Located in beautiful North Carolina, Charlotte is one of the East Coast's largest cities and commercial hubs. it's the most populous city in North Carolina, home to roughly 860,000 residents. As such, Charlotte is home to a wide variety of urban amenities and resources, including senior living communities. The senior living communities in Charlotte include assisted living facilities, which provide personal care services and housing for residents who need help with their activities of daily living.
All assisted living communities in Charlotte are subject to North Carolina's regulations for housing and personal care services. They must provide housing and services according to the state's licensing provisions in order to retain their status as residential care facilities. This guide will discuss North Carolina's regulations for assisted living communities, giving prospective residents an idea of what to expect before they apply or move into a residence.
Charlotte Assisted Living
In North Carolina, the term “assisted living residences” refers to two types of long-term care facilities:
Adult care homes
Multi-unit assisted housing with services facilities
Both types of communities are regulated by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation board, which licenses communities based on size. Facilities that serve between 2 and 6 residents are defined as Family Care Homes, and Facilities that serve 7 or more residents are classified as adult care homes.
Many adult care homes provide respite care, however, this is not required by the state.
Multi-unit assisted housing with services settings are not licensed through the division of Health Service regulation board the same way that adult care homes are. Instead of receiving a license to practice care, these communities are only required to register with the state and provide a disclosure statement that discusses the services and housing they provide.
Assisted living residences in Charlotte are defined as entities that provide group housing and services for at least two adults. Both family care homes and adult care homes are defined as Assisted living residences in North Carolina.
Communities that are licensed for assisted living must provide personal care services directly or through a written, formal agreement with a licensed home care provider or a hospice agency. These types of residences may be allowed to provide nursing services on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the state's licensing authority. However, nursing services are not standard at most assisted iving residences in Charlotte.
The term “assisted living residence” encompasses adult care homes, family care homes, and multi-unit assisted housing with services settings. While adult care homes and multi-unit assisted housing with services settings differ in many ways, they are both classified as assisted living residences in Charlotte. The main differences between these two types of assisted living residences lie in the services, amenities, and housing they provide.
Assisted Living versus other types of long-term care in Charlotte, North Carolina
Assisted Living residences are popular for the personal care services and amenities they provide, but they aren't the only option for long-term care in Richmond. In fact, the city is home to a wide variety of senior living communities that provide varying levels of care which are suitable for families with a spectrum of daily needs.
Getting help with activities of daily living is a primary reason many people move into community-based care. They may wish to have around-the-clock assistance, which may not be available if they receive personal care in a home-based setting. However, assisted living offers much more than personal care services which attract residents.
At assisted living residences in Charlotte, residents enjoy recreational activities, meals, transportation, and housekeeping services to help them live their lives to the fullest. These amenities are offered alongside personal care services to create a balanced living environment that meets each resident’s social, recreational, and daily needs.
However, a person may want to enjoy the benefits of community-based care even if they don't need assistance with their activities of daily living. For these individuals, Independent Living may be a more appropriate choice for long-term care.
At independent living communities, residents are responsible for their own day-to-day activities. They are typically self-sufficient, and request assistance as needed instead of participating in a daily care routine with check-ins from staff members.
Like assisted living communities, independent living residences provide amenities for residents to enjoy. These may vary by location, but commonly include transportation to locations throughout the city, meals, social events, and more.
Unlike independent or assisted living communities, nursing homes offer a specialized level of care that's suitable for those with ongoing health conditions. Known as Skilled Nursing Care, nursing homes are more adequately staffed to provide this type of treatment than residential care facilities.
Residential care facilities are not licensed to provide skilled nursing care, making nursing homes a more suitable choice for those who require ongoing medical attention. If a person has a chronic illness or injury that cannot be adequately treated at an assisted living community, they may consider a nursing home for a more appropriate level of care.
Assisted Living Services and Amenities in Charlotte, North Carolina
In North Carolina, assisted living facilities are required to provide certain services and amenities in accordance with the state's licensing provisions.
To receive an assisted living license in North Carolina, an adult care home must provide 24-hour staff supervision and monitoring for their residents. They must provide scheduled and unscheduled assistance with each resident's personal needs, which include their activities of daily living. Typical daily activities staff assist with include eating, dressing, bathing, and maintaining personal hygiene - however, the specific activities a person gets assistance with depends on their individual needs.
Additionally, adult care homes in North Carolina must provide transportation services, social activities and events, and housekeeping. Whether a community provides Personal Care directly or through contracts with third-party providers is up to their discretion.
Adult care homes May provide nursing services on a case-by-case basis as approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. They may also provide certain nursing Services through licensed home care agencies, who provide them on site. If residents need nursing services, they have the right to obtain them through providers other than their chosen community as long as they cover the cost themselves.
All adult care homes must provide at least three meals a day for each resident, complemented with three snacks a day. At least 10 hours should pass between a person's morning meal and their evening meal, and therapeutic diet should be available when ordered by a physician.
If residents have modified or therapeutic diets ordered by a physician, they must be reviewed and planned by a registered dietitian. Communities must have adequate staff to provide individual feeding assistance as needed.
Assisted Living Apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina
North Carolina does not require adult care homes to provide apartment-style units and private rooms. any Community licensed after 2004 may not house more than two residents in one bedroom. Facilities which were licensed before 2004 may house up to four residents in one bedroom.
Communities do not have to include private bathrooms in their senior living units, however many do. If a community chooses not to provide private bathrooms, they must offer at least one sink and toilet for every 5 residents and one bathing facility for every 10.
Along with the state’s requirements, assisted living apartments may offer a handful of optional amenities to improve residents’ quality of life. Popular optional in-unit amenities include:
Cable and internet hookups
Individually-controlled heating and air conditioning
Cooking appliances and refrigerators
In-unit washers and dryers
Closets
Typically, assisted living apartments are unfurnished when long-term residents move in. Many communities offer residents the freedom to decorate as they please, helping them feel more at home.
Things to Do in Charlotte, North Carolina
As the most populous city in North Carolina, there's plenty to do in and around Charlotte. Activities include indoor and outdoor adventures that are fun for the whole family, including amusement parks, outdoor recreation areas, and museums. With so much to offer, tourists and local residents are sure to find something they will enjoy without looking far.
One of the city's most recognizable points of interest is the Carowinds theme park. Spanning more than 400 acres, Carowinds is actually located on the state line of North and South Carolina. Although its address is technically in Charlotte, part of the park is located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park is home to a wide variety of thrill rides and roller coasters, including attractions that are great for guests of all ages. Open seasonally, Carowinds is a great place to enjoy a warm summer day in Charlotte.
Like racing? Then the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte is a must-see destination, honoring some of the Sport's most famous drivers. the museum features cars, equipment, and photographs commemorating NASCAR's greatest drivers, Crew Chief, and owner's. Along with permanent exhibits, the Hall of Fame offers events so visitors can get an even closer inside look at NASCAR's history.
Local Charlotte residents who enjoy hiking, sports, or water activities well enjoy spending time at Freedom Park. Freedom Park is a Lakeside recreational area that offers Sports Fields, playgrounds, walking trails, and more. Spanning nearly 100 acres, guests can spend an entire day at the park in admiring its scenic Beauty and enjoying its many outdoor amenities.
Funding Assisted Living in Charlotte, North Carolina
Paying for long-term care can seem challenging what families approach retirement, but it doesn't have to be. Fortunately, there are a variety of programs available to help those who are moving into long-term care communities, making any more financially viable option or retirement living.
Depending on how long a person has until they reach retirement age, long-term care insurance may be an affordable way to offset the cost of assisted living. it's common for assisted living communities in Charlotte to accept long-term care insurance policies as a means of payment, making it a viable alternative to paying out-of-pocket for families who plan far enough in advance.
However, a family should be aware that the cost of long-term care insurance policies go up the closer they are to retirement age. The younger a person is when they purchase their long-term care insurance policy, the more they will save each monthly premiums. As a person approaches retirement age, long-term care insurance may not offer the same savings as if they had purchased it many years in advance.
If long-term care insurance isn't an option, and an individual is worried about paying for long-term care out-of-pocket, there are a handful of government subsidized programs that may be of assistance. For example, Medicaid offers a special waiver for eligible recipients to help them pay for long-term care in a community-based setting.
Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a unique program exclusive to Veterans who served in the United States armed forces and who were not dishonorably discharged. The program, widely known as Aid & Attendance designed for veterans who need ongoing assistance with their activities of daily living.
To receive the benefit, a person must be financially eligible for the standard monthly pension awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, a family should speak with their VA caseworker to discuss their personal eligibility for the aid and attendance program.