The Best Communities in Mercer County, NJ

Mercer County is located in central New Jersey, near the cities of Trenton and Princeton. In New Jersey, over 180,000 residents have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, mostly in the vulnerable 65 and older population. Out of Mercer County's population of 373,000, 53,000 are seniors aged 65 and older. Fifteen percent of them have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. To treat and care for these individuals, Mercer County is home to 4 memory care facilities. 

In New Jersey, dementia treatment facilities are known as Dementia Care Homes and are required to provide specialized levels of care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. These facilities are licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Health. 

• New Jersey does not levy state income tax on Social Security benefits, although monies from retirement accounts and IRAs are taxed as income upon withdrawal. Families budgeting for a loved one's memory care fees may want to consider this. Retirement monies are taxed on a sliding scale and included with other forms of income. 
  
• Residents of Mercer County enjoy all four seasons, including warm, humid summers and winters with plenty of snow. January lows average in the high teens and 20s, while July highs are in the 80s. Seniors who have health conditions aggravated by cold, wet weather may be uncomfortable, although those memory care residents who are partial to high heat may find relief. 
  
• The cost of living in Mercer County is slightly higher than the national average, at 113 compared to the 100 baseline for the county. Housing costs are the main reason, coming in at 124 compared to 100. Higher housing may cause memory care facilities to have higher operating expenses that may increase resident fees. Families on a tight budget may want to consider this. Healthcare costs, at 95 compared to the national average of 100, may be more affordable in Mercer County for some seniors. 
  
• Ocean County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia, such as St. Francis Medical Center and Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

Memory Care costs in Mercer County start around $6,587 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Mercer County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in New Jersey page.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in New Jersey page.

Mercer County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in New Jersey are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in New Jersey page for more information about these laws.