New Jersey home care agencies provide specialized medical care to seniors through the services of nurses, aides, social workers, and therapists. They are able to assist seniors in their own home that have a variety of medical needs. Caregivers can be available 24 hours a day or visit a few hours a week depending on specific care needs. The point of both is to allow seniors to live independently in their own home for as long as possible. There are about 565 agencies found in New Jersey and the average monthly cost care is around $4,042.
For New Jersey seniors who may be recovering from an illness, surgery, or who just need assistance in their homes, this care type can be the solution. Hiring a home care aide is a way to provide professional help for you or your loved one, ranging from bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and general hygiene, to performing instrumental tasks like housekeeping, general shopping, transportation, or meal preparation.
Depending on if a caretaker is a licensed medical professional or a non-medical paraprofessional, your costs will vary in accordance with the specific services provided.
There are a number of cities throughout NJ that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly cost ranges from:
City Homemaker Services Monthly Costs Home Health Aide Monthly Costs Atlantic City $4,004 $4,004 Northern New Jersey $4,143 $4,195 Ocean City $3,813 $4,195 Trenton $3,861 $4,147 Vineland $3,623 $3,623
New Jersey offers many incredible places for residents to visit such as the Liberty State Park, Ellis Island, Grounds for Sculpture, and the Struggle Against World Terrorism monument.
Between 1892 and 1954, Ellis Island was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants who have since built the backbone of America. Now, this history is honored with a museum detailing their stories. Grounds for Sculpture is a large garden full of large sculptures made by artists from all over the world using various styles and techniques. Residents and visitors can also pay their respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11 at The Struggle Against World Terrorism monument.
For less mobile seniors, New Jersey provides a large variety of enriching activities. There are senior centers throughout the state that provide senior-oriented activities such as game nights, exercise classes, dancing lessons, art classes, and much more. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the Cape May County Park & Zoo, the Grounds for Sculptures, or to one of the many beaches.
The climate in New Jersey is like the rest of the Mid-Atlantic and supports four distinct seasons. The summers are warm and humid and the winters are fairly cold. Considering how close NJ is to the Atlantic Ocean, the climate is moderated and moisture is always available for coming storms. The summer high temperatures average 85 degrees with winter lows around 22 degrees. The northern part of the state is generally cooler than the south. There is significant precipitation throughout the year with thunderstorms being quite common especially in the coastal regions.
New Jersey’s culture is very diverse with large numbers of Italians, Quakers, Irish, Germans, and African Americans throughout the state. Different parts of NJ seem to have their own type of charm relative to the population residing there. Cape May is a quaint beach town, Princeton is home to Ivy League Princeton University, and Atlantic City offers a walkable boardwalk with restaurants and multiple casinos.
When searching for home care in New Jersey it can be helpful to understand which areas are safer than others. Overall, New Jersey ranked 41 on a scale of 100 (1 being the lowest crime) for violent crime and 35 for violent crime and 44 for property crime. Listed here are some of the safest cities found throughout New Jersey:
Location Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Washington 0.37 1.76 Chatham Township 0.09 3.83 Hillsdale 0.19 3.91 Westwood 0.45 3.77
Medicare-certified home health aides in New Jersey are required to have a federal minimum of 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 months following their licensing. Each state’s approved programs for training and evaluation are overseen by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to ensure national consistency.
It is possible through several methods to pay for home care in New Jersey. Based on your financial situation and individual needs, some payment options will be more sound decisions than others.
First off, seniors may look to Medicare to receive coverage for their copayment and deductibles for medical home care through the Medicare Supplemental Insurances program. However, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover non-medical home care whatsoever. If this is an issue, it may be necessary to look to the other remaining methods of payment.
U.S. veterans can receive assistance for home care by using the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. To apply for these benefits, contact your local Veteran’s Association or Area Agency on Aging for more details and eligibility requirements.
Paying privately is also an option for many seniors through several methods. Besides paying with one’s own savings, seniors may choose to pay with a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting their life insurance policies. Long-term care insurance may also be a reasonable option if purchased earlier in life.
Finally, Medicaid is a joint federal and state insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that in most cases can be used to cover the costs of home care if it is deemed medically necessary. Each state has its own rules, requirements for eligibility, and specific benefits that will vary depending on where you go in the United States. Medicaid refers to these services as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
If there comes a point when you are unable to make decisions regarding your own medical care, you have the right to entrust this responsibility to a family member or legal guardian. Remember, you also retain your Constitutional rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights as a citizen of the United States. If you believe that you have experienced a violation of your rights, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer familiar with elder law or have someone advocate for you.
Medicare-approved home health care guarantees you a series of rights and protections designed to provide you with the best experience possible. As you move forward with your care, it is required that the agency staffing your caregiver provides you with information regarding your rights. You are entitled to participate in decisions regarding your care and can choose the home health agency pending your managed care plan (if applicable). At all times, your privacy, property, and individual autonomy must be respected by your caregiver within the parameters of the care provided.
While receiving home care or any other medical service in New Jersey, your rights to obtain written or digital copies of your medical records is possible via written request. It is a common misconception that this information cannot be released to you due to privacy laws, however this is simply not true. While some cases warrant the denial releasing your information, your healthcare provider must respect your requests and respond within 30 days, or as many as 60 days later including a statement addressing the delay.
Details of your mental and physical health are included in your protected health information which includes medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other private documents. By reviewing your information you’ll always be able to make any corrections needed with the supervision of your healthcare provider and ensure the overall accuracy of these records.
