Memory care around Winston-Salem: North Carolina's special care units

What is memory care in North Carolina?

Memory care in North Carolina is a special care unit for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, approved by DHSR as part of an adult care home or nursing home license, with secured exits, staff trained in dementia care and a written disclosure statement.

In the five counties, 23 adult care homes hold special care unit beds (789 in total on DHSR's October 28, 2026 list), and 4 nursing homes hold another 104.

Who needs a memory care unit?

People with dementia whose safety needs exceed what an ordinary setting can provide: those who try to leave, get lost, wander at night, do not recognize danger, or have agitation that needs skilled redirection.

Not everyone with dementia needs a unit. Many people in the early stages live well at home or in regular assisted living with good support.

What does memory care cost around Winston-Salem?

There is no published median for memory care in North Carolina; units usually charge more than standard assisted living, whose 2025 statewide median is about $6,200 a month, so compare written quotes.

For low-income residents, State/County Special Assistance pays its Enhanced Rate, up to $1,792 a month in 2026, in a special care unit that accepts it.

What should a memory care unit's disclosure statement tell us?

N.C.G.S. 131D-8 requires it to describe the unit's philosophy, admission and discharge criteria, staffing and training, physical environment and security, activities, family involvement and costs.

Ask for it before the tour and compare it with what you see on the floor.

How do we compare memory care units?

Check the special care unit beds on the state list, the home's star rating and survey history, staffing inside the unit at night, how residents spend their days, and what changes would require a move.

Visit in the late afternoon, when restlessness is common, and watch how staff respond.

Can a nursing home provide memory care?

Yes. Some nursing homes hold special care unit beds of their own, which suits residents with dementia who also need daily skilled nursing; in our five counties a few nursing homes have them.

Those nursing homes are rated by CMS rather than DHSR, and our directory shows their CMS figures.

How is memory care spread across the five counties?

This is how the state's files distribute memory care across Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes and Yadkin counties.