Lilisity

Independent Living and Continuing Care

Carolina Bay

630 Carolina Bay Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 · Map

Senior Living Alliance member
Independent LivingAlso continuing care
$2,250 to $4,250/moTypical independent living start in North Carolina, from 33 communities that publish prices
20+ interviewsPhone-verified by Senior Living Alliance

What residents and families say

Verified by phone interview

Senior Living Alliance interviews named residents and family members by phone and records each call. Every testimonial is dated and published as given. How we verify

19 more testimonials
★★★★★

“I've been very pleased here and have had no problems. The food is excellent, with definitely a lot of variety, and the dining service is also excellent. There's a large variety of activities for people with all different interests and all different abilities. Housekeeping is excellent, too, and the building is well maintained. I feel safe and comfortable, and I would very likely recommend it.”

Judith A SmithAug 2026
★★★★★

“Management is kind, helpful and efficient. The activities meet our needs and wants right now. Our housekeeper comes in right on the minute, and she's always pleasant and thorough; I'm very pleased with her. Every time I put in a work order, maintenance handles it quickly, pleasantly and efficiently, and the building is well maintained. We feel safe and comfortable, and I would recommend it.”

Cornelia AsbyAug 2026
★★★★★

“I'm happy, and I have been for 10 years. The housekeepers are great, and maintenance is ten plus; they come the same day. The transportation is wonderful, with drivers who are courteous, safe and good-humored. Everyone here is easy to reach out to for anything. I would overwhelmingly recommend it.”

Patricia FoyJul 2026
★★★★★

“It's a great place to live, they manage it well, and I wouldn't change a thing. The servers are as nice as can be. I'd rate the activities 200; there's something to do every day, all the time, and they're entertaining and well planned. The housekeepers come on a regular schedule and are very, very pleasant, and the building and grounds are well maintained. I'm very happy with my apartment and very pleased here. I think it's the best in town. I wish all my friends lived here, and I tell them they need to come live where I live.”

Becky JonesMay 2026
★★★★★

“It's a great place to live. The food is very good, with good chefs and good people serving. If ten is great, the activities get a thirty; there are more than you can shake a stick at, with singers and music coming in. Our housekeeper is the best, and the maintenance guys are almost like personal friends. Walk in the front door and there's a big fireplace going. Our apartment is beautiful and fits how we live, and it's worth it.”

Ned BacheldorApr 2026
★★★★★

“It looks great, feels great, and is great. At the front desk and with management, they focus on you and listen, which makes living here a lot easier. The food couldn't be better, there are always choices, and the waiters and waitresses are always pleasant. Activities range from swimming to tai chi to cards, and they're fun. Housekeeping is excellent. It's expensive, but when you look at how you're taken care of, it's worth every penny. I would highly recommend them.”

Diane FrankelApr 2026
★★★★★

“The management here has been wonderful to us. The activities are fun, and they start on time and go as expected. The girl who does my housekeeping does a wonderful job, and maintenance is so good that I don't think I would ask for more than they do. I would recommend it.”

Eileen BallanceMar 2026
★★★★★

“I love it here; it's a wonderful place. There are a lot of things to do, with all kinds of exercises and wonderful classes, and it's a really friendly place to live. Management is always responsive. The food and dining service are very good. Housekeeping does a really nice job, and maintenance does a great job. The bus takes you wherever you want to go. I'm very happy here.”

Gladys BeachFeb 2026
★★★★★

“We've got everything we need here, and they take care of all of our problems. Management and maintenance are very responsive. Maintenance replaced our kitchen faucet with the one I wanted and didn't charge me for it. The waitresses are very good, caring and friendly, and our housekeeper does a very good job. Our first-floor garden flat is all we need. I'd give them a ten.”

John Snyder BrookshireFeb 2026
★★★★★

“The management team is incredibly supportive and always accessible. There's a fantastic variety of activities that keep everyone engaged and happy. The housekeeping staff is friendly and does a great job, and maintenance is prompt with repairs. Overall, we feel safe and comfortable here, and would definitely recommend this place to others looking for a welcoming community.”

Judith WagnerJan 2026
★★★★★

“The management team is incredibly attentive and kind, making the transition smooth. The food is delicious with plenty of options, and the servers are always friendly. There are so many activities to keep everyone engaged, from theater trips to exercise programs. The housekeeping and maintenance staff are efficient and reliable. Overall, I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a welcoming environment!”

Janet O'NeilDec 2025
★★★★★

“I live at this community, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. The management team is fantastic; they really listen and address any concerns I have. The dining experience is pretty good, with polite servers and tasty meals, even if there are occasional off days. There's always something fun happening, from games to music, so you'll never be bored. Overall, I feel safe and comfortable here, and I would definitely recommend it to others!”

Marian LoffertResident · Dec 2025
★★★★★

“I couldn't be happier. The management team is fantastic, always available and open to suggestions, which makes such a difference. The dining options are good, with friendly servers, a great variety of meals, and there are countless activities to choose from. The housekeeping staff is efficient, and maintenance requests are handled promptly. Overall, I highly recommend this community!”

Celeste LiolaOct 2025
★★★★★

“The management team is incredibly friendly and always willing to help. There's a great variety of activities to choose from, including music programs and lectures, which keep things interesting. The housekeeping staff does a fantastic job, and the maintenance team is prompt and efficient. Overall, I feel safe and comfortable here, and I would definitely recommend this place to others.”

James HagenOct 2025
★★★★★

“The management team is top-notch, always professional and responsive. The activities offered here are fantastic and cater to everyone's interests, ensuring there's never a dull moment. The housekeeping staff is diligent and thorough, making sure my apartment stays tidy. Plus, the maintenance team is quick to address any issues. Overall, I feel safe, comfortable, and truly at home here. I highly recommend this community to other people!”

Patricia BrandtOct 2025
★★★★★

“The management team is excellent—very respectful and always responsive. The food is top-notch, with plenty of variety and friendly servers. Activities are well-planned and entertaining, making it easy to stay engaged. The housekeeping is consistent, and the maintenance team does a great job keeping everything in shape. Overall, this place feels safe, comfortable, and offers great value for the money. I highly recommend this community to other people!”

Frank DraySep 2025
★★★★★

“The management is top-notch, always quick to address any questions. The food is fantastic, with a variety of options and friendly waitstaff. The activities are engaging, and there's always something fun happening. The housekeeping is thorough, and the maintenance team is incredibly responsive. Overall, the atmosphere is welcoming, and we feel safe and comfortable here. I highly recommend this place to anyone considering a move!”

Anne FreelingSep 2025
★★★★★

“The management team has been incredibly helpful, making everything smooth from the start. The food is excellent with plenty of options, and the servers are always friendly. Although I don't participate in many activities due to my travel schedule, I can see there's a great variety available. Overall, I feel safe and comfortable here, and I would definitely recommend it to others.”

Peter LucasSep 2025
★★★★★

“The management team is exceptional and really attentive to residents needs. The activities offered are diverse and cater to different interests, which keeps things lively. Housekeeping does a thorough job, and maintenance is prompt and efficient. The apartment layout is great, making me feel comfortable and safe. Overall, I would recommend this place to others!”

Patricia FoyJun 2025

About the community

Carolina Bay is an independent living, continuing care community in Wilmington, North Carolina. North Carolina publishes no licensing record for it. 20+ residents and family members have shared phone-verified testimonials through Senior Living Alliance.

Life at Carolina Bay

Dining

Carolina Bay has several dining venues: the casual Lighthouse Market, the Cape Fear Pub, the Carolina Bay Grill with open cooking displays and outdoor seating, and The Breakwaters for private dining and celebrations. The chef uses fresh, seasonal ingredients on rotating menus with gluten-free, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-sodium and low-sugar options. Room service is available.

Activities

Signature programs include Melody & Masterpiece classes in the art studio, Forever Fit exercise classes, Pawsitive Health visits with animals, Memories in Motion presentations of residents' life stories and Virtual Voyages travel experiences. The calendar also includes art workshops, cultural events, social gatherings and outings with scheduled transportation. Outdoor games include bocce, shuffleboard and a putting green.

Amenities

  • Salt water pool and hot tub
  • Fitness equipment room
  • Art studio
  • Putting green
  • Bocce ball
  • Shuffleboard courts
  • Pub
  • Media room
  • Billiard and poker room
  • Library
  • Walking paths
  • Guest apartments

Floor plans

32 layouts from Carolina Bay’s website. Sizes and prices are as the community lists them; ask which are available now.

Prices

This community does not publish its prices.

Area costs

Independent Living in North Carolina typically starts at $2,250 to $4,250 a month. Based on 33 communities that publish prices. These are area figures, not this community's price.

How this page is paid for. Lilisity is operated by Senior Living Alliance. Carolina Bay is a member and pays SLA for its resident and family interview program. Payment never changes a testimonial, a rating or the order of search results. Testimonials come from SLA phone interviews. Prices, license details and inspections come from the community’s published rates and public records. How we verify testimonials · How we are paid

Lilisity’s independent report

What the public record shows

Gathered by Lilisity from state and federal sources. Communities can’t edit this part of the page.

Nearest emergency room

4.7 miles

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, rated 3 of 5 stars by CMS.

License and ownership

Licensing information for Carolina Bay is not available. North Carolina does not publish a licensing record for this community (independent living at Autumn Hall, which North Carolina does not license).

Many independent living communities are not licensed by the state, and a campus is often licensed once under a single name. The absence of a record is not a finding about this community.

Paying with Medicaid and other programsHow Medicaid pays for care in North Carolina, and other programs

How Medicaid pays for care in North Carolina

  • NC Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS). Yes. NC Medicaid's Personal Care Services benefit covers hands-on personal care for eligible residents of licensed adult care homes. (state page)

Ask the community whether it accepts Medicaid.

Location and nearby careNearest hospital 4.7 mi, nursing home 0.2 mi, pharmacy 1.8 mi
Nearest hospital with an emergency room
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington. 4.7 miles away, straight line. CMS overall hospital rating: 3 of 5 stars.
Nearest Medicare nursing home
Bradley Creek Health Center, Wilmington. 0.2 miles away, straight line.
Nearest home health agency office
Liberty Home Care, LLC, Wilmington. 0.6 miles away, straight line. Agencies travel to clients, so ask which ones serve this address.
Nearest pharmacy
Winterpark Discount Drug. 1.8 miles away, straight line. From OpenStreetMap, which does not list every pharmacy, so one may be closer.
Area
USDA classes ZIP code 28403 as metropolitan (metropolitan core).
Dialysis within 15 miles
Davita Sedc Wilmington Dialysis Center, Wilmington, 4.9 miles away, straight line (CMS rating 3 of 5 stars)
Davita Cape Fear Dialysis, Wilmington, 4.9 miles away, straight line (CMS rating 2 of 5 stars)
Davita New Hanover, Wilmington, 5.0 miles away, straight line (CMS rating 2 of 5 stars)
Hospice
5 Medicare hospices tell CMS they serve ZIP code 28403.
Liberty Home Care And Hospice, office in Wilmington, 0.6 miles away, straight line (CMS family survey rating 3 of 5 stars)
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, office in Wilmington, 5.1 miles away, straight line (CMS family survey rating 5 of 5 stars)
Nearest geriatric medicine practice
Kavita Persaud, MD, Wilmington. 1.9 miles away, straight line. 1 geriatric medicine doctor listed there.

Distances are straight lines from the community, not driving distance. Hospitals, home health, dialysis, hospice and doctors come from CMS provider data (CMS, hospital list updated Jul 22, 2026). Star ratings are CMS’s own.

Emergency and natural hazard riskFEMA overall risk relatively high; outside FEMA's high-risk flood areas; in a hurricane evacuation zone

Public hazard maps for this location. Ask the community about its emergency plan, its generator and where residents would go in an evacuation.

Hurricane evacuation zone
Zone B on the North Carolina Know Your Zone evacuation zones. (North Carolina Emergency Management, map updated Jun 5, 2026)
Flood zone
Outside the high and moderate risk flood areas on FEMA's flood map (Zone X, minimal flood hazard, or not studied). (FEMA flood map)
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall: relatively high. By hazard: hurricane very high, inland flooding relatively moderate, coastal flooding relatively moderate, wildfire relatively low, tornado relatively moderate, heat wave relatively low, earthquake relatively low. These are FEMA’s ratings for the census tract, compared with tracts nationwide. (FEMA, December 2025)

A flood zone describes the map at this point, not the building's elevation. In an emergency, follow the local emergency management agency.

Questions to ask on a tour10 questions picked for this community from its record

Picked for this community from its record. Ask them in person and write down the answers.

  1. This address is in a hurricane evacuation zone. Where do residents go in an evacuation, and how do you move them?
  2. What does the base rate include, and when did rates last go up?
  3. What does the monthly fee include, and what costs extra?
  4. If care needs change, what help can be added here, and who provides it?
  5. How many caregivers are on duty during the day and at night?
  6. What happens if care needs increase? When would someone need to move?
  7. What fees are charged at move-in?
  8. How do you tell families about falls, illness or changes?
  9. How long have the executive director and the head of care been here?
  10. Who gives medications, and what training do they have?
What we checked13 public sources we searched, with dates

Every public source we searched for this community. “Nothing on record” means we found no record that matched it. A record can be missed when a name or address differs.

SourceData as ofWhat we found
North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Adult Care Licensure Section inspection recordsOct 15, 2026Nothing on record
U.S. Department of Labor wage and hour casesOct 15, 2026Nothing on record
OSHA workplace safety inspections since 2016Oct 15, 2026Nothing on record
Hurricane evacuation zone mapsSee above
FEMA flood mapSee above
USDA wildfire riskApr 15, 2026Not shown: FEMA rates wildfire risk here relatively low
FEMA National Risk IndexSee above
CMS hospitals, home health, dialysis, hospice and doctors; OpenStreetMap pharmaciesSee above
HUD Multifamily Properties - AssistedJul 6, 2026Nothing on record
State Veterans Homes (NASVH directory)Sep 20, 2026Nothing on record
CMS Hospice - General InformationAug 19, 2026Nothing on record
CMS Home Health Care AgenciesMay 27, 2026Nothing on record
The community’s own websiteNo plain statements of services found
Common questionsAnswers to 4 questions families ask
What type of care does Carolina Bay provide?

Carolina Bay offers independent living, continuing care in Wilmington, North Carolina. North Carolina publishes no licensing record for it, which is usual for independent living and for one community on a campus the state licenses under a single name.

Does Carolina Bay have verified testimonials?

Yes. 20+ residents and family members have shared testimonials about Carolina Bay through phone interviews verified by Senior Living Alliance.

How much does Carolina Bay cost?

Independent Living in North Carolina typically starts at $2,250 to $4,250 a month. Based on 33 communities that publish prices. These are area figures, not this community's price. Carolina Bay does not publish its prices.

How do I contact Carolina Bay?

Use Carolina Bay's website, carolinabayatautumnhall.com, or visit at 630 Carolina Bay Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Choosing independent livingOur care guide: what to look for, what it costs, how families pay, and more questions to ask (PDF)

Report a wrong fact

Senior Living Alliance member. Carolina Bay is a member. Members pay SLA for its resident and family interview program. Payment never changes a testimonial or what appears on this page. How we are paid