Health care
North Carolina State Veterans Homes
Four open state skilled nursing homes, at Salisbury, Black Mountain, Kinston and Kernersville, with 449 beds; the Fayetteville home is closed for replacement. Two years of North Carolina residence before applying is required, wartime veterans go first, and up to a quarter of the beds are open to spouses, widows and Gold Star parents.
Also called: veterans home, nursing home, skilled nursing, Salisbury, Black Mountain, Kinston, Kernersville, Gold Star parents.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, survivor.
Where it applies
Written for the jurisdictions listed here.
- North CarolinaState
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs runs the State veterans homes under G.S. 143B-1290 to 143B-1301; its page counts "4 full-service State Veterans homes with 449 skilled care beds":
Salisbury, 601 Brenner Avenue, Building 10, 99 beds, 704-639-2320.
Black Mountain, 62 Lake Eden Road, 100 beds, 828-257-6801.
Kinston, 2150 Hull Road, 100 beds, 252-939-8001.
Kernersville, 1795 Kernersville Medical Parkway, 120 beds, (743) 209-3042.
Fayetteville, 214 Cochran Avenue, 150 beds, is closed: the Department found "significant repair needs and structural deficiencies", decided "to close and replace the facility", and helped its 85 residents move.
Who is eligible. G.S. 143B-1298(a): the veteran served in the active Armed Forces for other than training, was discharged under honorable conditions (so a general discharge counts), is disabled by age, disease or other reason as found by a State veterans home physician's examination, and "resided in the State of North Carolina for two years immediately prior to the date of application". The Department adds a physician's referral for skilled nursing care and that the home can meet the veteran's needs.
The two-year residency rule is worth planning around. North Carolina looks at where the veteran has actually lived for the two years before applying, not the home of record at entry into service, so a veteran moving here to be near family cannot apply straight away.
Who goes first. Eligible wartime veterans go ahead of other veterans and are admitted to the first bed that can give the care they need, in order of application; everyone else is ranked by application date.
Family. Nonveterans may hold no more than 25 percent of the beds, with priority for a spouse, then a widow or widower whose spouse would be an eligible veteran, then a Gold Star parent, the mother or father of a veteran who died an honorable death in active service in time of war or emergency.
Cost. Each resident pays the Department the cost of the care (G.S. 143B-1299), through Medicare, Medicaid, VA or private payment; a veteran with a high service-connected rating who needs nursing care for it often has VA paying, so ask the home to work through the numbers. Each home has a service officer to help with VA benefits.
Apply to the individual home.
Thresholds
| Gate | Rule |
|---|---|
| Active duty service, a discharge under honorable conditions, and two years of North Carolina residence | G.S. 143B-1298: active service other than for training, a discharge under honorable conditions, disability by age, disease or other reason on a home physician examination, and North Carolina residence for the two years immediately before applying. No disability rating is required, so the rating filter never hides this benefit. |
| A spouse, widow or widower, or Gold Star parent, for up to a quarter of beds | Up to 25 percent of beds may be filled by nonveterans, in priority order a spouse, a widow or widower of an eligible veteran, and a Gold Star parent of a veteran who died in active service in time of war or emergency. |
Sources
- North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, State Veterans Homes (read 2026-10-24)Official
- North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Fayetteville State Veterans Home (closed) (read 2026-10-24)Official
- North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 143B, Article 14 (G.S. 143B-1298, eligibility and priorities) (read 2026-10-24)Official
Updated
Last updated .
What changed then:
- Eligibility rule “Active duty service, honorable discharge, and two years of North Carolina residence” renamed “Active duty service, a discharge under honorable conditions, and two years of North Carolina residence”.
- Eligibility rule “Active duty service, a discharge under honorable conditions, and two years of North Carolina residence” now reads: “G.S. 143B-1298: active service other than for training, a discharge under honorable conditions, disability by age, disease or other reason on a home physician examination, and North Carolina residence for the two years immediately before applying. No disability rating is required, so the rating filter never hides this benefit.”
- Eligibility rule “A spouse, surviving spouse, or Gold Star parent, for up to a quarter of beds” renamed “A spouse, widow or widower, or Gold Star parent, for up to a quarter of beds”.
- And 9 more changes.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.