New Jersey Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in New Jersey for couples

In the state of New Jersey, there are over 260 assisted living facilities. These senior living communities are found, among other locations, in: Atlantic City, Ocean City, Trenton, and Vineland. All the assisted living facilities are licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. These senior living centers work in collaboration with the Division of Aging Services to oversee the programs and services offered by such facilities.

As a general rule, New Jersey ALFs do not have specific admission requirements or restrictions. However, assisted living centers might refuse senior adults who depend on various devices to breathe or those who require behavioral management. Some facilities will not accept senior adults who require 24/7 skilled nursing care and those who might represent a danger to themselves or others.

Upon being admitted, all residents undergo an initial assessment, which is necessary to determine current needs. One's health status will be assessed as well, to the purpose of identifying specific health needs. Usually, the healthcare evaluation is conducted by a registered nurse. Based on these assessments, individualized service plans are developed, including information on needs and requirements, medication schedule, etc. Plans are updated every couple of months or after a major health event has occurred.

Senior adults often find it difficult to live on their own and handle everyday chores, not to mention they might feel lonely. Given all these, they begin to look towards alternative retirement solutions. Assisted living is one of the most popular choices, with such facilities accepting seniors over the age of 62 or 55, and offering access to housing and healthcare. Moreover, ALFs welcome married couples, allowing them to live together for as long as it is possible.

Financing and costs of assisted living in New Jersey

The average monthly cost of assisted living in New Jersey is of $6,000. This is considerably higher than the national median of $4,000. Compared to neighboring states, such as Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, New Jersey has the most expensive fees for ALFs.

Within the state, the cost of assisted living varies considerably. Trenton has the least affordable rates, with an average of $7,200, while Ocean City offers the most attractive rates, with an average of $4,800. Compared to other long-term care solutions, such as in-home care and nursing home care, assisted living is cheaper. Nursing home care is significantly more expensive, with an average of $10,000. Independent living, on the other hand, has more affordable fees.

Assisted living costs in New Jersey

Assisted living communities welcome seniors who are unable to live on their own, requiring assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, eating, or dressing. They also provide room and board, with access to healthcare, services, and amenities. In the state of New Jersey, there are different types of assisted living facilities one can choose from, each with its own care packages available. It is worth mentioning that most centers do not provide skilled nursing care or have this service only on a limited basis (maximum three months). If you are interested in discovering more information on the costs of assisted living in New Jersey, all you have to do is keep on reading.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in New Jersey

How much does assisted living cost in NJ? In the state of New Jersey, the average cost of assisted living is $6,500 per month or $78,000 per year. This is considerably higher than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive assisted living facilities are found in Trenton, averaging at $8,100 per month or $97,000 per year. The most affordable communities of this kind are in Atlantic City, with an average cost of $5,800 per month or $69,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in NJ? When it comes to memory care, the average cost in New Jersey is $8,100 per month or $97,000 per year. This is significantly higher than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive memory care communities are located in Trenton, with an average cost of $10,000 per month or $120,000 per year. The most affordable facilities of this kind are in Atlantic City, averaging at $7,250 per month or $87,000 per year.

Assisted living costs more than home health care and adult day health care, but it is more affordable than nursing home care. Memory care is more expensive than assisted living, home care, and home health care. It is only surpassed by nursing home care, which averages at $11,000 per month or $132,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

Most assisted living communities demand a deposit fee to be covered by prospective residents. This is commonly returned when the senior in question moves in and the residential stay begins. Seniors must be financially independent and able to cover the monthly fees; there are no entrance fees or hidden costs to worry about. Aside from the available services and amenities, the overall costs also depend on the resident's marital status, living unit type and size, etc. All residents have access to utilities and general services, including meal plans, general maintenance, laundry and linen service, and housekeeping. Additional services are usually made available at extra cost.

Care fees are paid in accordance with the number of daily living activities seniors receive assistance with. All assisted living facilities have diverse care packages, which often include emergency response systems, daily planned activities, physical and occupational therapy, scheduled transportation, physical and occupational therapy. For spouses who want to live together in the same unit, a second occupancy fee must be covered. Some facilities might also require payment for certain utilities, most commonly the Internet and cable access. Limited healthcare is offered by third-party providers, with the costs being covered by each resident who benefits from such services.

What goes into memory care costs?

Dementia seniors deal with discomforting symptoms, such as forgetfulness, agitation, and clumsiness. They thrive best within a specialized community, with access to adapted housing, healthcare, and assistance with ADLs. Memory care facilities offer all these benefits, as well as 24/7 monitoring and support, services and amenities. Specialists look after dementia seniors, making sure they enjoy the highest possible quality of life. All the available care packages are designed with careful consideration to the type of dementia and the disease stage. Safety features are chosen to reduce the risk of self-harm and wandering, as well as minimize the confusion experienced.

Memory care communities have many advantages to offer, including the access to daily therapy sessions. Seniors can work on their speech, memory, and cognitive skills, thus being able to delay the progression of dementia for as long as it is possible. General services provided include the following options: laundry and linen service, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, meal planning, general maintenance. Care-related services include mobility assistance, wound care, diabetes care, incontinence care.

Senior living in New Jersey - cost comparison with other states

Assisted living in New Jersey costs significantly more than the national average. New Jersey is more expensive than all of its neighboring states. The overall costs are as follows: Pennsylvania – $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; New York – $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Maryland - $4,900 per month or $58,000 per year; Connecticut - $5,100 per month or $61,000 year; Delaware - $6,000 per month or $72,000 per year.

As for memory care, the average cost in New Jersey is well above the national median. New Jersey is more expensive than its neighboring states when it comes to memory care as well. The overall costs are as follows: Delaware - $7,500 per month or $90,000 per year; New York - $5,700 per month or $68,000 per year; Pennsylvania - $5,100 per month or $61,000 per year.

Finding the best senior living facility in NJ for your needs

New Jersey has a lot of different long-term care communities to choose from, but settling on a final choice can be difficult. Whether you are looking for assisted living or memory care, you will probably notice that the overall costs vary from one facility to the other, in accordable with the available care and other services offered. Take your time to compare the benefits offered, as careful research can help you come closer to a decision.

If you need a bit of assistance with finding the right facility, do not hesitate to come to us. Just get in touch and we will offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility. We will happily provide any other information that might make your decision easier to take, with careful consideration to your budget and current needs.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in New Jersey

All senior adults who reside in an assisted living facility, whether married or single, have access to a general range of services meant to contribute to a comfortable lifestyle. These can include: 24/7 security and general maintenance, housekeeping and errand running, shopping, Internet and telephone access, meal planning and preparation, laundry and linen service, schedule transportation, emergency response system.

Trained staff will offer minimal assistance with the activities of daily living, such as eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, and toileting. They encourage residents to be as independent as possible, providing assistance only when necessary. An additional service frequently offered is medication management; the staff can offer reminders and monitor residents while they take their treatment. Otherwise, they can administer the treatment themselves, following the recommended schedule and dosage.

If the respective assisted living facility has an integrated memory care unit, it will welcome dementia residents and offer them access to specific services. Depending on the severity of their condition, they will benefit from more or less assistance. All dementia residents are constantly monitored by trained staff, to reduce the risk of injury or self-harm down to a minimum.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in New Jersey

Comfortable living units are available for both married couples and single senior adults. Residents can choose between private and semi-private living units. Each unit must have a minimum square footage and a bathroom with accessibility features. With apartment-style units, fully-functional kitchens are available as well. Smoke detectors and automatic fire suppression systems are mandatory. Most facilities allow residents to bring pets, which is a significant advantage to consider.

What kind of amenities are offered in ALFs? Residents have access to fine dining restaurants and cafes, banks and pharmacies. They can take part in planned social and recreational activities, and stay physically fit by visiting the swimming pool and gym. Weekly religious services are organized and there are numerous opportunities for spending one's time, such as: library room, computer room, lounge, woodworking shop, art studio, learning center. Dementia residents can take guided walks, visit memory gardens, or try painting.