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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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 Southport, NC

Home Care Southport, 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 Stede Bonnet Monument in Southport, NC 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 Southport, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Southport, 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.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has been such a relief for our family. They were there when my mother-in-law came home from the hospital and have been incredibly flexible as her needs have changed. Brandi and Sabrina truly listen and care about finding what works best for Mom—and for us. They’ve worked hard to find the right caregiver who can keep her safe, help her maintain her independence, and take some of the stress of managing her care off our shoulders (even when Mom isn’t always the easiest customer!). I also love that they can help us navigate what comes next, from caregiving now to eventually finding the right placement when she needs a higher level of care. This stage of life is not easy, and having people you trust to help navigate it makes such a difference. We’re so grateful to have them in our corner.”

Charlene F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I receive in home care with Sabrina & Erin at Always Best Care in Leland NC. Without their caregivers to assist me in my daily activities I would be lost! He fact that Hannah and Brittany are so supportive is a bonus, I adore them both for different reasons. Thank you to Always Best Care for making my time here at home so easy, and memorable!”

Clair B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve trusted Always Best Care with almost daily care for my mom, for over a year. They are very professional and my mom developed a close relationship with (Super-Special) Brittany. Thank you ABC!”

John F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kathryn Q. was invaluable in guiding us through the process of exploring senior living options for my sister. She thoughtfully recommended communities that aligned with her needs, coordinated all the appointments, and personally drove us to each visit. Whenever questions arose, she promptly followed up with staff and ensured we had the information needed to make informed decisions. Her patience, attentiveness, and genuine care made what could have been an overwhelming process feel smooth and manageable. Thanks to Kathryn, we were able to move forward with confidence in this important next stage of life.”

Marla B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC has been such a reliable, compassionate and helpful company!! Could not talk more highly of the team & environment cultivated :)”

Hannah R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have been searching for a care company for my Mother, upon speaking with Sabrina I felt like I was talking to someone who had the best interest for mom’s wellbeing and safety. She educated me on all the amazing service Always best care provides and her compassion truly made me feel like I was talking with a friend . We have been using this amazing company which now has elevated my stress as the son in another state. The care team even calls her mom!!! She looks forward to seeing them everyday. Thank you Sabrina and Shawn for putting my mind at ease. Highly recommend Always best care for anyone searching for the. Best care for their loved ones.”

Bryan B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have been pleased with the level of consistent care provided. Sabrina is wonderful and is very attentive, responsive and great at communicating. Always Best Care provides excellent service and does so with care and compassion.”

Cynthia B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Excellent care. Sabrina is a wonderful caregiver and runs things very well.”

Heather S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has been such a great experience. I recently started in August, and from the very beginning, Sabrina and Shawn have been incredibly supportive, welcoming, and helpful. They’ve taken the time to make sure I feel comfortable in my role, answer any questions I have, and provide guidance whenever needed. It’s clear they truly care not only about their clients, but also about their staff. The positive environment and strong communication have made a big difference, and I already feel like part of a team that values compassion and professionalism. I’m really looking forward to continuing to grow here and being part of such a dedicated organization.”

Erin T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have used Always Best Care several times when I was away and my mother needed care. They were very responsive in the initial setup and visit. Sabrina is outstanding. She is patient and caring with my mother, who has dementia. Mother doesn't do well with strangers but was comfortable with Sabrina and her backup. They assisted with catheter care, dressing and meals. I have no reservations recommending ABC to a family needing help with a loved one.”

Christine S.
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“Courtney is very professional and compassionate caregiver.”

Virginia C.
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“They have provided great service to my wife. They have helped her with several household and personal care duties.”

Paul S.
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“Great experience talented and pleasant aids”

Chuck L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC is a Great company that strives to provide clients with the Best care possible! As an Employee they are also Awesome accommodating the girls working with your schedule. It’s Great working hand in hand with people that care!”

Pamela C.
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“I was pleased with the consistent kindness shown by the staff.”

Jason I.
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“Mangerment and caregiver are awesome very professional and caring for there clients they were very good to me”

margaret M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Where do I start! With the new found stress of dealing with life's ups and downs, ABC has come thru for me and my family in ways I could never put a price on. Their compassion and understanding made my Mom feel safe and secure, even during difficult times. For that, they have earned a client for life. The way they have loved on her since leaving the hospital make me smile.”

Universal C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Amazing company!!!! They definitely put the needs of the clients first. If you are looking for a company you can trust your loved one with, then I would definitely recommend this company!!!”

Veronica F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ever since my grandfather got out of the hospital, ABC services has been a life saver for me and my family. The staff they have is always so warm & inviting they always make my grandpa feel so comfortable. What makes ABC different is that they really care about their customers, and you can truly feel that when you’re dealing with their caregivers. I feel so much better knowing that my grandfather is in the hands of people who truly care about his wellbeing. When times got really hard for my family ABC stepped in and provided assistance & reassurance to us. If you’re looking for a company who will treat your loved one as their own I 100% recommend Always Best Care.”

brittany J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I've worked in 3 different places, this will be my fourth company and I have never felt at home in a workplace and actually comfortable with communication. So far working here has been amazing.”

Kristian S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”

karen L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”

James M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”

Samidelin I.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”

Orfa C.
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“Wonderful company!”

Elizabeth C.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Southport, 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 Southport, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Kingsley Street Park in Southport, NC 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 Southport, 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 Mr. P's Bistro or visit Josiah Martin, Historical Marker, 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 Southport, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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:

  • TerraBella Southport
  • Ocean Trail Convalescent Center
  • Southport Health & Rehabilitation Center
  • THE BRUNSWICK CENTER AT SOUTHPORT
  • Babson Carol
Home Care Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, 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 Southport, NC

Latest News in Southport, NC

‘Southport is gridlocked now’: 291-unit development expansion approved in Brunswick County

SOUTHPORT — Two-hundred-ninety-one single-family homes will be added to a development already under construction near Southport.In a 4-1 vote from the Brunswick County Planning Board, the Southport Meadows neighborhood at full build-out will make up 536 units on 232 acres on River Road. Located in the county’s unincorporated area near N.C. Highway 133 and N.C. Highway 87, Southport Meadows was originally approved in 2022 for 118 townhomes and 127 single-family lots on 163 acres.The Timmons Group, an engineering firm...

SOUTHPORT — Two-hundred-ninety-one single-family homes will be added to a development already under construction near Southport.

In a 4-1 vote from the Brunswick County Planning Board, the Southport Meadows neighborhood at full build-out will make up 536 units on 232 acres on River Road. Located in the county’s unincorporated area near N.C. Highway 133 and N.C. Highway 87, Southport Meadows was originally approved in 2022 for 118 townhomes and 127 single-family lots on 163 acres.

The Timmons Group, an engineering firm behind multi-family and residential housing, affordable housing and senior living centers statewide, added 70 more acres to build an additional 141 single family homes and 150 townhomes. The company is pairing up with national builders Pulte Homes, known for its work locally as seen in Wilmington’s Riverlights development.

READ MORE: Southport pushes for data center moratorium as it workshops zoning rules

Southport resident Teresa Magrann, who lives 2 miles away on Ballast Road, prompted the planning board to consider the number of units already on the way in the area and the impact they will have overall, before signing off on the phase-four addition. She worried about traffic impacts from Southport Meadows, which will bring 2,342 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday volume, as noted in the traffic impact analysis approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

“Southport is gridlocked now,” Magrann said, pointing to another development within a half-mile, Pointe Grand, bringing 362 multifamily units.

With both Southport Meadows and Pointe Grand, 900 units will be adding vehicles to surrounding roadways. Southport Meadows is required by NCDOT to extend three lanes southward at the N.C. 87 (River Road) intersection and lengthen turning lanes at varied areas of N.C. 87 and N.C. 133, as well as constructing two site accesses from N.C. 87.

Though allowed by-right, with county administrative oversight, Pointe Grand is currently being appealed by residents in Rivermist at Dutchman Village, due to concerns over stormwater plans and flooding on nearby properties. The appeal was revealed at Southport’s July 9 board of aldermen meeting via a letter sent by Rivermist resident Shirley Sullivan, read by the city clerk; Sullivan asked everyone to attend the July 13 Brunswick County Planning Board meeting to speak against Southport Meadows as well.

“Our infrastructure cannot handle all of this development,” Sue Lampman, also a Rivermist resident, told the planning board last week.

She read a line in Brunswick County’s unified development ordinance to make her point more salient: “to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Brunswick County.”

Lampman didn’t think the county lived up to its UDO’s promise and, like Magrann did earlier in the meeting, pointed to the water conservation alert in place countywide for weeks now, due to water usage being at 90% capacity. Lampman took issue with the monetary fines residents face if they don’t follow water capacity restriction rules; under a stage three alert, automatic irrigation was disallowed but has been changed as of July 17 to become very limited, while usage for washing clothes or dishes is allowed only outside peak hours. Particularly, she found this unfair when compared to one exemption, which allows anyone with newly laid sod or seed to water their lawns. Lampman thought this benefited developers for yet occupied homes.

“Why are developers treated with such leniency while current residents are made to suffer?” Lampman asked, before refraining the UDO’s sentence of promoting welfare of residents, as she would do multiple times during the public hearing.

Also mentioned were sewer permits currently frozen in Brunswick County by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, due to Senate Bill 673. The 2023 state law requires the DEQ to count wastewater promised to future unbuilt homes as if they were already in the pipes.

The residents didn’t think services matched needed capacity to serve more incoming residents. Lampman used the recent Shallotte wildfire as an example, which burned almost 300 acres and required multiple regional fire departments at the scene to help Brunswick County and the North Carolina Forest Service. It also shuttered roads, threatening potential EMS or evacuation needs.

She brought up testimony from Southport Fire Chief Charles Drew, who spoke at the July 9 board of aldermen meeting. Drew told Southport elected officials the state mandates the county pump 3,000 gallons of water a minute to deal with a structure fire, regardless of a water conservation alert. So even if water supply volume isn’t efficient through hydrants, firefighters still need tankers and other supplies on site to meet demand.

Drew stressed overdevelopment, without matching investment in public safety needs, as problematic to a growing area.

“As neighborhoods become denser, traffic congestion increases, emergency access becomes more difficult, evacuations are more difficult, and fire and EMS response can even be delayed because of the traffic concerns that we have,” Drew told the Southport Board of Aldermen. “Higher density development also creates greater demands for firefighters, greater demands for equipment, to be utilized in the case of an emergency or a disaster.”

To the Brunswick County Planning Board, Lampman added to Magrann’s unit count beyond Southport Meadows and Pointe Grand. She noted Turtle Bay has 100 units, Waterway has an incoming 1,190 units, and Pelican Cove is around 300 units, all putting further pressure on Southport Fire Department.

“We must have a sweeping development moratorium immediately,” Lampman suggested. “The most basic of human needs is now rationed under threats of monetary fines. If Brunswick County cannot currently provide these basic needs to its residents, how can you in good conscience approve more growth, which will cripple the City of Southport and other areas of Brunswick County?”

There was little discussion among the planning board ahead of its vote, other than board member Howard Stocks asking whether there were wetlands on the site plan. Brunswick County Deputy Director Marc Pages confirmed none, as determined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“That is a rarity these days,” Pages added.

Chairman Clif Cheek verified the current zoning of commercial low density would allow 13.6 dwelling units per acre. Pages confirmed if a multifamily complex came in under CLD, it would be able to build upward of 1,000 residential units by-right, meaning the planning board wouldn’t need to approve.

The Southport Meadows expansion request is for a planned development and falls under at 4.02 dwelling units per acre. With all phases collectively considered, it’s even lower: 2.34 dwelling units per acre.

The majority of the planning board approved the expansion, with alternate Cecelia Herman dissenting. There were multiple conditions, inclusive of one tax parcel to be removed from the Voluntary Agricultural District since the project is being developed for residential purposes and no longer privy to farming needs.

Southport Meadows is also among some of the final approvals the Brunswick County Planning Board will execute since it had its authority stripped by the North Carolina General Assembly earlier this month, as reported by Port City Daily upon the passage of House Bill 1222. Statewide, Brunswick County was one of a handful of planning boards allowed to pass development projects and rezonings rather than recommending denial or approval for a board-of-commissioners vote.

The law was pushed by Brunswick Rep. Charlie Miller and Sen. Bill Rabon, and goes into effect for all applications that come in after July 2, which will then be considered by the commissioners; thereafter, the planning board votes to provide guidance only.

Brunswick County spokesperson Meagan Kascsak confirmed with Port City Daily last week all actions at the board’s July 13 meeting fall within the new guidelines.

“Items on the agenda followed the process as outlined in our current Unified Development Ordinance, with the planning board having authority for any decision(s) since their applications were submitted well before July 2, 2026,” she said.

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