Wallace is a small North Carolina town located about 40 miles north of Wilmington. The city doesn’t have enough residents for current population data, but in its county, Duplin, 19.4% of the 48,715 residents are seniors, which is a 17.5% higher concentration of older adults than the national average. Wallace’s cost of living and violent crime rate are both below national averages, and with the beach less than an hour’s drive away in addition to parks and nearby nature preserves, the city’s retirees have plenty of ways to stay active outdoors.
According to the latest results from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Wallace’s seniors can expect to pay around $5,877 a month for assisted living, an average of $2,077 more than what most seniors across the state pay. However, between the area’s four assisted living communities, costs could vary substantially depending on an individual’s preferences and required level of assistance.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
At $5,877 a month, Wallace’s average cost of assisted living is higher than both the state and national averages. Out of its four neighboring states, Georgia is the most affordable, with most of its assisted living residents saving about $2,377 a month compared to Wallace’s. The costliest state in the region is Virginia, although its median cost of assisted living is still $1,027 lower than Wallace’s average. In South Carolina and Tennessee, assisted living costs an average of $3,998 and $4,039 a month, respectively.
Across North Carolina’s most prominent cities, Asheville’s $2,750 a month average cost of assisted living and Fayetteville’s $3,500 average are among the most affordable. In Raleigh, the average monthly cost of assisted living is $1,077 lower than in Wallace, and in Charlotte, seniors are paying $1,228 less for their care. In nearby Greensboro, seniors pay $4,509 per month for assisted living.
Note: Data for Wallace was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Wilmington, was used instead.
North Carolina’s Medicaid program and its various home and community-based services make paying for long-term care much more feasible for Wallace’s low-income seniors. Its Personal Care Services program covers the cost of care at assisted living facilities, which the state defines as adult care homes.
Check out our Assisted Living in North Carolina state page for more details about the state’s government-funded long-term care assistance programs.
Contact | Description | |
Senior Community Service Employment Program | (910) 798-3900 | The S.C.S.E.P. helps Wallace residents over the age of 55 rejoin the workforce by connecting them with part-time jobs at local government offices and nonprofits where they learn new skills. Seniors can work at a variety of organizations, from pet adoption centers to thrift stores and food banks. The program pays minimum wage, and participants work for 20 hours each week. |
Duplin County Veterans Services | (910) 296-2114 | The Duplin County Veterans Services office can assist retired service members with applying for military benefits and finding documentation to support their claims. Its Veterans Service Officers can also help former members of the armed forces learn about the VA health care system. |
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program | (919) 855-3400 | The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps older adults in senior care communities through advocacy and education services. Ombudsmen provide guidance to prospective assisted living residents by explaining how Medicaid and Medicare could pay for their care. They also assist current residents of senior care communities by investigating any complaints regarding their care. |
Duplin County Services for The Aged | (910) 296-2140 | At the Duplin County Services for The Aged, Wallace’s seniors can learn about all the available programs designed to help them live safely at home as well as how long-term care insurance can help pay for assisted living costs. In-home care, legal assistance and transportation are a few of the most popular services managed by the agency. |
Seniors Health Insurance Information Program | (910) 296-2140 | Volunteers with S.H.I.I.P. provide free insurance counseling to seniors who want to learn more about Medicare plans and how they compare to other insurance options. Seniors can meet with a counselor one-on-one at the Duplin County Services for The Aged office, which is also where the program holds educational seminars on topics such as how to reduce Medicare costs, Medicare supplements and the differences between the program’s different parts. |
Wallace’s assisted living facilities are licensed and overseen by the state’s Division of Health Services Regulation within the Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more about the laws Wallace’s assisted living communities operate under, visit our Assisted Living in North Carolina state page.