Home Care in Ocean County, NJ
Live-in, overnight and hourly care for older adults in Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Lakewood and other Ocean County communities.
- New Jersey License #HP0314200
- CHAP accredited
- BBB accredited, A+ rating
- Registered nurse oversees every care plan
- Free in-home assessment
Home Care Services in Ocean County
Award Homecare provides non-medical home care for older adults in Ocean County. Our office is at 2214 Route 37 East, Suite 9, in Toms River, and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. We hold New Jersey Health Care Service Firm License #HP0314200 and are CHAP accredited. Care begins with a free in-home assessment.
Award Homecare's standing with the state can be confirmed through the steps outlined below. For questions about county programs, the Ocean County Office of Senior Services can be reached at 732-929-2091. Families in Toms River can find more detail on our page for home care in Toms River.
Ocean County Towns We Serve
Our service area is Ocean and Monmouth Counties. In Ocean County, the towns we serve include:
- Toms River
- Brick
- Jackson
- Lakewood
- Manchester
- Point Pleasant
- Barnegat
- Lacey Township
In Monmouth County, they include Middletown, Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, Holmdel, Howell, Wall, Ocean Township and Rumson, as described on our page for home care in Monmouth County.
If your loved one's town is not listed, please call our office at 732-994-0309.
How Care Is Arranged
The free in-home assessment takes place in the home where care will be provided. From there, care is arranged around where your loved one lives and how their day is structured. Our services include:
- Hourly Care
- Overnight Care
- Live-in Full-time Care
- 24-Hour Care
- Hospital-to-Home Care
- Facility Companion Care in long-term care facilities and assisted living communities
- Dementia and Alzheimer's Care for loved ones living with memory loss
Service can often begin within 24 hours, and at times the same day. Payment can be made privately or through long-term care insurance or VA benefits. We are also in-network with CareScout, and we do not accept Medicaid or JACC. Our guide to what home care costs in New Jersey explains how pricing works.
How to Verify a Home Care Agency in New Jersey
New Jersey requires certain home care businesses to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs as a Health Care Service Firm. The rule covers a business that sends caregivers into the home of a person age 60 or older, or a person with a disability. Licensed home health agencies and hospices are licensed separately under other state laws. Families are welcome to confirm each of the following for Award Homecare.
Confirm the State Registration
Request the agency's license number, then confirm it through the Division's Regulated Business License/Registration Search, using the business name or license number. If an agency does not appear, the Division can be reached at regulatedbusiness@dca.njoag.gov. In a 2016 release, the state also advised families to ask the Division whether a firm is registered and whether it has been the subject of consumer complaints. Award Homecare's license number is #HP0314200.
Ask About Accreditation
Under a 2019 state law, a registered firm must obtain accreditation within 12 months of registering. The accrediting body must be one recognized by the state's Commissioner of Human Services. Award Homecare is accredited by CHAP, the Community Health Accreditation Partner.
Ask Whether the Aide Is Certified
To be certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, a home health aide completes 76 hours of training, 60 in the classroom and 16 hands-on. The aide must also demonstrate the required skills and pass a written exam and a background check. The state makes exceptions for some nursing students. Certification is renewed every two years. The state maintains an online directory that providers use to confirm it. We check certifications as part of our caregiver screening. We are glad to tell families whether the person assigned to their loved one is certified.
Ask Who Supervises the Care
A registered nurse supervises a certified aide and writes the plan of care the aide follows. In a 2016 enforcement notice, the state cited firms for missing written plans of care and for not reviewing plans every 30 or 60 days. At Award Homecare, every care plan is overseen by a registered nurse, and families work with a dedicated case manager, who is their point of contact for any concern.
Review the Terms in Writing
Ask for the rate, any minimum hours and the terms for ending service in writing. Also ask how coverage is handled when the regular caregiver is ill. Our Hourly Care is scheduled in four-hour shifts with a 20-hour weekly minimum, and we provide a quote by phone or after the free assessment.
Concerns about a firm can be directed to the Division of Consumer Affairs at njconsumeraffairs.gov. The Division registers these firms and tracks consumer complaints about them.
Community Resources for Older Adults in Ocean County
The Ocean County Office of Senior Services answers questions about programs for older adults and family caregivers. It is a sensible first call when a family is unsure what support is needed. These programs can work alongside paid home care. The details below come from county and state pages. Please confirm hours when calling.
Office of Senior Services
The office is at 1005 Hooper Avenue in Toms River and can be reached at 732-929-2091 or toll-free at 1-877-222-3737. Listed hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit the county page.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection
According to the state, each county's Area Agency on Aging also serves as its lead Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) agency. The ADRC helps older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers find information on long-term services and supports. The state lists the same toll-free number, 1-877-222-3737.
Services in Southern Ocean County
Senior Services representatives are also available at the Ocean County Southern Service Center, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin, and at the County Connection in the Ocean County Mall. Call 732-929-2091 to confirm hours.
Transportation to Appointments
Ocean Ride, at 732-736-8989, operates the Reserve-A-Ride program. It provides door-to-door, non-emergency medical rides, booked in advance and mostly within the county. It is open to people 60 and older, and to adults 18 and older with a disability and valid documentation.
For meals, the county directory lists a Meals on Wheels nutrition site at the Southern Service Center. It serves a hot lunch to adults 60 and older, five days a week. The Office of Senior Services can advise which meal programs serve your loved one's town.
Questions About Home Care in Ocean County
Does Medicare pay for home care in Ocean County?
In most cases, Medicare does not pay for everyday, non-medical help at home. Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled home health care for people who are homebound. This applies when a doctor or other provider orders it and a Medicare-certified agency provides it. It does not cover 24-hour-a-day care at home. Nor does it cover help with bathing and dressing if that help is the only care a person needs. For everyday help at home, families can use private pay, long-term care insurance or VA benefits with Award Homecare.
What is the difference between home care and home health care?
Home health care usually means skilled care, such as nursing or therapy, provided on a doctor's order. Home care provides everyday help with bathing, dressing, meals, moving around the house and companionship. Our services include help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Dementia and Alzheimer's Care, help around the house and companionship. We do not provide skilled nursing or medical care. Your loved one's physician can advise which type of care is appropriate.
Can I check whether a caregiver is a certified aide?
You can ask our office for the name of the caregiver assigned to your loved one and whether they hold a certification, and you are welcome to see it. New Jersey keeps an online directory of certified home health aides, described on the state's aide page. In a 2016 release, the state also advised families to ask the Division of Consumer Affairs to verify whether aides are certified.
Who do I call in Ocean County if I don't know what my parent needs?
The Ocean County Office of Senior Services, at 732-929-2091, answers questions about county programs for older adults and family caregivers. To discuss home care, call Award Homecare at 732-994-0309 to arrange a free in-home assessment.
Please confirm eligibility and current details directly with the county office or program concerned. The information above is general and does not replace advice from your loved one's physician or an attorney.
Arrange Care for Your Loved One in Ocean County
Call 732-994-0309 to speak with our Toms River office or to schedule a free in-home assessment.
Award Homecare LLC, 2214 Route 37 East, Suite 9, Toms River, NJ 08753. New Jersey License #HP0314200.
