Nursing homes and assisted living in Delaware

Delaware is a small state, with a single statewide helpline to guide older adults and their families. Its official lists of residences also include inspection reports. Here we explain the basics.

What care settings are called here

The Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ) of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) licenses these places. It also visits them unannounced at least once a year.

• Assisted Living Facility: this is assisted living. It offers housing, support, and health care to stable adults who need help with daily activities, but not skilled nursing care.
• Rest Residential Facility: a residence with personal care in a homelike setting. It is for adults who can mostly manage on their own.
• Family Care Home: personal care for 2 or 3 residents in a family setting.
• Adult Day Care: an adult day center.
• Nursing Facility: a traditional nursing home.

DHCQ publishes the list of licensed assisted living facilities. It shows each place's beds, license number, and inspection reports. Reading them is a simple way to get to know each residence before you visit.

How Medicaid helps in Delaware

The Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA) runs Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus), the Medicaid long-term care program. It works through health plans and covers several types of care:

• Assisted living care
• Nursing home care
• Adult day care
• Respite care for caregivers
• Other services at home

How to apply:

• Call the Medicaid Central Intake Unit at 866-940-8963. It handles Medicaid applications for nursing home care or for care in the community.
• You can also apply online at assist.dhss.delaware.gov.

For nursing home care, the resource limit is $2,000.

How much care costs in Delaware

These are the statewide medians from CareScout's Cost of Care Survey 2025 (data from July to November 2025):

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom unit): $7,600 a month
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $477 a day (about $14,494 a month)
• Nursing home, private room: $498 a day
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $35 an hour

CareScout did not publish a median for adult day centers in Delaware.

Who to call

• Delaware Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (a free advocate for residents): 1-855-773-1002.
• Delaware ADRC (resource center for older adults and people with disabilities): 1-800-223-9074. It is run by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD), the state office on aging.
• DHCQ, for concerns about nursing homes or assisted living: 1-877-453-0012, 24 hours a day.
• Eldercare Locator (national helpline): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Read the inspection reports on the DHCQ list before your visit. They help you prepare questions.
• If you will use Medicaid, ask from the start whether the residence works with the DSHP-Plus plans.
• Ask for caregiver support. Delaware has caregiver resource centers and respite vouchers from the Lifespan Respite program.
• Learn about adult day centers. DHCQ publishes a list of the licensed ones in the state.

This is general information and does not replace medical or legal advice.