Dementia, and specifically Alzheimer’s, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Winston-Salem's senior population continues to grow (18.01% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Winston-Salem, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by 54.47% between 2014 and 2019. To put that into perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 10.23%, showing that Alzheimer's is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is higher than the rest of the nation (8.1% in Winston-Salem vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Winston-Salem. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Winston-Salem, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem is a welcoming senior care community located close to shops and medical facilities. The separate memory care unit was specially designed to accommodate the needs of seniors with Dementia and other memory loss disorders. Resident suites are located next to the activity and living areas to enable independent navigation and promote socialization between residents. A team of caregivers is available 24/7 to provide compassionate assistance. The community uses relationship-based care and Validation therapy to ensure that seniors feel important and cared for at all times. Each resident has a personalized care plan that includes details of their life history, culture, likes and dislikes and caregivers use this information to provide care that is tailored to the needs and interests of the resident. Activities offered include religious services, pet therapy, music therapy and fitness classes.
Family members appreciate the compassionate staff and well-maintained facility, "My husband is in Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem. It is beautiful, very clean, very nice, and very caring. I am very pleased with it. The staff is wonderful. They are very caring and very helpful. They are very good. They have activities like bingo."
Located in a residential neighborhood, pet-friendly Homestead Hills offers access to day-to-day amenities in a peaceful setting. Certified dementia specialists provide 24/7 care, using customized plans that include assistance with daily tasks, medication management and support stimulating activities for cognitive enrichment and all-round well-being. The WAVES program provides safe therapeutic exercise in an indoor heated pool and the modern fitness room further enhances physical health. Residents can socialize in the cozy lounge and clubhouse and bond over delicious person-centered meals in the restaurant-style communal dining room. All private rooms have emergency call systems, and the secure community is easy to navigate. Transportation is provided to medical appointments.
Residents especially like the array of activities in the friendly atmosphere. One says, "The Social Director does a great job putting events and daily activities together. The sense of community is simply amazing. My friends and neighbors truly care about me and go out of their way to help me. I recommend Homestead easily. It has everything you want and need."
Brookdale Winston-Salem is a senior living community that provides a homelike and welcoming environment for seniors with memory loss disorders. A 24/7 security system ensures that the whole property is always secure and that residents are safely able to walk around the gardens and independently move between amenities. Some of the amenities offered include a full-service beauty salon and barbershop, a landscaped garden, a whirlpool and a library. The Clare Bridge memory care program provides physical and mental activities to stimulate residents and provide a moment of purpose or achievement in their day. Activities are offered on a one-on-one basis with a caregiver or in a small group. Some of the activities include gentle fitness classes, aromatherapy, music therapy and walking. Each resident has a structured daily routine of six activities to reduce confusion while still providing time for relaxation.
Family members praise the wonderful caregiving staff with one saying, "Brookdale Winston-Salem takes care of my Mom like she is their Mom. I could not ask for more love and care from the staff. My Mom is so happy and it is evident that she is very well cared for. Thank you Brookdale Winston-Salem!"
Forest Heights Senior Living Community is located in a leafy green suburb in the northwest of Winston Salem. In the city, residents have access to a variety of medical facilities, including North Carolina Baptist Hospital. The community offers a range of amenities for residents to make the most of, including a beauty salon, a library and a bistro. For residents with Alzheimer's and dementia, there is a memory care program that includes personalized care and individualized activities. The memory care neighborhood is specifically designed to feel like home while also providing optimum security. There is a trained team of staff, which includes licensed nurses, who offer 24/7 care and assistance. Residents can receive a range of therapies on-site, including speech, physical and occupational therapy. There are engaging activities to take part in, including pet therapy, gardening and bowling.
Visitors appreciate the great activities, with one saying, "We liked the feel of the place and the way it looked, especially the cleanliness and the people there. They have activities like arts and crafts, they take trips, they do things like ice cream socials, and things that families can come to. Overall, we were impressed."
Located in a suburban area of Southwest Winston-Salem, Southfork is minutes from health care providers in one of North Carolina's largest cities. It offers assisted living services, specialized memory care, life-enriching activity programs, dietitian-approved meals and spacious bedrooms with private bathrooms. Seniors living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia can wander safely around the community's single-level, secure memory care unit, which features well-lit, cozy living spaces with familiar furnishings. The unit's trained staff provide round-the-clock supervision and support, including medication assistance, and encourage family involvement in each resident's personalized care plan. Resident activities include garden walks, book clubs, popsicle socials, worship services, seasonal crafts and special holiday events, such as scavenger hunts and parades. Residents can also unwind in the picturesque landscaped grounds featuring mature trees and perimeter fencing.
The community's cleanliness and attentive caregivers impress reviewers. One comments, "Southfork is great! Every time I pop in to visit my mother, no matter what day or what time, I always find her well cared for. The facility is well maintained and absolutely spotless. The staff are more than competent and have earned my trust. They promptly inform me of any concerns."
Salem Terrace Assisted Living and Memory Care is a community serving seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia and other forms of memory loss. It partners with physician groups, pharmacies and other health care providers to ensure residents receive comprehensive, 24/7 care. Physical therapy services are also available to help residents maintain or regain their mobility. Seniors are offered three meals per day in adherence with their dietary plan and snacks are available as well. Salem Terrace's full-time activities director coordinates fun social events and live entertainment to keep residents engaged and involved. Complimentary transportation to local outings and medical appointments is provided.
Family members report that their loved ones are happy at Salem Terrace. "They have a salon and a family room where they can watch TV. The food looks good," reports one resident's brother. "It's probably one of the bigger memory care units that I've been in. They have plenty of room to walk and wander around. It's working out well."
Kerner Ridge Assisted Living has an accessible residential neighborhood setting off U.S. Route 421 and near the Main Street of Kernersville, a town immediately east of Winston-Salem. Its single-level building is surrounded by mature trees that can be enjoyed from the secured backyard of the Horizons memory care neighborhood. Memory care residents benefit from the high staff-to-resident ratio and specialized programming at Horizons, in addition to assisted living services such as 24-hour personal care, comprehensive wellness checks, state-of-the-art medication management and fall prevention measures. The community's wireless emergency response system lets a resident remotely ask for help with just the press of a button. Kerner Ridge also partners with Ageility Physical Therapy Solutions for on-site rehabilitation services.
Families highly recommend Kerner Ridge for its special qualities. One says, "The caring staff had a very personal touch for my loved one. He didn't think he needed a setting like that. In the end he didn't want to leave. My loved one enjoyed the food, the cook asked what type of food my loved one liked."
Westchester Harbour is a senior living community that has been designed to offer all the comforts of home. The separate memory care unit has an enclosed courtyard and open-plan communal areas where residents can visit with family members and friends. Keypad access is required at all entry points for the safety of residents. A team of medical technicians and certified caregivers are always available to provide compassionate care and assistance. The community aims to enhance the lives of seniors through daily activities such as music therapy, cognitive games, art therapy, walking and gentle exercise classes. Ministerial care is provided on-site to meet the spiritual needs of all residents. Each resident has a personalized care plan and caregivers spend time getting to know the care requirements and interests of each senior.
Family members appreciate the activities offered and caring staff, with one person saying, "My aunt and uncle moved into Westchester Harbour and seem to be adjusting well. She has therapy, and people come in and hold services, and sing. The staff was very helpful, and I've been very pleased so far. My uncle said he's never had a meal that wasn't good."
Piedmont Christian Home Inc. is located in High Point, 20 miles southeast of Winston Salem. The community is conveniently located close to local amenities, including Wake Forest Baptist Health High Point Medical Center. It provides a homelike environment for residents to feel secure and comfortable. For residents with memory impairment, there is a memory care plan where staff provides 24/7 personalized care and assistance. Care plans are tailored to the needs and interests of each resident and include assistance with daily tasks and medication management. Residents have the opportunity to take part in a range of engaging activities, designed to optimize physical and mental wellbeing and slow down cognitive decline. Activities include seniors hockey and corn hole. There is also on-site physical, speech and occupational therapy.
Visitors praise the kind staff, with one saying, "Piedmont Christian Home is very clean. PCH is always staffed with pleasant employees. It's a secure facility. I've researched several assisted living facilities and at first glance, you notice the size and neatness of the rooms. Interaction of PCH staff with residents impressed me, they were very kind."
Heritage Greens is a pet-friendly senior living community designed to provide a continuum of care. Personalized care plans are developed with input from residents and families. Licensed nurses administer medications and monitor resident health. Nurses also inform designated relatives and other medical care providers if any changes occur. The Arboretum is designed to encourage independence and dignity for residents with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Caregivers are available 24/7 to help residents with activities of daily living. Amenities include WiFi access, expanded cable service, transportation to appointments and the K4Community program that helps residents stay in touch with their families. A communal dining room serves three daily meals with multiple menu options and a salad bar at lunch and dinner. The Art of Living Well program includes social and educational activities along with fitness and balance classes. Residents can also relax outdoors in a secure courtyard with colorful gardens.
Families appreciate friendly staff and excellent amenities. One relative says, "She's doing wonderful. She enjoys it there. It's very clean, it has beautiful gardens, and she enjoys the outside time there. She enjoys being around others. The staff is very friendly. The food is really good, which she enjoys. They have some scheduled activities."
Brighton Gardens of Greensboro offers a garden-like living environment surrounded by verdant trees with easy access to dining, shopping, parks, golf courses and medical facilities. The memory care residents of this community live in Reminiscence, a neighborhood featuring secured, calming areas and a floor plan specially designed to help seniors with dementia find their ways and interact with each other. Each resident is assigned a life enrichment manager who spends the time to know the resident's life story and medical history before developing an individualized care plan that reinforces personal identity and instills life purpose. The care staff, who receives training based on the Alzheimer's Association's evidence-based dementia care practice recommendations, is available 24/7 to help residents with activities of daily living, such as grooming, eating, dressing, bathing and medication reminders. Available activities include fitness classes, lifelong learning and music.
Family members rave about the accommodating staff and thoughtful activities. One writes, "We have had an excellent experience moving our great uncle into Brighton Gardens. The team has been super accommodating with all of our needs and made the transition very easy. The location is great, activities seem well thought out and pricing was excellent."
Brookdale Lawndale Park is a warm and inviting senior living community located just minutes from several medical facilities, including the Cone Health Moses Hospital and the Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center. The community's specialized memory care services focus on Daily Moments of Success that enables seniors to participate in activities that match their unique interests and abilities to maintain active and meaningful lives. Its caregivers are available 24 hours a day to assist residents with everything from housekeeping and laundry to activities of daily living, such as grooming, dressing and medication management. Scheduled transportation services are also available. Additionally, residents have access to the community's vast amenities, including an outdoor courtyard and garden area, art studio, beauty salon, library and general store.
Residents enjoy the community's homelike setting and caring staff. One family member reports, "The atmosphere is good. My mom seems to be happy. I have the impression that they are accommodating, helpful, and friendly to the seniors. The location is good. It is in a nice neighborhood. The grounds are very nice, very clean, and well-kept."
Richland Place has a tranquil setting in the vicinity of northern Greensboro's Country Park which has ADA-accessible facilities for walking, fishing and picnics. This Enlivant senior living community is dedicated to memory care and is about 4 miles from Cone Health's Wesley Long and Moses Cone hospitals. Its serene lush campus features mature trees and a landscaped central courtyard with calming water features and a putting green. The building's simple ground-level layout gives residents easy access to the dining room, activity room and multiple lounging areas. Residents also have access to on-site salon services and scheduled transportation. Visiting loved ones may stay overnight whenever there are guest accommodations available. Richland Place is staffed by a full-time licensed nurse for clinical oversight and coordination of supportive health care services.
Families are highly satisfied with the care that their loved ones receive at Richland Place. One relative notes, "The room sizes at the facility are good for what she needs. She really enjoys the meals here, they are chef-prepared on site. It is a good, clean facility and I have no regrets sending my mom here. I would definitely recommend."
Conveniently located in the beautiful city of Greensboro in North Carolina, Morningview at Irving Park sits within blocks from restaurants, shops and parks, offering easy access to the medical facilities nearby. This community offers an award-winning memory care program, Bridge to Rediscovery, that provides individualized care for each resident in a safe and nurturing environment. The memory care staff, including licensed nurses, undergo special training in dementia care for seniors and thoughtfully choose engaging activities for each resident based on their abilities and preferences. Activity programs include walking groups that build mobility, intervention programs that teach basic life skills and pet therapy that improves social engagement. Residents live in a secured, specially designed neighborhood filled with visual cues and themes to prevent residents from getting lost. In-house doctor visits are available to provide medical care.
Family members love the warm staff and engaging activities. A reviewer writes, "I'm very pleased with Morningview at Irving Park. It's very warm and very welcoming. Everyone is very nice. They have all kinds of activities. My father did an activity where they sat down with him and helped him find different things on the picture."
Surrounded by lush green trees in the charming city of Greensboro in North Carolina, Carriage House Senior Living Community is a stone's throw away from the beautiful Lake Jeanette and a short drive from multiple local hospitals. This community offers an award-winning memory care program, Bridge to Rediscovery, that provides individualized care for each resident. The program encourages independence and building life skills, such as feeding and navigation. Memory care residents live in a secured neighborhood specially designed with visual themes and cues to help them find their way. The highly trained care staff includes licensed nurses and is available 24 hours a day to provide personal care and housekeeping services. Fitness classes help keep residents physically active, and community happy hours and movie nights present opportunities for socializing with new and old friends.
Residents and their relatives often praise the community's staff and activities. A reviewer writes, "My mom has been living in the dementia department at Carriage House. It's really good. The staff is really good. They have an exercise room, activities like arts and crafts, and they take them to church on a bus. My mom is well taken care of."
Spring Arbor of Greensboro is a senior living community located in a peaceful neighborhood. The specially designed Memory Care Cottage is in a separate building that offers a safe and secure environment for seniors with memory loss disorders. The Cottages program helps seniors find moments of joy in their daily lives through activities designed to meet their interests and abilities, including life skills stations, arts and crafts, puzzles, card games, musical entertainment and religious services. Pet therapy reduces residents' agitation and confusion. A team of trained caregiving staff is always on-site to discreetly monitor the residents and provide assistance as needed. Family members are encouraged to take part in social activities to create joyful memories with their loved ones. Seniors have access to a spa and beauty salon.
Family members praise the wonderful staff and meals offered, with one reviewer saying, "At Spring Arbor, the staff members are caring and helpful to the residents and their families. Daily care is provided with kindness and understanding. The meals served are both nutritious and delicious. In addition, beverages and fun snacks are served during the daytime."
Brookdale Lexington is located in a peaceful neighborhood that is close to medical facilities. The memory care unit is situated in a separate and secure building that has been specially designed to ensure that residents feel safe and at home. Seniors in the memory care unit have supervised access to all of the amenities on-site, including a library, a full-service beauty salon and barbershop and a fitness center. The community aims to place the same caregivers with residents on a daily basis to reduce confusion and to build a trusting relationship. Activities are designed to help residents to maintain their current skills and may include fitness classes, art therapy, music therapy and cognitive games. Religious services and social gatherings are provided for the enjoyment of residents. Three healthy meals are served and special diets can be accommodated on request.
Family members appreciate the wonderful care shown to residents and the homelike environment with one saying, "Brookdale seems like home to my mother. She loves her space and feels like she is treated with respect. I feel confident about her living there because I know if there is a problem I will be notified ASAP."