The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Buncombe County, NC for 2024

The population of Buncombe County, NC, is 257,607, and 19.4 percent of these people are age 65 or over, which is just under 50,000 seniors, the group most at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia. In North Carolina, the Alzheimer's Association estimates there are 170,000 people living with Alzheimer's, and this number is estimated to grow to 210,000 by the year 2025.

To accommodate residents of Buncombe County who require memory care, there are two memory care facilities, both located in Asheville. In Buncombe County, as in the rest of North Carolina, memory care facilities are officially known as Special Care Units (SCUs). 

• Located in the western part of North Carolina, the climate in Buncombe County is relatively comfortable — summers tend to be warm, as the average high in July is around 88 degrees. However, compared to the rest of North Carolina that typically doesn't get much snow, Buncombe County averages 18 inches annually. This may be a drawback for seniors who find winters challenging.
• The cost of living in Buncombe County is a bit above average for North Carolina as a whole. On a cost of living index that takes costs of housing, utilities and food into account and where the national average is 100, Buncombe County falls at 114, slightly above North Carolina's average of 96.
• North Carolina has low property taxes and sales tax is about average at 4.75 percent. For retirees collecting income, Social Security is tax exempt, but other retirement accounts, such as IRAs, pensions and 401ks, are subject to the state's income tax rate of 5.499 percent.
• Buncombe County is home to world-class medical facilities, including Mission Hospital in Asheville, in the event of medical emergencies or illness. 

Memory Care costs in Buncombe County start around $7,695 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Buncombe County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in North Carolina page.

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

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

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in North Carolina page.

Buncombe County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in North Carolina are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in North Carolina page for more information about these laws.