Assisted Living in North Carolina: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official North Carolina sources

What assisted living is called in North Carolina, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.

Licensed by

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR), Adult Care Licensure Section¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

1,086 assisted living, 276 with memory care

Medicaid help

Yes: NC Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS)²

Typical cost

$6,496 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

File a complaint

1-800-624-3004³

What assisted living is called in North Carolina

• Assisted living residence (umbrella term in state law)North Carolina's general term for group housing that serves at least one meal a day, does housekeeping, and gives personal care to two or more unrelated adults. The types below fall under it.⁴
• Adult care home (licensed, seven or more beds)A licensed assisted living residence that gives personal care around the clock.⁴
• Family care home (licensed, two to six residents)A small adult care home with two to six residents.⁴
• Multiunit assisted housing with services (registered, not licensed)Housing where a licensed home care or hospice agency, not the building, gives hands-on personal care and nursing under a written care plan. The state registers these instead of licensing them.⁴

Memory care rules

Only adult care homes whose dementia units meet the state's special care unit rules may advertise special care for Alzheimer's or related conditions. They must also disclose information about the unit, as state law requires.⁵

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in North Carolina

The median cost of assisted living in North Carolina is $6,496 a month, above the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.

If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in North Carolina, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates North Carolina nursing homes publish.

Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?

Paying for assisted living in North Carolina

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.

Medicaid. Yes. NC Medicaid's Personal Care Services benefit covers hands-on personal care for eligible residents of licensed adult care homes. Program: NC Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS).² Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.

State-County Special Assistance. A state and county program that helps people with low incomes pay for care in adult care homes. Contact your county Department of Social Services for more information.⁶

How to check a community in North Carolina

Look up a license. Search adult care homes and family care homes by county, city or name. Available information includes inspection reports, the star rating, county corrective action reports, and any penalties from the past 36 months. Search North Carolina’s records.⁷

Inspection reports. Yes. Inspection reports that found problems, star ratings and penalties for adult care homes and family care homes are posted in the DHSR facility search.⁷

Lilisity shows North Carolina’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.

Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.

If something goes wrong

Complaints about care or conditions. DHSR's Complaint Intake Unit takes complaints by phone, fax, mail or email. For adult care homes, it sends the complaint to the county Department of Social Services to investigate. Call 1-800-624-3004 or file online.³

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. How to report.⁸ If someone is in danger, call 911.

The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. find your local ombudsman.⁹

Find assisted living in North Carolina

Assisted living by city

Memory care by city

Every community and county in North Carolina · 16 with verified resident testimonials

Sources

1. Licensing agency (info.ncdhhs.gov)
2. Medicaid (medicaid.ncdhhs.gov)
3. Complaints (info.ncdhhs.gov)
4. License types (ncleg.gov)
5. Memory care rules (reports.oah.state.nc.us)
6. State-County Special Assistance (ncdhhs.gov)
7. License lookup, inspection reports (info.ncdhhs.gov)
8. Reporting abuse (ncdhhs.gov)
9. Ombudsman (ncdhhs.gov)
10. CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)

Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.