The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Newark, NJ for 2024

Newark is a large city in the New York City metropolitan area that’s home to more than 300,000 residents, 10.6% of whom are aged 65 and older. While this density is much lower than the national average, relatively low health care costs, a high number of physicians per capita and low amounts of air pollution are just a few reasons why seniors find Newark appealing.

The average cost for home care in the city is $5,529 per month, which is the same as the state median rate. In addition to home care agencies, seniors in Newark benefit from quality health care options, including Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Saint Michael’s Medical Center.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the CITY area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021 shows that the average cost of home care in Newark is $5,529 per month. This is the same rate as the average for the state of New Jersey but nearly $600 more than the median rate for the United States. With an average rate of $4,767, Vineland has less expensive home care than both the state and national average. Prices in Atlantic City match the average for Newark. In Trenton, the median rate for home care is $5,148 per month. 

Home health care in Newark costs an average of $5,720 per month. This is slightly more expensive than the home care average of $5,529 because of the medical services provided, such as skilled nursing, therapy and medical equipment. Assisted living has a similar average to home care at $5,750 per month. A semiprivate room in a nursing home in Newark has a median rate of $12,471, making it the most expensive type of senior care. The least expensive is adult day health, which costs $1,950 per month. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.