Best Memory Care in North Carolina

Overview of The Gardens of Trent

The Gardens of Trent is a 60-bed assisted living facility at 2915 Brunswick Avenue, New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. It provides 24-hour staffing, accepts Medicaid, and holds a 3-star state rating with Walk Score 76 indicating high walkability.

Medication administration failures and serious resident supervision breaches define The Gardens’ regulatory record, with substantiated Type A1 violations indicating systemic care failures. Over eight years, the facility averaged 8.4 deficiencies annually, 62 percent above North Carolina’s 5.2-deficiency benchmark. April 2025 complaint investigation substantiated critical findings. The facility failed to administer seizure medication (Depakote) as ordered for Resident #1, resulting in multiple hospitalizations and seizures.

The facility failed to notify Craven County Department of Social Services of incidents resulting in emergency medical evaluation or hospitalization within the required 48 hours.

Resident elopement incidents with supervision failures appear repeatedly across the record. June 2023 complaint investigation substantiated Type A1 violation when a resident with dementia eloped from the facility, with staff failing to respond to audible sounding device for the mag lock switch. The facility failed to provide supervision with dignity and respect to a resident and failed to report abuse allegations within 48 hours for two residents (census 52 of 60 beds). January 2023 complaint investigation documented October 25, 2022 elopement when Resident #1 with dementia reached a restaurant 704 yards away within 10-15 minutes, with doors unlocked for 13-15 hours due to malfunctioning mag locks and failure to hear and respond to audible sounding device (Type B violation).

Physical plant deficiencies spanning multiple inspection cycles reflect deferred maintenance and safety system failures. November 2024 follow-up construction survey found three uncorrected deficiencies: exterior egress paths improperly lit, electrical outlets in East Laundry room lacking ground fault circuit interrupters, and exhaust fans in rooms 45 and 49 non-operational. March 2019 construction survey identified 10 deficiencies including bathroom renovations non-compliant with North Carolina Building Code (shower heads over toilets, non-waterproof walls, missing floor drains), corridor obstructions, seven unsecured portable oxygen cylinders, incomplete fire safety rehearsal records, non-functional emergency lighting and exit signage, portable electric heater, hot water temperatures of 94-96 degrees (below 100-degree minimum), and missing exhaust ventilation.

Clinical care deficiencies span medication administration and nutrition. May 2019 annual survey found detachable shower head fixtures with looped hoses dangling over toilets in Special Care Unit, expired and unlabeled foods, therapeutic diets not served as ordered, incomplete medication administration records, and lack of physician contact for medication clarification. March 2017 annual survey documented medication administration errors with insulin, antipsychotic, pain reliever, laxative, antibiotic, and heart medications; two of three medication aides lacked annual infection control training; two of five staff lacked required 80-hour personal care training; resident neglect resulted in second-degree burns from bed placement near heater. May 2024 annual survey identified one deficiency when four deceased residents’ Estate Administrators failed to receive refunds within 30 days due to corporate accounting staff turnover and lost refund requests.

May 2017 and February 2017 construction surveys documented delayed egress exit door failures with missing signage and non-functional alarms, magnetic locks failing to unlock within 15 seconds or upon fire alarm activation, heat detectors improperly mounted or missing, and fire alarm pull station detached. April 2025 follow-up survey confirmed all previous deficiencies had been corrected. No fines or license suspensions appear in the record.

Families should ask about corrections following the April 2025 seizure medication administration failure, resident supervision, mag lock and alarm systems, and medication administration procedures.

Overview of Homestead Hills Assisted Living

Homestead Hills Assisted Living is a 66-bed community at 2101 Homestead Hills Drive, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. It provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services; operates 24/7; and holds a 3-star state rating tied for 40th of 138 North Carolina facilities. A 6X National Award winner designation reflects prior operational achievements. Current occupancy is 30 percent (20 of 66 beds) significantly below the state average of 76.4 percent.

Staff training, medication management, and building safety represent Homestead Hills’ persistent compliance challenges. Over five years and across seven inspections, the facility averaged 9.6 deficiencies annually, 85 percent above North Carolina’s 5.2-deficiency benchmark. The October 26, 2023 annual survey identified five deficiencies consolidating longstanding gaps in medication aide preparation and health professional competency. Five of six medication aides failed to complete required medication clinical skills checklists or medication aide training verification; four of six staff lacked competency validation for licensed health professional support tasks spanning fingerstick blood sugar checks, insulin injections, inhalation medications, and oxygen administration.

Two residents were not tested for tuberculosis upon admission; one resident’s required licensed health professional evaluation was not completed within 30 days. Three residents did not receive ordered medications for blood pressure regulation, antipsychotic therapy, and heart-rate management.

Medication aide deficiencies recur across the facility’s history. August 2015 substantiated complaint investigation documented seven deficiencies that parallel current findings: five of six staff lacked competency validation for blood glucose checks, insulin injections, oxygen administration, and nebulizer use; four of six had not received diabetic care training before administering insulin; three of five medication aides hired after October 2013 had not completed required 15-hour medication administration training or clinical skills validation. Additional deficiencies in that investigation included two residents not receiving ordered therapeutic diets (no concentrated sweets, mechanical soft), inadequate infection control for shared glucometers affecting three residents, inadequate restraint documentation for one resident, and absent annual infection control training for three staff.

Building and fire safety deficiencies span July 2015 through August 2019. July 2015 construction survey documented nine deficiencies including failed fire alarm components, unsecured oxygen cylinders (projectile hazards), wedged fire doors, breached fire-rated construction, unsealed gas and electrical ceiling penetrations, dragging or difficult-to-open exit doors, non-latching interior doors, and inadequate mechanical ventilation. September 2015 follow-up found five uncorrected deficiencies: continued oxygen cylinder storage hazards, fire-rated construction breaches, missing sprinkler escutcheon plates, unsealed ceiling penetrations, and non-functional laundry ventilation. July 2017 cited 13 violations spanning missing fire inspection reports, bathrooms used for storage, poor furniture and plumbing maintenance, unsecured oxygen cylinders, non-functional emergency lighting, improperly propped doors, fire-resistant ceiling breaches, difficult egress doors, misaligned kitchen hood suppression heads, missing ansul system documentation, and absent bathroom exhaust ventilation.

August 2019 identified eight deficiencies: particulate buildup on return-air grilles, non-illuminated exit signs, non-functional emergency lights, missing sprinkler escutcheons, wedged fire doors, non-latching doors, stored items blocking sprinkler coverage, and non-operational janitorial exhaust.

September 2021 documented one capacity violation: 20 residents occupied a Special Care Unit licensed for 18 beds. The facility offers wellness programs, full-time activity coordination, fine dining with flexible menus, concierge and salon services, housekeeping, transportation, and 24-hour emergency call systems. No fines or license suspensions appear in the record.

Families should ask about corrective actions taken following the October 2023 medication administration and staff competency deficiencies.