The Garden State, better known as New Jersey, can be a great place to seek assisted living. There are many options to choose from, so doing your research ahead of time is a very wise move. It can be difficult to research something when you aren’t even sure what you’re looking for necessarily, or how to interpret the different data that you come across, so we’ve compiled this resource of all the key facts about assisted living in New Jersey for you to look through, and we always do our best to explain what all of this information means, and why it’s relevant, if it isn’t self-evident.

We’re going to start by going over some basic facts and interesting tidbits about New Jersey, including some of the sights to see and experiences you can have here. We include some things that interest everyone in the family, and all sorts of interests, since an important part of assisted living is still taking advantage of the area around you, getting out there and seeing things as much as you’re able to in terms of mobility and health, but also creating memories with loved ones like children and grandchildren.

New Jersey is a great place for lovers of nature and the outdoors, there’s the Cape May County Park & Zoo where you can spend a beautiful day outdoors and meet the wild life, there’s also the Cape May Beaches, Rutgers Gardens, and more. Looking for something more adventurous? You’re not too far away from helicopter tours. In terms of historic sites to see, there’s plenty, including the Thomas Edison National Historic Park and Battleship New Jersey.

This isn’t a tour guide, obviously, so let’s get right into information about assisted living. The reason we like to mention some of the things you can do in this state, once again, is because there’s more to life than just sitting in a home all day and counting the clock.

Quick Facts about New Jersey

• In terms of total size, New Jersey is very small, ranking in 47^th place with only 8,722 square miles.
• None the less, New Jersey is just outside the top 10 in terms of total population, coming in at 11^th with 8,944,469 people living there based on estimates from 2016.
• New Jersey has a median income that’s on the higher end, it ranks in 7^th place in the United States of America with the median household income landing at $68,357.
• When it comes to senior care and assisted living in NJ, some of the benefits of this state are the high quality of health care that’s available, and the fact that they don’t charge you any taxes on your social security. There may also be Medicaid available, depending on a few variables which we’ll discuss at the end of this page.

Types of Assisted Living in New Jersey

There are numerous categories for assisted living and group homes in New Jersey, depending on the type of care that is needed by an individual.

General care includes things like around the clock support with social work, person hygiene and things like meals, access to a pharmacy for medication needs, recreational activities, and other types of daily tasks like laundry and such.

If a facility offers support for those who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they must keep track of their exact guidelines and how they treat such scenarios. They need to keep track of their safety guidelines and have special plans in place regarding their philosophies of care and how they aim to help manage these illnesses.

Requirements for Moving in or Moving Out

Initial assessment information: There isn’t necessarily a universal assessment form, however an assessment is still required in order to determine the exact needs of a resident and to ensure they’re not only getting the care they need, but also to ensure that the facility is able to provide it in the first place.

Once somebody has moved into a facility, it is still possible for them to be asked to leave, for a variety of reasons that generally come down to whether or not the facility can offer the care they need, and whether or not they’re posing any kind of risk to themselves or other residents by being there. The main goal is to keep everyone safe, healthy, and happy – and if a resident being there jeopardizes that for themselves, or for others, it may be time for them to seek more substantial care. If a resident can’t leave their bed for two weeks or more, they’ll need to find care elsewhere. If they require too much assistance with everyday tasks, they may not be independent enough to live in this type of facility. There are other criteria, which can vary by policy from facility to facility, and you’ll certainly be briefed on these.

General Information About Care

Bathroom requirements: Every unit in the facility where residents live must have their own sink, toilet, and a shower or a bathtub. This is good, we always say it’s a huge plus when residents have their own washroom facilities. It gives a great sense of dignity and privacy, which are two very important aspects of life, especially in a care facility.

Medication handling: Residents can have their medication administered by a professional, as long as that care giver has taken the proper certifications to ensure they’re handling the medication in a safe and effective way. Staff members without said certification and licensing are not permitted to administer medication to residents.

Fire and Safety information: Fire codes must be followed, which include multiple smoke detectors in each unit along with public rooms, and sprinkler systems to help put out any fires that may arise before they’re able to spread further.

Staff Training and Requirements

Staff members working with residents are required to have a minimum of a nurses aide training course under their belts, or a similar program that’s relevant to the care they’re aiming to provide. In addition, they’ll need training with how to handle emergency situations, understanding the rights of residents, how to spot abuse and what to do when abuse is detected, and more.

Medicaid for Assisted Living in New Jersey and Additional Information

There is medicine assistance available if the facility is part of a special network that was created to offer care. For additional information, you can reach out to the Department of Health in New Jersey.