Memory Care Communities in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Memory care rates in Chapel Hill come in at $6,000 per month, exceeding the state norm by 20% and the national average by about 7%. While local care rates average hundreds of dollars below Raleigh’s average of $6,735, seniors may pay less in other nearby cities. For example, in Greensboro, monthly care costs are 21% lower than the local norm. Similarly, seniors in Burlington pay about 31% less for care, and in Fayetteville, monthly care costs come in 38% below Chapel Hill’s norm.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we've estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth's 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

In Chapel Hill, memory care facilities charge $6,000 per month for services.

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.

Memory care ranks as one of the more expensive senior care options in Chapel Hill, with residents paying $6,000 per month for this level of care. This comes in about 26% higher than what agencies charge for in-home care and home health care services in private residences, and it exceeds the cost of assisted living by 25%. Adult day health care, which includes daytime services and recreational activities in a community setting, costs 73% less than memory care, but nursing home residents pay about 17% more than memory care residents for 24-hour medical support.

The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation oversees memory care facilities in Chapel Hill and requires them to obtain licensing or registration, depending on their size and scope of care. Along with this, the division provides ongoing support to facilities and residents through staff training, routine visits and by following up on complaints.

• Seniors in Chapel Hill pay a flat 4.99% state income tax on most forms of retirement income, with the exception of Social Security benefits, which the state doesn’t tax. While there are no other deductions or exemptions for retirement income, the state’s comparatively large standard deduction of $12,750 may leave more money in the bank for memory care expenses.
• Chapel Hill resides in Orange County, a registered dementia-friendly community that has taken steps toward raising awareness for dementia and creating a strong support network for seniors and families. Through the county, Chapel Hill residents can connect with early-stage engagement programming, support groups and informational resources.
• Orange County, where Chapel Hill resides, serves as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network. It ranks among the top half of U.S. communities for amenities and features such as public transportation accessibility, its numerous parks and high hospital patient satisfaction rates, which may benefit those moving to this community for memory care.
• Chapel Hill promotes a supportive environment for those with dementia through UNC Health, a leading health care provider in the state. It operates a neurology clinic in the city proper that treats a range of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
• Chapel Hill ranks among the costlier places to live in North Carolina, which may be a consideration for some seniors and families considering local memory care services. On a 100-point index based on national living costs, the city scores 107.8 versus the North Carolina score of 91. Fortunately, qualified individuals may be able to obtain assistance with memory care expenses through the state’s Medicaid program.
• While the American Lung Association ranks the metro in which Chapel Hill resides as one of the cleanest in the nation for ozone pollution, its data suggests high levels of particle pollution. Fortunately, many local memory care communities have air purification systems to support residents’ health and comfort.