Assisted Living in New Jersey

In the Garden State, seniors have access to a wide range of assisted living options that offer a safe, supportive, and maintenance-free lifestyle in retirement. According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the average cost of assisted living in New Jersey is $7,330 per month. These communities provide help with daily activities while fostering social connection and independence. Whether you’re near the Pennsylvania border in Cherry Hill or along the shores of Barnegat Bay in Toms River, you’ll find quality assisted living options across this historically rich and geographically diverse state.

The average monthly cost of assisted living in New Jersey is $7,330 or $87,960 per year. This cost, which reflects the base room and board at our partner communities, is significantly higher than the national average monthly cost of assisted living of $4,741. Costs can vary by location, amenities provided and the level of care a resident needs.

Compared to its neighbors, New Jersey’s average monthly cost for assisted living is generally higher than that of its neighbors. Only Connecticut is more expensive per month on average. Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania can offer significant savings. Throughout the state, costs vary considerably. On the border with Pennsylvania, Cherry Hill Township offers an average cost of $5,777 per month. For those looking for proximity to the Atlantic Ocean without the resort town price tag, the Atlantic City suburb of Galloway can also offer some savings.

Independent living communities in New Jersey, designed for seniors who are able to live on their own, can help older adults and their families save about $925 per month, depending on the community’s location, amenities, and unit size.

Read more:Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What’s the Difference?

Most families use a combination of personal funds and public programs to pay for assisted living in New Jersey. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. The sections below outline the different payment options. You can also view our guide to paying for long-term care for a high-level overview.

Private pay options

Private pay options are the most common ways that seniors in New Jersey cover the costs of assisted living. These options include financial assistance from family members, pensions, retirement accounts, and personal savings. Social Security benefits, proceeds from the sale of a home are also commonly used.

Read more: Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Assisted Living?

VA benefits

If your loved one or their spouse served in the military, they may be eligible for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that can help cover the cost of assisted living in New Jersey. Because the application process can be complex, it can be helpful to work with an accredited benefits counselor. New Jersey’s Department of Veterans Affairs oversees county-based veterans service offices, where veterans and their families can receive guidance, service support, and more.

Read more:VA Benefits for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Guide for Veterans

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint program of state and federal governments and is designed to support people who have low incomes and certain conditions and disabilities. In New Jersey, the Medicaid program is known as NJFamilyCare. New Jersey’s Medicaid program doesn’t cover room and board in assisted living, but can be used to cover personal and health care expenses.

The NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, and Disabled Programs cover services commonly used by elderly residents of assisted living communities. These include but aren’t limited to:^[02]

• Doctor’s visits
• Vision care
• Personal care services
• Prescription medications

Additionally, New Jersey’s Medicaid Managed Long Term Support Services (LTSS) program is available to eligible residents who need assistance with three or more activities of daily living and provide access to services such as care management, respite, mental health services, and more.^[03]

Medicare

Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program available to all U.S. seniors aged 65 or older. While Medicare won’t cover room and board in assisted living communities, it can help with the cost of medically necessary services and products, such as skilled nursing, durable medical equipment, medications, and more.^[04]

Seniors in New Jersey can contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to access free Medicare benefit counseling. SHIP is a statewide program administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services and comprised of a network of compassionate, qualified volunteers.

In New Jersey, assisted living communities are designed to be human-centric. They promote independence, individuality, privacy, dignity, and personal choice offered in homelike facilities or residential buildings.

Two types of facilities are licensed as assisted living in New Jersey. While many licensing requirements are the same between the two, there are several key differences.^[01]

Assisted living residences are apartment-style housing facilities with communal dining areas and are built for four or more adults unrelated to the owners. These communities offer apartment units, which generally include at least one unfurnished room, private bathroom, and a lockable door on the unit entrance.

• Assisted living residences must be categorized as “new builds.” This means they were built specifically for the purpose of assisted living.
• A bathroom with a toilet, bathtub or shower, and sink must be located in each resident unit.
• Private units must have at least 150 square feet of usable space.

Comprehensive personal care homes are communities that provide room and board and ensure that assistance is available when needed. They house four or more adults unrelated to the owner.

• Comprehensive personal care homes can be residential houses or buildings not constructed specifically for use as assisted living facilities.
• They may not meet all structural requirements of assisted living residences, but they still must meet safety standards set forth by the state.

Licensing and inspection requirements for New Jersey assisted living facilities

The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) regulates and licenses both assisted living residences and comprehensive personal care homes. Both must be licensed, then inspected by the state every 12 months.

The following considerations are made when licensing and regulating assisted living in New Jersey:

• Resident assessments. All residents must be assessed at move-in to determine personal health care needs. However, there are no entry requirements or restrictions, as long as the facility is able to appropriately care for the resident.
• Medication management requirements. Certified nurse aides, home health aides, and staff members who have completed a DOH training and passed a certifying exam can administer medication and some injections under the delegation of a registered nurse.
• Safety standards. Smoke detectors and automatic fire suppression systems are required.
• Occupancy. No more than two people can occupy a shared unit in an assisted living residence.

Staffing requirements for New Jersey assisted living facilities

Staffing requirements may vary by the size of facility, care provided, and number of residents present, but these are the minimum requirements set by the state of New Jersey:^[04]

• All assisted living communities must have an appointed administrator.
• An administrator or a designated alternate must be available on-site at all times in a facility with 60 or more beds, or on-site half the time in a community with fewer than 60 beds.
• At least one awake personal care assistant and one additional employee must be on site 24 hours per day.
• A registered nurse must be available on call 24 hours a day.
• All communities must provide state-approved orientation and education to staff members.
• Personal care assistants and medication aides must undergo additional training, plus annual continuing education.