Hospice Support in Dunellen, NJ: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Dunellen, NJ: the local picture

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dunellen ZIP codes

104

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

15%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Middlesex County)

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Middlesex County)

Medicare lists 19 hospices whose service area includes Dunellen ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Gentiva in Piscataway (2.7 mi) and Center For Hope Hospice And Palliative Care in Scotch Plains (6.1 mi).

159 Dunellen residents 65 or older live alone (15% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Dunellen compared with Middlesex County and New Jersey

Census figure	Dunellen	Middlesex County	New Jersey
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	7.4%	7.0%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	23%	9.0%	9.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,034	$72,915	—

Older residents in towns around Dunellen

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Middlesex, NJ	2.0 mi	2,876	17%
North Plainfield, NJ	2.5 mi	2,129	18%
South Plainfield, NJ	2.9 mi	4,758	18%
Plainfield, NJ	3.1 mi	5,588	24%
Watchung, NJ	3.9 mi	1,905	21%
Bound Brook, NJ	4.1 mi	1,706	29%

Hospices serving Dunellen

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Piscataway, NJ	2.7 mi	(732) 562-8800
Center For Hope Hospice And Palliative Care	Scotch Plains, NJ	6.1 mi	(908) 889-7780
Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care Of New Jersey Ll	Edison, NJ	6.2 mi	(866) 243-2157
Martin And Edith Stein Hospice, The	Somerset, NJ	6.5 mi	(732) 227-1212
Grace Healthcare Services LLC	Edison, NJ	7.8 mi	(732) 225-4100
Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurse, Inc	North Brunswick, NJ	9.5 mi	(732) 224-6991

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support costs in Dunellen

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, which is 23% of the $6,586 monthly median income of Dunellen households headed by someone 65 or older. 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 caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

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

Questions

Hospice Support in Dunellen: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Dunellen?

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, which is 23% of the $6,586 monthly median income of Dunellen households headed by someone 65 or older. 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).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Dunellen

More senior care near Dunellen

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Dunellen

More for Dunellen families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; 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 Hospice Support in Dunellen, NJ