Essex County, New Jersey is in the Northeastern part of the state, and in 2019 the population was estimated at 798,975 people and is the third-most populous county in the state. The county seat is the city of Newark, which is the most populous city in the state. Independent living for seniors in Essex County, New Jersey, is any housing arrangement designed for older adults. Typically, the age group is either 55 and older or 65 and older. The type of housing varies, such as active senior communities, condo living, apartment-style living, retirement homes, and continuing care retirement communities. These types of housing are designed to be easier to navigate and have no maintenance or yard work to worry about. Residents live independently, and most communities offer amenities, activities, and services. Independent living facilities are aimed at older adults who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living. Most retirees choose to live close to the services they need. For example, some of these services could include healthcare, shopping malls, food stores, churches, public transit, or walking trails.
When searching for independent living in the county, it is a good idea to have a budget in mind because the prices do vary. Retirement communities tend to be more costly because of the amenities, such as dining services, transportation, or recreation. Continuing care retirement communities usually provide everything within one location. Many of these facilities also help residents transition to higher levels of care when needed, such as assisted living facilities. The New Jersey Department of Health, Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing, licenses three types of assisted living services in the state. These services are assisted living residences, which are new construction. There are also comprehensive personal care homes, which are converted residential boarding homes that may not always meet building code requirements. Finally, there are assisted living programs, which provides services to tenants of publicly subsidized housing. When searching for assisted living in Essex County, New Jersey, the first step is to determine what level of care your loved one requires. Also, the facility should be properly licensed, well maintained, and well-staffed.
Benefits of Retirement Living in New Jersey
Financially the state of New Jersey is moderately tax-friendly towards retirees, and Social Security income is not taxed. However, withdrawals from retirement accounts are partially taxed, and wages are taxed at standard rates with a marginal state tax rate of 1.75%. Also, public and private pension income in the state is partially taxed. The state of New Jersey does have some of the highest property taxes of any state in the nation. Even for seniors who may own their homes, their property taxes are expensive. However, the sales tax in the state is close to the average among all U.S. states. Most retirees who live in New Jersey like the hustle and bustle of the big city, such as New York City. The location of New Jersey offers easy access to New York City and Manhattan. New Jersey is also an incredibly diverse state with people from all cultural backgrounds. Although it is one of the smaller states, there are 44 beaches and nearly 130 miles of coastline. The beaches range from tourist destinations, amusement parks, boardwalks, and beachside towns. Retirees will also benefit from a mild climate and all four seasons within the state.
