The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Raleigh, NC

Located close to downtown and UNC Health Rex Hospital, Brighton Gardens of Raleigh offers assisted living and memory care in a convenient location within minutes of emergency health services. We highlighted this community on our list for presenting award-winning dining and earning a 4-star rating from the state of North Carolina, designating it a top-tier adult care provider. Professionally trained staff employ evidence-based programs and therapies, such as the validation approach, to work through emotions and minimize confusion and anxiety. Memory care residents live in a 24-hour monitored neighborhood in the community and receive assistance with personal care and gentle reminders for daily tasks, meals and activities.

Sunrise of North Hills is located in an upscale neighborhood in north Raleigh, 3 miles north of Duke Raleigh Hospital. The community's Reminiscence program for dementia and Alzheimer's makes the most of every moment with life skill stations to encourage fine motor skills, a curated calendar of events promoting cognitive function and a focus on holistic wellness through personalized care. Memory care residents live in studio, one-bedroom or companion suites offering kitchenettes, private bathrooms and generous closet space and have access to a secured garden courtyard for outdoor activities. In the dining room, a chef-prepared menu offers three nutritious daily meals, while the bistro cafe provides all-day snacks and beverage options.

Sunrise of Raleigh earns a place on our list for its highly trained, tenured staff and its strong reputation for standard-setting senior care within the Raleigh community. Located in the Crabtree Valley neighborhood, 3 miles from Rex Hospital, Sunrise of Raleigh provides full-service senior care emphasizing personalized service. Many of the team's caregivers are certified in the Alzheimer’s Association’s essentiALZ training program, which focuses on the latest research-based and person-centered practices for dementia and Alzheimer's care. Although residents in memory care reside in a specially secured wing of the community, Reminiscence activities take place throughout the common and living areas on campus, promoting a sense of community and belonging.

We selected Cadence North Raleigh for our list for its award-winning memory care and signature programming, which provides a holistic approach to dementia and Alzheimer's care. Revere memory care uses proven sensory therapies, such as Dancing with Dementia, to promote physical fitness and lessen fall risks, and intergenerational activities and pet therapy visits increase social engagement. Caregivers take a customized approach to resident care, minimizing stress with familiar schedules and building trusted relationships that promote confidence. Accommodations in the memory care neighborhood offer a choice of studio or companion suites with private, handicap-accessible bathrooms. Care includes daily living assistance, medication management and wellness checks along with three restaurant-style meals.

Situated in the vibrant city of Cary, 12 miles west of downtown Raleigh, Sunrise of Cary offers assisted living, memory care, short-term stays and coordinated hospice services to provide a continuum of care on one campus. At Sunrise, Live with a Purpose programming uses music to recall cherished memories, creative arts to spark imagination and interactive games and socials to encourage physical activity. Professionally trained caregivers are on-call 24/7, assisting residents with personal care, medication reminders, cues for everyday tasks and assistance at meals. The campus includes a library with cozy seating and a secure outdoor courtyard for relaxing indoors or outside.

The award-winning 22-acre campus of Woodland Terrace stands out on our list for its signature Art of Living Well culture, providing a full spectrum of senior living with resort-style amenities in a peaceful location. The expansive campus includes a fitness center with an indoor heated pool under a solarium glass roof where memory care residents can receive aquatic therapy. Residents of The Arboretum memory care neighborhood receive assistance with weekly housekeeping, linen and laundry service. Residents with cognitive impairments can benefit from tailored programs, including a Music & Memory program and garden program, and are welcome in Art of Living programming as well.

Offering assisted living and memory care, Brookdale MacArthur Park is situated in a quiet, residential neighborhood 5 miles from WakeMed Cary Hospital. The community's Clare Bridge Daily Path approach begins each day with a series of evidence-based programs to help guide residents into purposeful activities, while evenings are filled with quiet reading time, movies or a hand massage to aid relaxation. Three nutritious daily meals are augmented with seasonal recipes, restaurant outings and birthday celebrations to help bring the community together and foster a sense of camaraderie. The campus includes a fitness room and whirlpool tub for private physical and rehabilitation therapy and an outdoor courtyard where residents can relax in the fresh air.

Located in a peaceful residential area, Brookdale Cary is a dedicated memory care community with signature programs for all stages of dementia and Alzheimer's. Using its Clare Bridge approach to personalized dementia care, residents are gently encouraged to participate in B-Fit exercise classes for physical fitness and brain-stimulating games to promote cognitive function. The Solace program adds an extra layer of care for residents with advanced-stage disease progression. The program uses soothing sensory therapies that incorporate music and aromatherapy and compassionate strategies, such as extended time to accomplish personal care tasks. Consistent caregiver assignments enable a relationship of trust and provide a familiar, friendly escort to the dining room, where residents can enjoy flavorful meals from their favorite seats.

The Reserve at Mills Farm offers resort-style retirement living and a full continuum of care with independent living, assisted living and memory care options. Memory care residents can benefit from a higher-than-average caregiver-to-resident ratio and personalized signature programming executed by dementia-trained staff. The community's signature Pathways to Discovery program uses music and art therapies to stimulate awareness and life skills activities to encourage familiar routine and sense of purpose. Personalized care plans are regularly evaluated by a certified dementia care specialist and proactively adjusted to accommodate any physical or behavioral changes. Security is a priority in the dedicated memory care neighborhood, which is staffed around-the-clock with friendly attendants ready to assist with personal care needs and respond to emergencies.

HeartFields at Cary gains recognition on our list for its convenient location adjacent to WakeMed Cary Hospital and its long-tenured and highly trained staff, providing memory care residents with the latest research-based residential and outpatient treatments. Using its Bridge to Rediscovery approach to address early and late-stage dementia challenges, residents are gently cued through self-directed activities, hands-on learning classes and collaborative activities to encourage socialization and purpose. Memory care accommodations include a choice of floor plans offering studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes and private walk-in baths. Dining and nutrition play a big part in daily living within the community and includes restaurant-style meals made from fresh seasonal ingredients and flavorful recipes within dietary restrictions.