The Best Memory Care Communities in Johnston County, NC

In North Carolina, there are an estimated 170,000 individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Johnston County, North Carolina has a sizable senior population — of its 196,708 residents, 13 percent are 65 or over, which is about 25,572 seniors. For those seniors who require memory care in Johnston County, there are three memory care facilities, one in Smithfield, one in Clayton and one in Four Oaks.

In Johnston County, memory care facilities are officially known as Special Care Units (SCUs).

• The climate in Johnston County is relatively pleasant. The area averages about 217 sunny days each year, providing plenty of opportunity for seniors to enjoy time outside. Summers are warm, as the average July high is 89 degrees. Johnston County also receives minimal snow accumulation of only 2 inches annually.
• Crime in Johnston County is relatively moderate, so families searching for memory care may want to inquire about any additional security measures. Property crime rates in Johnston County are 54.4 on a scale of 1 to 100. This is higher than the Raleigh Metro area (36.8) and the state average of 37.7. Violent crime is much lower at 22.4, but this is still higher than the Raleigh Metro area average of 16.1.
• The cost of living in Johnston County is quite affordable, on par with the rest of the state. On Sperling's cost of living index where the national average is 100, Johnston County's cost of living is 96.7, close to the state average of 96.2.
• North Carolina is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. While the state does not tax Social Security benefits, it does tax other forms of senior retirement income, such as 401ks, IRAs or public and private pensions. These types of accounts are taxed at the state income tax rate of 5.499 percent. 

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

Memory Care costs in Johnston County start around $5,619 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 Johnston 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.

Johnston 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.