Middlesex County, New Jersey, home of Rutgers University, is located along the Atlantic Coast and centers around New Brunswick. This county, considered part of the New York City metro area, has a population of 837,000, 14% of whom are seniors aged 65 an older. This is a demographic that is especially vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia; in fact, over 180,000 New Jersey residents are estimated to have a memory care condition. To care for and treat these seniors, Middlesex County is home to 11 memory care facilities.
New Jersey memory care facilities are known as Dementia Care Homes (DCHs), required by law to provide specialized levels of care depending on the severity of each individual's Alzheimer' disease and related ailments. The New Jersey Department of Health licenses and regulates these centers.
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Weather in Middlesex County is characterized by all four seasons, including mild summers averaging 87 degrees in July and colder winters, averaging 23 in January with plenty of snow. Seniors in memory care sensitive to the cold may be uncomfortable here, although those with health conditions aggravated by high heat may find relief.
- Middlesex County's cost of living of 132 is higher than the national average of 100, driven mainly by housing costs at 151. This may affect the operating cost for memory care facilities and thus raise prices for residents. Families budgeting for memory care may want to keep this in mind.
- Social Security income is not subject to New Jersey income tax, which may benefit families in a tight budget afford memory care. However, withdrawals from IRAs and other retirement accounts are taxed as income on a sliding scale, which may impact the amount families have for a loved one's facility fees.
- Middlesex County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia, such as St. Peter's University Hospital and Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Medical Center in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
Note: Data reported on this page was updated in 2019 and based on the latest 2018 figures.