Home Care in New Jersey

The average starting cost of home care in New Jersey is $34 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in New Jersey are CareTen Inc. - Hackensack, NJ, Comfort Keepers of Montclair, NJ or JC Cares Inc. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with daily routines, companionship, and personal care.

From Newark and Jersey City to Trenton, Cherry Hill, Toms River, and smaller communities, New Jersey families may have different provider options depending on where they live. When comparing agencies, families often look for dependable caregivers, flexible schedules, and services that can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

Home care provides nonmedical support with everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship. Home health care is different because it involves medical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Some providers offer both types of care, but A Place for Mom’s network focuses on nonmedical home care agencies. A Place for Mom partners with 337 home care agencies in New Jersey to help families explore local options.

Home care in New Jersey costs $34 per hour, compared with the national average of $32 per hour.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often their loved one receives care.

Monthly expenses are largely shaped by the care schedule. Occasional visits may be enough for companionship, errands, meal preparation, or light housekeeping. Someone who needs regular help with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need a fuller schedule. The estimates below use New Jersey’s average hourly home care rate:

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,873 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $6,320 per month

Home care rates in New Jersey may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

New Jersey families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or NJ FamilyCare programs may help cover some services delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay gives families more flexibility when choosing an agency, arranging a schedule, and deciding which services their loved one receives. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. For example, long-term care insurance may cover part of the cost, while Social Security benefits, retirement income, or savings help with the remaining monthly expenses.

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in New Jersey may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits provide additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors. Aid and Attendance may be available to people who need help with daily activities, while the Housebound allowance is for those who are substantially confined to their homes because of a permanent disability. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

New Jersey families can contact the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs for help understanding state and federal benefits or connecting with a Veterans Service Officer.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

New Jersey Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. The New Jersey Medicaid program for elderly residents is called NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, and Disabled,^[07] and can help offset the costs of home care through the:

• State’s regular Medicaid plan
• Personal Preference Program (PPP) and the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) program
• Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program

All programs are entitlements, meaning any resident who meets Medicaid’s financial and medical need requirements will receive services. Covered services depend on the program and the recipient’s needs and include but aren’t limited to:

• Help with activities of daily living
• Light housekeeping
• Home-delivered meals
• Personal emergency response systems
• Respite care

The Personal Preference Program (PPP) offers a self-directed alternative for eligible members approved for PCA services. Participants can choose, hire, schedule, and supervise workers, including qualified friends, relatives, or neighbors, with support from a fiscal intermediary.^[11]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[12]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

New Jersey regulates agencies that arrange companion care, health care, or personal care services in the homes of adults aged 60 and older or people who have disabilities. These businesses are called health care service firms and must register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on the rules for these firms.^[13]

Does New Jersey require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. New Jersey uses a registration system rather than a home care agency license. A business that arranges companion or personal care services in a client’s home must register as a health care service firm before operating. Families can verify a firm’s registration through the Division of Consumer Affairs.^[13]

Does New Jersey conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The Division of Consumer Affairs’ Health Care Service Firm Investigative Unit conducts initial and follow-up inspections and investigates firms that may be violating state requirements. The unit also responds to complaints and may take enforcement action when it finds deficiencies.^[14]

How to check registration and inspection information for home care agencies in New Jersey

Use the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs’ registration search tool to confirm that a health care service firm has an active registration. The Division doesn’t currently provide a public database of routine health care service firm inspection reports. Registration requirements include a qualified health care practitioner supervisor, required professional liability insurance, and a $10,000 bond unless the bond is waived. At renewal, most established firms must also provide evidence of accreditation from an organization recognized by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.^[13,15]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in New Jersey?

Health care service firms must verify the current license or certification of regulated workers they place. When a firm sends an uncertified or unlicensed worker to provide home-based services, it must verify the person’s employment history or obtain two character references and provide the client with required written information.^[15]

Certified homemaker-home health aides must complete a Board-approved 76-hour training program, including 60 classroom hours and 16 clinical hours. To become certified, they must also successfully complete a competency evaluation and undergo a criminal history background check. CHHAs work under the supervision of a registered professional nurse, and their training continues through regularly scheduled agency in-service education.^[16]

When comparing agencies, ask about registration, background checks, reference checks, caregiver certification and training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency in New Jersey is easier when you know how care will be arranged and what happens if your loved one’s needs change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Review caregiver training. Ask whether caregivers are certified when required, what they learn before working with clients, and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

A Place for Mom helps families compare home care agencies and find providers that match their loved one’s care needs, budget, and preferences. In states that require nonmedical home care agencies to be licensed or registered, A Place for Mom verifies the licensing or registration status of agencies in its network twice each year.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency