It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Gatehouse and Visitor Center gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Seaside Park, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from the agency were fantastic This situation is new for myself and my dad For having no complaints from my dad is a plus So ty again for such an easy transition for my dad Much appreciated Susan”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lake Avenue Playground and Beach with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Berkeley Cut Steakhouse or visit Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Seaside Park, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Seaside Park, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Seaside Park, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Seaside Park officials say work on a plan to restore electrical cables that cross Barnegat Bay will begin this week, resulting in the closure of the borough’s boat ramp.The project concerns the reactivated and replacement of what is known as the “X50” cable, a series of two submarine electrical transmission cables linking the barrier island to the mainland. The cables come ashore near the 14th Avenue boat ramp in Seaside Park and a small beach directly across the bay in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township....
Seaside Park officials say work on a plan to restore electrical cables that cross Barnegat Bay will begin this week, resulting in the closure of the borough’s boat ramp.
The project concerns the reactivated and replacement of what is known as the “X50” cable, a series of two submarine electrical transmission cables linking the barrier island to the mainland. The cables come ashore near the 14th Avenue boat ramp in Seaside Park and a small beach directly across the bay in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township.
Seaside Park officials announced that construction activities will begin Oct. 29, 2024, and will temporarily impact the parking area at the 13th Avenue Pier. Due to safety concerns, the boat ramp will be closed between Nov. 4 to Nov. 8. Residents have been advised that, if access to the boat ramp is needed during the time period, they should contact Matt Bennett, the on-site Construction Manager.
This work is expected to occur between Nov. 1, 2024 and Dec. 14, 2024. Signs will be placed in the area during construction. JCP&L does not anticipate any disruption to electric service as a result of the project.
According to planning documents filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there are two cables that run across Barnegat Bay from the Berkeley Shores section of Bayville to the area near the 13th Avenue pier and boat ramp in Seaside Park. Adjacent to the boat ramp, an aging sign still warns boaters against anchoring near the shore since electrical cabling is present underneath. One of the two cables, however, was decommissioned in 1994 with the other having been taken offline in 2002. The utility is replacing the cables as part of a larger project to improve the reliability of the local transmission system and prepare for heavier usage in future years as New Jersey joins several states requiring all cars sold statewide to be electric by 2035.
The replacement of the “X50” submarine line project was proposed to the Army Corps in 2022 and went through a public comment period that fall. The transmission lines were originally laid in 1949 and 1968. One of the lines runs for 8,000 linear feet and the other for 7,950 linear feet. The utility line route was previously approved under NJDEP permits and plans dated March 21, 1949 and Aug. 30, 1968.
Under the plan as submitted to the Army Corps, the existing cables will be removed and replaced with new cables in three-foot wide trenches that cross the bay at a minimum depth of 12-feet under the sand in the Intracoastal Waterway channel and at least 4-feet deep underneath the remainder of the bay floor. They will connect from a riser pole in Bayville on the mainland side of the bay near the former AT&T long-line shortwave facility, and extend to an underground manhole near a 100-foot wide right-of-way near the Seaside Park municipal boat ramp at 13th Avenue.
A parking garage feasibility study is underway in Seaside Heights. (Photos: Shorebeat/ Naples CRA)Seaside Heights officials, cognizant of a dwindling number of parking spaces both on the street and off, are actively studying the feasibility of building a parking deck in town. Such a structure could draw on similar garages in other resort communities across the country, incorporating coastal aesthetics and retail to mask the traditional “parking garage” look.“We recognize that we need parking spaces, so we&rsqu...
A parking garage feasibility study is underway in Seaside Heights. (Photos: Shorebeat/ Naples CRA)
Seaside Heights officials, cognizant of a dwindling number of parking spaces both on the street and off, are actively studying the feasibility of building a parking deck in town. Such a structure could draw on similar garages in other resort communities across the country, incorporating coastal aesthetics and retail to mask the traditional “parking garage” look.
“We recognize that we need parking spaces, so we’re researching availability of what properties we own, what it would cost, and what kind of design we could use,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz.
The borough has already conducted a town-wide parking study to extrapolate the impact of new homes being built across town as well as the loss of private parking lots as their owners sell the increasingly-valuable land on which they exist. But making the matter more timely is an impending loss of some additional on-street parking spaces next summer.
“The previous parking study was through the county, and part of it was centered on Ocean Terrace,” explain Vaz.
The study found that certain parking spaces close to the boardwalk were hazardous to both pedestrians and motorists, and should be removed for safety reasons. By next season, the county is planning to remove some spaces that are too close to stop signs between Ocean Terrace and Boulevard, as well as “back out” spaces on the streets closest to the boardwalk. These spaces are those located on a diagonal, usually beside a boardwalk ramp, and do not allow vehicles enough room to face the correct direction when leaving. Drivers in these spaces are forced to back up all the way onto Ocean Terrace – a mere annoyance during the winter but a dangerous prospect during the busy summer months.
A sign on a one-way street in Seaside Heights, N.J., July 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
Ocean County has jurisdiction over Ocean Terrace and numerous side streets leading to it.
“We’ll see some changes there this coming summer,” Vaz said. “We’re going to have to eliminate some of the parking spaces because it’s dangerous, especially off Ocean Terrace where you have to back up. You have to back out and it’s not an easy maneuver.”
While numerous projects that have replaced motels with single-family homes have actually added parking spaces back to the borough due to the elimination of wide motel driveways, on balance, more have been lost due to the closure of private parking lots. The parking garage study is the first step in establishing a long-term parking plan, and is still no guarantee. Even if the stars align in terms of funding, location and planning, it would likely take three years or more to actually see the project through to completion.
As it currently stands, the borough council and its professionals have found that the best location option for a parking garage may be at the town’s existing lot on Grant Avenue. This location is situated close to the beach and boardwalk, is in the middle of the town’s boardwalk and is municipally-owned.
“That is one of the few properties we own that we could really do something with,” said Vaz, explaining that officials would like to see a structure that is aesthetically pleasing and could incorporate businesses, art or a theme as opposed to a boxy “parking deck.”
Vaz pointed to Naples, Fla., which built a parking deck that has a nautical theme and was specifically designed to fit the community. In Delray Beach, Fla., a parking deck in the center of the city’s busy Atlantic Avenue entertainment corridor is lined with restaurants and clothing stores on its exterior, all but hiding the parking itself.
The study will also look into the best way of running a parking enterprise.
“We could form a parking authority, grant a long term lease and let a private company run it, or simply run it ourselves,” said Vaz. “The biggest thing now is to say, ‘how many units do we need, where do we want to put it and what else do we do with the space?’ We want to design this to reflect the sea shore.”
Regardless of what could be planned, the process of doing so will be lengthy.
“The parking garage – by the time we’re done with the study, see how much it will cost and go out to bid – it’s probably going to be at least three years,” said Vaz.
Jersey Central Power & Light will begin its project to replace the “X50” electric transmission cable, which runs under Barnegat Bay, next month. The cable lands on shore in Seaside Park, where work will take place.The utility notified borough officials this week that construction activities will begin around Oct. 15, 2024, and the work will temporarily impact the parking area near the 13th Avenue bayfront. The actual construction is expected to commence Nov. 1, and will run through Dec. 15.Two cables – one...
Jersey Central Power & Light will begin its project to replace the “X50” electric transmission cable, which runs under Barnegat Bay, next month. The cable lands on shore in Seaside Park, where work will take place.
The utility notified borough officials this week that construction activities will begin around Oct. 15, 2024, and the work will temporarily impact the parking area near the 13th Avenue bayfront. The actual construction is expected to commence Nov. 1, and will run through Dec. 15.
Two cables – one of which was decommissioned 29 years ago – run under the bay between Seaside Park and Bayville. As part of a major upgrade of electrical service to the barrier island, one of the cables will be replaced, representing a $25 million investment in the local system.
Though some island communities, such as Seaside Heights and Lavallette, operate municipal electrical utilities and its residents are not customers of JCP&L, the transmission lines to the island will provide a major backup system in case of a failure in any of the municipal utilities.
“We have the ability to hook up a portable transformer to three substations on the barrier island in Seaside Heights, Ortley or Lavallette,” said Robert Brice, the former Lavallette borough administrator who now works for the utility.
Brice addressed the Ocean County Commissioners last year and shared details of the planned construction.
The portable transformer is physically located in Lakewood and can be rapidly deployed to another town in need, he said.
According to planning documents filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there are two cables that run across Barnegat Bay from the Berkeley Shores section of Bayville to the area near the 13th Avenue pier and boat ramp in Seaside Park. Adjacent to the boat ramp, an aging sign still warns boaters against anchoring near the shore since electrical cabling is present underneath. One of the two cables, however, was decommissioned in 1994 with the other having been taken offline in 2002. The utility is replacing the cables as part of a larger project to improve the reliability of the local transmission system and prepare for heavier usage in future years as New Jersey joins several states requiring all cars sold statewide to be electric by 2035.
The replacement of the “X50” submarine line project was proposed to the Army Corps in 2022 and went through a public comment period that fall. The transmission lines were originally laid in 1949 and 1968. One of the lines runs for 8,000 linear feet and the other for 7,950 linear feet. The utility line route was previously approved under NJDEP permits and plans dated March 21, 1949 and Aug. 30, 1968.
Under the plan as submitted to the Army Corps, the existing cables will be removed and replaced with new cables in three-foot wide trenches that cross the bay at a minimum depth of 12-feet under the sand in the Intracoastal Waterway channel and at least 4-feet deep underneath the remainder of the bay floor. They will connect from a riser pole in Bayville on the mainland side of the bay near the former AT&T long-line shortwave facility, and extend to an underground manhole near a 100-foot wide right-of-way near the Seaside Park municipal boat ramp at 13th Avenue.
“We do not anticipate any disruption to your electric service as a result of this project,” the announcement from JCP&L this week said. “We appreciate your cooperation with our agents and contractors in the field as they proceed with this work.”
Shore residents have long had a love-hate relationship with beach badges. They cost money, they must be worn for access to the sand, and occasionally you’re asked to show them to a roving badge checker just after you laid down on your towel to soak up some rays. But they pay the salaries of lifeguards, Public Works employees who clean the beaches each morning, and make up for the gap left open in New Jersey since the state does not fund local beach maintenance costs. Some would even argue the system is better and cheaper than the high ...
Shore residents have long had a love-hate relationship with beach badges. They cost money, they must be worn for access to the sand, and occasionally you’re asked to show them to a roving badge checker just after you laid down on your towel to soak up some rays. But they pay the salaries of lifeguards, Public Works employees who clean the beaches each morning, and make up for the gap left open in New Jersey since the state does not fund local beach maintenance costs. Some would even argue the system is better and cheaper than the high parking fees found in other states.
Regardless of one’s views on badges, they’re a Jersey Shore tradition, for better or worse. On the “better” side, past years’ badges have often been given second lives as collectables, historical displays, and even works of art. In Seaside Park, borough officials had an idea to sell the town’s glut of unused badges to collectors.
“We have a lot of badges down there in the basement,” said Councilman Joseph Connor. “We go back to about 2017.”
Rather than throw out the expired badges, Connor and a committee decided selling them could help with frequent requests from residents to obtain old badges for collections, clear out a few boxes from town hall, and generate some extra beach revenue to help fund future beach maintenance.
“We had an idea to sell these badges to people for their collection, or to make something out of them like an ornament – whatever they’d like to do,” said Connor.
Beach badges are already a surprisingly in-demand item on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, and social media sites see dozens of posts every fall seeking anyone willing to part with their used badges to help local artists and collectors.
“You’re a hot item on Marketplace, mayor!” joked Councilwoman Gina Condos.
With the help of Borough Attorney Steven Zabarsky, council members were able to craft an ordinance that declares the old badges surplus property and allows them to be sold. Modern beach badges, officials said, come with holograms and other security features inside them that prevent counterfeiting or re-use – a problem that has occasionally cropped up over the last decade – so the sales do not have the potential to lead to future issues.
The ordinance was unanimously introduced last week. Connor said the surplus badges will be sold at town hall as well as the borough’s Beach Control headquarters for $10 each. Sales are limited to two badges of each year per customer.
The borough has a limited number of badges available from the last seven or eight years, but will keep the program going in the future. If older badges are found, they can be added to the collection.
“We do, occasionally, get a few people who tell us they wish they could buy something from further back, but at least we can start this now and accumulate them every year,” said Connor. “We can get something for these badges sitting in the basement collecting dust.”
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