Dementia, and specifically Alzheimers, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Passaic's senior population continues to grow (7% growth between 2015 and 2020), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.Â
In Passaic, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease rose 61% between 2015 and 2020. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group increased by 45%, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is lower than the rest of the nation (5.2% in Passaic vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).Â
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Passaic. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time-consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Passaic, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Juniper Village at Paramus is a premium senior living community located in a peaceful area in New Jersey about 25 miles from downtown Manhattan, NY. The Wellspring Memory Care section focuses on what residents are still able to do and not on the abilities they may have lost. Seniors reside in small cottages, which reduces confusion and helps residents feel at home from the moment they move in. Caregivers provide support as needed while encouraging seniors to remain independent and choose the activities they'd like to take part in each day. The community features safe outdoor areas and walking paths enabling residents to explore at their own pace. Daily activities include art and music therapy programs, which have been shown to reduce anxiety and slow the progression of memory loss disorders.
One family member appreciates the wonderful staff in the memory care section, saying, "I have nothing but positive things to say about the back office, the physical therapy department, the receptionists and of course the phenomenal caregivers and nurses in memory care (Wellspring). My mother was well taken care of and enjoyed interacting with the staff and other residents in Wellspring."
At Sunrise of Paramus, residents receive an intimate experience with highly individualized care based on personal needs. The staff provides personalized memory care within the Terrace Club for residents with early-to-moderate memory impairment and in the Reminiscence neighborhood, designed for people with advanced types of dementia. Various floor plan options feature warm, homelike environments with weekly housekeeping and personal laundry services to help residents maintain their spaces. With 24-hour trained caregivers on-site, residents receive the support they need in a secure environment. This community is an authorized Validation Organization and uses the Validation method to help residents experience lower stress levels. This method uses empathy and communication to support residents. Residents can enjoy a wide range of activities and programming to stay engaged. Sunrise of Paramus uses a family engagement app to share photos and videos and help families stay more involved and connected.
People speak frequently about the caring staff and the way they care for each resident individually. This shows in one review, which states, "Sunrise staff are very dedicated to the clients/patients. They are very sensitive to each person in their care."
CareOne at The Cupola in Paramus, NJ, offers memory care, assisted living and respite services, about five minutes away from The Valley Hospital. Private and shared apartments are available, and individuals who are part of the memory care program reside at Harmony Village. Staff is available day and night, therapeutic treatments are offered and certified dementia care practitioners provide residents care, supervision and assistance. Aid is available for daily upkeep, including medication management and dressing. Residents have access to many amenities, such as a beauty salon and barber shop, exceptional dining, housekeeping and transportation. Safe outdoor spaces are available for seniors to enjoy fresh air and socializing.
Family members value the service at CareOne at The Cupola. One reviewer says, "Your care is certainly great! I have not seen my mother-in-law looking so good in quite a while. Thank you."
Harmony Village at Care One Paramus offers six individual neighborhoods for different levels of memory care. The Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care method personalizes treatment for each resident. Trained staff members assist with activities such as medication management or grooming, and physicians and physical, speech and occupational therapists treat residents at the health center. Sensory stimulation programs use art and music to keep residents grounded and engaged. There are six memory care neighborhoods, and each one focuses on a different stage in the progression of dementia. The community hosts social outings and celebrations, and residents can enjoy visits with family or friends in the secure garden courtyards. Staff provides housekeeping and transportation to appointments. Chefs prepare three restaurant-style meals each day.
Visitors enjoy the community's focused approach towards memory care. One says, "Harmony Village at CareOne Paramus is designed solely for people with dementia, it's dedicated to that, and so you have different levels. I highly recommend it. It's exceptionally beautiful, the private rooms are beautiful, the staff is really wonderful."
Fox Trail Memory Care Living at Paramus offers memory care for seniors living with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia. Specially trained staff provides residents with 24/7 personal care and help with activities of daily living, supervision and emergency response. The community's seniors can enjoy a range of amenities, including laundry service, housekeeping and internet access that helps foster a clean and socially connected environment. Activities, such as gardening, bingo and group outings to movie theaters are provided to keep seniors socially engaged. The community's accessible parking, secured gardens and walking paths encourage seniors to enjoy outdoor activities with little-to-no risk.
Family members of residents express satisfaction with the staff. One comments, "We needed a smaller living facility for my Mom. We searched for that one special home, When we entered the house it felt like we were home. We would like to give thanks to all at Foxtrail staff in Paramus, the staff was extremely welcoming."
Brightview Paramus is a senior living community that features Wellspring Village for its memory care residents. This neighborhood is specially designed for seniors with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Activities are chosen for each resident based on their care needs and personality. One such program is Mind & Music, which encourages positive mood and memory recall through music. There are secure common areas for socializing, including outdoor spaces that residents can safely enjoy. The activity room lets seniors participate in arts, crafts and other enriching pursuits. Assistance with activities of daily living are also provided, and residents are encouraged to maintain as much independence as they and their loved ones are comfortable with.
This community receives high marks for its well-tended grounds and engaging activities. One visitor says, "Brightview Paramus looked beautiful. The lobby was gorgeous and the landscaping outside was lovely... They have a lot of games for the seniors to play, a lot of activities, and day trips."
Sunrise of Wayne is a memory care community that also offers assisted living and hospice, making it easy for residents to transition from one type of care to another. The Terrace Club provides care for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, and the Reminiscence program offers more advanced services for the later stages of cognitive disease. All residents can benefit from small support groups and memory programming that aims to strengthen cognitive abilities. The community's activities calendar includes puzzles, trivia, social clubs and scenic outings that seniors can enjoy and spiritual services are also available.
In reviews for Sunrise of Wayne, people praise the community's friendly atmosphere and diverse services and amenities. A relative of a resident writes, "They had ample outside spaces with picnic tables and places to sit. Their rooms were like hotel rooms. They're beautiful."
Brookdale Senior Living at Wayne is an award-winning assisted living and memory care community. A 24-hour trained staff provides specialized care to seniors with dementia-related diseases in a safe, secure setting. The community's Clare Bridge Program is a structured set of daily activities that include brain-stimulating games and discussions, and a B-Fit Program encourages walking and dancing. The Solace Program provides residents with later-stage dementia with more attention to grooming, music and aromatherapy. A gated outdoor courtyard lets seniors safely relax in the fresh air or enjoy gardening. Accommodations include kitchenettes, and chef-prepared meals are served restaurant-style in the dining room.
Visitors to this community are impressed with the wide array of activities, amenities and compassionate caregivers. One reviewer says, "For memory care, the staff seemed very patient and helpful to the clients."
Sunrise of Woodcliff Lake helps seniors living with memory loss near Passaic, NJ, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Staff members trained in memory care provide 24/7 support. Residents in the Terrace Club can strengthen their cognition with a daily structure of small group activities. The Reminiscence Neighborhood provides additional one-on-one support activities if a resident's care needs increase. Each neighborhood has features including secure outdoor spaces and life skills stations. The Live with Purpose program uses social interactions and physical exercise to improve mental health. Residents can participate in many stimulating activities, such as painting, gardening and music therapy. Caregivers follow the Validation Method which uses empathetic communication to improve residents' mood. The community also hosts church services and bible study. Staff members handle housekeeping and prepare three personalized meals each day.
Family members appreciate the welcoming and informative staff members. One says, "It's a very comfortable place. The staff is really attentive, and really nice. Every time I go there they seem super efficient and always welcoming."
Brookdale Emerson is a senior living community that offers a welcoming and homelike environment. Its memory care neighborhood features a person-centered approach to caring for residents living with memory loss and dementia. Each senior has a personalized care plan created in collaboration with family members, and includes personal preferences, life history and care needs. The neighborhood is completely secure while giving residents freedom to safely explore outdoor courtyards and walking paths. Sensory experiences are located throughout the community and residents are encouraged to spend time engaging in stimulating activities. Attentive caregiving staff are available 24/7 to guide residents through each day and provide support as needed. Six planned programs are scheduled each day and are designed around the abilities of each resident and their individual interests.
Family members appreciate the well-maintained community and the variety of activities offered, with one reviewer saying, "The facility is clean and there is an abundance of food. They provide entertainment and activities for their patients and attend to their individual needs. They are given their medication as needed, and have their own doctors on staff."
Van Dyk Park Place is situated in Hawthorne, NJ, overlooking the lush, green grounds of Goffle Brook Park. The Reflections neighborhood, which is the community's secure memory care center, ensures seniors with dementia receive specialized support, access to a registered nurse and 24-hour caregiver attendance in a safe, stable environment. Van Dyk's Lighthouse program incorporates therapeutic activities such as Reminiscence Therapy and brain fitness exercises, as well as recreational options such as dancing, yoga and gardening to help seniors engage with the world and enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle. The community's amenities include a concierge service to handle errands, daily meals prepared by a chef and a weekly housekeeping and laundry service. Residents can also access transportation to medical appointments and join scheduled local outings.
Reviews highlight the spacious, well-maintained apartments and abundance of comfortable communal spaces for residents to enjoy. One visitor writes, "As soon as you drive up to the building, you feel a sense of peace and comfort. The facility is not only set on a beautiful property but is immaculately maintained inside and out."
Promenade at Blue Hill in Pearl River, NY, offers memory care and assisted living services, with residents with Alzheimer's and dementia living in a safe memory care wing. Medical assistance accessible includes podiatrists, licensed nurses, internists and psychiatrists. Staff is available 24 hours, alarm systems are in place as an added safety precaution for memory care seniors and there are emergency systems in each bathroom and bedroom. Memory care residents can receive needed help with tasks ranging from medication assistance to grooming, and staff take care of laundry, linen services and housekeeping. Memory care seniors can engage in listening to live music, tai chi, sing-alongs, gardening and games. This pet-friendly community also offers pet therapy every week.
Family members value and appreciate how well their loved ones are treated at Promenade at Blue Hill. One relative states, "I am so pleased with the level of care and attention my mother receives at Promenade Blue Hill. They keep her engaged with a variety of special guests and activities."
Brighton Gardens of Saddle River offers quality memory care to seniors in the early to moderate stages of memory loss. The community's Terrace Club neighborhood is designed with memory care residents in mind, and the building is easy to navigate, fully secured and always monitored via closed circuit cameras. Caregivers assist residents with personal hygiene tasks, incontinence care, medication management and memory-related needs. Trained staff use an evidence-based Validation method of care, which emphasizes empathy, emotional connection and personalized responses. This care method has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve self-worth in seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's. The pet-friendly community also encourages seniors to stay active by offering a full calendar of inclusive activities designed to engage both mind and body. Housekeeping, laundry and daily meals are included in the monthly cost.
The professional, compassionate staff is highly praised at Brighton Gardens. One reviewer says, "We recently moved a family member into the Memory Care wing at Brighton Gardens Saddle River and could not be happier with the care she has received. The staff have been so welcoming... [we] feel confident that she is living in a safe, caring community."
Sunrise of Old Tappan is a senior care community that's located in Passaic, New Jersey, about 20 minutes from Newark and 40 minutes from New York City. The community offers dual levels of memory care support, with its Terrace Club aimed at helping residents who are in the earlier stages of memory loss and its Reminiscence program supporting residents whose dementia has progressed. Both neighborhoods emphasize consistent, supportive communication, with many staff members having gone through the Alzheimer's Association's essentiALZ training program. All Sunrise of Old Tappan residents receive staff assistance with basic needs such as getting dressed, grooming and getting around the community. Additionally, Sunrise's Live With Purpose programs are designed to ensure that community residents have access to activities that match their interests, including making music, creating art and dancing.
The community gets high marks from both residents and their relatives. One resident writes, "From the time you walked in, they made you feel so wonderful. The cook would come out and ask you if there was anything he could do to make the food better... Cleanliness was wonderful. I've made quite a few friends there."
Allendale Senior Living offers memory care for seniors living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, along with assisted living and respite care services. The community's memory care residents live in private or semiprivate accommodations, in buildings designed to ease life for individuals with memory loss. For added safety, each room has an emergency response system, and skilled nursing is available 24/7. Residents' care plans can include elements such as rehabilitation, sensory-focused programming and reminiscence therapy. Off-site medical appointments are easy to reach thanks to the community's transportation offering. To help seniors stay engaged, the staff facilitates activities, including recreational events and intergenerational gatherings with children from the area. Allendale Senior Living's common areas include a courtyard, movie theater and library and for cosmetic care, residents can visit the on-site beauty salon. Housekeeping and meal preparation are among the staff's duties, removing those burdens from residents.
Reviewers have praise for Allendale Senior Living's helpful staff. One reviewer writes, "The level of care at this facility is second to none. The staff are like family. A blessing for our loved one who lives there."
Sunrise of Cresskill is an award-winning community with a continuum of care, including personalized support for seniors living with Alzheimer's and related dementias. Those experiencing early memory loss can take advantage of the structured setting of the Terrace Club. Seniors with more advanced cognitive issues live in the Reminiscence neighborhood, designed to meet the needs of memory care residents, with carefully chosen lighting, furniture and decor and a centralized layout that's easy to navigate. Highly trained caregivers are available 24/7 to assist seniors with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and grooming. Life skills stations help residents reconnect with pleasant memories, and personalized shadowboxes outside every apartment encourage interaction. Each day, seniors can choose the programs, clubs and events that interest them, including fitness classes, music therapy, painting and gardening. Spacious outdoor areas allow seniors to enjoy the fresh air safely.
Visiting relatives value the staff, activities and specialized care at Sunrise. "[My mother] has been comfortable and well cared for," says a resident's daughter. "She has made and lost friends along the way, participated in countless activities and enjoyed celebrations, but it's the kindness and caring by the staff that is what we acknowledge most."
Fox Trail Memory Care in Ramsey, NJ, creates a small community feeling without skipping on safety, care and amenities. Staff provide specialized care for residents who have dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, with trained employees always on-site ready to help. Care plans help ensure each resident receives individualized consideration of their specific needs. Assistance is available for tasks ranging from grooming to medication management, and laundry and housekeeping services are provided. Activities to help encourage brain function, engagement and socialization include baking, spending time in the garden, exercising, playing games or partaking in off-site outings, such as going to car shows or concerts. Family members can easily access information day or night about upcoming scheduled activities.
Children love the care their parents receive at Fox Trail. One relative says, "My mom has been living at Fox Trail Ramsey... I am very impressed with the homelike atmosphere. Creates a non-institutional feel. The staff are kind, dedicated and professional. I am confident and have peace of mind now that my mom lives at Fox Trail."
Located just 30 minutes from New York City, Sunrise of Franklin Lakes provides personalized memory care in a peaceful 4.7-acre setting. Reminiscence is a small, centralized neighborhood that's purposefully designed just for residents with Alzheimer's and related dementias. It features an easy-to-navigate layout with way-finding cues, such as motion sensors and muted colors, plus soft-lit reflection rooms with relaxing elements for seniors to meditate or pray. The staff gets to know residents as individuals, offering discreet 24/7 support with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, walking and medication. Life enrichment managers act as trusted friends to residents, learning about their past career, passions and favorite things to help bring meaning to every day. The social calendar is packed with options to engage seniors daily, such as exercise classes, art programs, crafts, games, outdoor activities and trips to local cultural attractions.
Families value the inviting ambiance. "Everyone has so warmly welcomed my mother, keeps her active all day long and has taken an interest in not only her but in her family," notes one reviewer. "I truly believe that the staff at Sunrise has become my mother's new family. She is so incredibly happy to be there."
Arden Courts - ProMedica Memory Care Community (Wayne) offers personalized memory care, with 24/7 caregivers developing individualized services tailored to residents' interests, capabilities and needs. Staff members are qualified in dementia and Alzheimer's courses and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. The community protects the security and safety of the residents, with its friendly common spaces, family rooms, an inviting kitchen and secure walking paths. Mental and physical health care includes 24-hour registered nurse services, hourly safety checks, medication management, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Residents take their meals in smaller neighborhood dining areas that help reduce anxiety and agitation while providing socializing opportunities. The community implements visual cues to enhance communication with the residents.
Relatives of residents speak highly of the services offered by the community's staff. One of them comments, "Mary, my wife of 65+ years, is a long-time Alzheimer's resident at Arden Courts. Throughout her stay there, including all the Covid-19 scares and restrictions, she has received outstanding care."
Fox Trail Memory Care Living at Cresskill specializes in cognitive care for seniors living with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other kinds of dementia. The small community has capacity for just over a dozen residents, allowing the staff to provide personalized care and individual attention for all. The Cresskill approach to memory care emphasizes holistic treatment and ensuring that residents are engaged socially, emotionally and cognitively. The 24-hour staff can help with all tasks of daily living, such as eating and bathing. While the staff is trained in medication management, caretakers also work to find nonpharmaceutical options when possible. Social activities intended to boost mood and interpersonal interactions include gardening, bingo games and trivia games. Residents in early stages of memory loss who can get around under their own power can also participate in off-site trips to movies and other local events.
Online reviews of the community generally reflect satisfaction with the medical staff and other employees. Writes a resident's sibling, "The staff ... go above and beyond taking care of the residents there. They are professional, courteous and very caring. I rest easy knowing my sister is in [their] care."