60 Assisted Living Communities in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $3,803 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 60 Assisted Living Communities in Mecklenburg County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Mecklenburg County, NC

• Assisted Living: $3,803
• Nursing Home Care: $6,935
• In-home Care: $3,813
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,343

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study examines monthly senior care costs throughout the county. The study shows that at $3,803, costs in Mecklenburg County are $110 higher than the state average and $197 below the national average. Costs are lower in the nearby cities of Hickory ($3,300), Burlington ($2,800) and Durham ($3,150), while higher in Asheville ($4,491), Greensboro ($4,883) and Winston ($4,215). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Mecklenburg County, so data for Charlotte, a city in the county, was used. 

Monthly senior care costs are based on these important factors: level of care provided, staff to senior ratios and number of service hours needed per month. Nationwide, nursing home care is typically the most expensive option because it includes around-the-clock medical care in a state-licensed facility, and that’s also true in Mecklenburg County, where a semiprivate room in a nursing home costs nearly twice as much as assisted living.  Hiring a homemaker for 44 hours a week costs about the same as assisted living, while a home health aide costs slightly more. It’s essential to acknowledge that residential care prices usually include meals and accommodations when weighing distinct senior care alternatives. Seniors who remain in their own homes continue to pay daily living expenses, such as food, rent and home maintenance. 

About 20% of North Carolina residents are covered by Medicaid, the federally mandated nationwide health protection program for low-income seniors, disabled adults and children. Medicaid coverage includes inpatient and outpatient hospital services, primary care, medical transportation, diagnostic testing and long-term health services. 

Seniors can receive no more than $1,041 per individual ($1,410 per couple) per month to qualify for NC Medicaid and own no more than $2,000 in countable assets per individual or $3,000 per pair when both spouses apply for coverage.

Seniors must also have a Social Security number, provide proof of North Carolina residency and be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status. 

Note: Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income or State/County Special Assistance for the Aged or Disabled automatically qualify for Medicaid coverage. 

If only one spouse in a married couple is applying for Medicaid, the non-applicant spouse is entitled to a maximum of $3,160.50 for a monthly maintenance needs allowance. The non-applicant can also retain up to $126,420 in joint marital assets under the community spouse resource allowance. 

Some assets are exempt under Medicaid’s eligibility rules, including one vehicle, personal effects, a non-revocable burial trust and an owner-occupied home appraised at $585,000 or less. 

Personal Care Services

NC Medicaid funds community-based personal care services for eligible seniors residing in a licensed assisted living facility, also known as an adult care home. 

The Personal Care Services program pays for up to 3.5 hours of daily personal care assistance (up to 60 hours per month) for Medicaid-enrolled seniors who have a chronic illness, disability or age-related limitations that impact their ability to perform at least two activities of daily living independently. 

Qualifying ADLs include toileting, grooming, eating, dressing and mobility. Eligible seniors must be evaluated by a NC Medicaid assessor or designated as needing: 

• Some help with three of five ADLs
• Extensive help with one ADL and some help with another ADL
• Complete hands-on assistance with one ADL and some help with another ADL

Seniors who qualify for PCS and have a physicans’ endorsement may be eligible for up to 80 hours of personal care monthly under the PCS Plus program. 

Note: PCS/PCS Plus are Medicaid-entitlement programs, therefore, all seniors who qualify will receive services. 

Applying for Medicaid and PCP

Seniors can apply for Medicaid and Medicaid-funded programs, such as PCP, by visiting the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services in the Wallace H. Kuralt Centre at 301 Billingsley Road in Charlotte, or Chapin Hall at 3205 Freedom Drive in Charlotte weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Medicaid applications are also accepted in-person at multiple Carolinas Medical Center sites and the Presbyterian Hospital – Hawthorne Lane site.  

Seniors who are unable to visit one of the Medicaid application sites in-person due to illness or mobility issues can request a home visit from an intake worker by calling DSS Customer Connection at (704) 336-3000. 

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Seniors aged 55 and older who meet the Medicaid criteria for nursing home placement, reside in Mecklenburg County and can safely live in the community with appropriate supports may qualify for participation in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. 

PACE is a comprehensive managed care program that provides senior-centered medical and nonmedical care, which lets eligible seniors age in place. Participation in PACE is voluntary, and members can opt-out at any time. 

To qualify for PACE enrollment, seniors must: 

• Live in a designated PACE service area 

• Be aged 55 or older

• Have the ability to reside in a community setting with assistance

• Be enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare or both, or 

• Be willing to pay privately for PACE services

Once enrolled in PACE, seniors receive all Medicaid-funded services through the PACE program and participating PACE providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and personal care attendants. 

Services are centralized at a local PACE site and include recreational programming, day health services, transportation and in-home services as needed. 

For more information or to request a PACE preadmission assessment, contact PACE of the Southern Piedmont at (704) 887-3840.

State-County Special Assistance Program

Supplemental Security Income recipients aged 65 and older who reside in an assisted living facility, also known as an adult care home, may qualify for additional state funding for room-and-board costs through the State-County Special Assistance program for adult care home residents. 

To be eligible, seniors must live in a facility that accepts the monthly state rate for special assistance, which is currently $1,182. Qualified seniors may receive combined federal/state benefits of $1,228 per month, which allows $46 for a personal needs allowance. 

For more information, contact the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services at (704) 336-3000. 

Veterans, survivors and dependents can call or visit the Mecklenburg County Veterans Services office weekdays from 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. to speak with an  officer about VA pensions, benefits and appeals. 

VA health services, including primary and specialty care, laboratory tests and prescriptions, are available at the newly-constructed, barrier-free South Charlotte VA Clinic. There are also a number of veterans service organizations including three American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts. 

Mecklenburg County Veterans Services – Valerie C. Woodward Center
3205 Freedom Dr., Suite 2000, Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 432-7233

South Charlotte VA Clinic
3506 West Tyvola Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208-7201
(704) 329-1300

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.