Personal Care in Dover, NJ: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Dover, NJ: the local picture

2.8%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.6% in Morris County)

14%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Morris County)

252

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

5

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Dover ZIP codes in their service area

About 77 Dover residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (2.8%; 6.6% in Morris County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

389 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

252 of the 2,854 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Dover compared with Morris County and New Jersey

Census figure	Dover	Morris County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.8%	6.6%	7.0%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	16%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	2.6%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	25%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	7.1%	9.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,092	$88,443	—

Older residents in towns around Dover

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Wharton, NJ	1.1 mi	1,465	6.1%
Rockaway, NJ	2.3 mi	1,146	4.6%
Mount Hope, NJ	2.3 mi	1,377	5.4%
White Meadow Lake, NJ	3.7 mi	1,192	3.0%
Mount Arlington, NJ	4.9 mi	1,488	5.0%
Morris Plains, NJ	5.5 mi	1,095	2.8%

Home health agencies with aides serving Dover

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Atlantic Visiting Nurse	Morristown, NJ	7.3 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(973) 379-8400
Visiting Nurse Assoc Of Northern New Jersey, Inc	Morristown, NJ	7.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(973) 451-4100
Patient Care	West Orange, NJ	17 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(973) 243-6299
Adoration Home Health	Clifton, NJ	21 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(973) 365-5200
Hackensack Meridian At Home Ocean County	Brick, NJ	60 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(732) 206-8100

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

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Dover

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 39% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Dover 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Dover: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Dover?

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 39% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Dover 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 is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Dover

More senior care near Dover

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dover

More for Dover 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 Personal Care in Dover, NJ