Free senior care guidance for Triangle families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (984) 205-2995
Raleigh Senior Advisor

Memory Care: Disclosure or Certification in North Carolina?

North Carolina requires a Special Care Unit disclosure statement under G.S. 131D-8 -- not a separate license or certification -- before a community can market secured memory care.

Get matched freeCall (984) 205-2995
Home›State Rules›Memory Care: Disclosure or Certification in North Ca

Memory care in North Carolina: disclosure, not a separate license

Short answer

North Carolina does not issue a separate memory-care license or certification. Instead, an adult care home adds a Special Care Unit (SCU) designation to its existing license, which requires state approval of a required disclosure statement under G.S. 131D-8 and 10A NCAC 13F .1300.

The distinction matters because it means 'memory care' is not a state-endorsed quality mark the way a hospital accreditation might be. It is a disclosure requirement: a community that wants to market a secured Alzheimer's or dementia unit must file a disclosure statement describing its staffing, programming, and physical design, and the state must approve that disclosure before the unit can operate as a designated Special Care Unit.

On a tour, ask to see the community's current Special Care Unit disclosure statement by name. It should describe staffing ratios inside the secured unit specifically (not the building-wide daytime ratio), what training staff receive, how exits are secured, and what the admission and discharge criteria are for that unit.

Source: N.C.G.S. 131D-8; 10A NCAC 13F .1300 (Special Care Unit rules).

What to ask for, by name, on a tour

Ask to see the community's current Special Care Unit disclosure statement, filed under G.S. 131D-8. It should describe staffing inside the secured unit specifically, staff training, physical design and exit security, and admission/discharge criteria for that unit -- not just the building-wide policy.

Source: NC DHSR Special Care Unit disclosure requirements

Questions families ask

How do Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS) work for a resident in a licensed adult care home near North Hills?

Medicaid State Plan Personal Care Services can pay for hands-on personal care — help with bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and similar activities of daily living — provided to a Medicaid-eligible resident within a licensed adult care home, but PCS does not cover the room-and-board portion of the facility's cost, which is typically covered separately by State/County Special Assistance for eligible residents. PCS hours are individually assessed based on the resident's documented need.

Where do I start the paperwork for long-term-care Medicaid if my parents live in Orange County?

Apply for long-term-care (aged/blind/disabled) Medicaid through the Orange County Department of Social Services, which handles the financial and categorical eligibility determination; for CAP/DA specifically, also contact the CAP/DA case management entity serving Orange County. The NC Medicaid Contact Center, 888-245-0179, can help direct families to the right local office and answer general eligibility questions.

What's the phone number for NC Medicaid if I have general questions about applying for my father in Johnston County?

The NC Medicaid Contact Center can be reached at 888-245-0179 for general questions about NC Medicaid programs and eligibility, though the actual application and financial eligibility determination for long-term-care Medicaid is processed through the county DSS — in this case, Johnston County DSS — rather than the contact center itself.

Does Special Assistance pay more for a relative with Alzheimer's in a licensed memory care unit in Wake Forest than for standard adult care home care?

Yes — North Carolina's Special Assistance program applies a separate, higher payment rate for Adult Care Home residents with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder who reside in a licensed Special Care Unit, compared to the standard SA room-and-board rate for residents in general adult care home settings. Exact current rates should be confirmed with the local county DSS or the NC DHHS Special Assistance Manual, since payment levels change periodically.

Can my father use both VA Aid & Attendance and NC Medicaid at the same time to pay for care near Raleigh?

VA Aid & Attendance is a federal pension add-on, not a North Carolina state program, and it is generally counted as income when NC Medicaid evaluates a long-term-care applicant's financial eligibility — so a veteran may receive VA Aid & Attendance and separately pursue NC Medicaid, but the VA payment itself typically factors into the Medicaid income calculation rather than being ignored or 'stacked' independently. Families should discuss the specific interaction with county DSS or a benefits counselor, since VA and Medicaid rules can interact in ways that affect eligibility for either program.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free