Wilmington’s Top Retirement Communities

As a retirement hotspot, Wilmington’s standout senior living options offer charm, care, and community

By Madison Bailey

The year 2025 is off to a strong start for Wilmington, which was recently named the No. 2 retirement hotspot in the country by FinanceBuzz Money, a personal finance website. Real estate agents across the U.S. highlighted cities drawing retirees—and Wilmington stood out for its coastal charm, growing restaurant scene, and steadily improving health care.

That reputation aligns with what many locals already know: Wilmington is a place where you can truly slow down and enjoy life. With its mild climate, scenic beauty, and welcoming atmosphere, it offers the perfect mix of ease and engagement for those entering their next chapter. Whether you like strolling the Riverwalk, dining on fresh seafood by the beach, or enjoying sunshine and family time, there’s always something to keep you active and connected.

The city also provides a range of senior living options, from vibrant, social communities to personalized home care services. Whether you’re seeking an active, independent lifestyle or more focused day-to-day support, there are high-quality choices to meet your needs. The goal is to age with grace, dignity, and a strong sense of belonging—and finding the right fit makes all the difference.

Here are three top-rated senior living and care providers in Wilmington, each offering a unique blend of amenities, support, and services.

Brightmore of Wilmington

One of the most defining aspects of Brightmore of Wilmington is the way it feels to those who walk through its doors. You’re immediately greeted by residents who fill the porch, spending time with their grandkids or socializing with each other, and then captivated by the warm decor of the welcoming lobby. Their living residences feel the same way, featuring a bright and cozy atmosphere, natural light, comfortable furniture, and personalized touches that make each apartment feel like a home.

“You walk in and it feels like home,” says Jamie Shearer, Brightmore’s communications specialist. “It doesn’t feel like a grandiose resort or anything institutional. It just feels like you’re walking into your own living room.”

The warmth at Brightmore goes way beyond just first impressions. They've created a community that meets you wherever you are, with multiple living options all in one place. The main Brightmore campus is home to their independent living residences with over twenty unique floor plans to choose from. Each apartment is designed for both comfort and practicality, featuring full kitchens, washer and dryer connections, individual climate control, window blinds, and generous storage space.

For residents who need a little more day-to-day support, The Kempton at Brightmore offers assisted living with a focus on maintaining an active lifestyle. You can choose from roomy studio or one-bedroom apartments, and there's always something fun happening on their activity calendar. Then there’s The Commons at Brightmore, which provides both assisted living and specialized memory care services. The staff there specializes in moderate to higher levels of care, with everything tailored to what each resident needs. But with any residence you choose, it’ll be an environment that feels supportive when needed, but never restrictive.

The best part of Brightmore is the community that grows with you, and in many ways, “mirrors the feeling of your first semester of college,” according to Regional Sales and Marketing Specialist Maxime Suchosk. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it, and with more activities now than ever, it’s easy to find your rhythm and build your own version of daily joy.

“Now, it's almost like every hour is filled with something,” May Heath, the director of sales and marketing, shares. “So, there's a lot of opportunity for people.” Plus, unlike some retirement communities, Brightmore focuses on providing exactly what residents want and need—without added costs for amenities that may never be used. “What our residents pay for is exactly what they’re getting,” Heath explains. “We are not this posh, overdone place. We are a true family environment, and that’s what people love about Brightmore.”

One standout offering is the wellness program, which goes beyond fitness with its life enrichment programs, meditation garden, putting green, pool and group fitness, and much more. Led by a dedicated wellness director, these programs are designed to help residents stay grounded and independent. “The wellness programs are probably some of the most well-attended of any community I've ever worked in,” says Heath, who brings over 15 years of experience in senior living to her role. They even boast an on-site, full-service salon, a favorite for many who want to enjoy a bit of self-care without ever leaving campus. Brightmore’s focus is on more than just physical health; they incorporate mental and spiritual wellness, too, which is continuing to grow. “Our church services are growing here to meet our population's needs. So, we’re focusing on being very diverse and being able to have a service that meets their spirituality,” says Heath.

It's clear the Brightmore team genuinely cares about understanding seniors' needs and wants, so don't be afraid to reach out with questions. They know that many seniors feel nervous about talking to salespeople, but the Brightmore staff is there as a resource. The goal is making sure services and lifestyle truly meet your needs, while providing helpful information to point you in the right direction. Brightmore encourages seniors to pick up the phone, ask questions, and even say, “What haven't I asked?” because at the end of the day, all senior communities want residents who are the right match for what they offer.

Cogir Solista

Solista Wilmington by Cogir is more than a place to retire—it’s the reward itself. Tucked beside the coast and surrounded by tall trees and walking paths, the community offers comfort, connection, and an effortlessly elevated lifestyle. As their website says, it’s all about “rewards for a life well lived,” and Solista Wilmington delivers those daily.

From the moment you step into the building, that philosophy is evident. “It’s been completely refreshed from top to bottom,” says Regional Vice President David Reichert, referring to the brand-new luxe interior. But it’s not just the physical space that feels fresh—it’s the energy. Lifestyle Director Tabitha Northway describes the atmosphere as warm and active, a place where people are constantly engaged and comfortable. “We offer daily fitness programs, weekly music performances, and art classes, with our biggest hits being the art class I teach, our music concerts, and, of course, bingo,” she says.

This thoughtful approach carries through every aspect of life at Solista. Residents aren’t just passive members—they play an active role in shaping the community. From choosing meals to planning outings and providing feedback in monthly meetings, it’s clear that the residents have a voice. “It’s truly grassroots,” Reichert explains. “Everything is built around what this group of residents wants.”

Of course, transitioning to independent living can be a big decision, and Executive Director Kim Campbell encourages those who might be hesitant to take a test run first. “Change can be hard, but it’s also refreshing,” she says. “We invite people who are on the fence to come spend a weekend with us, experience the community, and see what it feels like to live here.” It’s common for new visitors to end up deciding this is exactly what they’ve been looking for. As Campbell adds, “Once people see how much we can really improve their quality of life, they realize how much of a relief it can be. Many of our residents say they wish they’d moved in sooner.”

On top of the peace of mind, daily life at Solista Wilmington is full of simple pleasures. Whether it’s group outings to local restaurants, beachside parks, or leisurely afternoons on the patio, there’s always something to look forward to. And with transportation readily available, it’s all about making life as convenient as possible. “We do shopping trips, appointments, and we always try to mix in something just for fun,” says Reichert.

Of course, no good day is complete without great food, and Solista Wilmington doesn’t disappoint. “We make approximately 90% of our meals from scratch,” Reichert explains. “We’ve got full-size commercial kitchens and an executive chef who's been with us for over eight years. He knows the residents like family and even surveys them regularly to make sure he’s cooking up exactly what they want.” From breakfast to dinner, every meal is prepared with care—after all, when you’re living the good life, the food should be just as satisfying.

While Solista focuses on independent living, the staff also understands that some residents may need a little extra support now and then. They don’t provide medical services themselves, but they’ve partnered with medical providers who offer personalized modalities of therapy—like physical, occupational, and speech—and other health-related services right within the community. Plus, residents can choose to bring in their own care if needed. It’s all about convenience and making sure that everything a resident might need is the right fit for them.

For those who prefer to stay close to home, the property offers plenty of charm. Residents can choose from studios, one- or two-bedroom apartments, or even spacious cottages. The four-story building is set on wooded land with a lake view and has walking paths that loop the entire property—perfect for a peaceful morning stroll.

HomeWerks Home Care

When Paula and Tom Werk founded HomeWerks Home Care in 2011, they hadn’t planned on entering the world of home care. But life had other plans.

Before launching HomeWerks in Raleigh, Paula, a native North Carolinian, founded and ran Residential Resources of the Triangle LLC, a company that helped people navigate the often-difficult transition from their homes to assisted living facilities. Tom, who’s originally from Wilmington, had built a successful career in the pharmaceutical, medical diagnostic, and clinical research organization industries before joining HomeWerks full time in 2016.

After stepping in to care for a distant, elderly relative with no close family nearby, the couple quickly realized something: there was a significant gap in high-quality, personalized home care. “It was from this experience that we discovered there was an overwhelming need to provide home care services in a higher quality and more personalized manner,” says Tom.

Now based in Wilmington for over four years, HomeWerks has remained true to that original mission. As a family-owned and operated agency—not a franchise—they take a boutique approach to home care, focusing on deep relationships and thoughtful caregiver matching. “We never had a goal of growing to be a huge home care agency, especially now that we’ve been in New Hanover County for over four years,” Tom explains. “We just want to have the reputation in the Wilmington area as being the best local home care agency.”

HomeWerks provides two tiers of support: lower-level companionship care and higher-level hands-on assistance from certified nursing assistants (CNAs). From activities of daily living (ADLs), like helping with dressing and bathing, to preparing low-salt meals for those with high blood pressure, the caregivers focus on supporting daily living activities that allow clients to stay comfortably and safely in their own homes.

That level of intentionality starts from day one. Once a potential client reaches out, HomeWerks performs a home safety assessment, followed by a personalized plan of care developed by one of their nurses. “Given our customized approach, HomeWerks Home Care will make every effort to match the caregivers to the client, with respect to care needs, skills fit, interest, demographic, and cultural factors,” Tom explains. “If someone has a dog, we’ll try to find a caregiver who loves dogs. If a client enjoys outings to museums or the theater, we’ll match them with a caregiver who is energetic and outgoing.”

HomeWerks’ clients range from those recovering after surgery to individuals with progressive conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s disease. They also offer respite care to relieve overwhelmed family caregivers—something Tom and Paula have a personal understanding of.

“Family caregivers often cannot sustain it for long without negative repercussions to their own health and well-being. Waiting too long is human nature,” Tom explains. “While acknowledging it is an adjustment to have a new person in the home, the initiation of home care services can bring immense improvement in the quality of life to not only the patient, but also to the family and current primary caregiver.”

Beyond comfort and safety, the benefits of home care can also be financial. “Studies show that home care can cut initial medical costs by a fraction of what institutional settings like hospitals or nursing homes charge,” Tom explains. Caregivers do everything from proactively identifying and monitoring health issues to preparing meals and tracking medications—all to help prevent disease progression and subsequent hospital admissions.

As HomeWerks continues to grow, Tom and Paula remain focused on their commitment to providing the highest quality care to their clients. “Perhaps the most important reason that you should consider HomeWerks Home Care for your home care needs is the fact that we are committed to providing services that will be to your utmost satisfaction,” says Tom. “We don’t want to be the biggest agency but rather have the absolute best reputation in providing high-quality services to a select group of Wilmington-based clients.” With their dedication to personalized care and strong local presence, HomeWerks remains a trusted resource for families seeking compassionate and reliable home care.

From their Landfall-area office, the couple remains committed to doing things differently. For them, it’s not about growing big—it’s about staying personal.