Guide>Time to visit some CCRCs>CCRCs I TOURED

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I live in Winston-Salem, NC near family, and wanted to stay near family when I moved to a CCRC. Winston-Salem is part of the Piedmont Triad area of the state. Thus, my search for a CCRC was in the Piedmont area of the state, centered in the Triad area, but mostly in Winston-Salem itself. Therefore, this guide includes some specific information about CCRCs in the Triad and Piedmont areas of central North Carolina.

What is the Triad?

The Piedmont Triad (simply known as the Triad) is a north-central region of the state of North Carolina. It consists of the area within and around the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. These three cities lie in the Piedmont geographical region of the United States and form the basis of the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point CSA (Combined Statistical Area).

The Triad has an estimated population of over 1,600,000 making it the 33rd largest CSA metropolitan area in the United States. About 16% of the population is age 65 and over, which is slightly over the national average of 15%.

The Triad encompasses approximately 5,954 square miles. The metropolitan areas are interconnected by Interstates 40, 85, 73, and 74 and are served by the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro.

What is the Piedmont?

The Piedmont Crescent (simply known as the Piedmont) is a large, polycentric urbanized region in the midsection of North Carolina. Forming the shape of a crescent, it forms in the south at Charlotte, extends northward to Winston-Salem, continues eastward through Greensboro and Durham, and ends in Raleigh. The region includes seven of North Carolina's eight largest cities and encompasses many smaller cities, towns, and suburban areas, as well as the metropolitan centers of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, the Piedmont Triad, and the renowned Research Triangle.

The Piedmont is home to 63% (about 6 million) of North Carolina's population. It is home to ten major universities: Duke, NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, NC Central, Wake Forest, UNC-Greensboro, NC A&T State University, Elon University, and High Point University. It is served by three international airports (CLT in Charlotte, RDU in Raleigh, and GSO in Greensboro).

The primary cities of the Piedmont and their populations are as follows:

Charlotte (800,000+)
Raleigh (450,000+)
Greensboro (270,000+)
Durham (250,000+)
Winston-Salem (240,000+)
Cary (150,000+)
High Point (100,000+)

Other cities of the Piedmont include:

Belmont
Burlington
Carrboro
Chapel Hill
Clemmons
Concord
Garner
Gastonia
Graham
Hillsborough
Kannapolis
Kernersville
Lexington
Mebane
Salisbury
Thomasville 

Piedmont/Triad CCRCs I toured

• Salemtowne, Winston-Salem, NC, toured 3 times. First impression: Moravian-style buildings with timber framing and lots of wood trim, historical architecture means it never really goes out of style, 50% and 90% refund plans available, discounts on higher levels of care, seems to have more down-to-earth residents. Lots of new facilities, housing, and renovations, and lots of new things planned. Salemtowne has become my first choice. I was on the priority list. I am now a resident.
• Arbor Acres, Winston-Salem, NC, toured 2 times. First impression: very nice, classy, Bayberry cluster homes are unique, have no refund plans, has an upper-class vibe. I was on the priority list.
• Windsor Run, Matthews, NC, toured 2 times while under construction, it opened in 2018. First impression: new, modern, nice area, surrounded by open grassland with no trees, only has a 90% refund plan. I was on the priority list. However, I decided it was too far away from Winston-Salem where all my family is located.
• Bermuda Village, Advance, NC. First impression: it's more of a retirement community, too far from the city.
• Brookridge, Winston-Salem, NC. First impression: a place for old people.
• Homestead Hills,  Winston-Salem, NC. First impression: piecemeal, facilities and housing are not connected, nothing special.
• Pennybryn, High Point NC. First impression: nice place, fantastic healthcare facility.
• River Landing, Colfax, NC. First impression: golf course community, surrounded by lots of acreage in the middle of nowhere, limited pet policy.
• Trinity Oaks, Salisbury, NC. First impression: nice place, a little aged.
• Well-Spring, Greensboro, NC. First impression: very clean, lots of security, only has a lifecare plan, refund plans available, expensive.

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