The call usually comes after a fall, a hospital stay, or a visit where you notice the fridge is empty. Suddenly you’re trying to figure out what care costs, who’s allowed to provide it, and whether any of it is covered. This guide walks Bergen County families through the decision, from the first assessment to hiring the right agency.
What “home care” actually means
Two very different services share the name:
- Non-medical home care (personal care and companion care): help with bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders, errands and company. This is what most families need, and it’s mostly private pay.
- Skilled home health care: nursing, physical therapy and wound care ordered by a doctor, usually short-term after a hospital stay. Medicare may cover it if your parent qualifies.
Knowing which one you need decides who can provide it and who pays.
What it costs in New Jersey (2025 data)
New Jersey is one of the more expensive states for care. CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey, released in March 2026, puts the median for a non-medical caregiver in New Jersey at $86,944 a year, up 6% from 2024. That works out to roughly $38 an hour, or about $7,250 a month at 44 hours a week. Bergen County rates often run at or above the state median.
Agencies typically set a minimum shift of three to four hours. Overnight, weekend and holiday hours usually cost more, and live-in care is priced by the day.
How New Jersey regulates home care agencies
- Agencies that place aides in private homes must be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs as Health Care Service Firms and accredited. Check registration by calling the Division’s Regulated Businesses Section at (973) 504-6370.
- Skilled home health agencies (nursing and therapy) are licensed separately by the NJ Department of Health.
- Hands-on personal care must be provided by Certified Homemaker-Home Health Aides (CHHAs), supervised by a registered nurse.
An independent caregiver found through word of mouth may cost less per hour. But you become the employer: you handle payroll taxes, liability and backup coverage when they’re sick, and nobody checks their certification.
Who pays: the main options
- Private pay: savings, income, or help from family.
- Long-term care insurance: if your parent has a policy, find it now. Check the elimination (waiting) period and whether it requires a licensed agency.
- Medicare: covers skilled, part-time home health care for homebound patients under a doctor’s plan. It does not pay for ongoing personal or companion care.
- NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid MLTSS: for people who meet Medicaid’s income and asset limits and need a nursing-home level of care. It can pay for in-home aides, and the Personal Preference Program can even pay a family member as the caregiver.
- JACC (Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving): a state-funded, non-Medicaid program for people 60 and older who need a nursing-home level of care (help with at least three daily activities such as bathing, toileting and dressing) but don’t qualify for Medicaid. It can cover aide hours, respite, home modifications, meals and emergency response systems, with an income-based copay.
Start here: the Bergen County Division of Senior Services / ADRC, (201) 336-7400, or the statewide ADRC line, 1-877-222-3737. They screen for JACC, Medicaid and county programs such as Meals on Wheels at no cost.
A 5-step plan for families
- Get an assessment. Ask the hospital discharge planner, your parent’s doctor, or the county ADRC. Write down which daily tasks they need help with.
- Set the schedule and budget. Decide on hours per day, which days, and whether nights are needed.
- Call three agencies. Verify each one’s registration first.
- Interview with your parent in the room. Ask the questions below, and ask to meet the proposed aide.
- Review after two weeks. Good agencies expect feedback and will change caregivers if the match isn’t right.
Questions to ask every agency
- Are your aides W-2 employees, certified CHHAs, and background-checked?
- Who’s the supervising nurse, and how often do they visit?
- What happens when the aide calls out? How fast is backup?
- What’s your minimum shift, and what do nights, weekends and holidays cost?
- Do you work with long-term care insurance, and will you handle the billing?
- How do you handle dementia, falls or a change in condition?
FAQ
Does Medicare pay for a home health aide?
Only as part of skilled home health care for a homebound patient, under a doctor's plan, and part-time. Medicare doesn't cover ongoing custodial care such as help with bathing and meals.
What's the difference between JACC and MLTSS?
MLTSS is Medicaid, for people who meet its income and asset limits. JACC is state-funded for people 60 and older who need a similar level of care but are over Medicaid's limits. It comes with a copay based on income. Apply for either through the county ADRC.
Can I get paid to care for my parent in New Jersey?
In some cases, yes. Medicaid's MLTSS Personal Preference Program and JACC allow certain family members to be paid caregivers. Ask the ADRC how it works for your situation.
How much does a home health aide cost per hour in Bergen County?
The 2025 New Jersey median for a non-medical caregiver is about $38 an hour. Bergen agencies often quote at or above that, so get written rates from at least three.