Mobility Assistance in Summit, NJ: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Summit, NJ: the local picture

15%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Union County)

425

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

0.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Summit)

24%

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

About 483 Summit residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15%; 18% in Union County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

425 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Summit that list physical therapy include Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, Inc; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Summit compared with Union County and New Jersey

Census figure	Summit	Union County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	15%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.3%	6.9%	7.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	26%	27%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	10%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$91,932	$72,306	—

Older residents in towns around Summit

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Chatham, NJ	2.0 mi	957	7.6%
Mountainside, NJ	2.4 mi	1,709	15%
New Providence, NJ	2.5 mi	3,187	13%
Short Hills, NJ	2.5 mi	1,749	9.8%
Madison, NJ	4.0 mi	2,183	11%
Vauxhall, NJ	4.2 mi	769	16%

Home health agencies serving Summit (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Atlantic Visiting Nurse	Morristown, NJ	8.5 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(973) 379-8400
Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, Inc	North Brunswick, NJ	19 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(732) 224-6991
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Cranford, NJ	5.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(908) 352-5694
Hackensack Meridian Jfk At Home	Iselin, NJ	10 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(732) 317-5777

Emergency hospitals near Summit

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Overlook Medical Center	Summit, NJ	0.1 mi	5 of 5	(908) 522-2000
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center	Livingston, NJ	5.6 mi	3 of 5	(973) 322-5000

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in Summit

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 20% of the $7,661 monthly median income of Summit 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 mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Summit: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Summit?

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 20% of the $7,661 monthly median income of Summit 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).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Summit

More senior care near Summit

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Summit

More for Summit 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Summit, NJ