The 5 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Morehead City, NC for 2024

Morehead City is a waterfront community in the eastern region of North Carolina with fishing, an inviting downtown district and diverse shopping and dining amenities. While it’s a popular vacation destination for history lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, it’s also a top retirement destination for active seniors, with those aged 65 and over making up 22% of its 10,000 residents. Morehead City offers warm weather throughout the year, promoting an active lifestyle, and amenities such as the Carteret General Hospital offer convenience to older adults.

The city also has several assisted living communities. These residential facilities are ideal for seniors who don’t require extensive medical support but need help with daily activities, such as meal preparation and personal care. Many facilities in the region feature apartment-style living and allow pets, and some have resort-style amenities, such as salons and spas, swimming pools and movie theaters. Monthly rates vary depending on a facility’s amenities and pricing structure, but on average, seniors in Morehead City pay $3,645 for care. This is hundreds of dollars below the respective state and national norms of $4,010 and $4,500.

Through this guide, readers can learn more about the benefits of assisted living in Morehead City.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, licenses all assisted living facilities in Morehead City and the rest of the state. This department publishes details on the rules facilities must follow related to housing, care planning and staffing, and it investigates reports of abuse or substandard conditions.

 

• In North Carolina, seniors don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits. While all other retirement income is taxable at the state’s fixed tax rate of 4.99%, and there are no exemptions or deductions available specifically for retirement income, the state allows a large standard deduction of $12,750 for single filers.
• Morehead City is home to Carteret General Hospital, promoting access to emergency and routine medical care for local assisted living residents. This award-winning hospital is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and offers a variety of specializations, including cancer treatment, cardiac rehabilitation and orthopedics.
• Morehead City has warm weather throughout the year, which may appeal to prospective assisted living residents who enjoy spending time outdoors. The warm season lasts from late May until late September and brings daytime temperatures ranging from 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, although temperatures occasionally rise as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool season lasts from December until early March and has high temperatures ranging from 55 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The air quality in Morehead City is very good, with the American Lung Association giving the region an A for ozone pollution and ranking it among the cleanest metropolitan areas in the state. This may make the city a good option for older adults living with chronic lung or heart conditions.
• Living costs in Morehead City are high compared to state norms but slightly lower than national averages, which may make the city a favorable option for seniors with fixed incomes. On a 100-point index based on living costs in the nation as a whole, Morehead City scores 99.3 versus the North Carolina score of 91.

 

In Morehead City, assisted living residents pay average monthly rates of $3,645 for residential care.  

Morehead City offers budget-friendly assisted living, with local facilities charging $3,645 per month for services. This is 9% lower than typical assisted living rates statewide and 19% below the national norm, although it’s moderate compared to care costs in the region. In nearby Fayetteville, monthly fees trend lower at $3,000, and in Goldsboro, rates are 26% less than in Morehead City. However, this city may be a budget-friendly alternative to Greenville, where residents pay $4,613 for services, and Wilmington, where average monthly rates come in at $5,254.

With average rates at $3,645 per month, assisted living is the most affordable senior care option in the Morehead City region. This type of care is more economically priced than in-home care and home health care, which include private services in the individual’s home for $3,813 per month. Additionally, it’s about half the cost of nursing home care, which provides 24-hour skilled nursing services for $7,574.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in North Carolina page.