The Cardinal at North Hills
The Cardinal at North Hills is a rental continuing care community in the North Hills district of Midtown Raleigh, run by Kisco Senior Living. It opened in 2017 and added the East Tower in 2023. Residents pay a monthly fee plus a one time community fee instead of an entrance fee, and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing are on campus.
The Cardinal at North Hills at a Glance
What Does The Cardinal at North Hills Offer?
The Cardinal is a continuing care community, so residents move in independent and can move to assisted living, memory care, or nursing on the same campus. There is no prepaid long term care: you pay for higher levels of care at their own monthly rates.
Independent living
One, two, and three bedroom apartments and penthouses across the original buildings and the East Tower, with full kitchens. The community says many have a washer and dryer and a balcony or patio.
Assisted living and Heirloom memory care
Assisted living apartments in the health center and the East Tower, plus Heirloom, a secure memory care neighborhood of about 18 beds.
The Pines skilled nursing
A 15 bed nursing center certified by Medicare, with rehab therapy on site.
What Daily Life Looks Like
The state filing says independent living includes breakfast daily plus 31 more meals a month, served across several restaurants and bars on campus, from fine dining to a bistro and a pub.
- A 35,000 square foot clubhouse with an indoor heated saltwater pool and a spa
- Two fitness centers
- A woodworking shop and an arts studio
- A dog park for residents' pets
- Housekeeping, linens, basic utilities, and cable included
- Scheduled local transportation and valet
How Does The Cardinal at North Hills' Pricing Work?
The Cardinal charges a monthly fee plus a one time community fee, which is mostly nonrefundable. The community says this is not an entrance fee because it does not prepay future care, but the fee is large, and the state filing lists it under entrance fees. The website shows monthly rates for most floor plans, and a deposit holds a place on the waitlist. You can read its disclosure statement filed with the state. Ask me for current pricing and I will walk you through the total cost.
How Are The Cardinal at North Hills' Health Center and Finances?
The nursing center holds 3 stars, an average rating, on Medicare Care Compare. Health inspections and staffing rate above average, but quality measures rate much below average: more short stay residents return to the hospital, and more long stay residents have falls with major injury than the national average. It has had no federal fines in three years. Its September 2025 inspection cited two items: it did not report a resident's unexplained injuries to the authorities, and opened food in the freezers had no dates. In 2023, an aide used a lift alone and a resident fell and broke two neck bones. You can see every measure on the Medicare Care Compare page for The Cardinal at North Hills.
The 2025 filings show the original community made a small profit, while the newer East Tower lost money again, after its owners put in $3 million in 2024. Both audits were clean, and independent living is about 99 percent full. The required operating reserve is met with a bank letter of credit that the audit notes say was due to expire in April 2026, so ask whether it was renewed.
What I'd Ask on a Tour
These are the questions I make sure get answered when I tour The Cardinal at North Hills with a family.
- How large the community fee is, and when any part of it is refunded
- What assisted living and memory care cost per month if you need them later
- How the nursing center is working on falls and hospital returns
- How lift transfers are checked after the 2023 fall
- Whether the letter of credit backing the operating reserve has been renewed
- How long the waitlist is for the apartment you want
Similar Communities Nearby
- Hayes Barton Place: near Five Points, a newer rental life plan community
- Springmoor: Sawmill Road, a nonprofit continuing care community with entrance fees
- The Cypress of Raleigh: Cypress Lakes Drive, a member owned community with a 5 star health center
- Magnolia Glen: Creedmoor Road, independent and assisted living
The Cardinal at North Hills Questions
Does The Cardinal at North Hills have an entrance fee?
Not in the usual sense. It charges a monthly fee plus a one time community fee that does not prepay future care. The fee is large and mostly nonrefundable, so ask for the exact amount.
Who runs The Cardinal at North Hills?
Kisco Senior Living manages it. The operating companies are for profit, and news reports describe the campus as a joint venture between Kisco and Welltower, a real estate investment trust.
Does The Cardinal at North Hills have memory care?
Yes. Heirloom is a secure memory care neighborhood in the health center.
How old do you have to be to live at The Cardinal at North Hills?
The minimum age is 55, and new residents go through a health screening.
Compare it with the full list of top independent living in Raleigh.
Ask Me About The Cardinal at North Hills
This is not the community's official website. Triangle Senior Placement is an independent placement service. Details come from the community's own materials and North Carolina state records, and you should confirm them on your tour.