Raleigh Memory Care: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask
With it’s warm climate and friendly atmosphere, North Carolina is a popular place for seniors. Locals enjoy 34 state parks and 14 national parks including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. North Carolina is a beautiful location for those looking at assisted living services. Memory Care facilities in Raleigh could accept State Medicaid, private payers, and long-term care insurance which helps to relieve the financial burden of senior care, and could be more cost effective than home care.
About Memory Care in Raleigh
For an individual who requires physical or cognitive care, providing home care can be difficult and costly. Assisted living communities do an incredible job filling that need. Levels of senior care range from minimal, such as providing meals and housing, to advanced care, such as mobility assistance and medication administration. Assisted living facilities provide individualized health management in a comfortable setting and focus on maintaining independence, privacy, and dignity. Adult care homes relieve the burden of home caregivers and offer seniors a more enriching quality of life.
Considerations When Looking for Memory Care in Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina and has a population of around 500,000 residents. Locals enjoy fine dining, parks, museums, the theater, and university events. Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University and is part of the Research Triangle together with Durham (Duke University) and North Carolina Central University. Locals enjoy golfing and biking on the many bike trails. These features and more have led to Raleigh becoming a preferred location for senior citizens to retire, so the need for senior care in Raleigh is significant.
Memory Care Communities near Raleigh, North Carolina
Zebulon House
Zebulon, North Carolina 27597
Woodland Terrace
Cary, North Carolina 27511
Waltonwood Cary Parkway
Cary, North Carolina 27511
Waltonwood Lake Boone
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Wake Assisted Living
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
The Covington
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612
The Addison Of Fuquay-varina
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina 27526
The Addison Of Knightdale
Knightdale, North Carolina 27545
The Addison Of Durham
Durham, North Carolina 27707
Sunrise Of Cary
Cary, North Carolina 27513
Cities Near Raleigh
- Pirates Cove, NC.
- Wimbledon, NC.
- Garner Mobile Estates, NC.
- Sendero, NC.
- Pickwick Village, NC.
- Northclift, NC.
- Dunhaven by the Lake, NC.
- Ridgeloch, NC.
The Cost of Memory Care in Raleigh
The average cost per month in North Carolina is $4,050. Costs will vary because of the level of care a resident requires, and additional amenities, as well as the city in which you find a community or facility. Benefits of assisted living are being able to provide health services to those who may need assistance with the activities of daily living. Demand is on the rise, and so too is the cost of assisted living facilities. Accordingly, costs have risen an average of 4.65% since 2020, and the national average for a private, one-bedroom with round the clock care was reported to be $54,000 annually in 2021.
North Carolina state average: $4,050
Raliegh: $5,400
Wilimington: $5,300
Fayetteville: $3,000
Charlotte: $4,450
Winston-Salem: $5,000
You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.
The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.
Medicare – NO:
- Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
- People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
- Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.
Private pay – YES:
- Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
- Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
- Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.
Medicaid – MAYBE:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
- Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
- Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
- National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
- The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
- If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.
Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:
Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.
- Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.
Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:
This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.
- There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
- A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
- If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.
Questions to Ask
Finding an assisted living community can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:
- Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting what is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
- Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
- Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
- Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
- Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
- And finally (along with a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the Executive Director, Head Nurse, Lead Activities Director and even the Chef or Janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.
Local Hospital and Healthcare Providers in Raleigh
Duke Raleigh Hospital
3400 Wake Forest Rd
(919) 954-3000
Medicare/Medicaid accepted
WakeMed Raleigh Campus
3000 New Bern Ave
Open 24 hours · (919) 350-8000
Medicare/Medicaid accepted
UNC REX Hospital
4420 Lake Boone Trail
Open 24 hours · (919) 784-3100
Medicare/Medicaid accepted
WakeMed North Hospital
10000 Falls of Neuse Rd
Open 24 hours · (919) 350-8000
Medicare/Medicaid accepted
Local Resources and Links
Centralina Area Agency on Aging Centralina AAA serves as the lead funder for aging services in the nine county region surrounding Charlotte, NC. Direct services also include evidence-based health programs and training and education.
North Carolina Division on Aging and Adult Services The Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) works to promote independence and enhance the dignity of North Carolina’s older adults, persons with disabilities, and their families through a community-based system of opportunities, services, benefits, and protections- to ready younger generations to enjoy their later years- and to help society and government plan and prepare for the changing demographics.
The NC Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) answers questions and counsels Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug plans, long-term care insurance and other health insurance concerns. The counselors on our toll free line offers free and unbiased counseling on Medicare health care products. The North Carolina SMP Program provides assistance with Medicare/Medicaid billing errors, fraud and abuse.
Senior Legal Helpline Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Senior Law Project provides free civil legal help to North Carolinians who are 60 years of age or older. Priority is given to those with the greatest need. The Senior Law Project helps with wills, powers of attorney, public benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income Program, Social Security Disability Insurance, etc.), abuse and neglect, unemployment compensation, housing (foreclosure, eviction, subsidized housing, repairs, utilities, etc.), consumer issues and wrongful repossession.
Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
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