Care Cost in Delaware
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in Delaware.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$6,673/mo
$80,076 per year
Home care services in Delaware include personal care aides and home health aides who help seniors age in place with assistance for bathing, meals, and mobility. In-home caregivers in Delaware offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$2,193/mo
$26,316 per year
Adult day care programs in Delaware offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in Delaware are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$7,600/mo
$91,200 per year
Assisted living facilities in Delaware provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in Delaware typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$9,500/mo
$114,000 per year
Memory care facilities in Delaware provide specialized support for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These secured communities offer structured routines, cognitive therapies, and 24-hour supervision. Memory care costs in Delaware are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$14,494/mo
$173,928 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in Delaware offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in Delaware reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$15,132/mo
$181,584 per year
A private room in a Delaware nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In Delaware, a private room costs about 4% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across Delaware
Delaware's three counties have distinct care cost patterns. New Castle County, including Wilmington and Newark, is generally the most expensive, reflecting its proximity to Philadelphia and higher living costs. Kent County, centered on Dover, tends to be near or slightly below state averages, with a growing network of senior care providers. Sussex County includes coastal retirement communities where demand and costs have risen as more retirees arrive, though prices remain below New Castle County. Across the state, nursing home care remains costly compared with national levels, regardless of county.
Read the full Delaware planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $6,673 | $80,076 | $6,673 | 0% |
| Adult Day Care | $2,193 | $26,316 | $2,058 | +7% |
| Assisted Living | $7,600 | $91,200 | $6,200 | +23% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $9,500 | $114,000 | $7,800 | +22% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $14,494 | $173,928 | $9,581 | +51% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $15,132 | $181,584 | $10,798 | +40% |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026)
Adult day care source: Genworth
Cost Projections
Estimated future monthly costs based on a 3% annual care cost inflation rate.
| Care Type | Today | In 5 Years | In 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $6,673 | $7,736 | $8,968 |
| Adult Day Care | $2,193 | $2,542 | $2,947 |
| Assisted Living | $7,600 | $8,810 | $10,214 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $9,500 | $11,013 | $12,767 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $14,494 | $16,803 | $19,479 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $15,132 | $17,542 | $20,336 |
* Projections are estimates based on historical care cost inflation trends. Actual costs may vary.
Total Cost of Care Over Time
Cumulative cost if care begins today, including 3% annual inflation. These totals show what families in Delaware can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $247,507 | $425,134 | $917,982 |
| Adult Day Care | $81,340 | $139,715 | $301,683 |
| Assisted Living | $281,890 | $484,193 | $1,045,506 |
| Memory Care | $352,363 | $605,241 | $1,306,882 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $537,594 | $923,407 | $1,993,890 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $561,258 | $964,054 | $2,081,657 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$15,132/mo
NH Private Room · Delaware
Monthly Cost Today
$15,132/mo
3% inflation · 3 years of care
Don't rush to sell the home
Bridge loans, HELOCs, and reverse mortgages can fund care without selling.
Care costs rise 3–5% annually
Factor long-term inflation into all planning models.
Medicaid lookback is 5 years
Planning must begin well before care is needed to protect assets.
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (updated March 2026)
* AK NH Private Room: A Place For Mom. ADC — DE: Genworth; DC: PayingForSeniorCare; ID: MedicaidLongTermCare.org; SD: Genworth; VT: VT Adult Services Div.; WV: CareCostIndex.com.
Key Insights for Delaware
Updated October 2026Assisted living in Delaware costs $7,600/month in 2026 — 23% above the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in Delaware runs $14,494/month, 51% above the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in Delaware averages $6,673/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($35/hr) — 0% above the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in Delaware is adult day care at $2,193/month.
Memory care in Delaware runs about $9,500/month — roughly 25% above the assisted living rate, the typical industry markup (CareScout does not publish memory care data separately).
A private nursing home room in Delaware costs $15,132/month — 40% above the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in Delaware can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the Delaware Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in Delaware
Families in Delaware have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
Delaware Medicaid
Delaware Medicaid is administered by the Delaware Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA), within Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS).
- Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus): Combines nursing facility care with community services that may include meals, respite, and personal care.
Delaware requires a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) if your income is over the limit for nursing home or waiver Medicaid.
Read the Delaware Medicaid guideVeterans Benefits
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can provide up to $2,424/month for single veterans (or $2,874/month with a spouse) in Delaware to help pay for assisted living, nursing home care, or in-home caregivers.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies purchased before care is needed can cover a significant portion of assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs in Delaware.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many Delaware families use a combination of retirement savings, Social Security income, and home equity (through reverse mortgages or home sales) to fund long-term care.
Who to call in Delaware
- Delaware Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 1-800-223-9074
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in Delaware, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- Delaware Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View Delaware's Area Agencies on Aging list
Frequently Asked Questions About Delaware Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in Delaware is $7,600 per month, or $91,200 per year. This is 23% above the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in Delaware typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in Delaware costs an average of $14,494 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $15,132 per month, or $181,584 per year. Delaware nursing home costs are above the national average of $9,581 per month for a semi-private room. Medicare only covers short rehab stays. For long stays, most families pay privately until savings run low, then Medicaid steps in.
Yes, Delaware is more expensive than average for long-term care, with costs approximately 26% above the national average. The most expensive option is nursing home care at $14,494 per month. Families should explore Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance to help manage these costs.
There are several ways to pay for nursing home and long-term care in Delaware: (1) Medicaid — Delaware's Medicaid program covers nursing home care for eligible residents who meet income and asset limits. (2) Medicare — covers short-term skilled nursing after a hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care. (3) Long-term care insurance — if purchased in advance, policies can help cover assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs. (4) Veterans benefits — the VA Aid and Attendance benefit helps eligible veterans and surviving spouses pay for care. (5) Personal savings and assets — many families use a combination of savings, home equity, and retirement funds.
The most affordable long-term care option in Delaware is adult day care at $2,193 per month, followed by home care at $6,673 per month. Adult day care provides daytime supervision, activities, and meals while allowing seniors to return home in the evening — making it a popular choice for families with a caregiver at home.
Diamond State Health Plan Plus includes separate nursing facility and community-care services. People using its community-care option may be able to direct their own personal care and hire a friend or relative, including a spouse or adult child. Other available supports may include adult day care, small home changes, and emergency alert devices.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's Delaware Area Agencies on Aging list helps you find local care-planning resources. For questions about resident rights or concerns about nursing home or assisted living care, contact the Delaware Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-800-223-9074.
Compare Nearby States
See how Delaware's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Maryland
-5%New Jersey
+1%Pennsylvania
-11%More Delaware Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See Delaware's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
View Delaware Medicaid GuideGet a Personalized Plan
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Create Free AccountSource: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, July–November 2025, released March 2026 (Genworth/CareScout). Monthly NH figures = annual ÷ 12 (365-day basis). Non-medical caregiver = 44 hrs/week × 52 weeks ÷ 12. Memory care is an estimate (assisted living x 1.25). CareScout does not publish memory care data.