New Jersey Assisted Living Costs & Statistics

The median age of a resident of New Jersey is 40 years old. That’s the 10th-highest median age in the country, and it’s more than a year-and-a-half over the national median age of 38.5. Almost 3.3 million residents of the state are 50 or older; how does the state of New Jersey seniors compare to other states and the U.S. as a whole?

For the most part, New Jersey is ahead of the curve with regard to its older adult population. Thirty-seven percent of New Jersey’s residents are 50 or older, higher than the U.S. rate of 35.3 percent. Additionally, the state has a higher-than-average life expectancy and the ninth-highest percentage of older residents who are people of color. New Jersey is also No. 5 in both median household income for those 65 and older and the percentage of workers who are at least 55.

Check out how New Jersey compares to the country as a whole, as well as what resources are available for seniors in the state.

Senior Living Costs in New Jersey

New Jersey has a housing index of 126.60, making it one of the more expensive states to retire in the United States. A big reason for this is likely that it's central and close to New York City, where lots of people commute to work. In New Jersey, one bedroom apartments go for $1,128 a month on average (US average is $825 a month). Two bedrooms are approximately $1,373 a month ($1,027 a month the US average).

Home health care costs in New Jersey average out to $4,195 a month. This fee allows seniors to live in their own homes while receiving assistance to keep the house clean, run everyday errands, and meal prep.

Seniors who need to stay at a supervised facility during the day can consider an adult day care facility in New Jersey for an average of $1,950 per month. Adult day care facilities are ideal for independent seniors who could use some social activities to keep them busy, and therapeutic and health services.

New Jersey also has plenty of assisted living facilities throughout the state to provide seniors with more assistance with their day to day tasks. Residents receive personal care and health services for an average monthly cost of $5,811. Keep in mind that assisted living is not an alternative to nursing home care, but rather, an intermediate level of long-term care.

Elders who do not have designated caregivers and cannot live at home on their own will benefit from staying at a nursing homes in New Jersey, where they will receive round the clock supervision and care. The cost for a semi-private room is roughly $10,038 a month, while a private room is about $10,798 a month here. Nursing homes provide residents with personal care, medication, housing, supervision, skilled nursing care 24/7, and therapies and rehabilitation.

Senior Living Options in New Jersey

New Jersey's retirees have a number of living options to choose from depending on individual needs and circumstances: independent living, assisted living, memory care, or nursing home care. Determine which one best suits your lifestyle by exploring each option below.

Independent Living

Independent living is typically the preferred choice of living for seniors who are healthy, active, and don't require round the clock care. New Jersey has more than 250 independent living facilities and it costs anywhere from $1,104 to $5,115 a month to stay in one. Seniors who prefer apartment-style living can choose to live in a 55+ or 65+ senior apartment community. Apartment living comes with some great perks like a variety of amenities such as fitness centers, walking trails, clubhouse, meeting rooms, and more for residents to enjoy.

Assisted Living

More than 400 assisted living facilities are available throughout New Jersey to provide seniors with attentive caregivers, healthcare, and access to local activities and social opportunities. Staff members at these facilities help the elderly with housekeeping duties, laundry, transportation, meal services, and offer 24-hour surveillance for safety.

The average cost of assisted living facilities in the state range from $2,008 to $9,300 a month depending on a variety of factors like location. For example, it's cheaper to stay at an assisted living facility in the Ocean City area, but it's pricey in the Northern Jersey metropolitan area.

Memory Care

There are 363 memory care facilities in New Jersey, providing ample options and locations for seniors with dementia to choose from. The average cost is $94,482 a year, ranging from $2,911 a month up to $13,485. Northern New Jersey metro areas have the highest costing memory care facilities, reaching up to $137,610 a year. South Jersey and its nearby towns have some of the lowest cost memory care facilities, as low as $97,198 a year.

Nursing Homes

New Jersey's senior population has been increasing, and will keep increasing, through the coming years. Seniors 85 and over have seen the greatest growth in recent years, with a 32.1% increase in the past decade. New Jersey has established 778 senior living providers to assist their growing senior population.

Adult daycare centers are a great option for seniors who need assistance with day to day tasks and to socialize with others their age. There are 47 adult daycare centers in the state, with the most expensive ones around the Ocean City metropolitan area. Adult daycare centers in this area have an average cost of $25,740 a year. Trenton generally has the lowest cost adult daycare facilities, averaging $21,255 per year. Overall, adult daycare centers in New Jersey come out to an average cost of $22,360 a year.

Terminally ill seniors will find peace of mind at a hospice care facility. There are 82 hospices in New Jersey to choose from, located along the coastline and further inland. Hospices provide professional care during the final months of a senior's life, through pain management and grief counseling. Staff will be able to guide seniors and their families on how to cover the costs of hospice care through Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurances.

There are 415 respite care options in New Jersey, providing temporary care either in-home, in a facility, or in a hospital. Respite care is especially helpful when a senior needs more advanced care than what a family member can provide, or when the primary caregiver needs time off to keep from burning out. The average cost of respite care in New Jersey is $109,500 a year, with a range of cost from $6,917 to $17,444 a month.