The Best Memory Care Facilities in Carteret County, NC

In North Carolina, an East Coast state with a population of over 10.3 million people, an estimated 170,000 individuals are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to figures from the Alzheimer's Association. In Carteret County, located right on the Atlantic coast, there are 69,524 people, 24.2 percent of whom are age 65 or over. This amounts to about 16,824 seniors. To support these residents who may have Alzheimer's or dementia, there are two memory care facilities, both located in Morehead City.

In Carteret County, as in the rest of North Carolina, memory care facilities are referred to as Special Care Units (SCUs).

• The climate in Carteret County is comfortable for seniors, as the area enjoys warm weather almost year-round and gets minimal snow during winter months, about 1 inch on average. According to Sperling's Comfort Index, Carteret County scores a 76 out of 100, and the area has an average of 211 sunny days a year.
• The cost of living in Carteret County is slightly above the state average. On a cost of living index that takes into account the costs of housing, utilities and food, the average for North Carolina is 96, and Carteret County is 105. This may be useful for families and seniors looking to find affordable memory care options.
• While violent crime rates in Carteret County are low, at 18.4, slightly below the state average of 21.4, property crime rates are higher, so families may want to inquire about additional security measures in place at memory care facilities. The property crime rate in Carteret County is 56.8, much higher than the state average of 37.7. These numbers are based on a crime level scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime).
• North Carolina is moderately tax-friendly for seniors. The state does not tax Social Security income, but pension income from both public and private funds are taxed, as are withdrawals from retirement accounts at the state's income tax rate of 5.5%. 

Note: Data on this page was updated in 2019 and based on the latest 2018 figures.

Memory Care costs in Carteret County start around $7,405 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 Carteret 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.

Carteret 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.