Wilmington resides along the historic Cape Fear River and near the Atlantic Coast, making it a stunning waterfront location for retirees. It offers an ideal balance between city and suburban life with enchanting attractions, daily conveniences, robust health care, and a range of nursing homes and senior care options. Nursing home is often used as an umbrella term for a variety of senior care facilities. However, a nursing home or skilled nursing facility is actually for individuals who need 24-hour medical supervision for serious medical conditions.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with standalone skilled nursing facilities, but we do partner with senior care facilities that may offer some nursing services. An assisted living or memory care facility might be more suitable for seniors who currently don’t need 24-hour skilled nursing services. These senior care facilities offer personal care, supportive services, accessible activities, and social programs to help seniors lead meaningful lives. The cost of a nursing home is approximately $7,148 per month in Wilmington. Assisted living averages $5,241 per month while memory care averages $5,365 per month in Wilmington.
Wilmington offers some great senior care facilities and nursing homes, including assisted living and memory care. This guide lets you navigate the options based on what matters most to your family: cost, care, amenities, and more. It also offers informative sections on Wilmington’s senior care facility costs, features, regulations, local payment resources, and senior-favored activities.
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...
I have been impressed that all the staff members know each of the residents by name, and they know family members as well. They welcome and encourage family participation.
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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 median cost of a private room in a Wilmington skilled nursing facility is $7,148 per month.[01] However, if your loved one doesn’t require 24-hour nursing services, there are more affordable options available within the city.
Both assisted living and memory care facilities are more affordable by nearly $2,000 per month. Below are the monthly average costs for senior care facilities, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data on what actual families paid in Wilmington:[02]
These approximate costs include the costs of a room and the following commonly provided services at our partnering senior care facilities in Wilmington:
In some communities, seniors may have to pay additional fees for amenities like on-site salon and barber services, transportation, or pet accommodations.
When seniors and their families decide on how to pay for senior care, they usually combine private and public funds. Options often include personal savings and public programs like veterans benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid. We outline all of these payment options and include local resources to help you cover senior care expenses in Wilmington.
Seniors and their families typically acquire private funds over a lifetime. Funds may include savings accounts, retirement pensions, investment returns, and more. Long-term care insurance is another popular payment option, but policies can vary significantly. We recommend contacting your policy provider to understand the specific costs they can cover.
Depending on your senior loved one’s circumstances, you can also turn to some of the following payment methods commonly used by families.
Number of veterans 65+ who live in Wilmington as of 2022
About 50% of Wilmington veterans are 65+.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a range of benefits to senior veterans and their surviving spouses. The Aid and Attendance benefit can be especially helpful for qualifying seniors because it can be put toward any expenses that improve a recipient’s quality of life — including care at a nursing home or senior care facility in Wilmington. Furthermore, it can be added to an existing VA Pension.
If you’re unsure about your or your loved one’s eligibility for veterans benefits, we recommend that you reach out to a benefits counselor. They can be found at veterans service organizations (VSOs), which are nonprofits often vetted by the VA. See the resources section below to connect to local Wilmington VSOs.
Fortunately, Wilmington residents can access a variety of VSOs at one department — the New Hanover County Veteran Services. This department offers benefits counseling for American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans, and much more.
Resources for Wilmington veterans
National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) Wilmington Chapter #0042
708 Chestnut St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 910-264-5258
Email: redtigerc1@att.net
Medicaid is a public health insurance program for seniors and low-income individuals. It’s jointly funded by the federal and state governments. North Carolina’s Medicaid program is operated by the Division of Health Service Regulations at the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The state’s program is called NC Medicaid, and it can cover some long-term care costs, depending on the type of senior care.
Nursing facilities, also sometimes called skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes, may be covered by NC Medicaid when the services are considered medically necessary by a person’s physician. This means a person must demonstrate that they require a nursing home level of care and need services that can only be provided by licensed nurses or health professionals in a skilled nursing facility. Some qualifying conditions that meet a nursing home level of care may include the need for services like the following:[04]
A person must also meet financial eligibility criteria to qualify for nursing home coverage. NC Medicaid’s monthly income limits range from $1,215 for an individual to $1,644 for a couple. NC Medicaid also has resource limits that can’t exceed $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for couples.[05]
It’s still possible to qualify if your income and resources are above these limits. You can contact the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services to go over your income and assets and get hands-on help walking through eligibility.
NC Medicaid generally doesn’t cover the costs of room and board provided in these types of settings as it does for nursing homes. However, the state offers some in-home health care programs for seniors who need a nursing home level of care. These programs are for seniors who would rather receive services from their community — such as assisted living or memory care communities — instead of an institution like a skilled nursing facility. These programs include the following:
To apply for NC Medicaid, you can visit the North Carolina ePass website or contact your local Medicaid ombudsman for help. You’ll find the North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits has a wealth of resources and information on its website. Additionally, you can contact the NC Medicaid Ombudsman for Medicaid-specific questions and the local Area Agency on Aging to access other senior services in your area.
Wilmington resident Medicaid resources
North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits
Phone: 888-245-0179
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage to seniors 65 and over. It may cover many medical expenses, including a stay at a skilled nursing facility. Medicare fully covers up to 20 days, a limited amount for up to 100 days, and no expenses past the 100-day mark.[06]
For assisted living and memory care, Medicare doesn’t cover rent, but it can be used to cover some medically necessary care costs provided within a senior care facility. Here’s a breakdown of Medicare-covered costs by parts:
Wilmington seniors can use one of North Carolina’s Medicare Savings Programs for financial assistance with Medicare premiums, copays, coinsurance, and prescriptions. To see which program you qualify for, reach out to a SHIIP (State Health Insurance Information Program) counselor using North Carolina’s SHIIP county search tool.
Seniors can also reach out to the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in North Carolina for additional help with their care needs. North Carolina has 12 PACE centers throughout the state and the one in Wilmington is called Elderhaus.
For additional information and assistance with Medicare, Wilmington residents can also visit the federal Medicare website or contact the local long-term care ombudsmen at the Cape Fear Council of Governments. This ombudsman’s role is to advocate for the health care rights of assisted living, memory care, and nursing home residents. They also help families learn about local senior care options and payment methods.
Wilmington resident Medicare resources
Wilmington Social Security Office
1528 S 16th St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 866-964-6627
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jeff Brunsink, long-term care ombudsman
Phone: 910-274-0344
Email: jbrunsink@capefearcog.org
Holli Blackwelder, long-term care ombudsman
Phone: 910-274-0350
Email: hblackwelder@capefearcog.org
The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) is in charge of licensing and overseeing senior care facilities in the state. This includes nursing homes — or skilled nursing facilities — and senior care homes that provide assisted living and memory care to residents.
The DHSR conducts regular inspections of senior care facilities to make sure the state’s laws and regulations are being followed. When you’re considering a senior care facility, it’s important to be familiar with local regulations to make sure proper care and safety standards are being met. We run through some of DHSR’s requirements for different long-term care settings below.
Nursing home inspections can be conducted by the DHSR at any time without warning to make sure facilities are following North Carolina’s rules and regulations for nursing homes. Inspections are usually performed annually, assuming no complaints or violations are found.
The rules for North Carolina nursing homes cover a range of topics from admission and dietary services to living spaces. You can access all DHSR regulations on their website, but we’ve highlighted some important ones here:
Assisted living and memory care facilities are usually inspected by the DHSR annually, unless follow-up inspections are required because of complaints or violations found during an assessment. These annual inspections are also often unannounced and can last from one to several days.
Assisted living facilities have a different set of regulations than nursing homes do in North Carolina. We break down some key ones to note below, but you can also access all regulations on the DHSR page.
Assisted living facilities with memory care for residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia ultimately have similar regulations in place. The following are some additional rules memory care communities have in place to account for the safety and additional care needs of memory care residents.
Residents and their families can report any concerns about care or treatment at an assisted living or memory care facility by doing the following:
The NC Division of Health Service Regulation conducts quarterly visits to all senior care facilities and can provide current information regarding recent facility complaints. You can search for a senior care facility on the DHSR website to gain access to inspection reports, any penalties found within the past 36 months, and star ratings based on previous inspections. You can also look up and compare nursing homes near you using the Medicare.gov search tool.
Wilmington doesn’t have any of its own regulations for nursing homes and senior care facilities. However, the state of North Carolina does follow infection prevention guidance set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Guidance for long-term care settings includes the following practices:
You can also visit New Hanover County’s COVID-19 dashboard to learn about the area’s risk level.
Wilmington is an ideal location for seniors looking for the daily conveniences of a big city without the noise and traffic. The city offers riverfront views, nearby beaches, and historic districts that offer a unique charm. There are also great options for seniors to receive skilled nursing and senior care services.
Learn about how nursing homes compare to senior care communities in Wilmington below.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with skilled nursing facilities, but there are a few options for seniors seeking skilled nursing in Wilmington. Some of our partner assisted living and memory care communities may offer on-site skilled nursing for residents. Nursing homes are the best option for seniors who require 24-hour medical supervision and care for chronic and serious medical conditions. Skilled nursing facilities in Wilmington typically offer the following:
Seniors who require some assistance with activities of daily living, but don’t require 24-hour medical supervision may better benefit from assisted living or memory care. Some Wilmington senior care facilities even have a skilled nursing unit on-site for residents who need nursing care after a hospital visit or if a serious illness arises.
In Wilmington, our partner network of assisted living and memory care communities offer the following:
Many of our partner senior care communities in Wilmington also provide more advanced nursing services on-site, including the following:
Our memory care partners personalize their care services, activities, amenities, and environment to accommodate the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. Some of these specialized memory care accommodations include reminiscence therapies, navigational signs, calming colors, and more.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 living in Wilmington as of 2021
Percentage of Wilmington seniors 65 and older with at least one disability
Average annual retirement income for Wilmington seniors 65 and older
Wilmington only has one hospital, but there are several medical clinics and practices throughout the city. Learn about Wilmington’s hospital and another hospital on the outskirts.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Wilmington. It ranks No. 11 in North Carolina and is rated highly for ten conditions including heart attack care, stroke care, and hip replacements.
Brunswick Medical Center is approximately 20 miles outside of Wilmington. However, it’s highly rated for hip replacement surgery.
Seniors have several transportation options in Wilmington. Fortunately, most of our partner senior care facilities also offer complimentary and/or at-cost transportation services to residents. Do keep in mind that some communities limit rides to medical appointments and essential errands, while others allow residents to schedule rides for leisure activities and events as well.
For visiting loved ones, Wave Transit buses and trolleys are a great way to get around Wilmington. Seniors can ride with their loved ones using the reduced fare and free fare programs, which allow them to ride for half the price. Wave also offers Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) for seniors who live outside of service areas.
Wilmington offers tons of activities for seniors with a variety of interests. Seniors can enjoy outings with visiting loved ones or attend community-scheduled trips. The city even takes it a step further and outlines its accessible Wilmington experiences for individuals with disabilities. We’ve highlighted a few of Wilmington’s senior-favored activities below.
Spring Arbor of Wilmington, Arbor Landing at Hampstead and TerraBella Southport are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Wilmington, NC. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Wilmington is $4,585 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of care survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Wilmington city, North Carolina.
NC Medicaid. (2021, December 15). Medicaid and health choice: Nursing facility services.
NC Department of Health and Human Services. Eligibility.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2023). Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility care.
U.S. News and World Report. Best hospitals in Wilmington, NC.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of care survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Wilmington city, North Carolina.
NC Medicaid. (2021, December 15). Medicaid and health choice: Nursing facility services.
NC Department of Health and Human Services. Eligibility.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2023). Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility care.
U.S. News and World Report. Best hospitals in Wilmington, NC.