Allentown Senior AdvisorBy Allentown Senior Advisor Care Team · October 16, 2026
Carbon County had about 16,022 residents 65 and older in 2025 (24.3%), but DHS lists only 5 licensed personal care homes there and CMS 2 nursing homes. No LIFE provider serves the county, so in-home help and Community HealthChoices matter more.
An older county with fewer options
Carbon County is the Lehigh Valley metro's mountain county: Lehighton, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning, Lansford and Weatherly. Census estimates for July 1, 2025 put 24.3% of its 65,868 residents at 65 or older, with a median age of 46.3, older than Lehigh or Northampton County.
Yet licensed senior care is thin and spread out, and many families end up comparing options in Allentown, Bethlehem or neighboring counties.
Every licensed home and nursing home in the county
Here is what DHS and CMS list with Carbon County addresses (data retrieved November 6, 2026):
| Facility | Town | Capacity / beds | Dementia unit places | License or rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Hill Senior Community | Weatherly | 143 | 42 | Provisional |
| Maple Shade Meadows Senior Living | Nesquehoning | 85 | 25 | Full |
| The Palmerton, An Inspirit Senior Living Community | Palmerton | 71 | 15 | Full |
| Scenic View Personal Care | Palmerton | 25 | — | Full |
| Fitzmaurice Community Services | Lehighton | 8 | — | Full |
| Forest Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (nursing home) | Weatherly | 200 | — | CMS 2 of 5 |
| Mahoning Operating LLC (nursing home) | Lehighton | 142 | — | CMS 3 of 5 |
Several of these homes are sizable, and some include secured dementia units, so a Carbon County resident with dementia does have local options. Check each home's recent inspection reports on its page before touring.
No LIFE program
DHS's LIFE provider list shows SeniorLIFE Lehigh Valley serving Lehigh and Northampton counties, but no LIFE provider whose service area includes Carbon County. That removes one of the strongest tools for keeping people with nursing-home-level needs at home.
For Carbon residents who qualify, Community HealthChoices home and community-based services are the main alternative, coordinated by one of three plans.
The Area Agency on Aging
The Carbon County Area Agency on Aging, at 401 Delaware Avenue in Palmerton (610-824-7830), handles care management, OPTIONS in-home services, home-delivered meals, PA MEDI Medicare counseling and protective services. It is also where the level-of-care assessment for Community HealthChoices starts.
Suspected abuse or neglect of an older adult can be reported at any hour to the statewide line, 1-800-490-8505.
Hospitals and rehab
St. Luke's Carbon Campus in Franklin Township near Lehighton is the county's full hospital in CMS's data, and Lehigh Valley Health Network also operates campuses in the county. Specialty care often means a trip to Allentown or Bethlehem.
For short-term rehab, Carbon's two nursing homes are the local choices; many families also consider homes in the Lehigh Valley near the hospital where surgery took place.
Staying home in Carbon County
For many Carbon County families, help at home is the first choice. Medicare home health agencies serve the county, private home care agencies cover it from offices in Lehighton and the Lehigh Valley, and OPTIONS and Community HealthChoices can pay for in-home help for those who qualify.
Distance raises costs and reduces availability for private home care, so ask agencies directly about minimum shifts and travel time to your town before relying on them.
Comparing with nearby counties
Carbon County borders Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties. Families in Palmerton often look south to the Whitehall and northern Lehigh homes; families in Jim Thorpe and Lansford may look to Schuylkill or Luzerne. Pennsylvania's rules are the same in every county, so the DHS provider directory works the same way everywhere.
Our directory covers Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties; homes in neighboring counties can be checked on DHS's directory.
Waiting lists and second choices
In a county with only a handful of licensed homes, a single full building changes the picture. Ask each Carbon County home whether it keeps a waiting list, how long the typical wait has been this year, and whether it offers short respite stays that can turn into permanent placements when a room opens.
Keep at least one second choice in the Lehigh Valley proper. Homes in Whitehall, northern Lehigh County and the Nazareth area are within a reasonable drive of Palmerton and Lehighton, and the same DHS rules and inspection reports make them easy to compare.
Planning in a thin market
With fewer homes, waiting lists matter more. Families in Carbon County should get on a list early, keep a second choice in Lehigh or Northampton County, and consider whether a parent could move closer to an adult child elsewhere in the valley.
Our Carbon County page lists every licensed home and the closest alternatives by distance.
Frequently asked questions
How many personal care homes are in Carbon County?
DHS lists 5 licensed personal care homes with Carbon County addresses.
Is there a LIFE program in Carbon County?
DHS's provider list shows none whose service area includes Carbon County.
Who is Carbon County's Area Agency on Aging?
The Carbon County Area Agency on Aging in Palmerton, 610-824-7830.
Where is the hospital in Carbon County?
St. Luke's Carbon Campus near Lehighton; Lehigh Valley Health Network also has campuses in the county.
Can a Carbon County resident move to a Lehigh County home?
Yes. Personal care homes admit residents from anywhere; services through the Area Agency on Aging follow the county of residence.
