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 Ocean Grove Cross Pier 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 Ocean Grove, 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.”
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“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.”
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“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 Ocean Path Park 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 SeaGrass Restaurant or visit The Great Auditorium, 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 Ocean Grove, 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 Ocean Grove, 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 Ocean Grove, 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.
The Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey is approximately 50% contained after burning through 13,250 acres, according to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service."We continue to work using our air fleet with bucket drops, using the helicopter. That will continue until darkness occurs this evening," said John Cecil, assistant commissioner for state parks, forests and historic sites at the New Jers...
The Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey is approximately 50% contained after burning through 13,250 acres, according to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
"We continue to work using our air fleet with bucket drops, using the helicopter. That will continue until darkness occurs this evening," said John Cecil, assistant commissioner for state parks, forests and historic sites at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Cecil said investigators continue to look into the cause of the fire.
Evacuations have been lifted for some 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey Townships. Lacey Township Mayor Peter Curatolo said a business called Liberty Garage Door & Awning was destroyed in an industrial area, but so far no injuries have been reported. Several outbuildings and vehicles were also destroyed, authorities said.
"This has been a big fire," Cecil said. "It's impressive to see the intensity of those fire runs that made their way last night, burned out that 12,500 acres, but we still've got a pretty big box to work this in and still some work to do to clean up around the edges."
"Thanks to the incredible, heroic work of the good men and women of our New Jersey Forest Fire Service, folks' homes and lives have been saved, and we've truly averted a major disaster," New Jersey Forest Fire Service Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said Wednesday morning. "This wildfire is not under full and complete control, we still have a lot of work to do to achieve complete containment of the wildfire. But there were 1,300 homes that were threatened during the course of fighting this fire."
"Not one single-family home was damaged, not one person was injured, there has not been one loss of life," said Curatolo, who thanked fellow officials and first responders.
The fire service commissioner said he expects the acreage to grow as they work toward containment, saying, "This could very well end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years."
"As we continue to get this under full control, the expectation is that that number of acres will grow -- and grow in a place that is unpopulated, that is more open wilderness. But in order to fully contain the fire, more burnout operations are necessary, and that will likely increase the overall acreage," LaTourette said.
Forecast maps show the smoke that is now billowing across South Jersey could also blow into the New York City area in the coming days. New York City has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Thursday.
"Based on the weather that we're dealing with right now -- humidity's down, we've got these breezes, temperatures are up -- I do believe this fire is going to continue to burn, especially in some of the low areas, probably until we get some precipitation," said New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly. "So based on the forecast, it looks like Friday night into Saturday, which realistically is only a couple days away. If that does in fact hold true, I tend to believe that we should have this fire contained by the weekend."
New Jersey Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for Ocean County, which took effect at 7 a.m. Wednesday.
"Yesterday, our State Forest Fire Service informed us of a wildfire in Ocean Township, Ocean County. Due to its accelerated growth, with an estimated burn of 8,500 acres, threatening more than 1,000 structures, requiring the evacuation of residents in the area, and the loss of power to over 25,000 residents, I am declaring a State of Emergency for Ocean County," Way said in a statement. "I encourage all residents in the County to continue to monitor the proper channels, and to use caution and follow all safety protocols."
The Garden State Parkway and Route 9 reopened.
"Going forward, what's our plan? Our plan is to get people back home, get roads reopened and knock that smoke down," said Trevor Raynor, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. "So we're going to do that through mop up and patrol. We've got approximately 100 firefighters on the fire line today, and they're out there working really hard, squirting water along the parkway so there's no smoke on that morning commute or evening commute.
"They're putting out stumps and logs around homes so that there's no smoke, and they can open their windows, and their homes are safe and they feel safe," he continued. "We understand that evacuations are very disruptive, we'd like to thank the public for being understanding and patient with us."
Jersey Central Power & Light turned off power to roughly 25,000 homes and businesses Tuesday evening to protect firefighters as they battled the flames.
"That includes pretty much all of our customers in Barnegat and Ocean townships, as well as about three quarters of our customers in Lacey," one JCP&L official said Wednesday. "This morning, we were cleared to begin our damage assessments. Our crews have been out since early this morning surveying our lines, checking our poles, our wires, our devices to see what can handle power, what damage there is. And we will begin the restoration process as those surveys are completed."
Power has since been restored to all affected customers.
In the meantime, the Red Cross has set up shelters at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School in Manchester.
The Lacey Township mayor said he also opened a makeshift shelter after learning a senior center was inside the mandatory evacuation zone, but the shelter had no power, nurses or emergency supplies. He was eventually able to load the seniors onto a bus and take them to the Manchester location instead.
The massive, rapidly growing wildfire started around 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area of Barnegat Township. It forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and shut down several major roads.
"The wildfire was about 10 to 20 acres upon arrival. We had resources there quickly, we dispatched aircraft. Even with a big show of force to contain this fire, it grew to be a large wildfire," Raynor explained Wednesday.
He said April 20 is considered the peak of spring fire season.
"We're right at the peak, it doesn't get any worse than this date in history in New Jersey. So that, coupled with the drought, coupled with the low humidity, winds, nice sunny weather, it just made for a difficult fire fight," he said.
The fire service says the state saw 310 wildfires with 315 acres burned this time last year, compared to 662 wildfires with 16,572 acres burned during the same period this year.
"As many folks here know, we've been under continuing dry conditions, particularly in the southern part of the state, and those dry conditions have very much influenced this fire," said LaTourette.
He said the drought conditions are "deeply serious," particularly in the southern half of the state.
"That is likely to persist for months ahead," he said. "The recent rains have been welcome, they've helped restore some reservoir and stream flows that we need for drinking water, but it hasn't solved for the dryness that has characterized this area and worsened in recent years."
Officials also said a 17,000-acre wildfire broke out in the same area back in 2007, as the result of a military exercise. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
Alecia Reid contributed to this report.
Christina Fan joined CBS News New York as a general assignment reporter in spring of 2019.
BARNEGAT — A second wildfire in four days is burning in New Jersey, affecting major highways and the power grid.The "Jones Road Wildfire" in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area spanning parts of the townships of Barnegat, Ocean and Lacey grew from just over a hundred acre...
BARNEGAT — A second wildfire in four days is burning in New Jersey, affecting major highways and the power grid.
The "Jones Road Wildfire" in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area spanning parts of the townships of Barnegat, Ocean and Lacey grew from just over a hundred acres early Tuesday afternoon to about 8,500 acres, or 13.3 square miles, by 10 p.m.
At 10 p.m., just 10% of the fire was considered under control.
At 6:30 p.m., officials mandated evacuations in the area of Route 9 in Lacey. Eventually, the fire threatened 1,320 structures, leading to evacuation orders affecting 3,000 people.
About 25,000 homes and businesses remained in the dark after JCP&L shut down power to all lines connecting to a substation near the fire. The utility said they did this at the request of fire officials to protect firefighters. Power was expected to remain off overnight.
"Safety is our top priority and all restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time," JCP&L said in a written statement.
Firefighters have tackled the fire from the ground, building new containment lines and reinforcing existing ones. A backfiring operation is underway to burn fuel in advance of the main body of fire, according to the Forest Fire Service.
CAUTION: Explicit language in video below
An evacuation was ordered for Wells Mill Road between Bryant Road and the Garden State Parkway in Ocean Township.
Route 9, Bryant Road, Jones Road and Route 532 (Wells Mill Road) are also closed.
Route 9 is closed from Route 532 north to Lakeside Drive in Lacey.
By 8 p.m., the evacuation orders affected 1,320 buildings. Authorities opened several evacuation shelters: Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School. Pets are accepted at both, police officials said.
The fire is being hit from the air with a FFS helicopter dropping 300 gallons of water and an air tanker capable for dropping 600 gallons for water.
Elsewhere in the state, "Danny's Wildfire" continues to burn in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland. It has burned 2 square miles since Friday but has stalled at being 75% contained.
"The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has established strong control lines around three sides of the Danny’s Wildfire. A small creek bordering the fourth side of the fire poses a challenge in getting firefighting equipment to that area to limit the fire’s spread or to burn away fuels," a FFS spokesperson told New Jersey 101.5.
Chris Coleman contributed to this report
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OCEAN GROVE, N.J. – Ocean Grove, New Jersey, is a town that wears its unique history on its sleeve—or perhaps on its steeple. Founded in 1869 by a group of Methodist ministers, this beachfront community was established as a religious retreat during the height of the camp meeting movement, a wave of religious revivalism that swept through post-Civil War America.The founders envisioned Ocean Grove as a place of spiritual renewal, where visitors could escape the chaos of city life and find solace in worship by the sea....
OCEAN GROVE, N.J. – Ocean Grove, New Jersey, is a town that wears its unique history on its sleeve—or perhaps on its steeple. Founded in 1869 by a group of Methodist ministers, this beachfront community was established as a religious retreat during the height of the camp meeting movement, a wave of religious revivalism that swept through post-Civil War America.
The founders envisioned Ocean Grove as a place of spiritual renewal, where visitors could escape the chaos of city life and find solace in worship by the sea.
It quickly became known as “God’s Square Mile,” drawing crowds from New York and Philadelphia for its summer-long religious programs, which took place in large tents and eventually the iconic Great Auditorium?.
For much of its early history, Ocean Grove was governed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA), which controlled not only the town’s religious life but also its civic affairs. Strict laws were put in place to maintain the town’s pious atmosphere, including prohibitions on beach access and driving on Sundays, a practice that continued well into the 20th century.
The town’s governance was so closely tied to its religious mission that it wasn’t fully integrated into Neptune Township until 1981.
However, Ocean Grove’s story doesn’t end with its Victorian past. Like many historic towns, it has evolved significantly, especially over the past few decades.
While the OGCMA still plays a major role in town life, the once rigid religious rules have loosened, and the community has become more diverse.
One of the most visible signs of this change is the presence of LGBTQ+ pride flags in the town—a stark contrast to its conservative roots. This shift reflects broader cultural changes and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within many religious communities.
Today, Ocean Grove is a blend of its historic, religious foundations and modern, inclusive values.
The town’s picturesque Victorian architecture and its reputation as a peaceful seaside retreat continue to attract visitors, but its identity is no longer solely defined by its Methodist origins. The presence of pride flags alongside religious symbols speaks to a community that honors its past while embracing the future?.
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