Memory Care Communities in Smithfield, North Carolina

Memory care facilities in Smithfield charge average monthly rates of $6,735 for care, which exceeds the state norm by 34% and the national average by 20%. Local rates also come in considerably higher than care costs in nearby cities, including Durham, where monthly fees average $6,000, and Rocky Mount, where residents pay $5,588 for care. Similarly, in Fayetteville, monthly care costs come in 44% below Smithfield’s average, and in Goldsboro, seniors pay 50% less for care.

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 the Smithfield region, memory care rates come in at $6,735 per month.

Memory care costs in Smithfield average $6,735 per month, making this one of the more expensive senior care options in the city. This rate exceeds the price of assisted living by 25%, and it's about 36% more expensive than what seniors pay for private in-home care or home health care. Residential dementia rates also exceed the cost of adult day health care, which comes in at $1,300, although they average about 4% less than local nursing home rates.

 

The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation oversees memory care facilities in Smithfield and the rest of North Carolina. It enforces minimum requirements for the number of caregivers on-site at a given time, as well as staff training and building requirements. Additionally, the department administers ongoing training and follows up on complaints of noncompliance with minimum standards.

• Memory care residents in Smithfield pay a flat state income tax rate of 4.99% on nearly all forms of retirement income. However, Social Security benefits are entirely tax-free at the state level, and the relatively large standard deduction of $12,750 may reduce this tax burden for retirees.
• While the overall cost of living in Smithfield comes in slightly higher than the state average, it’s 7% below the national norm and may indicate affordability for those with limited budgets. Additionally, the state’s Medicaid program partially funds memory care services for qualified individuals, further promoting affordability for seniors who need local dementia care.
• The Smithfield region offers exceptional air quality, which may benefit memory care residents living with chronic lung or heart conditions. The American Lung Association gives the region the highest scores available across the three metrics it measures, including annual particle, 24-hour particle and ozone pollution, and it indicates that there are virtually no days in which conditions are unsafe for vulnerable individuals.
• Crime occurs more frequently in Smithfield than in a typical U.S. city, making memory care an appealing alternative to living alone. On a 100-point index, the city scores 37 for violent crime compared to 22.7 nationally. Property crime ranks as even more prevalent, earning the city a score of 75.9 compared to 35.4 nationally.
• Over the course of the year, daytime temperatures in Smithfield range from 53 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 83 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The city only gets about 3 inches of annual snowfall but about 40 inches of rain, and humidity levels tend to be high between May and October. To keep residents comfortable, many memory care facilities have unit-controlled thermostats and indoor activities and amenities throughout the year.