Aging in place means living safely and as independently as possible in the home and community of your choice. For many residents, remaining at home becomes easier when practical support is added before a crisis occurs.

Assistance may begin with transportation, meal delivery, household chores, or regular check-in calls. As needs change, in-home personal care, accessibility improvements, medication support, or other services may be helpful.

Not Sure What Help Is Needed?

The Moore County Department of Aging Information and Assistance Program helps older adults and families identify needs, understand available programs, and connect with appropriate services.

Call the Moore County Department of Aging at 910-947-4483. Staff can help residents begin sorting through the options rather than calling multiple organizations without knowing where to start.

In-Home Aide and Personal-Care Services

In-home assistance can help with activities that have become difficult to perform safely.

The Moore County In-Home Aide Services Program provides two levels of assistance through certified nursing assistants:

• Home-management assistance, including light housekeeping in primary living areas, grocery shopping, essential errands, laundry, and simple meal preparation
• Personal-care assistance, including help with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, and toileting

Applicants must be Moore County residents age 60 or older. Eligibility, availability, and service schedules may vary. Call 910-947-4174 for current information.

Other types of home-based care may include:

• Companion or homemaker services
• Private-duty personal care
• Skilled nursing
• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
• Hospice or palliative care
• Adult day services

A physician, hospital discharge planner, social worker, or the Moore County Department of Aging can help determine which type of assistance is appropriate.

Meals and Nutrition Assistance

Difficulty shopping, cooking, or eating regularly can affect health and independence.

The Moore County Nutrition Program provides congregate meals through Diner’s Clubs and home-delivered meals in designated service areas. Participants must be Moore County residents age 60 or older; home-delivered meal recipients must also be homebound.

For current eligibility and service-area information, call 910-947-4185.

Other strategies may include:

• Grocery delivery or pickup
• Help preparing meals in advance
• Easy-to-open containers and adaptive kitchen tools
• A visible meal and hydration schedule
• Assistance from family, friends, or an in-home aide

Speak with a healthcare professional if there is unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, frequent dehydration, loss of appetite, or food routinely spoiling or being left uneaten.

Transportation

Giving up or reducing driving does not have to mean giving up medical care, errands, or community participation.

The Moore County Department of Aging Transportation Program provides medical transportation for eligible Moore County residents age 60 and older. Transportation may be available for in-county and out-of-county medical appointments, congregate meal participants, and certain local errands for established clients.

Advance registration and scheduling requirements apply. Call 910-947-4185 to learn about eligibility and complete the required paperwork.

Whenever possible, arrange transportation before it becomes urgently needed. Keep telephone numbers for transportation providers, family members, neighbors, and backup drivers in an easy-to-find location.

Medication Organization

Managing several prescriptions can become complicated, especially when medications have different instructions or are prescribed by multiple healthcare professionals.

Helpful practices include:

• Use one pharmacy when practical so the pharmacist can review possible interactions.
• Maintain a current medication list, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
• Include the medication name, dose, purpose, prescriber, and schedule.
• Bring the list to every medical appointment and update it after any change.
• Ask a pharmacist about pill organizers, easy-open packaging, reminder systems, or synchronized refills.
• Store medications according to their instructions and away from children and visitors.
• Dispose of expired or discontinued medication safely.
• Never share prescription medicine.

Automated dispensers and telephone or electronic reminders may help, but they do not replace professional supervision when a person cannot reliably understand or manage medications.

Contact a physician or pharmacist if doses are frequently missed, taken twice, confused, or deliberately stopped. Call 911 for a suspected overdose or serious medication reaction.

Home Modifications and Accessibility

Small modifications can make everyday activities easier and help a resident continue using the home safely. Depending on individual needs, improvements might include:

• Lever-style door handles
• Brighter lighting
• Handrails on both sides of stairs
• Easy-to-reach storage
• Accessible entrances
• Ramps or zero-step entry
• Wider doorways
• Bathroom grab bars
• A curbless or low-threshold shower
• Raised seating or an accessible toilet
• Nonslip flooring
• Improved contrast on steps and edges

An occupational therapist can evaluate how a person moves through the home and recommend modifications based on actual abilities and routines.

Use qualified professionals for structural, electrical, plumbing, or accessibility work. Before beginning a project, determine whether Village permits or inspections are required.

For fall hazards, smoke alarms, emergency planning, and other household precautions, visit the SAC’s Safety & Preparedness section, including Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls, Fire & Home Safety, and Emergency Preparedness.

Medical-Alert Systems

A medical-alert system can allow a person to request assistance after a fall, illness, or other emergency. Systems may operate through a wearable button, wall-mounted device, mobile unit, smartwatch, or automatic fall-detection feature.

Before selecting a system, ask:

• Does it work only inside the home or wherever cellular service is available?
• Is a landline, internet connection, or cellular signal required?
• Is professional monitoring included?
• Who is contacted when the device is activated?
• Does it include automatic fall detection, and is that feature an additional cost?
• Is the device waterproof and comfortable enough to wear consistently?
• How long does the battery last?
• What are the activation, equipment, monthly, cancellation, and replacement fees?
• Is there a contract or trial period?
• How is the system tested?
• What happens during a power or internet outage?

No system detects every emergency. Keep emergency contacts current, test the equipment as directed, and wear the device consistently.

The Village and SAC do not endorse particular commercial products or providers.

Telephone Reassurance and Check-In Programs

Regular contact can provide companionship and help identify when additional assistance may be advisable.

Good Call Connections, operated by the Moore County Department of Aging, connects trained volunteers with isolated, homebound, or at-risk older adults through friendly telephone calls. The service is free to Moore County seniors.

To apply or request information, call 910-947-4483.

Families may also create a personal check-in plan:

• Choose a regular calling time.
• Identify who will call if the primary contact is unavailable.
• Agree on what should happen if the resident does not answer.
• Keep emergency contacts and access instructions current.
• Avoid sharing door codes, medical details, or financial information beyond the trusted people who need them.

Telephone reassurance is not a substitute for 911, emergency monitoring, or continuous supervision.

Home Maintenance Assistance

Routine maintenance can become difficult because of mobility, health, financial, or transportation limitations. Common needs include yard work, changing light bulbs or filters, minor repairs, weatherization, accessibility improvements, and seasonal preparation.

Contact the Moore County Department of Aging at 910-947-4483 for information about currently available nonprofit, volunteer, weatherization, or home-repair resources. Programs, service areas, eligibility requirements, and funding can change.

When hiring a contractor:

• Obtain more than one written estimate.
• Verify appropriate licensing and insurance.
• Ask for and check references.
• Require a written description of the work, materials, price, and completion schedule.
• Do not pay the entire cost in advance.
• Do not allow anyone to pressure you into an immediate decision.
• Be cautious when a contractor appears at the door without being requested.
• Have a trusted person review major contracts before signing.

For contractor fraud and other warning signs, visit the SAC’s Silver Shield scam-protection section.

Hiring and Screening In-Home Help

Before hiring an agency or individual, clearly identify the duties, schedule, skills, and level of supervision required.

Ask an agency:

• Is the agency licensed in North Carolina for the services it provides?
• Are workers employees or independent contractors?
• Are criminal-background and reference checks completed?
• Are workers bonded and insured?
• What training and supervision are provided?
• Who is responsible if the regular worker is unavailable?
• How are complaints or concerns handled?
• What services are included in the stated rate?
• Is there a written service agreement and cancellation policy?

When hiring an individual directly:

• Conduct an interview and check multiple references.
• Verify training or credentials required for the work.
• Discuss duties, hours, pay, transportation, and boundaries in writing.
• Determine tax, insurance, and employment responsibilities.
• Protect checkbooks, account credentials, passwords, and valuables.
• Review bills and financial accounts regularly.
• Do not ask a worker to perform medical tasks beyond their qualifications.

North Carolina home-care agencies are regulated through the state’s Division of Health Service Regulation. Ask the Moore County Department of Aging for help locating appropriate providers and verifying what type of service is needed.

Signs That More Assistance May Be Needed

One isolated problem does not necessarily mean a person can no longer live independently. A pattern of changes, however, should prompt a conversation and possibly a professional assessment.

Watch for:

• Frequent falls or unexplained injuries
• Missed or duplicated medications
• Spoiled food, weight loss, or dehydration
• Unopened mail or unpaid bills
• Increasing confusion or getting lost
• Missed medical appointments
• Difficulty bathing, dressing, eating, or using the bathroom
• Unsafe driving
• Burns, scorched cookware, or appliances left on
• A home that has become unusually cluttered or unsanitary
• Social withdrawal or significant changes in mood
• Caregiver exhaustion
• Repeated calls to emergency services
• Wandering or leaving the home without adequate clothing or identification
• Financial exploitation or the sudden involvement of an unfamiliar “helper”

Approach the conversation with respect. Focus on the person’s goals and on what support might make continued independence possible.

A physician, occupational therapist, social worker, or the Moore County Department of Aging can help evaluate changing needs. If the person is in immediate danger, call 911.

Begin With One Call

Residents and families do not need to navigate aging-in-place services alone. Contact the Moore County Department of Aging at 910-947-4483 to discuss available programs, eligibility, referrals, and next steps.

Housing & Care Options

Choosing housing or care can feel overwhelming because similar terms may describe very different services. The appropriate setting depends on the person’s health, abilities, preferences, finances, and need for assistance or supervision.

Begin by asking what help is needed now, what may be needed later, and whether those needs can be met safely at home. A physician, social worker, care manager, or the Moore County Department of Aging Information and Assistance Program can help families understand the options.

The Village of Pinehurst does not recommend, rate, or endorse individual facilities or care providers.

Independent-Living Communities

Independent-living communities are designed for adults who can generally manage their own personal care and daily activities. Housing may consist of apartments, cottages, or other residences.

Services vary but may include:

• Meals or dining options
• Housekeeping
• Maintenance
• Transportation
• Recreation and social activities
• Emergency-call systems
• Accessible building features

Independent living generally does not include ongoing help with bathing, dressing, toileting, medication administration, or nursing care. Some residents arrange those services separately through a home-care agency.

Ask what happens if a resident later requires personal care, memory support, or nursing services. Independent-living communities that are not part of a regulated continuing-care arrangement may not be licensed as healthcare or adult-care facilities.

Assisted Living

In North Carolina, assisted-living residences are generally licensed as adult care homes. They provide housing, meals, supervision, and help with daily activities for people who do not require continuous nursing care.

Assistance may include:

• Bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Walking and transferring
• Medication administration
• Meals
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Transportation coordination
• Activities and social programs
• Staff availability for emergencies

Services, staffing, admission requirements, and fees vary. Ask exactly which services are included in the base rate and which carry additional charges.

Use North Carolina’s Adult Care Facility Inspections, Ratings and Penalties search to review licensed facilities and regulatory information.

Memory Care

Memory care is specialized support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. It may be offered in a designated unit within an assisted-living residence or nursing home.

Features may include:

• Secured or monitored entrances
• Staff trained in dementia care
• Structured daily routines
• Assistance with personal care and medications
• Activities adapted for cognitive changes
• Measures to address wandering and other safety concerns

“Memory care” is not enough information by itself. Ask what license covers the setting, what dementia-specific training staff receive, how behaviors are managed, and what conditions could require a resident to move.

Also ask whether additional charges apply as care needs increase.

Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation

A skilled nursing facility—often called a nursing home—provides 24-hour nursing services and assistance with personal care. It may serve people who need short-term rehabilitation or ongoing long-term care.

Short-Term Rehabilitation

Short-term care may follow a hospitalization, surgery, illness, stroke, or injury. Services may include:

• Nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Wound care
• Medication management

The goal is often to help the person recover enough to return home or move to a less intensive setting.

Long-Term Nursing Care

Long-term residents generally require continuing assistance, supervision, or nursing care that cannot safely be provided in a less intensive setting.

Use Medicare Care Compare to find and compare Medicare-certified nursing homes. The tool includes inspection, staffing, quality, and rating information.

North Carolina also provides a search for nursing-home Statements of Deficiencies.

Adult Day Programs

Adult day programs provide supervised care and activities during part of the day while the participant continues living at home.

Depending on the program, services may include:

• Social and recreational activities
• Meals
• Personal-care assistance
• Health monitoring
• Exercise or therapy
• Transportation
• Dementia-specific programming

Adult day services can provide structure and social engagement for the participant while allowing a caregiver to work, attend appointments, or take a break.

Ask about eligibility, hours, transportation, staff qualifications, healthcare services, emergency procedures, and experience serving people with similar needs. Also confirm whether the program is appropriately certified or licensed for the services it provides.

Continuing-Care Retirement Communities

A continuing-care retirement community, or CCRC, offers independent living and access to additional levels of care—such as assisted living or nursing care—under a continuing-care contract.

A CCRC may make it possible to remain within one community as needs change. However, contracts, entrance fees, monthly fees, refund provisions, healthcare benefits, and financial requirements can be complex.

Before signing:

• Review the contract and required disclosure statement.
• Determine what future care is promised.
• Understand entrance-fee refund provisions.
• Ask how monthly charges may increase.
• Review what happens if financial resources are exhausted.
• Determine whether assisted living or nursing care is guaranteed or subject to availability.
• Have an attorney and qualified financial adviser review the agreement.

The North Carolina Department of Insurance regulates CCRCs. Consult its CCRC consumer and regulatory resources and list of licensed CCRCs.

Short-Term Versus Long-Term Care

The same facility may provide both short-term rehabilitation and long-term residence, but the purpose and payment arrangements are different.

Short-term care is intended to address a temporary need, often following hospitalization. Before admission, ask about:

• Treatment goals
• Expected length of stay
• Therapy frequency
• Insurance authorization
• Discharge planning
• What assistance will be needed at home

Long-term care provides ongoing assistance when a person is unlikely to regain enough independence to live safely without substantial support. Planning should consider:

• Current and future care needs
• Personal preferences
• Proximity to family and healthcare providers
• Long-term affordability
• Resident rights
• How the facility handles increasing needs
• What would require transfer or discharge

Questions to Ask When Comparing Providers

Visit more than once, if possible, including at an unannounced time. Talk with residents and families when appropriate.

Ask:

Care and Staffing

• Is the facility properly licensed?
• What needs can and cannot be accommodated?
• How many staff members are present during the day, evening, overnight, and weekends?
• What training and background checks are required?
• How often do staff members change?
• Who provides medical care?
• How are emergencies handled?
• How are changes in condition communicated to families?
• What circumstances could result in transfer or discharge?

Daily Life

• Can residents choose when to wake, eat, bathe, and participate in activities?
• Are meals appropriate for medical, cultural, and personal needs?
• Are activities meaningful and suited to different abilities?
• Can residents spend time outdoors?
• Are transportation and religious services available?
• How are privacy, dignity, and personal preferences protected?
• Are pets and visitors permitted?

Safety and Accessibility

• Are entrances, bathrooms, rooms, and common areas accessible?
• Is there an emergency power plan?
• How are falls, wandering, infections, and medication errors addressed?
• How are residents and families notified following an incident?
• What security measures are used, and do they unnecessarily restrict residents?

Costs and Contracts

• What is included in the base fee?
• Which services cost extra?
• How frequently can rates increase?
• Is a deposit or entrance fee required?
• What are the refund and cancellation terms?
• Is financial assistance accepted?
• What happens if the resident can no longer pay privately?
• Are all promises included in the written agreement?

Obtain written answers and a complete fee schedule. Do not rely solely on a brochure or verbal assurances.

Inspections, Ratings and Complaints

Ratings can be useful, but no single score tells the entire story. Review the underlying inspection findings, staffing information, complaint history, and corrective actions.

Official resources include:

• North Carolina Adult Care Facility Inspections, Ratings and Penalties
• North Carolina nursing-home Statements of Deficiencies
• Medicare Care Compare for Medicare-certified nursing homes and other healthcare providers
• North Carolina’s licensed CCRC information

To report a concern about a healthcare facility regulated by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, review the state’s facility complaint instructions or call the Complaint Hotline at 800-624-3004 within North Carolina.

Call 911 if a resident is in immediate danger.

Paying for Care

Payment depends on the setting, services, financial eligibility, and insurance coverage. Possible payment sources include:

• Personal income and savings
• Proceeds from selling a home or other assets
• Long-term-care insurance
• Medicare for certain covered medical or short-term skilled services
• Medicaid for eligible individuals
• Veterans’ benefits for those who qualify
• Life-insurance or annuity benefits, depending on the contract
• Family assistance

Before making a commitment, request a written estimate based on the person’s actual care needs. Ask what is included, what costs extra, and how charges could change.

Be cautious about transferring assets or changing ownership solely to qualify for benefits. Medicaid eligibility and transfer rules are complex. Consult a qualified elder-law attorney or benefits specialist before taking action.

Medicare and Medicaid Are Different

The names sound similar, but the programs serve different purposes.

Medicare

Medicare is federal health insurance, primarily for people age 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. It may cover medically necessary hospital care, physician services, therapy, home health services, and a limited period of skilled nursing care when coverage requirements are met.

Medicare generally does not pay for permanent residence in independent living or assisted living, and it generally does not cover a long-term nursing-home stay when the person needs primarily custodial assistance.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program for people who meet financial and other eligibility requirements. It may help cover long-term nursing-facility care and certain home- and community-based services.

Eligibility rules, covered services, provider participation, and required contributions vary. Not every facility accepts Medicaid, and acceptance at admission does not necessarily guarantee an immediately available Medicaid bed.

For unbiased Medicare counseling, contact Moore County’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program through the Department of Aging at 910-947-4483.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Assistance

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman is an advocate for residents of nursing homes, adult care homes, and family care homes. Ombudsman services are free and can help residents and families:

• Understand long-term-care options
• Review facility information
• Understand resident rights
• Communicate concerns
• Work to resolve complaints
• Obtain information about inspection and complaint histories

Moore County is served by the Central Pines Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Call its toll-free Ombudsman line at 800-310-9777.

Residents and families may also visit the North Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Get Help Comparing the Options

Contact the Moore County Department of Aging at 910-947-4483 for information, referrals, and help identifying the type of service that may be appropriate.

The Village provides these links for informational purposes and does not endorse or guarantee any facility, provider, service, rating, or financial product.