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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Apex, NC

Home Care Apex, NC

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Apex Historical Society, MaynardPearson House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Apex, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Apex, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Apex, NC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Apex, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Apex, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Apex, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Apex, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Pleasant Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Apex, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Chef's Palette or visit Apex Historical Society Caboose, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Apex, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Apex, NC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Apex, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Apex, NC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Apex, NC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Apex, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Apex, NC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Apex, NC

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • The Reserve at Mills Farm
  • Spring Arbor of Apex
  • Avendelle Assisted Living at Shepherds Vineyard
  • Calyx Living of Apex
  • UNC REX Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center of Apex
  • Cambridge Village of Apex
Home Care Apex, NC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Apex, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Apex, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Apex, NC

Latest News in Apex, NC

Major Apex road heavily damaged by floodwater creates headaches for homeowners, businesses

APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- Wednesday's heavy rain left a trail of damage and flooded out roadways in areas across the Triangle.In Southwestern Wake County, Olive Chapel Road, a main east-west artery through Apex, saw some of the worst damage when a large sinkhole formed over Beaver Creek, closing the road indefinitely. That damage is creating traffic headaches for those trying to get from downtown Apex to the area near 540."For me to go to Apex, I have to drive all the way around and come up 64 and then come back around. So it'l...

APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- Wednesday's heavy rain left a trail of damage and flooded out roadways in areas across the Triangle.

In Southwestern Wake County, Olive Chapel Road, a main east-west artery through Apex, saw some of the worst damage when a large sinkhole formed over Beaver Creek, closing the road indefinitely. That damage is creating traffic headaches for those trying to get from downtown Apex to the area near 540.

"For me to go to Apex, I have to drive all the way around and come up 64 and then come back around. So it'll be an aggravation," said Charles Pope, a homeowner whose property sits next to the sinkhole.

On Thursday, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) said it will be upgrading the culvert at Beaver Creek, where the sinkhole formed, at a cost of more than $2 million.

The department said it is working to finalize plans to design the project, gain additional right-of-way, and relocate utilities in the roadway in order to replace the pipes, which were nearing the end of their lifespan.

There's no current timeline for the road's reopening, which Pope said will be the latest closure in the rapidly developing area.

"They're working on trying to put a road over that Apex Parkway over Highway 1, and so that's already blocked off. So I think it's going to be a real headache for people for quite some time," he said.

Just up the road at Yagg Sii Tenn Authentic African Cuisine, owner and chef Papa Fall expects the closure to have an impact on his bottom line, but he's trying to take it in stride.

"That's a main road that traffic goes by, in and out. Olive Chapel, of course. So I know that it's probably going to put a damper on the customer-ship. But, hey, if it's worth it to them, they're probably going to make a detour," he said.

Fall told ABC11 he's seen traffic on Olive Chapel Road increase in recent years, and the closure could create some challenges for his food delivery.

"Shipping, delivering, and doing a lot of stuff is probably going to, you know, put like a few more minutes on our deliveries route in on our daily commute and whatnot," Fall said.

Mayor Jacques Gilbert told residents to check the town's social media platforms and the NCDOT for the latest information, and preached patience to drivers while they work to get the road back up.

"We know it's going to be an inconvenience and we just ask everyone to, you know, remain patient, adapt to this, you know, temporary new normal. And then hopefully it'll get back up and running as soon as possible," he said.

Major Apex road closed for weeks after sinkhole from storms

Major Apex road closed for weeks after sinkhole from storms News Officials said Olive Chapel Road could be closed until November after heavy rain from Wednesday's storms caused a massive sinkhole. ...

Major Apex road closed for weeks after sinkhole from storms

News

Officials said Olive Chapel Road could be closed until November after heavy rain from Wednesday's storms caused a massive sinkhole.

Major Apex road closed for weeks after sinkhole from …

News / Aug 7, 2025 / 06:40 AM EDT

Officials said Olive Chapel Road could be closed until November after heavy rain from Wednesday's storms caused a massive sinkhole.

Rainy start to central NC work week

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New NC children's hospital projected to bring 8,000 jobs to western Wake

North Carolina Children’s Health confirmed Thursday that it would build the state’s first standalone children's hospital in Apex — a multibillion-dollar project that is expected to bring thousands of jobs to western Wake County.The group — a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health — plans to build on a 230-acre tract in the town’s long-planned Veridea development, executives said.The project is expected to transform a wide swath of the growing western Wake County town, paving the way f...

North Carolina Children’s Health confirmed Thursday that it would build the state’s first standalone children's hospital in Apex — a multibillion-dollar project that is expected to bring thousands of jobs to western Wake County.

The group — a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health — plans to build on a 230-acre tract in the town’s long-planned Veridea development, executives said.

The project is expected to transform a wide swath of the growing western Wake County town, paving the way for a 500-bed hospital, a behavioral health center, an ambulatory care center and research facilities. It is also expected to spur the additional development of hotels, restaurants, shops and offices to support the hospital campus.

If fully realized, the campus would create about 8,000 direct jobs in western Wake, plus another possible 18,000 indirect jobs, state officials estimated. All told, the the development could add $27 billion to the state economy, making it one of the biggest economic development projects in state history. The university partners aim to break ground on the new campus in 2027. Construction is expected to take about six years.

"It's going to save lives," North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein told WRAL in an interview Thursday. "But it's also going to be an incredible economic driver. It's going to be one of the leading institutions for child children, medicine, research, development. There's going to be all this ancillary growth happening around the hospital that's going to help to grow our economy for decades to come."

UNC and Duke announced the scope of the hospital project in January. Executives said at the time that the hospital would be built in the Triangle, but they hadn't disclosed a specific site until Thursday. WRAL News first reported the plans to build in Apex on Wednesday.

The partners scouted about 15 properties in several counties, hospital executives said Thursday. They targeted sites with easy access to their respective campuses, major road networks and amenities for families who would travel from across the state and beyond to stay for indefinite periods. They also wanted a campus with land for expansion.

“This property meets all those criteria, and it was absolutely unequivocally the clear choice,” Craig Albanese, chief executive of Duke Health, said Thursday during an event at Apex Town Hall.

The 1,100-acre Veridea project, which was first announced in 2009 but has yet to see vertical construction, is bound by a trio of major roads: N.C. 55 to the east and the intersection of U.S. 1 and N.C. 540 to the west. Being close to an airport and roads such as N.C. 540 — which loops around Wake County, connecting to the region’s biggest highways — were key considerations for the project.

The NC Children’s campus would be integrated into Veridea, which is zoned for up to 8,000 new homes, 3.5 million square feet of shops and restaurants, 12 million square feet of office and research space. A new Wake Tech Community College campus would be built along with the hospital. It will also be designed with young patients in mind — focused on the needs of children who need complex care for chronic illnesses or behavioral health.

Health care rivals in the region — including UNC, Duke and WakeMed — currently treat children in existing general hospitals, which dedicate units to pediatric care. But the fast-growing region has been running out of pediatric hospital beds and doesn’t have enough specialty services to keep up with demand, pediatricians say. Organizers expect the new hospital will help bring more — and more advanced — medical care to more children.

North Carolina's current pediatric units currently don’t have the ability to build broad-based, highly specialized pediatric care, hospital executives say. As a result, thousands of sick kids each year have to transfer between hospitals or outside of North Carolina for treatment.

“North Carolina children's is more than a health initiative — it is a transformational investment in our economy, and it's a promise to the families of North Carolina that we are committed to developing and delivering world class care right here at home,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said.

The campus will serve as an “engine of innovation,” he said, adding that the project would complement and benefit from the major research universities that gave the Triangle its name — as well as major biotech investments in southern and western Wake County, which has become a life-sciences hub. The universities expect that kind of collaboration to draw pediatric subspecialists, researchers, residents and fellows to the hospital.

Apex Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert called it “a golden moment for our community.”

Funding riddle

The hospital is projected to cost about $3 billion — a figure that could grow the longer it takes to come out of the ground. Critical to the plan is state funding, which remains uncertain.

Legislative leaders are at an impasse over the state budget, and the hospital — a pet project of state Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham — has emerged as a sticking point in the negotiations. Lawmakers are sparring in large part over ways to cut government spending to make good on promises to cut tax rates.

State leaders credited Berger with pushing through the initial state pledge of $319.7 million for the hospital, which was approved as part of the 2023 state budget and has helped the partners fund early-stage planning.

The Senate’s proposed 2025 budget calls for investing an additional $535.5 million in the 500-bed pediatric hospital. If the chamber gets its way, the appropriation would bring total state funding to about $855.2 million — nearly 30% the projected cost. It was one of the biggest earmarks in the Senate’s spending plan, which would cover the two years ending June 30, 2027.

The House, however, has proposed to reduce the already-approved funding for the project by more than $100 million. The chambers must agree on a final spending plan for any of the additional spending to flow to the project. To fund the balance of the construction costs, beyond the state funds, it is likely UNC and Duke would have to invest some of their own money while also relying on donations from individuals or philanthropic groups.

Speaking at the kickoff event Thursday, Wesley Burks, the chief executive of UNC Health, made a point to thank Berger, House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and Stein for the previous funding commitment.

Stein is optimistic more funding will come. "At the end of the day, we will pass a budget that makes the right investments in North Carolina, and this is one of those important investments," the governor said Thursday.

The main source of state funding for the hospital comes from a nearly $2 billion payment from the federal government — essentially a signing bonus — authorized under former President Joe Biden in exchange for North Carolina approving Medicaid expansion in 2023. And that could be a complicating factor.

North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program will be eliminated, however, under President Donald Trump’s budget plan — unless state lawmakers change state law and save the program, taking on potentially billions of dollars in Medicaid funding responsibilities.

If Medicaid expansion goes away in North Carolina, or even if it doesn't, it's possible that Trump or a future president might try to force the state to pay back its Biden-era signing bonus. Trump has already moved to claw back some federal funds that were paid out before he took office. Some of his attempts have been blocked in court, but others have worked.

“If that money is compromised somehow, or put into question, then we would need to find an alternative source of funding for the NC Children’s hospital,” Kristin Walker, the state’s budget director, told lawmakers in March.

Veridea rising

Securing the land for the hospital in the meantime, while other funding is worked out, protects the university partners from surging land costs in a region where large, undeveloped tracts are increasingly scarce and highly coveted by commercial and residential developers.

The hospital partners benefitted from the fact that the land is owned by an entity friendly to the state’s interests. The North Carolina Retirement System is the majority owner in RXR Len Apex Owner LLC, the partnership that currently owns the land. RXR Realty, a New York real estate investment firm, is the minority partner, according to the state treasurer’s office, which oversees the pension plan.

The group acquired roughly 1,000 acres for Veridea for $91 Million in 2023. The total Veridea project size is projected to be 1,109 acres with an estimated land acquisition cost of $122 million, according to the treasurer’s office.

The sale of the 227-acre parcel to the hospital is expected to close in early 2026. Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. Significant infrastructure costs have already been covered by the current owners, which could help speed the hospital’s development.

“This sale is a win for everybody involved,” State Treasurer Brad Briner said Thursday. “It's a win for our retirees and for the North Carolina pension system. We're making a modest profit and unlocking more value in the land that is adjacent. It's a win for North Carolina Children's, gaining over 230 acres with incredible access to transportation infrastructure at a very good price. It's a win for Apex and Wake County and, above all, it's a win for the 11 million North Carolinians who deserve world class pediatric care right here at home.”

Veridea has been in the works for more than 15 years. When it was announced in 2009, it was projected to eventually create up to 30,000 jobs and add $6 billion in tax revenue. But the ambitious project has been slow to materialize.

The sale to the hospital is expected to bring it to life. The pension fund also plans to sell parcels to Wake Tech, Wake County Schools and home builder Lennar, leaving about 530 acres to develop once those sales close.

In an initial development phase at Veridea, developers plan to build 1,100 single-family homes and townhomes, up to 1,500 apartments, 200,000 square feet of shops and the Wake Tech campus. The project also calls for 1.3 million square feet of industrial space for logistics and life sciences. The first apartments are expected to be available in 2027, according to the Veridea website.

UNC-Duke partnership picks Apex for new North Carolina children's hospital

A partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health is finalizing a deal to buy at least 200 acres in Apex — a critical step in its plans to build the state’s first standalone children’s hospital, people familiar with the negotiations told WRAL News.The deal is expected to transform a wide swath of the growing western Wake County town, paving the way for a multibillion-dollar project that would create thousands of jobs and spur ancillary development of hotels, restaurants, shops and offices at the long-planned Veridea d...

A partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health is finalizing a deal to buy at least 200 acres in Apex — a critical step in its plans to build the state’s first standalone children’s hospital, people familiar with the negotiations told WRAL News.

The deal is expected to transform a wide swath of the growing western Wake County town, paving the way for a multibillion-dollar project that would create thousands of jobs and spur ancillary development of hotels, restaurants, shops and offices at the long-planned Veridea development.

Financial details of the deal weren’t immediately available. A formal announcement is expected as early as Thursday, people familiar with the plans told WRAL. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the plans.

UNC and Duke announced the scope of the hospital project — called NC Children’s — in January. Executives said at the time that the hospital would be built in the Triangle, but they haven’t disclosed a specific site. The partners have been scouting properties central to the region — targeting sites with easy access to their respective campuses, major road networks and amenities for families who would travel from across the state and beyond to stay for indefinite periods.

The 1,100-acre Veridea project, which was first announced in 2009 but has yet to see vertical construction, is bound by a trio of major roads: N.C. 55 to the east and the intersection of U.S. 1 and N.C. 540 to the west. Being close to roads such as N.C. 540 — which loops around Wake County, connecting to the region’s biggest highways — was a key consideration for the project, people familiar with the site selection said.

A UNC Health spokesperson declined to confirm the location of the project but said the partnership has finished its evaluation of properties that could accommodate a 500-bed hospital, behavioral health center, an ambulatory care center and research facilities.

“We look forward to building North Carolina’s first freestanding children’s hospital, and to the positive impact NC Children’s will have on children’s health in North Carolina and the Southeast,” UNC Health spokesman Alan Wolf said in a statement Wednesday. “... We plan to share our location choice imminently. When we do, we will share it publicly.”

State and local officials have been invited to an economic development announcement at Apex Town Hall on Thursday, people familiar with the plans said. North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley is scheduled to be in Apex on Thursday for an economic development announcement, according to a department spokesman who declined to provide details about the announcement.

“I'm excited tomorrow to share details about a groundbreaking development announcement,” said Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert, who declined to identify the parties involved in — or the nature of — the announcement.

A representative of RXR, the New York real estate investment firm that owns the Veridea development, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday. The company assembled the land in a series of transactions over the past few years.

Funding questions

The hospital is projected to cost about $3 billion — a figure that could grow the longer it takes to come out of the ground. The university partners aim to break ground on the new campus in 2027. Construction is expected to take about six years.

Critical to the plan is state funding, which remains uncertain. Legislative leaders are at an impasse over the state budget, and the hospital — a pet project of state Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham — has emerged as a sticking point in the negotiations. Lawmakers are sparring in large part over ways to cut government spending to make good on promises to cut tax rates.

State leaders credited Berger with pushing through the initial state pledge of $319.7 million for the hospital, which was approved as part of the 2023 state budget and has helped the partners fund early-stage planning.

The Senate’s proposed 2025 budget calls for investing an additional $535.5 million in the 500-bed pediatric hospital. If the chamber gets its way, the appropriation would bring total state funding to about $855.2 million — nearly 30% the projected cost. It was one of the biggest earmarks in the Senate’s spending plan, which would cover the two years ending June 30, 2027.

The House, however, has proposed to reduce the already-approved funding for the project by more than $100 million. The chambers must agree on a final spending plan for any of the additional spending to flow to the project. To fund the balance of the construction costs, beyond the state funds, it is likely UNC and Duke would have to invest some of their own money while also relying on donations from individuals or philanthropic groups.

Complicating matters further: The main source of state funding for the hospital comes from a nearly $2 billion payment from the federal government — essentially a signing bonus — authorized under former President Joe Biden in exchange for North Carolina approving Medicaid expansion in 2023.

North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program will be eliminated, however, under President Donald Trump’s budget plan — unless state lawmakers change state law and save the program, taking on potentially billions of dollars in Medicaid funding responsibilities.

If Medicaid expansion goes away in North Carolina, or even if it doesn't, it's possible that Trump or a future president might try to force the state to pay back its Biden-era signing bonus. Trump has already moved to claw back some federal funds that were paid out before he took office. Some of his attempts have been blocked in court, but others have worked.

“If that money is compromised somehow, or put into question, then we would need to find an alternative source of funding for the NC Children’s hospital,” Kristin Walker, the state’s budget director, told lawmakers in March.

Securing the land for the hospital in the meantime protects the university partners from surging land costs in a region where large, undeveloped tracts are increasingly scarce and highly coveted by commercial and residential developers.

Veridea rising

The Veridea project has been in the works for more than 15 years. When it was announced in 2009, it was projected to double the town’s tax base at the time — creating up to 30,000 jobs and create $6 billion in tax revenue. But the ambitious project has been slow to materialize.

RXR, the New York investor, acquired the 1,100-acre project through a series of transactions, mostly in 2023. The company began infrastructure work earlier this year. Phase I of the project calls for 1,100 single-family homes and townhomes, up to 1,500 apartments, 200,000 square feet of shops and a student campus built in partnership with Wake Tech Community College, according to the Veridea website. The project also calls for 1.3 million square feet of industrial space for logistics and life sciences. The first apartments are expected to be available in 2027.

When complete, Veridea could feature up to 8,000 single-family homes, townhomes and apartments, as well as 3.5 million square feet of restaurant and retail space and 12 million square feet of commercial space for industrial, warehouse and office uses. The development could take more than a decade to build out.

WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran contributed to this report.

Apex Selected as Home for New NC Children’s Health Campus

APEX, N.C. – With the goal of creating a brighter future for our children, North Carolina Children’s Health (NC Children’s) has chosen a location in Apex for its campus, which will include the only freestanding, independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas. NC Children’s, a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, will be built on approximately 230 acres of land at the intersection of US-1 and NC-540.When complete, NC Children’s will bring approximately 8,000 jobs to Apex and Wake County,...

APEX, N.C. – With the goal of creating a brighter future for our children, North Carolina Children’s Health (NC Children’s) has chosen a location in Apex for its campus, which will include the only freestanding, independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas. NC Children’s, a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, will be built on approximately 230 acres of land at the intersection of US-1 and NC-540.

When complete, NC Children’s will bring approximately 8,000 jobs to Apex and Wake County, a 500-bed children’s hospital, a children’s outpatient care center, 103 children and adolescent behavioral health beds, and a research and education enterprise backed by the UNC and Duke schools of medicine.

“We are incredibly excited to confirm Apex and Wake County as the home for NC Children’s,” said Wesley Burks, M.D., CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “This campus will create a brighter, healthier future for generations of children and adolescents across North Carolina and the Southeast, and we’re thrilled to have Apex as our home and partner.”

The 230-acre NC Children’s campus will be seamlessly integrated into Veridea, a 1,000+ acre mixed-use community created by RXR featuring 8,000 new homes, 3.5 million square feet of retail and dining, 12 million square feet of office and research space, and a new Wake Tech Community College campus.

“Finding the right home for NC Children’s was among our top priorities, and this location offers the space and access required for a world-class children’s hospital,” said Craig Albanese, M.D., CEO of Duke Health. “From the moment children and families enter the campus, they will know they are in a place built just for them. Most importantly, children with the most complex health issues will have access to the most highly specialized pediatric services – right here in the heart of North Carolina.”

“As Mayor and the Chair of the Town’s Economic Development Committee, I want to share how extremely proud and excited I am about North Carolina Children’s coming to Apex – a golden moment for our community,” said Apex Mayor, Jacques K. Gilbert.

“This transformational project will bring new jobs – not only strengthening our economy, but creating opportunities for people to be part of something greater: a space where hope, healing, and compassionate care come together for countless families.

“I’m deeply moved as I envision the children and families from across North Carolina, the nation, and even the world who will find care and comfort here,” Gilbert said. “This moment reflects the very heart of Apex – a compassionate community and the true peak of hope for all."

“North Carolina Children’s represents the very best of our state – bringing people together to propel North Carolina forward to the benefit of our citizens, and in this case, particularly our children,” said North Carolina Treasurer, Brad Briner.

“We are thrilled to help bring this vision to a reality,” said Briner. “This sale of land held by our pension fund allows us to make a good return on investment, for NC Children’s to secure a home in a growing and thriving community, and most importantly, our citizens and taxpayers to benefit from both. This is truly a win-win-win.”

“We're thrilled to welcome NC Children's to Veridea, one of North Carolina's most dynamic mixed-use developments,” said Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR, the developer leading the Veridea project. “This premier pediatric healthcare facility will be perfectly positioned within Veridea's amenity-rich environment, furthering Apex's reputation as one of the fastest-growing communities in the thriving Research Triangle.”

In addition to announcing Apex and Wake County as its new home, the NC Children’s team today is issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design and construction contractors as the next step on our journey to creating North Carolina’s only health system just for kids.

“With Apex as our home, NC Children’s will ensure that the Triangle remains a hub and a destination for the best pediatric scientists, teachers and clinicians – convenient to both medical school campuses, said Mary E. Klotman, M.D., executive vice president of health affairs of Duke University, chief academic officer for Duke Health and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine.

“I’m also tremendously excited about the potential for innovation and discovery with NC Children’s and nearby businesses and universities,” Klotman said. “This is a huge opportunity for NC Children’s, for Apex, Wake County, and the entire region.”

Following today’s announcement, over the next several months, the NC Children’s team will be focused on site planning, with a groundbreaking anticipated in 2027 and construction expected to take approximately six years.

Learn more about NC Children’s and our future in Apex at ncchildrens.org.

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