Somerset County, New Jersey, is one of the oldest counties in the nation with a rich history dating back to the late 1600s and is considered part of the New York metro area. The population of this county is 333,000, 48,000 of whom are seniors aged 65 and older, a group with a higher instance of memory impairments such as Alzheimer's disease. Out of those 48,000 seniors, 11% have been diagnosed with dementia. To house and care for these residents, Somerset County is home to eight memory care facilities.Â
The state of New Jersey refers to memory care facilities as Dementia Care Homes (DCHs) and licenses and regulates them through the state's Department of Health. These requirements include different levels of care for residents depending on the severity of their memory care condition.Â
- Social Security income is not taxed by the state of New Jersey, although withdrawals from an IRA or other accounts are taxed on a sliding scale. Families budgeting for a loved one's memory care may want to take this into account.Â
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Weather in Somerset County means cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. July highs reach into the 80s, while lows in January dip into the teens. Seniors in memory care with health conditions aggravated by cold weather may be uncomfortable here, although those sensitive to high heat may enjoy the milder spring and summer.Â
- Somerset County's cost of living is 152, compared to the national average of 100. While healthcare costs and groceries, both important to seniors in memory care, are right in line with the average, housing is more than double the country's average, coming at 212. This may mean that DCHs have higher operating costs which translate into higher fees for residents, something families on a budget may need to consider.Â
- Somerset County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia, such as RWJ University Hospital Somerset, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
Note:Â Data reported on this page was updated in 2019 and based on the latest 2018 figures.Â