Assisted Living in North Carolina: What Does It Cost and Why?

What Does It Cost?

According to Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Study, the median cost of a private, one-bedroom accommodation in an assisted living facility in North Carolina is $3,800. This comes to about $45,600 annually. This rate is lower than average for the United States, with the country’s monthly median rate coming in at $4,300. However, this price does vary around the state. The median monthly rate for one bedroom in an assisted living facility in Durham, for example, is $4,050, which is one of the highest median rates in the state. However, in Jacksonville, the monthly median rate is only $2,675.

What Do You Get?

Assisted living in North Carolina means facilities that provide individualized care to residents who need help with daily living like help with medication, bathing, dressing, and other daily needs, but who don’t require constant skilled medical care. Most assisted living residents are in their mid-80’s, which is the fastest growing segment of the country’s population – those people 85 and older.

Living facilities also strive to provide home-like accommodations. Residents can expect three meals a day, transportation, and access to campus amenities and activities, which vary by facility. Some communities may offer specialized services like Alzheimer’s care or other memory care services.

What Determines Your Cost?

The cost of assisted living in North Carolina is affected by location of the community and the services and amenities offered. In the state, on average, the more expensive facilities are in the larger cities, especially in the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill). The median monthly rate for a room in an assisted living facility in Raleigh is $4,800, which is quite a bit higher than the statewide median rate of $3,800. Some communities in the area charge up to $7,000. In the much smaller city of Goldsboro, in Wayne County, however, the median monthly rate is only $3,673.

The amenities offered by different facilities will also affect the cost. For example, some communities set themselves apart by offering larger rooms and more appealing common areas – living rooms with fireplaces and fresh flowers, for example. Other facilities feature amenities like on-site arts and crafts studios, flexible dining options, and upscale, gated grounds. You may also pay more for facilities that offer more medical services. Facilities that employ more medical staff like RNs; or feature specialized care like memory care; will probably have a higher price tag. 

How Do You Make Your Choice?

The only way to find out which assisted living facility is the best fit for you or your loved one? Visit the community. In fact, it’s best to visit several communities so you can compare the atmosphere and services provided. Researching communities online is a great start, and so is talking to directors and representatives on the phone. But you can’t know if a facility is really the right one for you unless you tour the community. It’s a good idea to visit more than once. Do it at different times during the day, so you can really get a good feel for the community.

Find out more about assisted living here!