Page 6 of Best Senior Communities in North Carolina

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 543 senior communities in NC using NC Dept. of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank senior communities in NC
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in North Carolina our team has analyzed — not a count of every senior community provider in North Carolina.
543 homes
Other senior care options in North Carolina:
Avg Walk Score: 36/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in North Carolina. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 72The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in North Carolina. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Senior Communities around North Carolina

Info below is compiled from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. RESC (Residential Care): Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. SC (Senior Communities):
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
NC DHSR Star Rating (0–4 stars). Issued by North Carolina's Division of Health Service Regulation based on annual facility inspections. Stars reflect overall compliance with state health and safety rules - 4 stars requires scores of 100+ on two consecutive annual inspections. Ratings can change between inspections if new violations or licensure actions occur.
DHSR Quality Score (/200). Each annual inspection starts at a base of 100 points. Facilities earn demerit points for violations and citations, and merit points for correcting issues, maintaining resident/family councils, sprinkler systems, and other quality programs. The "/200" display reflects the two most recent annual inspections combined - giving a longer-term view of compliance trends rather than a single snapshot.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Share of inspections that resulted in deficiencies, expressed as a percentage of total inspections in the window.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
LiveWell @ Coker Hills (Chapel Hill)
SC
AL
HC
MC
Chapel Hill (Blue Hill District)
6
Facility 6
NC AVG 72
Rank #335 / 387
No
63
Facility 63
NC AVG 36
Rank #50 / 536
33.3%
Facility 33.3%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #207 / 232
-
102.50/200
Facility 102.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #73 / 321
6
83%
Facility 83%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #40 / 333
Private / Semi-Private Rooms
Preston House
SC
MC
Charlotte (West Sugar Creek)
40
Facility 40
NC AVG 72
Rank #310 / 387
No
53
Facility 53
NC AVG 36
Rank #128 / 536
-A+
103.50/200
Facility 103.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #31 / 321
5
80%
Facility 80%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #33 / 333
Private Rooms
Carolina Village
SC
AL
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Hendersonville
60
Facility 60
NC AVG 72
Rank #230 / 387
Yes
82
Facility 82
NC AVG 36
Rank #3 / 536
79.8%
Facility 79.8%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #103 / 232
-
99.50/200
Facility 99.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #145 / 321
8
88%
Facility 88%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #57 / 333
-
TerraBella Southern Pines
SC
AL
MC
Southern Pines
94
Facility 94
NC AVG 72
Rank #110 / 387
Yes
50
Facility 50
NC AVG 36
Rank #150 / 536
73.4%
Facility 73.4%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #128 / 232
A+
92.75/200
Facility 92.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #245 / 321
9
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-
Brighton Gardens of Charlotte
SC
AL
HOS
MC
RC
Charlotte (Closeburn - Glenkirk)
125
Facility 125
NC AVG 72
Rank #28 / 387
Yes
66
Facility 66
NC AVG 36
Rank #39 / 536
33.6%
Facility 33.6%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #205 / 232
-
83.75/200
Facility 83.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #287 / 321
9
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
The Charlotte Assisted Living & Memory Care
SC
AL
IL
MC
RC
Charlotte
119
Facility 119
NC AVG 72
Rank #47 / 387
Yes
57
Facility 57
NC AVG 36
Rank #101 / 536
42.0%
Facility 42.0%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #191 / 232
-
87.75/200
Facility 87.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #272 / 321
20
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
The Hermitage
SC
AL
MC
RC
Sylva
90
Facility 90
NC AVG 72
Rank #116 / 387
No
55
Facility 55
NC AVG 36
Rank #111 / 536
71.1%
Facility 71.1%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #131 / 232
-
102.75/200
Facility 102.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #72 / 321
9
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-
Cary Family Care
SC
AL
RESC
Cary (Twin Lakes)
3
Facility 3
NC AVG 72
Rank #383 / 387
No
28
Facility 28
NC AVG 36
Rank #328 / 536
100.0%
Facility 100.0%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #1 / 232
-
100.00/200
Facility 100.00/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #136 / 321
5
80%
Facility 80%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #33 / 333
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
The Arboretum at Woodland Terrace
SC
AL
IL
MC
Cary
84
Facility 84
NC AVG 72
Rank #135 / 387
Yes
55
Facility 55
NC AVG 36
Rank #111 / 536
39.3%
Facility 39.3%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #196 / 232
-
95.75/200
Facility 95.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #209 / 321
9
89%
Facility 89%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #71 / 333
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Lynn’s Care Homes At Riverside LLC
SC
AL
RESC
Raleigh (Northeast Raleigh)
6
Facility 6
NC AVG 72
Rank #335 / 387
No
8
Facility 8
NC AVG 36
Rank #472 / 536
83.3%
Facility 83.3%
NC AVG 70.6%
Rank #87 / 232
-
105.50/200
Facility 105.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #5 / 321
8
88%
Facility 88%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #57 / 333
Semi-Private / 1 Bed Rooms

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every NC community we track that reports that metric, not just the 543 on this page.

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Overview of LiveWell @ Coker Hills (chapel Hill)

Enjoy the beauty and serenity of Chapel Hill, NC, with LiveWell at Coker Hills, a distinct senior living community that specializes in memory care. With its dedication to improving residents’ quality of life, the community provides top-notch care and assistance from a reliable, well-trained team that cares for their special needs 24/7. Moreover, the community works closely with the residents to craft a care plan that best suits their preferred lifestyle to retain their independence.

Featuring quaint and specially designed amenities, residents can rest assured of receiving the utmost attention they deserve. The community also encourages residents to live their lives to the fullest by supporting them every step of the way and handling their daily living activities. Residents feel a sense of belonging and flourish in this purposely designed haven.

Contact LiveWell @ Coker Hills (Chapel Hill)

Preston House

4910 Harris Woods Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28269
Overview of Preston House

Preston House is a memory care community in Charlotte, North Carolina, set in a suburban pocket of Mecklenburg County about 7.8 miles from the city center. The single-story building holds 40 beds, which puts it in moderate territory for size: large enough to sustain daily programming and shared spaces, small enough that staff tend to know residents individually. Residents live in private rooms, an arrangement many families prefer when a loved one is easily overstimulated or unsettled by a roommate. The community has been operating for 29 years, a long track record in a field where turnover is common.

Care is built specifically around memory impairment, with a team trained in memory care supporting residents through the day. The building reflects that focus in practical ways, including handicapped-accessible bathrooms and a wireless emergency response system that brings staff quickly when someone needs help. A full-time social director oversees the activity calendar, and residents have access to fitness and recreation programming as well as transportation services for outings and appointments. Atrium Health University City sits roughly four miles away, which matters when medical needs come up.

State inspections by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services have most often pointed to building systems and physical-plant upkeep, including fire safety equipment, ventilation, plumbing, and wander-alert devices, rather than concerns with hands-on resident care. Follow-up review confirmed that flagged items were corrected. Families touring the community may want to ask how maintenance and safety checks are handled on an ongoing basis.

The neighborhood scores 53 out of 100 for walkability, meaning some errands can be handled on foot while most trips involve a short drive. For visiting family, the suburban setting and single-story layout make regular, low-effort visits practical.

Contact Preston House

Carolina Village

600 Carolina Village Road Hendersonville, Nc 28792, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Overview of Carolina Village

Residents at Carolina Village stay for an average of 84 days, meaning the facility mostly focuses on short-term rehab alongside some long-term care. Located in North Carolina, this 60-bed home runs at about 71 percent occupancy and accepts both Medicare and private pay. If you’re planning a visit, the neighborhood is very pedestrian-friendly, with a walkability score of 82 out of 100, so family members can easily run most errands on foot.

To handle daily medical routines, clinical operations supply an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day. The 24-hour scheduling structure breaks this down into 1 hour and 31 minutes from registered nurses, 1 hour and 11 minutes from licensed practical nurses, and 3 hours and 58 minutes from nurse aides. This hands-on clinical volume supports individuals recovering from surgery, stroke, or acute medical transitions.

While older inspection logs noted tracking items regarding fire safety measures and medication administration protocols, the most recent health department files confirm that the administration updated its tracking systems to resolve these past issues, requiring no further action and keeping the overall cumulative citations-per-inspection rate at zero.

Prospective representatives will find a campus equipped with an exercise pool, a therapy pool, fitness centers, a library, a woodworking shop, and an arts studio. The grounds feature nature trails with mountain and lake views, while daily social options include a book group and a Spanish club. The dining setup provides a traditional dining room with tableside service alongside fast-casual options, a bar, and a coffee nook, with base fees covering utilities, WiFi, laundry, housekeeping, and property maintenance.

Contact Carolina Village

TerraBella Southern Pines

101 Brucewood Rd, Southern Pines, NC 28387
Overview of TerraBella Southern Pines

Perched along the shores of Pinehurst Lake, TerraBella Southern Pines is a charming senior living community offering a comfortable blend of a welcoming atmosphere, engaged and friendly, compassionate team, and personalized care. Serving the neighborhood of Southern Pines, NC, the community offers assisted living and memory care. Featuring spacious and luxurious suites and one- and two-bedroom apartments, TerraBella guarantees residents a cozy living space.

Offering professional care services to independent residents who could benefit from extra assistance and scientific-based memory care services to residents dealing with memory loss, TerraBella Southern Pines provides residents with the exact level of care they want and need. Residents also enjoy access to Three Meals daily with Snacks, housekeeping services, live entertainment, scheduled transportation, and a full calendar of engaging activities, ensuring plenty of leisure and wellness opportunities.

Contact TerraBella Southern Pines

Overview of Brighton Gardens of Charlotte

Brighton Gardens of Charlotte is an engaging senior living community located in the heart of South Park, Charlotte, North Carolina, helping residents enjoy each day with personalized services, social events, and fresh cuisine tailored to their tastes. The community offers room rates starting at $2,766 per month and takes a resident-centered approach, offering a broad range of care options and engaging activities. Residents influence the daily calendar of events and many of the culinary selections, while designated care managers work with each individual to craft personalized plans addressing their unique needs and preferences, fostering meaningful days with friends. The professional team of caregivers also assists family members navigating life’s milestones with residents.

Brighton Gardens of Charlotte provides a warm and engaging home environment, with residents enjoying full days filled with morning walks, daily afternoon socials, and evening movies. The pet-friendly community welcomes residents to bring their long-time companions, and offers various suite options, including studios, one-bedroom (two sizes), and two-bedroom units, ensuring privacy. Highly trained chefs regularly check in with residents, incorporating their favorites and suggestions into the menu. Conveniently located on the corner of Fairview Road and Park South Drive, the community is situated in the heart of South Park, near the Tyvola Senior Center, South Park Mall, and Park Road Park, with an abundance of nearby stores and restaurants for residents to enjoy. Brighton Gardens of Charlotte is also close to several medical centers, including Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) Main, CMC Pineville, Presbyterian Main, and CMC Mercy.

Contact Brighton Gardens of Charlotte

Overview of The Charlotte Assisted Living & Memory Care

The Charlotte Assisted Living & Memory Care is a 119-bed community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite services to older adults in Charlotte, North Carolina. The facility on Willow Ridge Road operates as a full-service senior living community on a three-story building with an array of housing options: studio, one-, and two-bedroom floor plans. The neighborhood scores 57 on the Walk Score scale, indicating moderate walkability where some daily errands can be run on foot, though occupants typically need a car for most trips.

The facility maintains a 42 percent occupancy rate, meaning rooms are currently offered across its housing inventory. This mid-occupancy level provides potential residents and families with current availability and a reasonable wait time if they proceed with applications. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay arrangements are accepted to give families flexibility in how they approach coverage and payment options. The home houses its services across multiple care levels in the same community. With memory care and respite residents, independent and assisted living occupants share common areas and amenities. This continuum model lets residents stay in a familiar setting as their care needs change over time, instead of requiring relocations to different facilities. The design bolsters aging in place and the natural care progression, with staff providing increasing levels of support as needed. The location in Charlotte offers easy access to medical services, shopping, and local attractions. The moderately walkable neighborhood means visiting family members can navigate nearby areas on foot. Meanwhile, the offered room inventory across multiple unit types allows flexibility for different resident preferences and budgets.

State inspections have flagged themes around supervision documentation, medication administration protocols, and physical plant maintenance. It’s encouraged that families exploring the community ask staff directly about how these routine operational areas are managed daily, as operational rigor in such areas is crucial to care quality and resident safety.

Contact The Charlotte Assisted Living & Memory Care

The Hermitage

185 Brick Farm Road Sylva, Nc 28779, Sylva, NC 28779
Overview of The Hermitage

The Hermitage sits on Brick Farm Road in Sylva, North Carolina, and holds licensure for assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Its Walk Score of 55 puts the neighborhood in moderately walkable territory, which means some errands can be handled on foot with a mix of amenities within reach. This is a larger shared building rather than a small residential home, with common spaces and organized community services.

Ninety beds are licensed here, and 71% of them are filled. Openings exist for families searching on a short timeline. Building size also shapes what the community can sustain, since larger settings generally support more common area and a wider slate of organized activity.

Nursing services and 24-hour staffing mean coverage does not lapse overnight. Respite care handles short stays, which suits families bridging a caregiver’s recovery or absence. Memory care operating under the same roof as assisted living gives residents a path forward if cognitive needs shift, without a move to another address. A secured perimeter and emergency alert system round out the safety setup.

Medicaid is accepted here, and that single fact reshapes the affordability math for many families weighing long-term options.

Regulatory attention at the community has centered on infection prevention and control, fire-safety systems, environmental and hazardous-materials safety, and fall and injury prevention. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services conducts unannounced surveys covering these areas across adult care homes.

What the record shows is a mid-sized Sylva community with continuous staffing, a Medicaid coverage pathway, and three care types under one license.

Contact The Hermitage

Overview of Cary Family Care

Cary Family Care provides assisted living services for older adults with dementia in a residential setting on Front Ridge Drive in Cary, North Carolina. Limited to three residents, the single-story home emphasizes individualized attention and a close caregiver-to-resident relationship. The community is currently fully occupied, reflecting consistent demand for its specialized approach to memory support.

Care is tailored to individuals at varying stages of dementia and includes continuous supervision, routine assessments by a registered nurse, and coordination of transportation for medical appointments. With one staff member for every three residents, support remains highly hands-on and responsive to changing needs.

Residents receive assistance with bathing, grooming, personal hygiene, and skin care, along with meals designed to meet individual dietary preferences and requirements. Daily life also includes wellness programming, recreational opportunities, fitness activities, and transportation services.

Inspection records from North Carolina’s Division of Health Service Regulation indicate that previously identified issues involving building maintenance, documentation, and safety equipment were corrected through required action plans. No civil penalties have been reported. The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 28, making most errands and outings dependent on vehicle transportation rather than walking.

Contact Cary Family Care

Overview of The Arboretum at Woodland Terrace

The Arboretum at Woodland Terrace, Cary, North Carolina, is a nurturing and person-centered memory care community for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The mission is to provide a warm, caring environment prioritizing residents’ independence, dignity, and individuality. The community values a compassionate approach to care, ensuring the well-being of each resident. The dedicated professional staff enjoys spending quality time with residents, fostering an atmosphere of comfort and happiness, and providing residents and their families peace of mind for future planning.

The Arboretum at Woodland Terrace offers a range of memory care amenities designed to enhance the overall well-being of residents. Personal care services, three daily meals plus snacks, laundry services, and weekly housekeeping contribute to a comfortable lifestyle. The community provides medication management, standard cable, utilities, and telephone services. Scheduled transportation, the Art of Living Well® programs, and 24-hour nurse availability enrich residents’ experiences. Planned social and educational events, day trips, gardening programs, and the Music & Memory program create a vibrant and engaging living environment, fostering community and fulfillment. Aquatics programs are also available to support residents leading active and enjoyable lives.

Contact The Arboretum at Woodland Terrace

Overview of Lynn’s Care Homes at Riverside

Peacefully set in the serene neighborhood of Apalachicola Drive, Raleigh, NC, Lynn’s Care Homes at Riverside LLC, is an esteemed community that offers assisted living. Residents here enjoy the highest quality of care and support according to their needs and preferences from a kind and well-trained team available 24/7. With an intimate and welcoming setting, residents keep peace of mind in their golden years.

Residents are encouraged to live actively and gain meaningful experiences with a jam-packed calendar of fun activities and engaging programs. Have delightful and nutritious meals catering to residents’ dietary needs and preferences. Respite care, transportation services, and medication management are also provided for residents’ comfort and convenience. Spend your golden years without worries surrounded by the community’s specially designed amenities.

Contact Lynn’s Care Homes At Riverside LLC

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
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Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Communities in North Carolina

What is senior living?

Senior communities are residential settings designed for adults aged 55 or older, with options ranging from active independent living to assisted living and memory care.

How many senior communities are listed on this page?

This page features 543 senior communities in North Carolina. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right senior community in North Carolina?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in North Carolina, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting senior communities in North Carolina?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.