North Carolina is a state filled with charm that starts with the city of Charlotte. It has all the amenities of a major city while providing a small-town feel. The state itself provides tax benefits to seniors like no estate or social security taxes and a flat income tax. Plus it has a lower than average cost of living. North Carolina also makes it easy to get away to places like the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. The mountains boast things like gorgeous waterfalls and farm-fresh food along with tasty beers.
There’s also the Outer Banks to consider where people can go to places like Hatteras Island, beaches, and cruise along with the ocean and experience nature.
Agencies on Aging
The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services
The Division of Aging and Adult Services works to promote the independence and enhance the dignity of North Carolina's older adults, persons with disabilities and their families through a community based system of opportunities, services, benefits and protections. See more and contact them via their website: www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/daas.
North Carolina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) are offices established through the Older Americans Act that serves to facilitate and support the development of programs to address the needs of older adults. In North Carolina, the AAA's are located within regional Councils of Government. These AAA's have functions in five basic areas: (1) advocacy; (2) planning; (3) program and resource development; (4) information brokerage; and (5) funds administration and quality assurance. Find your Noth Carolina Area Agency on Aging below.
REGION A
(Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain (EBCI))
Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging
125 Bonnie Lane
Sylva NC 28779
(828) 586-1962
FAX (828) 586-1968
regiona.org
REGION B
(Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania)
Land-of-Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Highway
Suite 140
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 251-6622
FAX (828) 251-6353
landofsky.org
REGION C
(Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford)
Isothermal Planning & Development Commission
P.O. Box 841
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-2281
FAX (828) 287-2735
regionc.org
REGION D
(Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey)
High Country Council of Governments
468 New Market Boulevard
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 265-5434 (see individual extensions)
FAX (828) 265-5439
regiond.org
REGION E
(Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba)
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
P.O. Box 9026
Hickory, NC 28603
(828) 322-9191
FAX (828) 322-5991
wpcog.org
REGION F
(Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union)
Centralina Council of Governments
525 North Tryon Street
12th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 372-2416 COG
FAX (704) 347-4710
centralina.org/centralinaaging/
REGION G
(Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth,Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin)
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
1398 Carrollton Crossing Drive
Kernersville, NC 27284
Main Phone Number: (336) 904-0300
Aging Fax: (336) 904-0302
ptrc.org
REGION K
(Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, Warren)
Kerr Tar Regional COG
1724 Graham Avenue
P.O. Box 709
Henderson, NC 27536
(252) 436-2040
FAX (252) 436-2055
kerrtarcog.org
REGION L
(Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, Wilson)
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments
121 W. Nash Street
PO Box 9
Wilson, NC 27894
Main Phone: (252) 234-5952
(see individual numbers)
FAX (252) 234-5971
ucpcog.org
REGION M
(Cumberland, Harnett,Sampson)
Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
P.O. Drawer 1510
Fayetteville, NC 28302
(910) 323-4191
FAX (910) 323-9330
mccog.org
REGION N
(Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland)
Lumber River Council of Governments
30 CJ Walker Road
COMtech Park
Pembroke, NC 28372
(see individual extensions)
Phone: (910) 618-5533
FAX: (910) 521-7556
lumberrivercog.org
REGION O
(Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender)
Cape Fear Council of Governments
1480 Harbour Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 395-4553 (see individual extensions)
(800) 218-6575
FAX (910) 395-2684
capefearcog.org
REGION P
(Carteret, Craven,Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Wayne)
Eastern Carolina Council of Governments
233 Middle Street
P.O. Box 1717
New Bern, NC 28563
(252) 638-3185
1-800-824-4648
COG - FAX (252) 638-3187
www.eccog.org/human-services-area-agency-on-aging
REGION Q
(Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin, Pitt)
Mid-East Commission
1385 John Small Avenue
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 946-8043 (see individual extensions)
FAX (252) 974-1852
mecaaa.org
REGION R
(Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington)
Albemarle Commission
512 South Church Street
P.O. Box 646
Hertford, NC 27944
(252) 426-5753
FAX (252) 426-8482
albemarlecommission.org
Alzheimer's Communities Regulations
Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty) is the only state funded, dementia specific support program for individuals who directly care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Project C.A.R.E. is a coordinated delivery system that is responsive to the needs, values and preferences of unpaid family caregivers.
www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/adult-services/project-care
Assisted Living Communities
North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation
The Division of Health Service Regulation oversees medical, mental health and adult care facilities, emergency medical services, and local jails. They check to see that people receiving care in these facilities are safe and receive appropriate care. They make certain that medical buildings are built only when there is a need for them.
https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/
Your retirement planning should be based on understanding the options associated with Assisted Living. As part of a retirement plan, these options combine housing, support services, and health care, as needed. Assisted living is a retirement service for individuals who require assistance with everyday activities such as meals, medication management or assistance, bathing, dressing, and transportation. Some residents may have memory disorders, including Alzheimer's, or they may need help with mobility, incontinence, or other challenges of senior life. Residents are assessed to determine the level of service they may need. These retirement services generally include 24/7 supervision, three meals a day, housekeeping, transportation, minor medical attention, personal care assistance, security and emergency call, exercise programs, social and educational activities. In addition, some Assisted living communities may provide: gardens, libraries, and chapels.
Assisted living communities are operated by both profit and non-profit organizations. Pricing can range from $1000 to over $4,000 per month based on your location. There may be extra fees for special services.
See our full Assisted Living page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Assisted Living resources to help you find a place that meets your needs.
Adult Day Care
Adult Day Care is a service for frail, physically or cognitively impaired seniors, and their caregivers. Numerous stand-alone adult day care facilities and adult day care centers are available in urban and suburban areas to provide elderly care. Check your state here. A large percentage of Adult Day Care centers are operated on a nonprofit or public basis. Many centers are affiliated with multi-service entities such as home care, assisted living, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
Congregate, assisted living or nursing care communities may offer elderly care as an "outpatient" service to the neighboring population on a per-day basis. Those that do may also provide respite care for a weekend, or a week. Senior centers may also offer senior day care as one of their services.
See our full Adult Day Care page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Adult Day Care resources to help you find a provider that meets your needs.
Senior Apartments
You may choose to spend your golden years in a community designed especially for mature adults. Senior living facilities come in many sizes and shapes. Senior apartments are one such chose. A Senior Apartment allows you to take advantage of many amenities and personalized services without having to maintain a house and yard.
Senior apartments should be a consideration for older adults that can take care of themselves. Aside from age-restrictions, these apartments are usually developed the same as standard apartments. Some of these apartments are also equipped with items such as handrails and pull cords to make getting around and living easier. Also, these apartments provide a community of elderly neighbors without the hassles of a larger home to manage. Properties can vary in terms of services but typically offer apartment living and services designed specifically for independent, active seniors 55 and older. Since many of these residences are designed for active seniors, most do not offer meal service, housekeeping, or medical services. Senior apartment complexes are usually located near senior centers, parks, shopping malls, golf courses, and public transportation. Some provide van services to nearby shopping and needed services.
Senior apartments can be found in many communities, some are under federal housing guidelines and will only accept low-income seniors, but most are privately owned. Many of the privately owned properties offer reduced rents to low-income tenants with assistance from Dept. of Housing Urban Development (HUD). You should be aware that senior apartments usually have a captured audience with a significant waiting lists period.
See our full Senior Apartments page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Senior Apartments resources to help you find a place that meets your needs.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
The type of care that may be administered ONLY BY A NURSING HOME near you is defined by state regulations. Generally, "medical procedures" and assistive acts requiring a nurse to physically "handle" a patient are limited to nursing home providers, when not in a hospital. For example, changing bandages for deep wounds is often only permitted in Nursing Homes, as is turning a patient in bed who cannot turn themselves.
See our full Skilled Nursing Facilities page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Skilled Nursing Facilities to help you find a place that meets your needs.
Cohousing
"Cohousing" refers to a type of collaborative housing that attempts to overcome the alienation of modern subdivisions in which no one knows his or her neighbor, and where there is no sense of community. The typical cohousing community has 20 to 30 units, privately owned single-family homes or apartments, arranged in such a way as to encourage interaction with neighbors. It often has a common house, workshops, shared gardens and a greenhouse, meeting and exercise rooms, and often a shared kitchen and dining room where residents may choose to prepare and share meals. In many cases, more than one generation of a family will live in cohousing.
See our full Cohousing page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Cohousing resources to help you find a place that meets your needs.
Senior Education
Did you know that taking a class in just about any subject can improve your cognitive abilities, rejuvenate your memory, and have fun all at the same time?
See our full Senior Education page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Senior Education resources to help you find a school that will inspire you to keep learning!
Elder Law
Elder Law Attorneys work primarily with people as they age. These attorneys usually coordinate with others in various fields to provide their clients with a wide variety of services.
See our full Elder Law page for more information, and our list of North Carolina Elder Law resources to help you find a school that will inspire you to keep learning!
Moving and Storage Services
Make sure you have the information you need to protect your memories, money, and belongings from moving problems. The best defense against moving difficulties is to be informed and aware of your options when choosing a reputable mover. While most household moves go smoothly, there are many pitfalls of which you should be aware. It can also be stressful, even under the best of circumstances.
Use the moving checklist to help guide you through the moving venture.
A critical step is to read and understand all information provided by the mover. These should include the following basic documents as part of your move:
Estimates
The estimate should clearly describe, in writing, all charges for services the mover will perform. Make sure the estimate is signed by the mover.
Do not accept oral estimates.
Bill of Lading
The bill of lading is a contract between you and the mover and a receipt of your belongings. You should be given a partially completed copy of the bill of lading before the mover leaves the residence at origin.
Order for Service
The order for service is a list of all the services the mover will perform and shows the dates your household goods will be picked up and delivered
Inventory
The inventory is the receipt showing each item you shipped and its condition. Be sure you receive a written copy of the inventory after your household goods are loaded and that you agree with its description of your household goods' condition.
See our list of North Carolina Moving Companies
Aging In Place
"Aging in place" is growing older without having to move. Aging in place with supportive services is one of the most desirable ways of aging. Aging in place can achieve efficiencies enabled by the customized care. The most successful aging in place approaches focus on the provision of the most appropriate care for the specific individual. Thus avoiding wasted costs brought on by a "generic" care model.
An aging in place scenario creates housing and health care options to provide support as defined by an individualís wishes and efforts to live independently. Aging in place can work best when it is employed as a part of a comprehensive plan for retirement and aging. An essential step in implementing aging in place is to make your home aging friendly. As we age, we don't hear so well, we sometimes forget or get confused, and we even outlive doctor's predictions about our longevity. So as long as we persist in growing older, why not arrange our homes to accommodate our reality. Incorporate memory triggers into the way we arrange cabinets and counters, add soft fabrics to muffle background noises, change appliances to better accommodate our short-comings.
If you want to learn more, visit our Age in place section. Once you have an idea of the changes needed in the home, it is time to discuss the changes with a contractor/builder in your area. See our list of North Carolina Aging In Place Specialists.
Hospice care
Hospice care is healthcare that specializes in the quality of life for people who are suffering from an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice care provides compassionate care for people in the final stages of an incurable disease so that they may live as well and comfortably as possible.
To learn more, visit our Hospice Care section. To find a specialist in your area, see our list of North Carolina Hospice Care Specialist.
State Department of Insurance
Insurance regulations differ from state to state. Need help with an insurance company provider? Want to know who writes Medigap insurance in your state?
Contact:
SHIIP can help you with questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Supplement Insurance and long-term care insurance.
855-408-1212 (toll free)
919-807-6901 (fax)
Physical Address:
Albemarle Building
325 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh NC 27603
www.ncdoi.com/SHIIP/
Resources, Products, and Other Considerations
The OTC Box is a Pharmacist created website to assist with medication management. Get a complete medication review from a licensed pharmacist! This is very beneficial to those who take five or more medications and have chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular or chronic diseases. Our service is online and via telephone. Please visit: https://www.theotcbox.com/CompleteMedicationReview for more details!