Respite Care in Brookdale, NJ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Brookdale, NJ: the local picture

1,575

residents 65 or older (16% of Brookdale)

80%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Essex County)

23

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brookdale ZIP codes

Most older adults in Brookdale live with someone: 80% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 497 Brookdale residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (33% in Essex County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 23 hospices serving Brookdale ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Brookdale compared with Essex County and New Jersey

Census figure	Brookdale	Essex County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	31%	27%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	15%	9.7%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	21%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$93,224	$61,232	—

Older residents in towns around Brookdale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Upper Montclair, NJ	1.3 mi	1,835	15%
Clifton, NJ	2.2 mi	17,463	34%
Montclair State University, NJ	2.4 mi	0	—
Glen Ridge, NJ	2.4 mi	998	11%
Great Notch, NJ	3.0 mi	839	23%
Passaic, NJ	3.1 mi	7,301	37%

Hospices serving Brookdale

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Clifton, LLC	Bloomfield, NJ	2.2 mi	(973) 916-1400
Hospice Of New Jersey, LLC	Bloomfield, NJ	2.2 mi	(973) 893-0818
Vhs Hospice Services Of New Jersey	Woodland Park, NJ	3.9 mi	(973) 256-4636
Barnabas Health Home Care And Hospice	West Orange, NJ	5.2 mi	(855) 619-4448
Amedisys Hospice	Hackensack, NJ	7.7 mi	(201) 342-7766

Nursing homes near Brookdale (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Complete Care At Cedar Grove	Cedar Grove, NJ	2.4 mi	4 of 5	190	(973) 239-9300
Family Of Caring Healthcare At Montclair	Montclair, NJ	2.4 mi	4 of 5	70	(973) 783-9400
Canterbury At Cedar Grove	Cedar Grove, NJ	2.7 mi	3 of 5	180	(973) 239-7600
Montclair Care Center	Montclair, NJ	2.9 mi	4 of 5	64	(973) 746-4616

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

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Brookdale

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 $7,769 monthly median income of Brookdale 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

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

Questions

Respite Care in Brookdale: common questions

Which hospices serve Brookdale?

Medicare lists 23 hospices for Brookdale ZIP codes, including Compassionate Care Hospice Of Clifton, LLC, Hospice Of New Jersey, LLC, Vhs Hospice Services Of New Jersey.

How much does respite care cost in Brookdale?

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 $7,769 monthly median income of Brookdale 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Brookdale. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers New Jersey.

More near Brookdale

More senior care near Brookdale

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Brookdale

More for Brookdale 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.

Respite Care in Brookdale, NJ