Dementia and Alzheimer's Care at Home in New Jersey
Personal care, supervision and companionship for people living with dementia, in the familiar surroundings of home. A registered nurse oversees every care plan, and care begins with a free in-home assessment.
- New Jersey License #HP0314200
- CHAP accredited
- BBB accredited, A+ rating
- Registered nurse oversees every care plan
- Free in-home assessment
Dementia and Alzheimer's Care at Home
Award Homecare's Dementia and Alzheimer's Care helps people living with memory loss remain in the home they know. Our caregivers assist with bathing, meals, daily routine and safety, and give family caregivers time to rest.
According to the CDC, about 80% of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias receive care at home, usually from family or friends (CDC page dated September 2024). Professional caregivers can share that responsibility.
What Home Care Provides
Our caregivers help with bathing, dressing, meals and medication reminders. They keep a steady daily routine and watch for safety risks, such as an unlocked door or a stove left on. They also offer companionship.
What Home Care Does Not Provide
Home care does not treat dementia or change its course, and we do not provide skilled nursing or medical care. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), no known intervention cures Alzheimer's. Diagnosis, medications and medical decisions remain with your loved one's doctor.
From our Toms River office, we provide dementia and Alzheimer's care in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The service includes help with daily activities, medication reminders, memory care support, companionship, transportation, meal planning and preparation, safety supervision, coordination of healthcare and wander prevention. A registered nurse oversees each care plan. Each family works with a dedicated case manager. Our Ocean County page lists the towns we serve there.
Care at Each Stage of Dementia
Alzheimer's usually moves through three stages: early, middle and late. The Alzheimer's Association notes that the stages are only a general guide, since each person is different.
Early Stage: Light Support
In the early stage, a person is often still independent with dressing, bathing and walking, and may still drive or work. A daily schedule and household money can become difficult to manage. Support means reminders, rides, shared meals and company. Ask your loved one how much help feels right. It is also a good time for legal and financial planning, while your loved one can take part.
Middle Stage: More Hands-On Care
The middle stage is typically the longest and can last for many years. Words get mixed up, frustration rises, and a person may refuse to bathe. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 24-hour supervision becomes necessary to keep the person safe. We offer live-in care, overnight care and 24-hour shifts to add hours of support at home.
Late Stage: Around-the-Clock Care
Intensive, around-the-clock care is usually required. NIA reports that most people with Alzheimer's have incontinence at some point, more often later on. To move someone safely, it suggests asking the doctor for a referral to a therapist, home health aide or nurse. Our services include incontinence care and total care for bed-bound clients.
Managing Everyday Challenges at Home
The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association offer practical guidance on common concerns at home. What works varies, so report any new or worsening behavior to your loved one's doctor.
A Consistent Daily Routine
To ease agitation, NIA suggests bathing, dressing and eating at the same times each day. Plan the day around your loved one's best hours, and leave room to be flexible. Write down what their day used to look like, and share it with your loved one's caregiver.
Wandering
According to the Alzheimer's Association, six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once. NIA suggests locked doors, a door chime, an ID bracelet with your phone number, and telling neighbors and police. The Ocean County Sheriff's Office runs Project Lifesaver, a tracking wristband program. The Monmouth County Office on Aging partners with its Sheriff's Office on it. Wander prevention and safety supervision are part of our dementia care.
Sundowning
Sundowning is confusion and restlessness that build from dusk into the night. It is a group of symptoms, not a disease. Morning baths and appointments, daytime sunlight, a bigger lunch, and calm, well-lit evenings can help. When nights are the main concern, overnight care places a caregiver in the home.
Bathing
NIA calls bathing one of the most difficult caregiving tasks, since the person may feel frightened or embarrassed. A warm room, a bath chair, safety bars and a matter-of-fact tone can all help. Offering a choice, such as a bath or a shower, and bathing at the time of day the person is used to.
Meals
Medication, low activity and a duller sense of taste or smell can all reduce appetite. NIA suggests a quiet table with the TV off, one food at a time, and soft food in small pieces. Tell the doctor if swallowing becomes difficult.
Kitchen Safety
A person with dementia may leave the oven on, and may not smell smoke or gas from an unlit stove. Appliances with automatic shut-off, stove knob covers, and clearing pills and vitamins off the counters can lower the risk. When a caregiver is there, they can cook with your loved one or help with the stove.
Caregiver Training and Care Oversight
Dementia care calls for particular skills. Our caregivers receive training, and we invite you to ask what training the caregiver assigned to your loved one has had.
Our caregivers are "rigorously selected, thoroughly vetted, and continuously trained." Each one is supported by the registered nurse overseeing the care plan and by your family's case manager. We are glad to answer two questions in particular:
- What dementia training has the caregiver completed?
- Who writes the care plan, and who reviews it when things change?
Home Care or a Memory Care Community
No single setting is right for everyone. The choice depends on how much care is needed, what your loved one prefers and what the family can afford.
| Care at home | Memory care community | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the person lives | Their own home, with familiar rooms and routines. | A residential setting with other residents. |
| How much care | Set with the family, from four-hour shifts (20-hour weekly minimum) to live-in care. | Varies by type of community. |
| 24-hour supervision | We offer 24-hour shifts, plus live-in and overnight care. A live-in caregiver usually sleeps at night, so we review which schedule fits at the in-home assessment. | Ask each community about nights and emergency room visits. |
| Paying | Private pay, long-term care insurance or VA benefits. Award Homecare is in-network with CareScout. Medicaid and JACC are not accepted. | Costs vary widely, and Medicare does not cover them. Options include long-term care insurance, veterans benefits and Medicaid. |
| A good fit when | Your loved one is comfortable at home and the hours they need can be arranged. | Your loved one prefers communal living or needs more care than home can provide. |
When Home May No Longer Be the Right Setting
The Alzheimer's Association notes that a time may come when a person needs more care than can be provided at home. If the supervision needed cannot be arranged, paid for or kept safe there, a residential community may be the better choice. Make that decision with your loved one's doctor, and include the person living with dementia whenever possible. You may request our free in-home assessment at any point.
Support for Family Caregivers
According to the CDC, people caring for someone with dementia face a greater risk of anxiety and depression than other caregivers. Its advice is direct: "Self-care isn't selfish."
Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline
This free helpline connects you with a live person for information, local resources, crisis help and emotional support. Call 800-272-3900.
NJ Statewide Respite Care Program
The program gives an unpaid family caregiver a short or occasional break. Cost is on a sliding scale of 0% to 25% of the service cost, based on the care recipient's income. Income and asset rules apply. Every county has a program. Call the state's Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-877-222-3737 to reach yours.
NJ Alzheimer's Adult Day Services Program
The program subsidizes adult day care for a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia. It covers 20% to 100% of the cost, up to five days a week. A physician must have documented the diagnosis, and income and asset rules apply. To apply, ask a participating day care center or call 1-877-222-3737.
Questions About Dementia Care at Home
Can home care slow down or treat dementia?
Home care cannot slow down or treat dementia, though it does support daily life and safety. According to NIA, no known intervention cures Alzheimer's. Some FDA-approved drugs help manage symptoms, and a few treat early-stage disease. Your loved one's doctor decides on medicines.
When is it time to start dementia care at home?
No set date marks the right time, so ask your loved one's doctor for guidance. NIA notes that a point comes when a person needs more help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Hourly Care starts with four-hour shifts and a 20-hour weekly minimum, and Live-in Full-time Care is also available.
What if my parent refuses help from a caregiver?
Refusing help is common among people living with dementia. NIA notes that a person may feel embarrassed or angry about needing help, and that agitation usually has a reason. It suggests patience, a calm voice and offering choices. Starting with company and light tasks, such as a walk or a meal, is one approach. Tell the doctor if refusal is new or getting worse.
Does Medicare pay for dementia care at home?
Medicare does not cover personal care, such as help with bathing and dressing, if that is the only help your loved one needs. Its home health benefit covers certain part-time or intermittent skilled services. It covers a home health aide only when skilled care, such as nursing or therapy, is also needed. Families fund our dementia care through private pay, long-term care insurance or VA benefits, and Award Homecare is in-network with CareScout. Our cost guide covers what home care costs in New Jersey.
The information above is offered as general guidance. Questions about diagnosis, medication or treatment belong with your loved one's physician, and questions about benefits with an attorney or the program concerned.
Discuss Dementia Care for Your Loved One
Call 732-994-0309 to speak with our care team. We will review your loved one's routine and needs, and arrange a free in-home assessment.
Award Homecare LLC, 2214 Route 37 East, Suite 9, Toms River, NJ 08753. New Jersey License #HP0314200.
