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

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Bergen County, NJ, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.7 out of 5 stars across the 100 options below.

Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that Bergen shares similar monthly home care costs of $5,529 with the Atlantic City area due to proximity. That’s the same as the state average and higher than the national average by $572. Newark, the most populous city in the state, also shares similar monthly home care costs with Bergen County. Allentown, one of the least populated cities in the state, has lower monthly care costs than Bergen county by $380. Gloucester City in the southern part of the state also has lower monthly costs than Bergen County by about $200. 

Bergen County has other senior care options, including home health care or aide, adult day care, assisted living and nursing home care. Home health care services include additional light support, with medical services costing about $100 more than monthly home care costs. Adult daycare is part-time assistance with senior daily activities and costs 3,395 less than monthly home care costs. Assisted living communities cost $278 more than monthly home care services. Nursing homes are one of the most expensive senior care options, costing $3,596 more than home care costs. 

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.