Memory Care in North Carolina

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.

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]

• There must be one staff member for every eight residents during day shifts.
• A care coordinator must be present eight hours a day, five days per week.
• Staff must have six hours of dementia-specific orientation within their first week of employment. After six months of employment, staff must have at least 20 hours of dementia-specific training.
• Facilities are required to have secure outdoor access for residents.
• Facilities must have locking doors or monitoring devices to discourage elopement.

In addition to memory care-specific requirements, facilities must provide standard ACH services and licensing regulations:^[02]

• Facilities must have proper staffing ratios which includes an administrator on duty at all times in addition to a staff activity director.
• Residents must be assessed within 72 hours of admission.
• A separate functional assessment to determine a resident’s level of functioning must be performed within 30 days of admission.
• Facilities must provide three meals and three snacks each day.

Our Overview of Assisted Living in North Carolina provides additional information about adult care home regulations.

North Carolina memory care violations and licensing information

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 contact information

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
101 Blair Drive
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 888-893-1162