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.
The staff is lovely. Everyone is very loving and friendly. I feel my mother is safe here and that she will get the care she needs ...the head nurses are all excellent The staff is not always in sync with...
We toured with Morningside of Wilmington and we loved the community and the residents/ staff. Everyone was so happy and welcoming! We plan on moving our parents in the summer to Wilmington and this is where...
The community is really nice and clean. The staff is outstanding. The food does need improvement if a few areas. They offer a lot of nice activities for her to enjoy. They take their time in helping you feel...
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...
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...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Wilmington community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
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:
Many partner communities in Wilmington offer additional services and amenities, but these may cost extra. These may include the following:
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.
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]
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:
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]
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.
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.
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]
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]
North Carolina Department of Health contact information
North Carolina Department of Health website
101 Blair Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 919-855-4800
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]
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.
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.
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 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]
Our partner communities also offer several on-site amenities that make life more enjoyable. These amenities could include the following:[01]
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:
Our partner communities also offer several on-site nursing services, including the following:
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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
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.
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.
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.
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]
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.
Spring Arbor of Wilmington, TerraBella Southport 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.
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.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
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.