Respite Care in Rockaway, NJ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Rockaway, NJ: the local picture

1,146

residents 65 or older (17% of Rockaway)

74%

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

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Morris County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rockaway ZIP codes

Most older adults in Rockaway live with someone: 74% 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 284 Rockaway residents aged 65 or older report a disability (25%) (27% in Morris County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 17 hospices serving Rockaway ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Rockaway compared with Morris County and New Jersey

Census figure	Rockaway	Morris County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	25%	27%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.6%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	7.1%	9.7%
Households with no vehicle	11%	5.1%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$77,625	$88,443	—

Older residents in towns around Rockaway

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
White Meadow Lake, NJ	2.0 mi	1,192	26%
Dover, NJ	2.3 mi	2,854	23%
Mount Hope, NJ	2.4 mi	1,377	28%
Wharton, NJ	3.0 mi	1,465	26%
Mountain Lakes, NJ	3.9 mi	604	21%
Morris Plains, NJ	4.5 mi	1,095	23%

Hospices serving Rockaway

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Suncrest Hospice New Jersey, LLC	Parsippany, NJ	6.0 mi	(862) 701-2820
Atlantic Visiting Nurse	Morristown, NJ	7.1 mi	(973) 379-8400
Visiting Nurse Association Of Northern New Jersey	Morristown, NJ	7.1 mi	(973) 539-1216
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Northern NJ, LLC	Rockaway, NJ	12 mi	(973) 726-3855
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Livingston, NJ	13 mi	(973) 994-4738

Nursing homes near Rockaway (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Excel Care At Dover	Dover, NJ	2.3 mi	2 of 5	155	(973) 361-5200
Oaks At Denville, The	Denville, NJ	2.7 mi	4 of 5	84	(973) 586-5000
Dwelling Place At St Clares	Dover, NJ	3.1 mi	5 of 5	28	(973) 989-3500
Morris View Healthcare Center	Morristown, NJ	4.4 mi	2 of 5	313	(973) 285-2800

Straight-line miles from the center of Rockaway. 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 Rockaway

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 24% of the $6,469 monthly median income of Rockaway 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 Rockaway: common questions

Which hospices serve Rockaway?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for Rockaway ZIP codes, including Suncrest Hospice New Jersey, LLC, Atlantic Visiting Nurse, Visiting Nurse Association Of Northern New Jersey.

How much does respite care cost in Rockaway?

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 24% of the $6,469 monthly median income of Rockaway 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 Rockaway. 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 Rockaway

More senior care near Rockaway

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rockaway

More for Rockaway 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 Rockaway, NJ