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

According to the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 170,000 people in North Carolina are living with Alzheimer's disease out of the state's 10.3 million residents. In Craven County, situated on the East Coast of North Carolina, there are 102,912 residents, 18.5% of whom are 65 or over, which is about 19,038 people. To accommodate these individuals who may require memory care, there are three memory care facilities, all located in New Bern.

In North Carolina, memory care communities are known as Special Care Units (SCUs), and exist within a type of assisted living residence (ALR) called Adult Care Homes (ACHs).

• Craven County, NC, is one of the most comfortable places to live in the state. Craven County averages about 214 sunny days a year, and the average high in July is 90 degrees, so it's important for seniors to have access to plenty of air conditioning. Winters are relatively mild, as the area averages around 2 inches of snow each year. The area ranks 72/100 on Sperling's Comfort Index.
• If good weather wasn't enough, the cost of living in Craven County is another great reason to move there, as it's very affordable for seniors. On a cost of living index where the national average is 100 and the state average is 96, Craven County's cost of living is 87.
• Violent crime is low in Craven County. On a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime), Craven County scores a 16.8, below the state average of 21.4. Property crime is a bit higher, so families of seniors seeking memory care may want to ask about available security measures. Property crime in Craven County is 48.7 on this same scale, which is above North Carolina's average of 37.7.
• Craven County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as CarolinaEast Neurology at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, in the event of medical emergencies or illness. 

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

Memory Care costs in Craven County start around $4,355 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 Craven 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.

Craven 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.