $7,057. In-home care and home health care both come in lower at $3,813 per month for each, but the specialized services provided in memory care facilities create a cost-effective alternative. Adult day care is the least expensive senior care option by far at $1,170, but this option is only suitable for seniors who have a mild cognitive impairment and don’t require constant supervision.
Special Assistance Adult Care Home Program
Address: 693 Palmer Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone Number: (919) 855-3400
Website: ncdhhs.gov/assistance/adult-services/state-county-special-assistance
The Special Assistance Adult Care Home Program helps pay for an adult care home special dementia unit, as long as the facility is licensed by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation and the applicant meets all special assistance eligibility requirements. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, a resident of North Carolina, meet income and asset requirements and require an adult care home level of care. This program pays a cash supplement to low-income individuals to help cover room and board in residential facilities with a different rate of assistance for recipients residing in special care units. Those interested in applying can do so at their county department of social services.
State Plan Personal Care Services
Phone Number: (919) 855-4360
Website: files.nc.gov/ncdma/documents/files/3L_6.pdf
State Plan Personal Care Services is a health assistance program for qualified NC Medicaid or Health Choice beneficiaries who can’t perform certain personal care tasks due to a physical disability, cognitive impairment or chronic health condition. Personal care services involve assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and mobility. Services are provided by paraprofessional aides employed by licensed home care agencies, home staff in licensed supervised living homes or licensed adult care homes. This program can also cover medication assistance when it’s delivered in an adult care home.
Adult care homes in North Carolina are licensed by the state Division of Health Service Regulation under state rules and regulations and monitored by Adult Home Specialists within local Departments of Social Services. There are additional rules and regulations for adult care homes compared to standard assisted living facilities, especially those with special care units for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
Scope of Care | Adult care homes must provide three meals and three snacks daily and have sufficient staff for individual feeding assistance. They provide personal care services with services provided directly or through contracts. They may provide some health care services while licensed home care agencies provide health care services that unlicensed staff can’t perform. Adult care homes must provide 24-hour staff monitoring and supervision, activities, transportation and housekeeping services. Residents can obtain services from outside providers at their own expense. |
Care Plan Requirements | Prior to admission, adult care homes must evaluate potential residents to determine whether it’s appropriate they be placed in a special care unit. New residents must be assessed within 72 hours of admission with a functional assessment completed within 30 days of admission to determine functionality, including cognitive status, psychosocial well-being and level of assistance for activities of daily living. Within 30 days of admission, the facility must complete a care plan that details an individualized program of personal care with the type of care or service provided and frequency of provision, plus any additional costs for special care. |
Medication Management Requirements | Residents may self-administer medications if they’re competent and physically capable of doing so with specific instructions written on the medication label. Medications may also be administered by trained staff called medication aides. These aides must score 90% or better on the written state examination within 90 days of completing the clinical skills validation portion of the state’s competency evaluation as validated by a registered nurse. Medication aides must also complete six hours of continuing education relating to medication administration each year. |
Staff Screening Requirements | All licensed facilities must perform a criminal background check on all employees and confirm that they don’t have any listed abuse or neglect on the North Carolina Health Care Personnel Registry. |
Staff Training Requirements | Staff who provide direct personal care must complete an 80-hour state-established personal care training and competency evaluation program. Dementia staff training includes 20 hours of population-specific training by the administrator before establishing the special care unit. Staff must complete six hours of orientation about residents’ needs within the first week of employment and 20 hours of population-specific training within six months of employment. |
Medicaid Coverage | North Carolina Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of room and board, but the state Medicaid plan does offer State Plan Personal Care Services. PCS provides personal care services to individuals residing in a residential facility licensed as an adult care home. |
Reporting Abuse | Abuse should be reported to the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman at 919-855-3400 and/or the closest Office of the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman. |
Alzheimer’s Association: Western Carolina Chapter and Eastern North Carolina Chapter
Alzheimer’s Association has two chapters in North Carolina providing education, training and support to everyone facing Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout the state, including those living with the disease, their families, caregivers and health care professionals. The Eastern North Carolina Chapter serves 51 eastern counties and the Western Carolina Chapter serves 49 central and western counties. Both chapters regularly offer free support groups led by qualified staff and volunteers, online and in-person education programs for the general public and a 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for information and support.
Project C.A.R.E., which stands for Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty, is the only dementia support program funded by the state for individuals who provide direct care to loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Services include dementia-specific information, care consultation, counseling, caregiver education and assessments, respite care and connections to social support networks for persons with dementia and their caregivers. Project C.A.R.E. also connects families with community resources to fulfill the unmet needs of unpaid family caregivers, including support groups, entitlement programs and supportive services. For more information, contact the State Project C.A.R.E. Director at 919-855-3462.
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina assists individuals recently diagnosed with dementia or experiencing a decline in cognition through local support services, educational resources and guidance navigating the disease. It also provides one-time respite services to caregivers through its Dementia Caregiver Assistance Program. Caregivers can take advantage of various workshops and families can seek daily support through phone and in-office counseling, resource referrals and support groups.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Address: 101 Blair Drive, Raleigh NC 27603
Phone Number: (888) 892-1162
Website: ncdhhs.gov/divisions/daas
NCDHHS’ Division of Aging and Adult Services works with older adults through community-based benefits, services and protections. Its Adult Placement Services help aging or disabled adults find appropriate living and health care arrangements when their health and safety can no longer be maintained at home. Options Counseling provides guidance to make informed decisions about long-term services and supports. DAAS also operates the Family Caregiver Support Program open to family caregivers caring for an older adult aged 60 or over or someone with Alzheimer’s or a related brain disorder. Services in this program include support groups, individual counseling, respite care, limited supplemental services and training in nutrition, health and financial literacy.
North Carolina’s Area Agencies on Aging facilitate and support programs that address the needs of older adults from its 16 regional offices through various programs, including the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and Senior Medicare Patrol Program. The AAA also operates the Family Caregiver Support Program, which provides information, referrals and assistance accessing services, plus confidential counseling, training and support groups.
North Carolina’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has qualified benefits specialists in 12 offices throughout the state with services provided free of charge to veterans, current military personnel and their families. State Service Centers and County Veterans Service Offices offer personal assistance or individuals can access federal, state and local veterans’ programs, referral services and entitlements online 24/7.
The North Carolina Area Office of the Social Security Administration comprises all the cities in the state. North Carolina residents receiving Supplemental Security Income can qualify for additional state funding provided to all aged, blind and disabled adults living in adult care homes. Payments are made under the State/County Special Assistance program, but income exclusions and Federal SSI regulations apply.
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