
Whether you prefer laid-back beach towns, mountain hikes, or something in between, North Carolina has something to offer — and that’s what makes it an ideal retirement destination. The Outer Banks region along the state’s eastern coast is a popular tourist spot, featuring lighthouses, beaches, and countless other aquatic activities. It’s also home to Kitty Hawk, the seaside town where the Wright brothers made their historic first airplane flight. Then, on North Carolina’s western edge is where the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains run through the state. Peppered throughout all of North Carolina are small yet vibrant college towns like Asheville and Chapel Hill, along with larger metropolitan areas like Charlotte. Add mild weather and low property taxes to the mix, and it’s clear why the Tar Heel State has one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States.
Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 270 senior living communities in North Carolina that provide memory care.
The median monthly cost of memory care in North Carolina is about $5,500.

My father loves the facility and employees. My sister said the rooms are clean. The only problem was the 12 month wait. I understand most of that is out of your hands, but we were scrambling towards the end...
I would give a 5 but on the food I have been disappointed. Everything is on target but would love to see the memory care patients get better food like the assistant living group
They truly care about their residents and have been good about our concerns about our family member. They have also been supportive of our mother and reassuring of fears and concerns.
Dining room has been closed off and on due to staffing issues. Activities offered include bingo, holiday parties, etc. They had a price raise of 10% since the beginning of 2022. That was a large increase....
1. I had a good experience. All the staff was very kind and good to my sister(2) facility is is very clean. I was very impressed.(3) like I said the stuff was very, very friendly always smile.(4) I think...
Some of the staff members in Memory Care were friendly and others definitely were not. Food typically looked good. Very clean overall.
They have been great to work with. There have been a few mishaps but they are quick to acknowledge and correct. Friendly and helpful. Good care for Mom. I would recommend to others. Nothing more to add just...
Overall has been good. Bright spot is the care/staff and resident feedback All seem very helpful, skilled and friendly. Parents like most staff there. Also they are quick to respond to providing services...
The staff was very good and very attentive to my mother. Even times when I went at different times than my usual they were with her someone was. When she passed away I had just had open shoulder surgery so I...
I found Carolina Reserve to be bright, the walls are a warm color with white trim throughout, this highlights both cleanliness and care. The air smells clean everywhere. The staff is not only courteous and...
What we like the most about the community is that the staff are very nice and they do a lot of activities for the residents there. Yes, we would recommend Seasons at Southpoint to other families
The staff was great. For the short time that Dad was there, they made him feel like he was Home. Cleanliness was the best out of every facility I have ever been in. The place was always buzzing with...
My mother fell 3 times!! Had met with staff and executive director after the first fall. The first fall should not have happened. Not enough staff to care about the patients. Meet with caretakers on why...
We visited Brighton Gardens a couple of times as we explored options for my mom. The staff (including sales, consierge, activities director, nurse, and executive director) were very helpful, patiently...
At PruittPlace, her room has been kept clean and tidy. Her medications have been administered according to schedule. She receives help with showers twice a week, and at first there were some problems getting...
North Carolina memory care communities can be stand-alone facilities or a special care unit (SCU) that shares a campus or building with another senior care facilities. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) licenses memory care facilities as adult care homes (ACH) and regulates them through the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR). There are two types of ACH which are determined by the size of the facility. Family care homes serve 2-6 residents whereas a larger ACH is licensed for seven or more residents.[01]
Any facility serving residents living with dementia must be approved by the state to provide that care and have a license that indicates the number of beds reserved for dementia care. Memory care facilities must also follow specific staffing and facility requirements that include the following:[02]
In addition to memory care-specific requirements, facilities must provide standard ACH services and licensing regulations:[02]
Our Overview of Assisted Living in North Carolina provides additional information about adult care home regulations.
State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.
Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Licensed adult care homes are inspected by the DHSR annually. Social service departments in a facility’s county monitor adult care homes quarterly and investigate complaints. Individual counties with adult care homes have a county-run advisory committee that promotes community involvement and works with facilities to help provide quality care.
While researching facilities for a loved one, the Department of Health and Human Services provides an updated list of licensed adult care facilities with special care units for individuals with dementia. Information can be found on the Adult Care Licensure Section page. Under the Facility Listings click on the “Facilities with Special Care Units” link and scroll until you find the facility you are searching for.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
101 Blair Drive
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 888-893-1162
Licensing of Family Care Homes, N.C. Administrative Code § 10A NCAC 13G. (1977 & rev. 2022).
Licensing of Adult Care Homes of Seven or More Beds, N.C. Administrative Code § 10A NCAC 13F. (1977 & rev. 2022).
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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