Dementia Care in Union, NJ: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Union, NJ: the local picture

50

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

269

residents 65 or older (9.7% of Union)

56%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Union County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Union has about 50 residents aged 85 or older among 269 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

56% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Union County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

4.8% of older Union residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Union compared with Union County and New Jersey

Census figure	Union	Union County	New Jersey
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	9.7%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	56%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	4.8%	26%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.0%	9.8%	9.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	78%	48%	33%

Older residents in towns around Union

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Kenilworth, NJ	1.6 mi	1,295	115
Vauxhall, NJ	1.6 mi	769	55
Roselle Park, NJ	2.2 mi	2,074	151
Roselle, NJ	3.1 mi	3,338	414
Garwood, NJ	4.2 mi	997	137
Short Hills, NJ	4.2 mi	1,749	169

Nursing homes near Union

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cornell Hall Care & Rehabilitation Center	Union, NJ	1.7 mi	3 of 5	177	(908) 687-7800
South Mountain Hc	Vauxhall, NJ	1.8 mi	3 of 5	195	(908) 688-3400
Alliance Care Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Irvington, NJ	1.9 mi	5 of 5	212	(973) 371-7878
Birchwood Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Cranford, NJ	2.3 mi	5 of 5	200	(908) 272-6660
Winchester Gardens Health Care Center	Maplewood, NJ	2.3 mi	5 of 5	30	(973) 762-5050
Elmora Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center	Elizabeth, NJ	3.3 mi	5 of 5	200	(908) 353-1220

Hospices serving Union

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Homeside Hospice LLC	Cranford, NJ	3.4 mi	(732) 381-3444
Ascend Hospice	Cranford, NJ	3.4 mi	(908) 931-9080
Barnabas Health Home Care And Hospice	West Orange, NJ	6.2 mi	(855) 619-4448
Center For Hope Hospice And Palliative Care	Scotch Plains, NJ	6.6 mi	(908) 889-7780

Straight-line miles from the center of Union. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Union

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in Union: common questions

What nursing homes are near Union?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Cornell Hall Care & Rehabilitation Center in Union (1.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall); South Mountain Hc in Vauxhall (1.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Alliance Care Rehabilitation And Nursing Center in Irvington (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Union?

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Union

More senior care near Union

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Union

More for Union families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Union, NJ