Nursing homes and assisted living in New Jersey

In New Jersey, there is help at home, adult day centers, assisted living, and nursing homes. Here we explain the names you will hear, how Medicaid works, and who to call.

What care settings are called here

Most places are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Some types of housing are overseen by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). These are the most common names:

• Nursing home: 24-hour nursing care, therapy, and personal care. Licensed by the DOH.
• Assisted Living Residence (ALR): assisted living in apartments, with staff 24 hours a day, meals, and medication supervision. Licensed by the DOH.
• Comprehensive Personal Care Home (CPCH): a home for four or more adults, with assisted living services all day. Licensed by the DOH.
• Residential Health Care Facility: housing, meals, personal care, and health monitoring by a nurse. These are regulated by the DCA and, in some cases, by the DOH.
• Adult Family Care: the person lives in a caregiver's home, with support from an agency licensed by the DOH.
• Adult day health care (an adult day center, also called medical day care): care and activities during the day; the person sleeps at home.

How Medicaid helps in New Jersey

New Jersey's Medicaid program is called NJ FamilyCare. For older adults, the long-term care program is Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS). MLTSS can cover care in a nursing home, in assisted living, in group homes, or at home. You don't have to live in a care home to apply.

To qualify, the person needs two things:

• Need for care (clinical eligibility): an official assessment confirms whether the person needs a nursing home level of care (hands-on help with three or more daily activities, such as bathing or dressing).
• Income and assets (financial eligibility): the person cannot have more than $2,000 in assets; the home they live in and the car they use don't count. The caseworker reviews five years of money transactions (the look-back period).

How to get started:

• If you don't have Medicaid yet, call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-222-3737 to ask for the assessment.
• If you already have Medicaid, call the member services number on your plan card.
• If the person already lives in a facility, ask the social worker there for help.
• The application is processed by your County Social Service Agency, online or on paper.

In assisted living, ask how room and board will be paid for. Always confirm your situation with the agency or a professional.

How much care costs in New Jersey

The CareScout Cost of Care 2025 survey (done from July to November 2025 and published in March 2026) shows these median costs for the state:

• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $38 an hour.
• Adult day center: $100 a day.
• Assisted living: $8,710 a month.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $12,775 a month.
• Nursing home, private room: $14,448 a month.

Each place sets its own rates: ask for the price in writing and ask what it includes.

Who to call

• Area Agency on Aging / Aging and Disability Resource Connection (MLTSS assessment and local services): 1-877-222-3737.
• Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (advocate for residents): 1-877-582-6995.
• DOH complaint hotline for health care facilities (24 hours): 1-800-792-9770.
• NJ FamilyCare: 1-800-701-0710.
• Eldercare Locator (national service): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license online. The DOH long-term care facility search shows assisted living, personal care homes, and adult day centers by county, with their license type.
• Ask if they accept Medicaid. Some residences are private pay only, and others also work with Medicaid.
• Gather your paperwork early. MLTSS asks for bank statements and documents going back five years; a complete application moves faster.
• Ask for care in Spanish. Ask whether the place has bilingual nurses, caregivers, or social workers.
• On hogaresparamayores.com you can see licensed places in New Jersey and find options near your family.