Assisted Living in Delaware: A Family Guide
What assisted living is called in Delaware, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.
- Licensed by
- Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ)1
- Licensed communities on Lilisity
- 37 assisted living
- Medicaid help
- Yes: Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP Plus)2
- Typical cost
- $7,600 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)
- Long-term care ombudsman
- 1-855-773-10023
- File a complaint
- 1-877-453-00124
What assisted living is called in Delaware
- Assisted Living FacilityA licensed residence for people who can no longer live safely alone at home but want to keep some independence, with help for daily activities.5
What assisted living costs in Delaware
The median cost of assisted living in Delaware is $7,600 a month, above the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.
If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in Delaware, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Delaware nursing homes publish.
Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?
Paying for assisted living in Delaware
Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.
Medicaid. Yes. Delaware's Medicaid long-term care program, Diamond State Health Plan Plus, lists assisted living care as a benefit for residents who are elderly or physically disabled and qualify. Program: Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP Plus).2 Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.
How to check a community in Delaware
Look up a license. A list of every licensed assisted living facility with its address, phone, website, number of beds, license number, any prior names, and links to recent survey reports. Search Delaware’s records.6
Inspection reports. Recent annual, complaint, and follow-up survey reports for each assisted living facility are linked on the DHCQ list, with older reports in an archive.6
Lilisity shows Delaware’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.
Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.
If something goes wrong
Complaints about care or conditions. DHCQ inspects facilities and responds to complaints about safety, residents' rights, quality of care, and staffing. The hotline is staffed weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; leave a message after hours. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman (1-855-773-1002) also takes complaints, including anonymous ones by phone, and advocates for residents. Call 1-877-453-0012 or file online.4
Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-877-453-0012. How to report.4 If someone is in danger, call 911.
The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. Call 1-855-773-1002 or find your local ombudsman.3
Find assisted living in Delaware
Assisted living by city
Every community and county in Delaware
Common questions
Yes. Delaware's Medicaid long-term care program, Diamond State Health Plan Plus, lists assisted living care as a benefit for residents who are elderly or physically disabled and qualify. Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living.
The median is $7,600 a month (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025), compared with $6,200 nationally.
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ).
DHCQ inspects facilities and responds to complaints about safety, residents' rights, quality of care, and staffing. The hotline is staffed weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; leave a message after hours. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman (1-855-773-1002) also takes complaints, including anonymous ones by phone, and advocates for residents. Phone: 1-877-453-0012.
A list of every licensed assisted living facility with its address, phone, website, number of beds, license number, any prior names, and links to recent survey reports.
Sources
- Licensing agency (dhss.delaware.gov)
- Medicaid (dhss.delaware.gov)
- Ombudsman (dhss.delaware.gov)
- Complaints, reporting abuse (dhss.delaware.gov)
- License types (dhss.delaware.gov)
- License lookup, inspection reports (dhss.delaware.gov)
- CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)
Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.
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