10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Wilmington, NC
As one of North Carolina’s riverfront cities, Wilmington provides a variety of gorgeous scenery as well as eye-catching historic homes. Seniors can take advantage of the easy walking paths on the Cape Fear River Boardwalk, or visit the beaches of neighboring cities. With temperate weather year-round, Wilmington is a comfortable place to retire.
A Place for Mom partners with several assisted living communities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Wilmington area. Staff at assisted living communities offer seniors assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. The community environment also provides social activities, and facilities are designed with senior-friendly amenities to promote independence whenever possible.
In this guide to assisted living in Wilmington, you’ll find information on each of our partner communities in the area. You’ll also find helpful information about the cost of assisted living in Wilmington, ways to pay for care, and local assisted living regulations. We’ve also included details on what it’s like to retire in Wilmington, with information on health care, transportation options, and activities that seniors can enjoy in the area.
Wilmington Assisted Living Facilities | 97 Reviews
We moved here and brought mom from another memory care unit. The administration and care staff have been very attentive to mom’s needs. The facility is clean and inviting. When we visit there have been some...
The facility is lovely and clean. Artwork, decor, landscaping outside and courtyard beautifully maintained. Dining area with staff presentation very nice, professional. Food choices tasty and plentiful with...
New Hanover House has been a wonderful transition from Independent Living to Assisted Living. The price is the best we have found in Wilmington with no levels of care increases. It is all inclusive with the...
New Hanover House has been a wonderful transition from Independent Living to Assisted Living. The price is the best we have found in Wilmington with no levels of care increases. It is all inclusive with the...
My mom has been at the Kempton for almost a year now. The staff have all been fantastic. Her level of care has fluctuated based on needs at the time. The activities are frequent and engaging. She has become...
This community is beautiful with lots of different amenities. The care team has been truly a light to my loved one. They are always making sure her needs are being met and making her feel comfortable in her...
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My mother was moved to Champions in April. After a bit of an adjustment period she has come to fit in well there. She has also begun to thrive. Her social interactions have increased, her general well...
We have lived here for 5+ years and believe they are some of the best years in our our 60 years of marriage. Our food service brought to our apt. door each day is varied and delicious. During this pandemic...
Our methodology
How we rank order the Wilmington community options above
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Wilmington community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
- Proximity to your search location
- Availability of recent, high-quality reviews
- The amount of detailed community information available
Where we source our information
14,000+ communities
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
350,000+ reviews
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
- Costs of assisted living in the Wilmington area
- What families are saying about assisted living in Wilmington
- How people pay for assisted living in Wilmington
- Understand North Carolina laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
- Get to know assisted living in Wilmington, NC
- Care and amenities in assisted living in Wilmington, NC
- Wilmington assisted living services and amenities
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Wilmington, NC? Highlights for seniors
Costs of assisted living in the Wilmington area
The average cost of living in an assisted living apartment in the Wilmington area is $5,246 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.[01] This number reflects the actual monthly costs paid by seniors we’ve referred in Wilmington, including their chosen add-ons and services.
Within our partner communities, the following services and amenities are typically included in the monthly base cost:
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLS) such as bathing and dressing
- Meals and snacks
- Some transportation
- Housekeeping and laundry or linens
- Access to on-site amenities such as a game room, movie room, courtyard, or walking paths
- Medication reminders
- Community activities, such as devotional activities, fitness classes, and parties
- Maintenance and landscaping
Many partner communities in Wilmington offer additional services and amenities, but these may cost extra. These may include the following:
- Pet rent and care
- Beautician or barber services
- Resident parking
- Guest meals
- Room service
- Advanced care services
The following figures illustrate the baseline costs of assisted living communities in the greater Wilmington area. These amounts don’t reflect any additional services or care fees.
Average monthly cost of Assisted Living in Wilmington, NC vs. nearby cities
Average monthly cost of Assisted Living in Wilmington, NC vs. the state and national average
Average monthly cost of Assisted Living in Wilmington vs. other types of senior living
Median monthly costs of Assisted Living in Wilmington, NC by room type
Average cost of Assisted Living in Wilmington over time
What families are saying about assisted living in Wilmington
Recent reviews for assisted living in Wilmington
Stonebridge at Woodbury Assisted Living and Memory Care in Hampstead, NC
Porters Neck Village in Wilmington, NC
The Kempton At Brightmore in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington review score based on 40 family reviews
This proprietary review score is based on 40 reviews of 12 Wilmington assisted living communities. All reviews were submitted in the past two years by verified community residents and family members.Wilmington review score compared against nearby cities
Review subcategories for Wilmington assisted living
When assisted living residents and family members submit a review on our site, they rate each community on categories such as cleanliness, activities, meals, and more. The chart below is based on 40 reviews of 12 Wilmington assisted living communities. This chart helps you compare Wilmington resident and family assisted living satisfaction rates against national averages. Use it to assess your needs and develop criteria for your own search. If you know that one of these categories is important to you or your loved one, our senior living advisors can help you find communities to match your needs.How people pay for assisted living in Wilmington
When deciding how to pay for care, many seniors and their families use a variety of income sources. To cover the cost of assisted living in Wilmington, seniors often draw from their retirement income, other savings, and private or public health care insurance.
In this section you’ll find information on the various ways your loved one can use personal funds and public programs to offset their costs of care. We’ve researched the Wilmington area to provide information on local senior health care programs. We outline many public programs, from veterans benefits to Medicare and Medicaid, that help seniors cover assisted living expenses.
Many families begin with private pay options when deciding how to pay for assisted living. Private pay options are any personal asset, including personal savings and retirement pensions.
Seniors may be able to stretch their budget a little farther since North Carolina doesn’t tax Social Security benefits or railroad retirement benefits.[02] Depending on your loved one’s situation, they may have additional sources to draw from, including the following:
Number of veterans who live in Wilmington, NC
50 percent of Wilmington veterans are 65 or older
Senior veterans and their spouses may be eligible for benefits that can help them offset their monthly costs at an assisted living community in Wilmington. Out of all the available benefits, one of the most generous is the Aid and Attendance benefit. This can be added to an existing VA Pension, and the funds can be put toward anything that improves the recipient’s quality of life, including assisted living care.
If you think your loved one may be eligible for veterans benefits, it’s best to reach out to a benefits counselor. We recommend finding them through a VA-vetted, nonprofit veterans service organization (VSO). Benefits counselors at a VSO can guide your loved one through the application process and help them apply for any benefit they may be eligible for.
You can find Wilmington VSOs in the resources section below. Contact information for the New Hanover County Veteran Services office, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Association for Black Veterans, and the American Legion is provided.
Resources for Wilmington, NC veterans
New Hanover County Veteran Services
1650 Greenfield St.
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: 910-798-7611
Fax: 910-798-7836
702 Pine Grove Dr.
Wilmington, NC 28409
Phone: 910-799-3806
Email: commander@nclegion10.org
National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) Wilmington Chapter
708 Chestnut St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 910-264-5258
Email: redtigerc1@att.net
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2573
American Legion Post 10
702 Pine Grove Dr.
Wilmington, NC, 28409
Phone: 910-264-6936
Email: VFWPost2573@yahoo.com
Medicaid is a public health insurance program for low-income individuals, and is jointly administered by federal and state governments. The North Carolina Medicaid Program is operated through the Division of Health Service Regulations. While Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of room and board in an assisted living community, it can help offset the costs of assisted living by paying for certain care services.
North Carolina Medicaid may cover the following health care services:[04]
- Doctors, health departments, and rural health clinic visits
- Laboratory and radiology testing
- Inpatient hospital care
- Outpatient physical and rehabilitative therapy
- Prescription medications
- Home health services
- Medical equipment
- Laboratory testing
- Vision
- Hearing
- Dentistry
- Podiatry
North Carolina Medicaid offers several programs and services for long-term care, including the option to receive care in an adult care home. In North Carolina, adult care homes are licensed as assisted living facilities that provide care for two to six people.[05] Other assisted living options are available under North Carolina Medicaid, but require a waiver.
North Carolina offers some home and community based services (HCBS) waivers that seniors can apply for. Note, though, that many waivers have a waiting period before seniors can enroll due to limited availability.
Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a waiver program that has been offered in North Carolina since 2018. It offers a way to help seniors receive care in their own home or a community of their choice, instead.[06] Eligible seniors can print and fill out this application for a MFP waiver. Applications can be faxed to 919-882-1664 or emailed to mfpinfo@ddhs.nc.gov.
Another way for seniors to receive care at home or in a community is through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). PACE provides comprehensive care for eligible seniors who live within a PACE service area. Seniors can enroll in PACE through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. The New Hanover County is served by the Elderhaus PACE organization.
Seniors will need to meet certain PACE eligibility and enrollment requirements to receive care through this program. These requirements include being either a Medicare, Medicaid, or privately insured individual, as well as the following:
- Having funds to use for private pay
- Being at least 55 years old
- Requiring a nursing home level of care as defined by North Carolina Medicaid
- Being able to live safely in their chosen community with assistance from the PACE program
Below is helpful information for several local resources, including the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging, Cape Fear regional long-term care ombudsman, New Hanover County of Health and Human Services office, and information on North Carolina Medicaid eligibility. These offices can help you understand and access the North Carolina Medicaid programs available in Wilmington.
Wilmington resident Medicaid resources
Cape Fear Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Phone: 910-274-0344 / 910-274-0350
Email: jbrunsink@capefearcog.org or hblackwelder@capefearcog.org
New Hanover County Health and Human Services
1650 Greenfield St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 910-798-3500
Medicare is federal health insurance and is the most common insurer of seniors over 65. Medicare helps pay for many medical expenses, but contrary to what many think, it doesn’t pay for assisted living.
While assisted living provides needed support, Medicare only covers medically necessary costs, as determined by your loved one’s doctor and Medicare. It never pays for the cost of room and board in assisted living communities. If you’re questioning whether a certain medical care expense is covered, you can look for it using the Medicare coverage tool.
Wilmington seniors can use North Carolina’s Medicare savings programs for assistance with their Medicare premiums. Eligible seniors may be able to take advantage of these five programs:[07]
- The Extra Help program offers assistance in paying for Medicare prescription drugs.
- The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program helps pay for Part A and B premiums, while also preventing providers from billing seniors for services covered by Medicare. Part A premiums include inpatient care, while Part B premiums include outpatient care, doctor visits, and preventive care.
- The Qualified Individual (QI) program helps pay for Part B premiums, with applications granted as space in the program permits.
- The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program helps cover some Part B premiums.
- The Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) program helps pay for Part A premiums for seniors who have a disability and are still working.
Additionally, Wilmington seniors may be able to have some of their care needs provided by PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Wilmington’s PACE center is called Elderhaus, and seniors enrolled in PACE can receive care services at the PACE center. This may help reduce an assisted living bill since the community wouldn’t be providing care while the resident is at the PACE center.
With many Medicare savings programs available, your loved one may benefit from benefits counseling. Consider reaching out to the Medicare and Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) to speak to a benefits counselor. They can offer guidance and assistance to help you and your loved one understand their Medicare benefits.
You can also find additional assistance by visiting the Medicare website or consult the Cape Fear long-term care ombudsman. They can help you find and access care services and a Medicare beneficiary residing in assisted living.
Wilmington resident Medicare resources
Cape Fear regional long-term care ombudsman
Phone: 910-274-0344 / 910-274-0350
Email: jbrunsink@capefearcog.org or hblackwelder@capefearcog.org
1528 S. 16th St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 1866-964-6227
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m – 4 p.m.
Understand North Carolina laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
In North Carolina, assisted living communities are licensed as Assisted Living Residences. Assisted Living Residences includes two categories: Adult Care Homes and Multi-unit Assisted Housing with Services Facilities. Assisted Living Residences are licensed through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation.[08]
To keep a license, facilities have to maintain current sanitation and fire and building safety inspection reports. Facilities must be inspected every 24 months.[08]
If you’re concerned about a community’s license, or simply want to research a community, North Carolina is fairly transparent with its inspection reports.
- The North Carolina Adult Care Licensure Section tool makes it easy to search by county, city, or community name. You can find not only routine inspection reports, but star ratings for a community based on annual inspections, follow-up inspections, and construction inspections.
- The Listing of Facilities with Penalties report for North Carolina makes it easy to find facilities with violations within the past three years. You’ll see the name of facilities with violations, inspection date, and the rules areas cited on the spreadsheet. Clicking the inspection date will take you to a more detailed report for that penalty.
In North Carolina, an initial assessment must be conducted for new residents within 72 hours of moving into the community. Additional assessments to determine care needs need to be conducted 30 days after moving in, then conducted annually.[08]
Care assessments are done to help determine an appropriate level of care for each resident. Assisted living residences assess the following in a new resident to create a care plan:[08]
- Psychosocial well-being
- Cognitive status
- Physical functioning in regard to activities of daily living (ADLs)
To best serve residents of assisted living residences, North Carolina has included guidance on how the staff in these communities should be trained. Staff of North Carolina assisted living facilities should meet the following guidelines:[08]
- Complete an 80-hour personal care training program
- Undergo a competency evaluation
- Complete assignments with supervision prior to completion of training
North Carolina Department of Health contact information
North Carolina Department of Health website
101 Blair Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 919-855-4800
COVID-19 regulations for Wilmington assisted living facilities
Wilmington doesn’t currently have COVID-19 regulations in place for its assisted living communities. North Carolina does provide guidance for administrators and staff of long-term care facilities on how to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak in the community. This guidance is in agreement with current CDC guidelines.[09]
Get to know assisted living in Wilmington, NC
Number of people we referred to our partner communities in 2022 – 2023
Average age of residents we referred to our partner assisted living communities in Wilmington, NC
Approximately 64% of residents in our assisted living partners in Wilmington, NC are female.
Care and amenities in assisted living in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC is an attractive place for seniors to retire. With a population of more than 115,000, riverfront views, and a historic register of homes, there are plenty of ways for seniors to enjoy themselves. Wilmington and the surrounding areas also offer many senior care options, including assisted living communities, to support the aging population.
Our partner communities consist mainly of larger assisted living communities. These larger facilities have private or semi-private apartments for residents, and planned activities and common areas. You’ll also see a couple of care homes, which provide assisted living in a more intimate setting. Care homes don’t have as large of a staff as assisted living facilities do, but they provide individualized care in a comfortable, homey setting.
A variety of senior care options support individual needs
When considering senior care options, you may find that communities offer one or more types of support. In Wilmington and the surrounding areas, it’s common to find communities that offer both assisted living and memory care.
In fact, 100% of our partner assisted living communities in the Wilmington area offer on-site memory care in addition to general assisted living services. This makes it easy for seniors in assisted living to stay in their chosen community should they ever experience memory loss. It also makes it possible for couples with different care needs to live on the same campus.
Care options are generally outlined as follows:
- Assisted living communities offer personal care or activities of daily living (ADL) assistance. This support will be individualized depending on a resident’s individual needs.
- Memory care communities offer ADL support, but also provide advanced care for seniors experiencing memory loss. Caregivers in these communities receive specialized memory care training to provide therapies and specialized care.
Assisted living activities and amenities in Wilmington and the surrounding suburbs
Assisted living communities in the Wilmington area offer a wide-range of on-site amenities and activities designed to keep seniors engaged.
Across our partner communities, some of the most common activities include:[01]
- On-site and off-site devotional activities
- Art classes
- Life-long learning opportunities
- Live Well programs
- Day trips
- Musical performances
- Live dance and theater performances
- Wine tasting
- Brain fitness
- Fitness classes, such as yoga and stretching
- Social events such as picnics, holiday parties, happy hours, and birthday celebrations
- Trivia and other games
- Pet programs
Our partner communities also offer several on-site amenities that make life more enjoyable. These amenities could include the following:[01]
- Beauty salons and barber shops
- Libraries and computer rooms
- Meeting rooms for clubs and events
- Arts and crafts rooms
- Movie theaters or TV lounges
- Pianos
On-site health care services in Wilmington assisted living communities
All of our partner assisted living communities in Wilmington offer on-site health care services. This makes it easy for seniors to receive the advanced care they need right at home. The majority of our partner communities provide the following types of medical services on-site:
- Doctor on call
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Podiatry services
Our partner communities also offer several on-site nursing services, including the following:
- Full medication management
- Bowel and urinary incontinence care
- Oxygen
- Diabetic care
- Catheter and colostomy care
- Injections
- IV care
- Feeding tubes
Wilmington assisted living services and amenities
Availability of select care services in Wilmington assisted living
Availability of select dementia care services in Wilmington assisted living
Availability of select dietary accommodations in Wilmington assisted living
Availability of select dining options in Wilmington assisted living
Availability of select programs and activities in Wilmington assisted living
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Unfamiliar with Wilmington, NC? Highlights for seniors
Number of seniors over the age of 65 living in Wilmington as of 2021
Percentage of seniors over the age of 65 who have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Wilmington as of 2021
Average annual retirement income of seniors over the age of 65 in Wilmington in 2021
Health care for seniors in Wilmington
Wilmington, NC is a relatively small city in New Hanover County, with one hospital. We’ve included details for the top two hospitals nearest Wilmington below.
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center offers a range of services that include cardiac care, oncology, and orthopedics. It also features an inpatient rehabilitation hospital that provides services such as amputee and prosthetic training, cancer rehabilitation, and neurologic rehabilitation.
Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
While this hospital is 20 miles from Wilmington, it’s a high performing hospital for hip replacement surgery according to U.S. News and World Reports.
Transportation for seniors in Wilmington
Seniors in Wilmington have several transportation options available to them, especially at our partner assisted living facilities. For seniors who prefer to drive themselves, all of our partner communities have resident parking available. Or, residents can take advantage of the complimentary transportation offered by the majority of our partner communities.[01]
Public transportation in Wilmington
In Wilmington, the main form of public transportation is Wave Transit. Wave offers bus and trolley transportation. Seniors can take advantage of the Wave reduced and free fare programs, which allows them to pay half price. Wave also has a Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) option for seniors who wouldn’t be able to use a fixed route bus.
Several neighborhoods in Wilmington are easily walkable, such as the downtown area, Carolina Heights, and College Park. The following ratings from Walk Score can give you an idea of all of the transportation options available for seniors. Scores are calculated out of a possible 100, with higher scores indicating an easier ability to walk, bike, or use public transportation. Public density, area infrastructure, and available walking and biking routes all impact the scores.[11]
Walk Score
Transit Score
Walk Score
Senior activities in Wilmington
As one of the most beautiful riverfront cities in the area, Wilmington provides several attractions that seniors will enjoy. We’ve selected a variety of things to do in Wilmington for seniors, which appeal to a range of interests. The options we selected also have accessibility options for visitors. For more activity highlights in Wilmington, check out the Wilmington “Things to Do” page.
- Battleship North Carolina. This refurbished WWII battleship serves as a memorial for the 11,000 North Carolinians who died in WWII. Visitors can take a self-guided or docent-led tour. The main deck and memorial walkway surrounding the battleship are easy to navigate.
- New Hanover County Arboretum. With wide walkways and benches for resting, the Arboretum is one of the most scenic spots for seniors in Wilmington. Some of the gardens have raised beds, allowing seniors to enjoy a close-up look of the foliage.
- Wilmington Riverwalk. This boardwalk is easily navigated by all since it’s quite wide with smooth walkways and railings. Seniors can enjoy views of the Cape Fear River, along with several restaurants along the boardwalk.
- New Hanover County Senior Resource Center. Seniors can enjoy a variety of drop-in activities here, such as table tennis, card games, and billiards. Or, you can register for specific classes and events offered throughout the year.
- Wilmington Senior Center. Seniors and family caregivers can benefit from this community resource. They offer dining, fitness classes, and other activities for seniors under their membership program. Family caregivers can also receive valuable resources from the center.
Frequently Asked Questions
TerraBella Southport, Spring Arbor of Wilmington and Morningside of Wilmington are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Wilmington, NC. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Wilmington is $4,283 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
North Carolina Department of Revenue. Social Security and railroad retirement benefits.
United States Census Bureau. (2021) Veteran status (S2101): Wilmington. [Data set]. American community Survey.
North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits. (2021). What services does NC Medicaid cover?
North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits. Adult care homes.
North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits. Money follows the person.
North Carolina Department of Insurance. Get help paying your Medicare costs.
North Carolina Administrative Code. Chapter 10A. Subchapter 13F – Licensing of adult care homes of seven or more beds.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. COVID-19 Response. Long-term care facilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Wilmington. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in Wilmington.
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