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Assisted Living in New Jersey

Overview of assisted living in New Jersey

Seniors in New Jersey have many options for assisted living in a safe, supportive, and maintenance-free lifestyle post-retirement. New Jersey offers two main types of facility: assisted living residences and comprehensive personal care homes.[01] We’ll explore the ins and outs of both community types below. The average cost per month of assisted living in New Jersey is about $7,000 a month or $84,000 annually, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[02] At this price point, assisted living in New Jersey costs over $1,800 more per month than the national average, making it one of the most expensive states in the U.S.

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in New Jersey

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6 Photos available
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6 Floor plans available

Cardinal Village

455 Hurffville-Cross Keys Road, Sewell, NJ 08080
9.9
Review Score
71 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
BG - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I must say from the first phone call [name removed] was awesome. After spending two full days on the phone call facilities, Cardinal Village was the most warm and welcoming. Dad has his own apartment,...

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31
31 Photos available

Monmouth Crossing Assisted Living

560 Iron Bridge Road, Freehold, NJ 07728
9.9
Review Score
32 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Allison C - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Monmouth Crossing is the absolute best facility to place your elder parents in that you’re not able to care for anymore. The people here are so caring and compassionate and friendly. You couldn’t ask for...

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7
7 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Traditions of Cross Keys

3152 Glassboro Cross Keys Rd, Glassboro, NJ 08028
9.9
Review Score
61 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The director [name removed] was always available to speak to me about any concerns. [name removed] was also always willing to help me understand the billing etc. The staff helped me handle my sister's LTC...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Jersey City

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8
8 Photos available

Plattduetsche Home Society

1150 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY 11010
9.9
Review Score
21 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Kathy - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Our mom moved into Plattdeutsch Home Society a year ago. She lived on her own for 25 years, so we weren’t sure how she would adjust. It didn’t take long before she had new friends and plenty of activities to...

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24
24 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Franklin Lakes

728 Franklin Ave, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9.9
Review Score
15 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Everything has been great. The staff is so friendly and compassionate. The rooms are large, studio apartment. The amenities are very good. The residents are well fed and taken care, with many activities for...

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14
14 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of North Lynbrook

53 Franklin Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563
9.8
Review Score
62 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Giul F - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The complete experience has been great! The place is always clean, they have a variety of foods, and they keep my mother engaged for a good part of the day! The staff is wonderful and caring. They make my...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Paramus

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16
16 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Paramus

567 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652
9.7
Review Score
43 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Frank - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I wouldn't change anything about the facility, other than the cost being so expensive. The food is good, people are good, communication is on point. I would recommend this facility to everyone.

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8
8 Photos available
5
5 Floor plans available

Juniper Village at Paramus

186 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652
9.6
Review Score
77 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Ken - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I would say this should be on your shortlist of residences to consider. The care is professional, compassionate, and competitively priced. The staff are excellent. Just wished there were more of them.

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4
4 Photos available

CareOne at the Cupola

100 West Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
9.6
Review Score
38 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Nancy Tassiello - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I am writing this review to thank [name removed]! This is the first review I have ever done. My mom was moved from assistant Living to the Dementia unit. [name removed] was wonderful in this transition....

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Toms River

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17
17 Photos available

Spring Oak of Toms River

2145 Whitesville Rd, Toms River, NJ 08755
9.5
Review Score
56 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff is friendly. There are always activities going on so there is always something to do. Dad would like to see more options on the menu. The studio apartment is the perfect size for dad.

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17
17 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

The Chelsea at Toms River

1657 Silverton Road, Toms River, NJ 08753
9.3
Review Score
11 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Most of the services there are excellent had one or two issues with meals which they corrected. The biggest issue was not with the care but the post care my uncle passed away around the second week there two...

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2
2 Photos available

Magnolia Gardens

1935 Lakewood Rd, Toms River, NJ 08755
8.0
Review Score
20 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff was fine and very nice at Magnolia Gardens. Communication with the family was good via phone and email. Mom was in hospice for the last 2 years and Medicaid since June and they did keep her in a...

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Cost of assisted living in New Jersey

The average monthly cost of assisted living in New Jersey is approximately $7,000, which is significantly more expensive than the national average monthly cost of assisted living, which is approximately $5,100 as of 2022. These numbers refer to the average final monthly costs paid by families living in our partner communities.

New Jersey assisted living costs at A Place for Mom’s partner communities typically range from roughly $3,900 to just over $10,000 a month.[02] Communities in large metropolitan areas like the suburbs of New York City, or in luxury locales like resort towns on the Jersey Shore, generally cost more than facilities in smaller or more rural locations. Costs can also vary by amenities provided, the level of care a resident needs, and the community’s pricing structure.

New Jersey divides their assisted living facilities into the following categories:[01]

  • Assisted living residences, which are defined as “new construction”
  • Comprehensive personal care homes, which are converted residential boarding homes that may not meet the requirements for assisted living residences

New Jersey also offers “assisted living programs,” which are services rather than locations. They generally apply to senior tenants in subsidized housing and are licensed separately from concrete assisted living facilities.

The type of program greatly affects the cost of assisted living. Because of their smaller size and different licensing requirements, comprehensive personal care homes generally cost less than assisted living residences.

The monthly cost figures provided by A Place for Mom’s New Jersey partner communities generally cover a senior’s complete care needs, including:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and personal grooming
  • 24-hour supervision and monitoring
  • Three meals a day, plus snacks
  • Laundry and housekeeping services
  • Assistance with personal medication management or medication administration
  • Planned social events and scheduled activities

In addition to facility type, factors that affect the cost of assisted living in New Jersey may include:

  • Location. Facilities located in rural areas often cost less than those in luxury destinations or major metropolitan centers.
  • Cognitive support services. Some communities offer housing to seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Unique therapies and additional safety features may add to monthly costs.
  • Services and amenities. Additional amenities, like swimming pools, on-site beauty salons, and contracted visiting therapists may raise assisted living bills.
  • Occupancy. Shared rooms in assisted living facilities generally cost less per person than private rooms.

Medicare, Medicaid, and other public resources may help offset some of the costs of medical care expenses in an assisted living community for qualified seniors.

Compare costs of New Jersey vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

New Jersey

$6,937/mo

US National average

$4,524/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

New Jersey

$6,937/mo

Delaware

$5,598/mo

Connecticut

$9,355/mo

New York

$5,486/mo

Pennsylvania

$4,235/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in New Jersey vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

New Jersey

$6,937/mo

Edison, NJ

$6,852/mo

Medford, NJ

$5,400/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in New Jersey

Average monthly costs

Paying for assisted living in New Jersey

Each family has their own unique budget and needs when it comes to assisted living, but planning ahead can help you better understand resources available to your loved one. This is especially true if your aging relative has not yet signed up for Medicare, or if they plan to apply for public assistance programs, which may have application periods or waiting lists.

You’ll find a variety of ways seniors can cover assisted living costs in New Jersey below. For a high-level review of payment resources for seniors, you can read through our complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options include financial assistance from family members, pensions, retirement accounts, and personal savings. These private funds generally cover the bulk of assisted living costs.

Assisted living requirements and regulations in New Jersey

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.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Understanding New Jersey’s system of regulation and records

We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.

Access to New Jersey assisted living records: Exceptional

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of New Jersey is exceptional. A key finding that informed this rating is that, while New Jersey has a functional — if inelegant — website for finding assisted living records and histories, the website receives regular updates without very many lulls between updates.

How to look up New Jersey assisted living licenses and records

  • Visit New Jersey’s site to Search Licensed Facilities and Services.
  • Select the “long term care” facilities spreadsheet link.
  • Select preferred search method (for example, name of community) and for care type select “assisted living residences.”
  • From the results page, click a providers name to access detailed information including inspections reports and deficiency citations.
  • For more recent information about specific communities, contact the office of the long-term care ombudsman to see if he or she can provide information about a community you’re exploring.
  • Visit www.eldercare.gov to locate the appropriate long-term-care ombudsman.
  • If you need to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get records, consider browsing these state by state resources from the National Freedom of Information Coalition, which included sample state-specific FOIA letters.

How we arrived at our New Jersey rating

We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? Yes
6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? Yes
7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? Yes or not applicable
8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? Yes
9. Is capacity shown? Yes
10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? Yes
11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? Yes
12. Can the state fine a facility? Yes
13. What is the frequency of inspections? Every 12 months
14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No

References

  1. A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

  2. State of New Jersey Department of Human Services. (2022). NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled Programs.

Top cities in New Jersey for assisted living

8.3
Paramus, NJ
67 facilities
8.3
8.2
South Jersey, NJ
7 facilities
8.2
Jersey City, NJ
39 facilities
7.7
Toms River, NJ
24 facilities
6.3

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in New Jersey cities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.