In New Jersey, the average monthly cost of assisted living is $5,725 per month. This is more expensive than the national average of $2,877 per month. There are 406 assisted living facilities in New Jersey.
Assisted Living Facilities
New Jersey is one of the most costly states in the US for assisted living, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2020. The national average is $4,300 per month as of 2021, but residents in New Jersey spend around $2,350 per month more, with an average cost of $6,650 per month. Residents of the state, on the other hand, should take solace in the fact that the cost is not uniformly high throughout the state. Ocean City and the surrounding areas in and around Atlantic City are the least expensive places. The average monthly cost in these places is between $4,945 and $5,790. Residents in the most expensive locations should be aware that they live there so that they might save money by moving to other counties. Monthly expenditures in the Trenton area and the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton area range from $6,523 to $7,478. Caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease can raise the monthly cost of assisted living by another 20% to 30% on average. This adds an extra $1,662 per month to your monthly budget.
Assisted Living in New Jersey: How Much Does It Cost?
In New Jersey, assisted living services are typically paid for out of pocket, but financial assistance is available for individuals who qualify. Residents can pay for assisted living through long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE, to name a few options.
Although each assisted living facility has its own cost structure, you should spend roughly $6,495 per month, which is the average fee for New Jersey according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021. This is more than the national average, which is roughly $4,500 for seniors. It’s also expensive when compared to the median fees in neighboring states. Delaware comes closest with $5,995 in fees, followed by Connecticut with $5,129 and Maryland with $4,900. The most affordable average costs are in New York and Pennsylvania, at $4,580 and $4,100, respectively. The cost of assisted living in New Jersey varies substantially. Seniors in and around Atlantic City pay an average of $5,807 per month for residential care, while seniors in Ocean City can pay an extra $1,683 per month for identical services.
Inland communities’ average rates are equally diverse, such as Vineland, where expenditures average $6,400, and Trenton, where seniors pay roughly $8,145 – the state’s highest fees. When calculating the typical monthly prices for senior care, it’s important to factor in any additional expenses. For example, assisted living facilities in New Jersey charge about $6,495 per month for housing and care, while some other types of care still require seniors to pay for house maintenance in addition to their care. As a result, on closer investigation, the typical costs charged by homemaker services ($5,529), home health aides ($5,710), and adult day centers ($1,950) don’t appear to be as reasonable. Nursing homes also provide housing and care, but they are substantially more expensive, with a semiprivate room costing an average of $11,254 per month and a private room costing an additional $897 per month.
Assisted Living in New Jersey: A Quick Overview
As the nation’s most densely populated state, New Jersey provides a diverse range of surroundings and atmospheres to meet a wide range of needs and interests. Due to its importance in the American Revolutionary War, the state is often referred to as “The Crossroads of the Revolution.” New Jersey saw a number of pivotal conflicts, and both armies passed through the state several times. New Jersey, on the other hand, has more than just history on its side. The state’s beautiful beach beaches, vast metro centers, and the dramatic Appalachian Mountains make it a culturally diversified and sensationally exciting location to live. New Jersey assisted living offers seniors to participate in this proud, affluent past while also living in one of the country’s most religiously and ethnically diverse states.
The Definition of Assisted Living in New Jersey
In New Jersey, assisted living is a combination of housing, health care, and tailored support for adults who require assistance with everyday activities. Assisted living is for folks who require some assistance but not the round-the-clock nursing care provided by a nursing home. Assisted living programs usually include the following:
- Three meals per day
- Physical and mental wellness programs
- Recreational and social activities
-
Cleaning services
- Transportation services
Regulation of Assisted Living Facilities in New Jersey
New Jersey’s Assisted Living Laws and Regulations
Admission Requirements for Assisted Living
There are no limits or qualifications for admission to assisted living facilities in New Jersey. Mandatory discharge is required if a resident requires long-term, specialized care, such as continuing access to respirators or requiring extensive behavioral management. Additional discharge criteria are left to the facility’s discretion. Long-term illnesses that necessitate 24-hour nursing care or a person becoming a hazard to himself or others are examples. Upon admission, all residents must undergo an initial examination to establish their specific needs. If the initial assessment reveals that the resident has unique health needs, a healthcare assessment shall be undertaken within 14 days of admission by a registered nurse or medical professional hired by either the facility or the DOH. Residents must also have reassessments on a regular basis in accordance with their health-care plan.
Assisted Living Facilities Care’s Purpose
Health services and supportive personal care services must be provided by all facilities, including:
- Limited nursing care
- Dining
- Pharmacy
-
Personal care assistance, such as bathing
-
Recreational activities planned
Assisted Living Facilities Policy on Medicaid
- In New Jersey, Medicaid will cover the cost of assisted living for persons who have financial or personal care needs. The Department of Health and Human Services contracts with some facilities to provide care for residents, and the DOHS offers two programs:
- The Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program encompasses personal care, nursing, mental health, and other services for persons 65 and older.
- PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) provides all of the same services for persons 55 and over, however it is only available in certain New Jersey counties.
Care at Home
The average statewide cost of home care in New Jersey is $26 per hour in 2021, according to Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey. This rate is significantly more than the national average of $23.50 per hour. Trenton, the state capital, is virtually on line with the statewide average, with home care costing $25.75 per hour. Home care is less expensive in Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton and Ocean City, where the hourly rate is closer to $19.50 – $22.88. At $25.00 per hour, Atlantic City is also below the statewide average. Home health care is an option for people who require more intensive care than a home care worker can give. On average, this form of care costs about the same as home care across the state. Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton and Atlantic City are the only two outliers, with prices ranging from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour less.
Day Care for Adults
A trip to New Jersey reveals why so many of the state’s nearly 9.3 million citizens are over the age of 65. There are almost 130 kilometers of natural coastline studded with boardwalks, as well as expansive farms, picturesque and attractive towns. New Jersey also has a number of excellent hospitals. Morristown Medical Center is ranked in the top 50 hospitals in the country for cardiology and heart surgery, while Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked in the top 50 hospitals in the country for neurology and neurosurgery.
Is Assisted Living in New Jersey Covered By Medicaid?
In New Jersey, What Kind of Assisted Living Services Are Covered By Medicaid?
- Board and lodging at an assisted living facility
- Medical treatment (including doctors and dentists)
- Prescription drugs
- Medical transportation
- Nutritional services
- Hospital care
- Nursing home care
- Adult day health care
- Home care (including personal care)
New Jersey’s Assisted Living Waiver Programs
- Care management
- Assisted living
- Nursing home care
- Community residential services
- Mental health and addiction recovery
- Home-delivered meals
- Personal emergency response systems
- Home and vehicle adaptations
- Respite care is all covered by the MLTSS
- To be eligible for MLTSS, an applicant must:
- Be 65 or older, or between 21 and 64 if disabled; * meet the program’s financial requirements; and * require assistance with three or more daily living tasks.
- Seniors can apply by contacting their local Area Agency on Aging/Aging and Disability Resource Connection.
In New Jersey, How Do You know If You’re Eligible for Medicaid?
- In New Jersey, senior citizens who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the federal Social Security Administration are immediately eligible for Medicaid. Those whose earnings and financial resources make them ineligible for Supplemental Security Income may still be eligible for Medicaid, but they must apply via their local County Board of Social Services.
- In general, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
- Be 65 years old or older
- Have a monthly income and financial resources that are within the program’s restrictions
- The monthly income limit for a single applicant in New Jersey is $2,523 as of 2022. The monthly income limit does not include a $50 personal needs allowance or Medicare premiums. If one person in a two-person home applies for Medicaid, the non-applicant spouse may be given an income allowance that is not counted toward the monthly income limit.
Conclusion
Assisted living facilities are regulated differently in each state. The Department of Health in New Jersey is in charge of this. This organization is in charge of licensing, administration, resident evaluation and care policies, meal services, housekeeping, and many other things. In addition, New Jersey makes public records about assisted living and other types of long-term care highly accessible. On the Department of Health’s website, you may look for information on long-term care institutions.
