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.
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 Bellamy Mansion Museum in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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.
“Alice Sharper is a wonderful helper. She always looks out for my health and”
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“"Virtual Dementia Tour" was awesome - an eye opener in helping to understand.”
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“A good company that cares for both employees and clients.”
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“Great experience, and the best company the staff treat you like human being.”
“Alice Sharper is a wonderful helper. She always looks out for my health and she does chores around the house without being asked. She has driven me to multiple appointments. She is always is an up mood. Camille Bialik”
“I've done the dementia virtual training experiment with a previous employer. The experience with Always Best Care was by far a better experience. Truly a heart felt opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone living with dementia. Thank you ????????”
“"Virtual Dementia Tour" was awesome - an eye opener in helping to understand.”
“We moved my mother-in-law in with us fifteen months ago. ABC has been providing excellent care since then. Her current caregivers are Felicia, Katherine, Yolanda and Robin. They all have been professional and easy to work with. I've enclosed a picture from Brownie-Making-Day. Thank you to all for a great job.”
“Very promising????”
“Ive always been a old soul,being with elderly people helps my mental health and warms my heart. Theve given so much of their lives to their families and they should be comfortable for the remainder of their days. I love ABC because I can set my own hours,and that being said,give more time and love to Mrs. Dina without feeling pressure.”
“A good company that cares for both employees and clients.”
“ABC Wake Forest has been a blessing to me and my family! The compassion ans dedication for my mom was the best. Wonderful caregivers and staff!”
“Wonderful company! Best services.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Great company !!”
“Absolutely love this company”
“Great company even better staff”
“This is an amazing company and the staff do an amazing job.”
“Great company”
“Always Best Care is the most respectful nicest company I’ve work with I love working with them.”
“I love Always Best Care, it’s a great company….”
“Great company”
“Always great”
“Great people ‼️‼️‼️‼️❤️❤️❤️”
“Wonderful services!”
“This is a lovely company and wonderful services.”
“I love being in the atmosphere of ABC ! They’re so energetic and just all around a great place to be with !”
“Always Best Care Senior Services is an outstanding in-home care agency that truly raises the bar when it comes to senior care. Their team of caregivers are not only skilled and dependable but also genuinely compassionate and committed to the well-being of every individual they serve. If you are looking for a dedicated and trustworthy agency to support aging loved ones, Always Best Care is one I would confidently recommend.”
“Great experience, and the best company the staff treat you like human being.”
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.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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 Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
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 manna or visit Wilmington Light Infantry Building / John A. Taylor House, 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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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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.
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 Wilmington, 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.
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:
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 Wilmington, 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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Wilmington, 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.
North Carolina wakes to a hazy, muted sky, where early light presses through thin patches of coastal fog and the pavement still holds its cool dawn sheen. Travelers stepping out before sunrise may feel the crisp, moist air brushing across open lots and quiet neighborhoods—an early sign of shifting conditions as Thanksgiving approaches.Residents should stay alert through the morning, especially along US-17 and smaller inland routes where fog pockets linger longest. Reduced visibility may slow early errands, school travel, or airp...
North Carolina wakes to a hazy, muted sky, where early light presses through thin patches of coastal fog and the pavement still holds its cool dawn sheen. Travelers stepping out before sunrise may feel the crisp, moist air brushing across open lots and quiet neighborhoods—an early sign of shifting conditions as Thanksgiving approaches.
Residents should stay alert through the morning, especially along US-17 and smaller inland routes where fog pockets linger longest. Reduced visibility may slow early errands, school travel, or airport drop-offs. For now, calm winds keep the fog settled, though sunshine will quickly take over and dry out the region. Anyone preparing for weekend Holiday Travel should use today to get ahead on plans while conditions remain simple and roads stay dry.
Models hint at a small Winter Tease farther north across the US, where temperature whiplash may spark late-November snow chances. While Wilmington remains far from that risk, the broader pattern signals bigger national impacts as Thanksgiving week begins. A mild, steady warmth holds here through Saturday, but coastal residents should still watch for a possible changeover to light showers later in the weekend.
Friday brings partly sunny skies with a high near 73°F. Winds ease in the afternoon, creating ideal conditions for outdoor decorating, leaf cleanup, and early holiday events. Saturday features highs near 78°F with only a slight chance of showers or a low-end thunder rumble after midday—nothing disruptive, but enough to keep late travelers aware.
Five-Day Outlook (Sunday–Wednesday):Sunday: Sunny, high near 66°F.Sunday Night: Mostly clear, low near 44°F.Monday: Sunny, high near 68°F.Tuesday: Partly sunny, high near 73°F; 40% shower chance late.Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 78°F.
MATCHUP East Carolina Pirates UNC Wilmington Seahawks Team Records 2-1 2-1 Spread +6.5 -115 -6.5 -105 Moneyline +210 -258 Total Over 143.5 (-108) Under 143.5 (-112) Where Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, NC When Tuesday, November 18, 2025 T...
| MATCHUP | East Carolina Pirates | UNC Wilmington Seahawks |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Spread | +6.5 -115 | -6.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | +210 | -258 |
| Total | Over 143.5 (-108) | Under 143.5 (-112) |
| Where | Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, NC | |
| When | Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | FloSports | |
The East Carolina Pirates and the UNC Wilmington Seahawks meet Tuesday in college basketball action from the Trask Coliseum. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an East Carolina Pirates vs. UNC Wilmington Seahawks prediction.
The East Carolina Pirates come into this game looking to build on a 71-70 win over subdivision Elizabeth City last time out to sit at 2-1 this season. After this game, East Carolina will head home for a game against Charleston Southern.
Jordan Riley leads the Pirates with 20 PPG along with 7 RPG while Giovanni Emejuru has 20 PPG of his own along with a team-high 10.7 RPG to lead the Pirates in rebounding so far this season by averaging a double-double per game. Tybo Bailey has 10.3 PPG with 2.3 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for East Carolina so far this season while Corey Caulker has 7.7 PPG with 3.7 APG and Isaiah Mbeng has 7 PPG with a team-high 5 APG to lead the Pirates in assists. As a team, East Carolina is averaging 78.3 PPG on 44.3% shooting from the field, 18.3% from three and 70.8% from the foul line this season.
The UNC Wilmington Seahawks come into this game looking to add on to their 73-60 win over USC Upstate last time out to sit at 2-1 this season. After this game, UNC Wilmington will head on the road for a game against Radford.
Nolan Hodge leads the Seahawks in scoring with 18.7 PPG along with 5 RPG while Madison Durr has 14.3 PPG with 3.7 RPG and Greedy Willias has 14 PPG with 4.3 RPG and a team-high 3 APG to lead the Seahawks in the assist department up to this point in the year. Patrick Wessler has 13.7 PPG with a team-high 9.3 RPG to lead UNC Wilmington in rebounding and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for UNC Wilmington up to this point in the year. Noah Ross has 8.7 PPG with 4 RPG and 2.7 APG and Christian May has 8 PPG with 4.7 RPG as well so far this season. As a team, UNC Wilmington is averaging 85.3 PPG on 44.1% shooting from the field, 31% from three and 68.2% from the foul line this season.
I’m on UNC Wilmington here. I just think this Seahawks are the better team and I don’t feel like the Pirates can compete here and I really didn’t like what I saw from the Pirates against a subdivision team in their last outing. UNC Wilmington is one of the better mid-majors out there and I think they get the job done in this game. Give me UNC Wilmington.
It’s a cool Wednesday morning in October, and people are milling around the parking lot behind First Baptist Church of Wilmington.Layla Perez, emergency assistance specialist, and two volunteers are busy operating Catholic Charities of the Cape Fear Region’s Clean Start mobile laundry trailer.A tall man walks up to the side of the trailer, and Perez greets him by name.“Hi, Ronnie,” she said. “Let me check on your things.”She steps into the laundry trailer, checks with the volunt...
It’s a cool Wednesday morning in October, and people are milling around the parking lot behind First Baptist Church of Wilmington.
Layla Perez, emergency assistance specialist, and two volunteers are busy operating Catholic Charities of the Cape Fear Region’s Clean Start mobile laundry trailer.
A tall man walks up to the side of the trailer, and Perez greets him by name.
“Hi, Ronnie,” she said. “Let me check on your things.”
She steps into the laundry trailer, checks with the volunteers and returns, telling him it will be a few more minutes.
Catholic Charities initially built the laundry trailer to assist people after disasters, such as hurricanes and floods. Perez explained that often people are left with little — sometimes only “the clothes on your back” — and being able to wash those items can mean a lot in those moments after a disaster.
But Perez said they noticed the trailer was “hanging around in the warehouses” when it wasn’t in use, and staff wondered how they could use it on “blue sky days.”
“We decided, let’s bring it downtown for our unhoused neighbors,” she said.
But the idea wasn’t without challenges. The trailer requires a level space, electricity, water and a drain runoff system to operate.
Catholic Charities partnered with several organizations, including The Harrelson Center and First Baptist Church of Wilmington, which provided them with the space and connections needed to operate. Perez said since mid-July, they have been setting up in the parking lot between the two buildings offer laundry services for the community’s unhoused population.
Initially, Perez said they began setting up on Tuesday nights when the Vigilant Hope shower trailer would be at the site.
“You know, you take a shower, you go get your laundry so you’re feeling clean and you’re feeling compassionate and feel good about yourself for the next day,” she said.
But they decided to extend the time to include Wednesday mornings when the Living Hope Day Center is open so that people could get assistance with their needs while their laundry is done.
Perez said they are glad to be able to provide this service to the community and credits the support from their partners for helping it come to fruition.
“Everyone’s so thankful that we’re here, and we’re so thankful to be here with our partners,” she said, adding that they were welcomed with open arms.
Perez said they are also grateful for the people they meet through this service with some stopping by to check in even if they’re not getting their laundry done that week.
“They have just touched all of our hearts,” she said. “It has been a great response, and we’re very, very thankful to be here and serving our community.”
Catholic Charities of the Cape Fear Region’s Clean Start mobile laundry trailer sets up in the parking lot behind First Baptist Church of Wilmington, 411 Market St., Wilmington, NC. The hours of operation are from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings and from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday mornings.
Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].
With little discussion, the Wilmington City Council recently passed a resolution unanimously opposing a proposed expansion of Chemours' Fayetteville Works plant."Council urges the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant regulatory bodies to deny any permits or approvals related to such expansion until Chemours has fully remediated existing contamination and demonstrated a sustained, transparent commitment to environmental and public health protections," states th...
With little discussion, the Wilmington City Council recently passed a resolution unanimously opposing a proposed expansion of Chemours' Fayetteville Works plant.
"Council urges the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant regulatory bodies to deny any permits or approvals related to such expansion until Chemours has fully remediated existing contamination and demonstrated a sustained, transparent commitment to environmental and public health protections," states the Nov. 3 resolution.
Fayetteville Works, located roughly 70 miles upstream from Wilmington near the Bladen-Cumberland county line, has been in the proverbial eye of the storm since the StarNews broke in 2017 that DuPont and more recently Chemours, which was spun off from DuPont in 2015, had been dumping "forever chemicals" into the Cape Fear River for decades. The manmade chemicals are used in common everyday products like food packaging, cookware, medical devices and adhesives.
But the per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including GenX, are frequently dubbed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down quickly in the environment, can linger in the body, and have been tied to a host of health problems and ailments.
The Cape Fear River also is the primary drinking source for thousands of residents in the Wilmington area, and up until just a few years ago municipal water systems had no way of filtering out the manmade substances before they entered the public water supply. Forever chemicals also have seeped into groundwater and been found in residential wells throughout the Cape Fear River watershed.
While the move by Wilmington officials to oppose Chemours' plans would seem to have little practical impact, since the plant is well outside the city's jurisdictional limits and any expansion requires the approval of federal and state regulators, it puts the city's concerns on record.
Groups like Clean Cape Fear, a local advocacy group, have been encouraging local leaders to pass resolutions opposing the proposed expansion − something the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority also recently did.
"Chemours still refuses to pay for clean up, can't control PFAS pollution at Fayetteville Works, and only acts in the best interest of our communities when legally forced," the grassroots organization said in a statement. "These are not the actions of a responsible or trustworthy company."
Chemours enters 'final phase' of private well sampling program in Wilmington areaThe Delaware-based chemical giant wants to expand production in its vinyl ethers units at the plant. Vinyl ethers are used to create adhesives and coatings that are used in a variety of products, including batteries, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals − all growing industries.
According to the company's permit application with the N.C. Division of Air Quality, the expansion would see an "increase of approximately 100% within the Vinyl Ethers North process area" and "increase capacity by approximately 35 to 40% within the VE Ethers South process area."
While total emissions are expected to increase post-expansion, in the permit application Chemours states that total emissions of fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs) − like PFAS − are projected to decrease by 15% compared to 2021 levels.
In a statement, Chemours said the company has invested more than $400 million in upgrades in recent years that now capture and destroy more than 99.9% of the PFAS air emissions at Fayetteville Works.
"We respect Wilmington City Council’s right to express their opinion, though it seems counterintuitive to oppose a permit application that would ultimately reduce Fayetteville Works’ site-wide PFAS air emissions by an additional 15% beyond the significant reductions already achieved in recent years, despite an increase in production," the statement said.
To Wilmington officials and environmentalists, the answer to whether Chemours should be allowed to expand is a simple one: The company shouldn't be allowed to increase production until it takes responsibility for the health and financial sins tied to the dumping of forever chemicals like GenX into the environment for decades.
"Chemours is a classic bad actor," Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette told council at the Nov. 3 meeting.
He said the company not only went decades without telling anyone what it was doing, but also has refused to pay for upgrades to drinking water systems say they can filter out the manmade chemicals, moved to stop studies that could show the health impacts from humans ingesting PFAS-contaminated water, and fought against additional regulations on forever chemicals at the federal and state levels.
"What this shows is a company willing to put public health and the environment at risk in order to maximize profits," said Burdette, who also is executive director of Cape Fear River Watch. "This proposal is a slap in the face to Wilmingtonians."
The state is continuing to review Chemours' permit application, which was originally submitted in 2022 and substantially revised in an updated Aug. 14 application.
Air Quality spokesperson Shawn Taylor said that while the division has deemed the latest application "administratively complete," it has requested additional information to allow regulators to conduct a technical review. The division also plans to allow public comments and to hold public hearings on the proposal in the future.
Chemours also will need EPA approval to move forward. The Trump administration has been steadily rolling back environmental protections and requirements on industry, so that might not be a major roadblock.
With communities in the Cape Fear region and across the country bogged down in litigation with Chemours and other PFAS manufacturers and the scope of the contamination and the long-term health impacts from the forever chemicals still emerging, officials said it isn't surprising that more and more people are speaking up.
Until the damage from those past actions of unregulated contamination are dealt with and the responsible parties take ownership of their actions, activists argue PFAS manufacturers shouldn't be allowed to expand their operations and continue their polluting ways.
"Chemours has not eared the right to create more PFAS in North Carolina and we applaud the City of Wilmington and CFPUA for publicly opposing this dangerous expansion plan," Clean Cape Fear said in its statement.
Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at [email protected] or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation, the Prentice Foundation and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.
It looked like a battle scene, and the battle wasn’t over.One day after a fire broke out at the historic Graystone Inn at 100 South Third St. in Wilmington on Nov. 14, firefighters were still dumping water onto any possible smoldering areas.The fire marshal determined that the cause of the three-alarm blaze, which firefighters responded to by 1 p.m. on Nov. 14, was accidental, but would say no more, according to Wilmington Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Campbell.No one was injured in the fire, which was co...
It looked like a battle scene, and the battle wasn’t over.
One day after a fire broke out at the historic Graystone Inn at 100 South Third St. in Wilmington on Nov. 14, firefighters were still dumping water onto any possible smoldering areas.
The fire marshal determined that the cause of the three-alarm blaze, which firefighters responded to by 1 p.m. on Nov. 14, was accidental, but would say no more, according to Wilmington Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Campbell.
No one was injured in the fire, which was contained within the stone building’s exterior walls, said Campbell.
Campbell, who has been in the department for over 30 years, said it was one of the worst fires he had ever seen.
“The building is gutted, essentially,” he said. “The roof is 90 percent gone.” He also said floors collapsed.
By late morning on Nov. 15, it was still not deemed safe for firefighters to enter the building, which was built in the early 1900s and originally called The Bridgers Mansion.
“We had some lingering smoke through the night, which is to be expected,” Campbell said. “Right now we hope we got all of it, but given the construction of the structure, this could be going on for days.”
The smell of burned wood hung in the air on Nov. 15 as firefighters sprayed more water into the building. Between Nov. 14 and 15, “thousands and thousands and thousands” of gallons of water had been used, said Campbell.
About 20 firefighters were on the scene Nov. 15 with two fire engines, a truck company, a squad company and a rescue company, said Campbell. A 100-foot ladder truck with a pipe attached to the ladder was used by a firefighter to shoot water down into the building.
It's the second time the Graystone Inn has been damaged by fire since 2023. The inn had been closed since June 2023 as work was ongoing to make repairs.
The 2023 fire was determined to be accidental and started in the kitchen area, according to a 2023 Wilmington Fire Department news release.
While firefighters were busy at work Nov. 15, bystanders watched.
“Very sad,” said J.D. Titzel of Wilmington. “History is important to me, so it’s a loss to Wilmington.”
Craig Ten Brink lives a block away from the building and saw the fire. “This was just shocking,” he said. “It was very hard for me to imagine how that fire got so bad so fast.
"It’s really sad. It’s a beautiful building. It’s kind of a landmark in the downtown neighborhood."
Robert Erb, a nearby resident, witnessed the fire, which he called “intense.” He said the Graystone Inn is one of the “iconic buildings in Wilmington.”
Electrical equipment had been damaged by the fire, causing a power outage for several blocks of downtown Wilmington, according to Duke Energy.
The American Red Cross said it had disaster-trained volunteers provide food, water and comfort to first responders on Nov. 14.
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at [email protected].
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