The Laurels of Pender reports 89.7 residents daily, ranking second in county for Q1

During the first quarter of 2026, The Laurels of Pender was recognized as the county’s second largest nursing home, as reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

According to the data, the facility offered 98 beds, seven fewer than the county average for the same period. It maintained an average of 89.7 residents each day during these months.

The CMS assigned The Laurels of Pender an overall score of 4 out of 5, surpassing the state’s nursing home average rating of 2.9 in North Carolina.

That quarter, Woodbury Wellness Center, Inc. held its position as Pender County’s largest facility, providing a total of 112 beds.

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, The Laurels of Pender recorded no fines or penalties.

Pender County, North Carolina, was home to two for-profit nursing facilities overall.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows the population of older adults continues to rise as numbers in younger demographics decline. From 2020 to 2024, those age 65 and up increased by 13%, while the number of people under 18 dropped by 1.7%. Across the past century, the country’s older population has surged from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.

Research published in 2021 indicates that nearly half of individuals 65 or older—about 28 million people—may need long-term support services. The same study forecasts that more than one-third of this age group could eventually require nursing home placement.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education nonprofit. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

Information in this article was gathered from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Access the original data here.