2 Communities in Hampstead, North Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the area is $5,355 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the area, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 2 Assisted Living Communities in Hampstead and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Hampstead, NC

• Assisted Living: $5,355
• Nursing Home Care: $6,844
• In-home Care: $3,714
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,289

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study examines monthly care cost in thousands of locations nationwide. The study shows that at $5,355, Hampstead’s assisted living price is notably higher than the state ($3,693) and national ($4,000) averages.

In fact, Hampstead has the second-highest assisted living price in the state behind Raleigh ($5,750), while prices in nearby cities such as Jacksonville ($3,125), New Bern ($3,588) and Goldsboro ($2,750) are much lower. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Hampstead, so data for the closest city, Wilmington, was used. 

In Hampstead, the monthly cost of a semiprivate nursing home room is $1,489 more than assisted living. This is because nursing homes provide around-the-clock medical care, while assisted living costs generally only include personal care services.  In-home senior care from a homemaker or home health aide is less costly than assisted living based on 44 hours of care per week. It’s important to recognize that residential services for seniors include accommodations and meals, while seniors who remain in their own homes need to continue paying these costs along with their care costs. 

 

Medicaid is the government-mandated national health plan that helps needy seniors, children and adults with disabilities access primary, emergency, acute and long-term health care. The program is administered at the state level, and in North Carolina, Medicaid is managed by the Division of Health Benefits. 

Because Medicaid is designed to help those who are unable to afford basic health care, the eligibility requirements include income and asset limits. In North Carolina, seniors who already receive Supplemental Security Income benefits or are registered in the State-County Special Assistance for the Aged or Disabled program are automatically eligible for Medicaid. 

To qualify for NC Medicaid, seniors must: 

• Have a monthly income of $1,041 or less for individuals and $1,409 or less for couples
• Own no more than $2,000 in countable assets (per person), or
• Own no more than $3,000 in countable assets when applying with a spouse
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Provide proof of permanent North Carolina residency
• Be a US citizen or have an eligible immigration status

Under the community spouse resource allowance the non-applicant spouse can keep up to $126,420 of a couples’ joint assets, an owner occupied home worth up to $585,000 and up to $3,160.50 as a monthly maintenance needs allowance. These allowance amounts are disregarded on the applicant spouse’s Medicaid application. 

If the applicant has income that exceeds Medicaid limits, they may be able to qualify for coverage under the medically needy pathway. This program is similar to private insurance in that participants must spend a predetermined amount of their excess income on medical expenses. Once they’ve reached their MN spending limit, Medicaid coverage begins. 

Personal Care Services

Personal Care Services is a NC Medicaid entitlement program that provides up to 3.5 hours of personal care daily, or 60 hours per month, for seniors who live in an adult care home, also known as assisted living. PCS services let seniors who need help with two or more activities of daily living remain in the community rather than be placed in a nursing facility. 

ADLs covered under this program include dressing, bathing, toileting, eating and mobility. 

To qualify for PCS, a NC Medicaid assessor must identify that the senior has a physical or cognitive impairment that results in unmet needs as follows:

• Requires some help to perform three out of five ADLs, or
• Requires extensive help with one ADL and some help with another, or
• Is completely dependent on another person to perform one ADL and needs some help with another

PCS services may be increased to 80 hours per month under the PCS Plus program with a written recommendation from a physician. 

For NC Medicaid and PCS application assistance, contact the Pender County Department of Social Services at (910) 259-1240. 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

The VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and the Housebound Allowance are two pension top-up programs for eligible veterans and their survivors. 

To qualify for these programs, applicants must be currently receiving a regular VA pension, or be eligible for a VA pension under the increased amounts available through the programs. Qualifying disabilities or illnesses don’t need to be related to military service. 

For Housebound, applicants must have a permanent disability that largely restricts them to their home, which may be an assisted living facility, the majority of the time. 

For Aid and Attendance, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Live in a nursing home to receive daily care for disability-related physical or cognitive issues

• Be bedridden most of the time as a result of an illness

• Have 5/200 or worse vision when wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses

• Have a visual field of 5 or fewer degrees

• Need another person to help with activities of daily living such as adjusting a prosthetic device, using the toilet, getting dressed, eating or grooming

Note that benefits from these two programs cannot be combined, even if applicants meet the criteria for both. 

To apply, contact Pender County Veterans Services, Hampstead Annex at (910) 270-5005. 

State-County Special Assistance Program

Seniors who collect Supplemental Security Income and live in an assisted living facility may qualify for additional benefits to help pay room-and-board costs through the State-County Special Assistance program. This program provides eligible seniors with a combined federal and state benefit of up to $1,228 per month. 

For more information, contact the Pender County Department of Social Services at (910) 259-1240. 

Pender Adult Services operates the Topsail Senior Center where seniors can sign up for a wide range of free and low-cost exercise classes, craft workshops, line dancing lessons and games. There’s a free bingo game held every Thursday, and congregate meals are served every weekday. 

Seniors aged 65 and older and disabled adults can register for PAS-TRAN, the organization’s weekday door-to-door accessible transportation service. PAS-TRAN provides low-cost connections to local shopping centers, medical offices and the senior center. 

Pender Adult Services, Inc.
20959 Highway 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0708

Pender Adult Services operates the Topsail Senior Center where seniors can sign up for a wide range of free and low-cost exercise classes, craft workshops, line dancing lessons and games. There’s a free bingo game held every Thursday, and congregate meals are served every weekday.  Seniors aged 65 and older and disabled adults can register for PAS-TRAN, the organization’s weekday door-to-door accessible transportation service. PAS-TRAN provides low-cost connections to local shopping centers, medical offices and the senior center.  Pender Adult Services, Inc.
20959 Highway 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0708

Pender County Veterans Services provide veterans, dependents and survivors with help completing and filing VA benefit applications and appeals, securing pension benefits and arranging transportation to VA medical facilities. 

VA health services including primary care, women’s health, cardiology, urology and medical imaging are available at the nearby Wilmington VA Clinic, an outpatient clinic affiliated with the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. 

Pender County Veterans Services – Hampstead Annex
15060 US Highway 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-5005

Wilmington VA Clinic
1705 Gardner Road, Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 343-5300

Pender County Christian Services and The 4C’s Food Pantry distribute grocery items to low-income seniors through their food pantry programs. PCCS also operates a thrift shop where seniors can purchase low-cost clothing and household items.  4C’s Food Pantry 
Jones Plaza, 15200 US Highway 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0930 Pender County Christian Services
210 W. Fremont St., Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-5840

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.