In Delaware, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Facility", issued by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality. A prospective resident must have a medical evaluation by a physician within 30 days before admission, and a registered nurse must complete an initial Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) assessment no more than 30 days before admission. A facility must give written notice at least 30 days before discharging a resident, with shorter notice only for urgent medical needs, an immediate threat to others, or a short respite or emergency placement.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Delaware was $7,600 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $91,200 a year, $1,400 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Delaware Medicaid can pay for assisted living services through its Long Term Care Community Services program, but only for people who need a nursing facility level of care and join a Medicaid managed care organization. (Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, 2022)
- The facility must have on file the results of tuberculin testing for all newly placed residents, and a resident found with active TB in an infectious stage may not continue to live there. (16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-9.0, 2022)
- Staff who are not nurses must complete Board of Nursing-approved medication training before helping with or giving medicines. (16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-3.0, 2022)
- A facility that offers specialized care for memory impairment must disclose its policies to the Department and to anyone seeking that care, including staffing, training, security design, discharge criteria and costs. (16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-7.0, 2022)
Delaware licenses assisted living facilities as one type of long-term care facility under 16 Del. C. Chapter 11, and the Division of Health Care Quality enforces 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225 for them. Nursing facilities, rest residential facilities and other long-term care types are separate licenses, and the facts below cover the assisted living facility license.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | A prospective resident must have a medical evaluation by a physician within 30 days before admission, and a registered nurse must complete an initial Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) assessment no more than 30 days before admission. The nurse's assessment is reviewed within 30 days after admission. [4] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | The facility must have on file the results of tuberculin testing for all newly placed residents, and a resident found with active TB in an infectious stage may not continue to live there. The rule does not say how soon after admission the test must be done. [5] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | A facility must give written notice at least 30 days before discharging a resident, with shorter notice only for urgent medical needs, an immediate threat to others, or a short respite or emergency placement. It may discharge only for set reasons: needs it cannot meet, improved health, danger to others, nonpayment after notice, or closure. [6][13] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Staff who are not nurses must complete Board of Nursing-approved medication training before helping with or giving medicines. The assisted living rule defines this help as "other than by injection", the Board's rule lets trained staff give injectable emergency medications, and neither rule says whether insulin injections are allowed. [7][8] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A facility that offers specialized care for memory impairment must disclose its policies to the Department and to anyone seeking that care, including staffing, training, security design, discharge criteria and costs. It must also have policies to keep residents with diagnosed memory impairment from wandering away from safe areas. [9][14] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Delaware's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, part of Delaware Health and Social Services, advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and similar adult homes at no cost and can be reached at 1-855-773-1002. [10] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Delaware Medicaid can pay for assisted living services through its Long Term Care Community Services program, but only for people who need a nursing facility level of care and join a Medicaid managed care organization. Medicaid pays only part of the cost, and residents may owe a monthly patient pay amount to the facility. [11][12] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Delaware
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Delaware was $7,600 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $91,200 a year, $1,400 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [15]
A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less. Rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs, so ask each community for its full fee list in writing. More: assisted living costs in every state, a monthly budget and the costs that aren't in the base rate.
How to check a community in Delaware
The Division of Health Care Quality lists each licensed assisted living facility and posts its annual, complaint and follow-up survey reports online. Complaints can be filed online or by calling the toll-free line at 1-877-453-0012. Search Delaware's records. [2][3]
The licensing agency: Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Delaware's paperwork on a date
Parent Move Plan counts every task back from the move-in day, including the medical assessment and TB screening the community will ask for, so nothing lands in the last week.
Get your first 3 days freeFrequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Delaware?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Delaware was $7,600 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $91,200 a year, $1,400 above the national median of $6,200 a month. A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less, and rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs.
What medical assessment does Delaware require before moving into assisted living?
A prospective resident must have a medical evaluation by a physician within 30 days before admission, and a registered nurse must complete an initial Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) assessment no more than 30 days before admission. The nurse's assessment is reviewed within 30 days after admission.
Does Delaware require a TB test for assisted living?
The facility must have on file the results of tuberculin testing for all newly placed residents, and a resident found with active TB in an infectious stage may not continue to live there. The rule does not say how soon after admission the test must be done.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Delaware give before a move-out?
A facility must give written notice at least 30 days before discharging a resident, with shorter notice only for urgent medical needs, an immediate threat to others, or a short respite or emergency placement. It may discharge only for set reasons: needs it cannot meet, improved health, danger to others, nonpayment after notice, or closure.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Delaware?
Staff who are not nurses must complete Board of Nursing-approved medication training before helping with or giving medicines. The assisted living rule defines this help as "other than by injection", the Board's rule lets trained staff give injectable emergency medications, and neither rule says whether insulin injections are allowed.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Delaware?
Delaware's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, part of Delaware Health and Social Services, advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and similar adult homes at no cost and can be reached at 1-855-773-1002.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Delaware?
Delaware Medicaid can pay for assisted living services through its Long Term Care Community Services program, but only for people who need a nursing facility level of care and join a Medicaid managed care organization. Medicaid pays only part of the cost, and residents may owe a monthly patient pay amount to the facility.
Sources
- 16 Del. C. 1102 and 1103, Definitions and license and renewal requirement (Delaware Code Online), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality: Licensed Assisted Living Facilities Survey Archive (via Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality: Report Abuse / File a Complaint (via Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-11.0, Resident Assessment (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-9.0, Infection Control (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. C. 1127, Resident transfer or discharge (Delaware Code Online), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-3.0, Glossary of Terms (AWSAM) (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 24 Del. Admin. Code 1900-5.0, Limited Lay Administration of Medications (Delaware Regulations, official copy), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-7.0, Specialized Care for Memory Impairment (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Delaware Health and Social Services: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (via Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance: Steps to Long-Term Care Medicaid, Form 480 (via Internet Archive), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities: What is assisted living and where can I find assisted living facilities in Delaware? (via Internet Archive), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-10.0, Contracts (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225-5.0, General Requirements (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)