Free senior care guidance for Triangle families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (984) 205-2995
Raleigh Senior Advisor

PACE: North Carolina's Program for Dual-Eligibles, Explained

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is North Carolina's Medicaid program for adults 55+ who need nursing-home-level care but want to stay in the community.

Home›State Rules›PACE: North Carolina's Program for Dual-Eligibles, E
Short answer

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) — an NC Medicaid program (not a 1915(c) waiver) for adults 55+ needing nursing-home-level care who want to stay in the community. Accepts individuals with Medicare, Medicaid, both (dual-eligible), private pay, or 'PACE Medicaid' for those over standard NC Medicaid income limits but meeting long-term-care financial criteria.

Coverage area

As of the source page (last modified Nov 14, 2025), there are 11 PACE organizations operating in 14 locations statewide; the page does not confirm Wake/Durham/Triangle coverage in the fetched excerpt — Senior CommUnity Care of North Carolina (a PACE provider) is based in Durham/Triangle area per third-party listings, but confirm current service area directly via NC Medicaid's PACE contact list before publishing specific site claims.

No program status change or transition noted on the NC Medicaid PACE page as of the research date (Aug 2026).

Source: NC Medicaid PACE program

Questions families ask

Where do I file a complaint about care quality at an adult care home in Apex?

Complaints about a licensed adult care home or family care home anywhere in North Carolina, including Apex, go to DHSR's Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 (in-state) or 919-855-4500, staffed weekdays 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. except holidays. DHSR's Complaint Intake Unit often forwards complaints about specific resident conditions to the local county Department of Social Services for investigation, since Adult Protective Services in NC is county-administered.

What are DHSR's complaint line hours, and does it cover a facility in Fuquay-Varina?

DHSR's Complaint Intake and Health Care Personnel Investigations Section can be reached at 1-800-624-3004 (in North Carolina) or 919-855-4500, weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state holidays. This line covers complaints about any DHSR-regulated facility statewide, including licensed adult care homes, family care homes, and nursing homes in southern Wake County towns like Fuquay-Varina.

Is there a five-star rating system for assisted living communities in North Carolina like there is for nursing homes?

No. The federal CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System (via Medicare Care Compare) only applies to nursing homes, not to adult care homes or family care homes. Instead, DHSR's Adult Care Licensure Section maintains its own 'Facility Inspections, Ratings and Penalties' search tool (info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/acls/star/search.asp), which provides a state-specific, compliance-history-based star rating along with raw inspection reports and penalty records, but it is not standardized against other states.

How do I look up whether an assisted living community in Chapel Hill has had recent violations or fines?

DHSR's Adult Care Home Facility Inspections, Ratings and Penalties search (info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/acls/star/search.asp) lets you search by facility name or county (Orange County, for Chapel Hill) to view a compliance-based star rating, inspection reports and corrective action plans, and any penalties assessed within the last 36 months. This is a different, NC-specific tool from the DHSR Regulated Facilities search, which only confirms basic licensing and contact information.

What NC statute actually governs assisted living facilities, and where can I read it?

North Carolina's adult care homes are governed by N.C. General Statutes Chapter 131D (Article 1), with G.S. 131D-2.11 establishing DHSR's licensing authority and G.S. 131D-8 covering the Special Care Unit disclosure requirement for memory care units. The implementing regulations are in 10A NCAC 13F (Licensing of Homes for the Aged and Infirm/Adult Care Homes), adopted by the N.C. Medical Care Commission; the full statute text is published at ncleg.gov.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free