Worst Nursing Homes in Delaware

Long-term care facilities that put profit over patients can cause serious tragedies for nursing home residents. If your loved one has been mistreated in one of the worst nursing homes in Delaware, our skilled nursing home attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center can advocate for your rights and ensure you receive proper compensation.

How Prevalent is Substandard Care in Delaware Nursing Homes?

Delaware is a relatively small state with only 44 nursing homes for the elderly and chronically ill [1]. This is far less than Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Connecticut, which all have over 100 facilities. 

Of the 44 facilities in Delaware, 13 are listed as below average or much below average, which means that almost a third of all nursing homes in the state do not meet public health standards [2].

Common Deficiencies Found in Delaware Nursing Home Inspections

• Medication Errors – This can include under-medicating or over-medicating patients, giving people the wrong medication, or failing to secure pharmaceuticals. 
• Understaffing – The ideal staff-to-resident ratio is 1 to 4; any less than this can lead to negligence or serious oversights [3]. 
• Poor Training – All staff should know how to protect patients and tend to their needs, including those with rarer illnesses like Lewes Body Dementia or schizoaffective disorder.
• Resident Rights Violations – Not letting residents use the phone, visit with family, or manage their finances are all violations.
• Inadequate Infection Protocols – When the COVID-19 virus hit Delaware, over 56% of those who died were infected in nursing homes, showing a serious lack of infection protocols [4]. 
• Neglect – Failing to provide nursing home residents with adequate food, water, social outlets, and personal hygiene assistance is neglect. 
• Abuse – This can be physical, emotional, financial, or sexual.

Identifying Delaware’s Worst Nursing Homes

State and federal public health administrations regulate and monitor nursing homes. These organizations provide publicly accessible data on inspections, fines, and violations, which can help family members make care decisions.

Medicare’s Star Rating System for Evaluation

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) keeps records on all nursing homes that accept government insurance. These are then rated using a five-star rating system, with one being the worst and five being the best.

Nursing homes receive separate scores on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures in addition to an overall quality score. 

Inspection Reports from the Delaware Division of Health Care Quality

The Delaware Division of Health Care Quality conducts annual inspections of all nursing homes and will also investigate if they receive a special complaint. These reports share details of incidents at the facility and what measures were taken to fix the issue. Consumers can access these through the DDHCQ website.

“Special Focus Facilities” and “Candidates” in Delaware

Explain the federal “Special Focus Facilities” (SFF) program, which identifies and monitors consistently underperforming nursing homes. Also, explain the “Candidate” list.

Federal Special Focus Facilities are a list of underperforming nursing homes that are subject to additional government oversight. Special Focus Facility Candidates are being monitored closely to ensure that they do not continue to violate regulations. As of December 2024, two Delaware facilities are Special Focus Facilities [5]. 

List of Delaware’s Lowest-Rated Nursing Homes

1. Atlantic Shores Rehabilitation & Health Center  – Citations included not covering catheter bags for privacy, failing to provide a clean and home-like environment, and failing to protect residents from theft [6]. 
2. Milford Center  – During an inspection of this Special Focus Facility candidate, investigators found broken flooring, no hot water, and soiled bedding [7]. 
3. Regal Heights Healthcare & Rehab Center – Regal Heights is a for-profit healthcare and rehabilitation center near Cokesbury Village. It is listed as a Special Focus Facility Candidate [8]. In 2024, the facility was forced to pay $25,847 after staff called individuals derogatory names and signed bandages that were already on their bodies [9]. 
4. Seaford Center  – This for-profit facility is a Special Focus Facility Candidate with 70 total deficiencies since 2019 [10]. Violations included refusing to help residents use the toilet, failing to provide a sanitary environment, and not providing treatment plans [11]. 
5. Shipley Living  – This for-profit care center in New Castle County had an Immediate Jeopardy violation in 2024 when a resident called 911 from inside the facility. She had been wearing the same incontinence diaper for several days and had not received food or water [12]. 
6. Wilmington Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – This Special Focus Facility Candidate had inadequate staffing, medication errors, and resident rights violations [13].

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

While healthcare reforms, like demanding adequate staffing, are making a difference in the lives of Delawareans, mistreatment can still happen in any nursing home. Loved ones must stay alert to potential signs of serious violations, including the following. 

• Unexplained Injuries – Bruises, lacerations, sprains, or broken bones suggest physical abuse.
• Worsening Health Conditions – Residents should never run out of medication, but a neglectful facility may skip doses. This can lead to deteriorating health, especially in the chronically ill.
• Behavioral Changes – Abused individual may become withdrawn, anxious, fearful, depressed, or agitated.
• Unsanitary Conditions – Dirty rooms, soiled bedding, unpleasant smells, and poor lighting are all signs of neglect.
• Fraud or Financial Exploitation – Missing money or sudden changes to wills can all suggest financial abuse. 

Steps to Take if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect in a Delaware Nursing Home

If your loved one has been mistreated at a nursing home, follow these steps.

Move Your Loved One to a Different Facility – Review the CMS site to find a more suitable facility. You may have to move across state lines, such as to Newark.

Document – Get your loved one’s story. Take photos and videos of injuries and the facility itself. Note dates, times, locations, and people involved. Gather your loved one’s medical records from before and after entering the facility. 

Report Your Concerns – Contact the nursing home administration to share your evidence and suggest solutions. Document all communications with the nursing home, such as emails or recordings. Follow up with the facility via email to keep a record of the conversation. 

Contact Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities – Contact them at DelawareADRC@delaware.gov or by calling 1-800-223-9074.

Report Abuse to the Delaware Division of Health Care Quality—You can report abuse by calling 1-877-453-0012 or using the online contact form on your browser. 

Speak to an Attorney – An elder law firm can guide you through the steps to take legal action, including investigating your report, negotiating with insurance, and representing you in court. This protects your legal rights while allowing you the space necessary to heal.

How Our Firm Handles Claims By Delaware Nursing Home Residents

Nursing Home Law Center can provide you with vital legal support throughout the claims process. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients and are a top-rated Super Lawyers firm. 

Our compassionate team of elder law experts can help with the following tasks:

Investigation – We’ll thoroughly review medical reports, violation records, personnel records, and other details to get a full picture of the incident. We can also consult with medical experts for their unbiased opinions.

Case Valuation – Our team can determine how much your case may be worth according to the injuries suffered.

Determining Liability – Using the evidence we have gathered, we will identify the liable parties according to Delaware’s legal definitions of negligence. This can include employees, medical personnel, and facility administration. 

Filing Claims – We will lodge a complaint with the appropriate court explaining what happened, who was involved, and how much compensation you expect. 

Negotiation – Our Delaware nursing home law experts will negotiate with the facility’s insurance agency to get maximum compensation. We will keep you informed during the course of negotiations and help you determine when to file a lawsuit.

Legal Representation – In many cases, we can settle out of court with the insurance agency. However, if we feel that they are not providing adequate compensation, we will guide you through the legal process, including taking depositions, sharing evidence, and speaking in court.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation About Your Nursing Home Abuse Claim

Your loved one deserves top-notch care and a life free from violence. Our elder law experts fight for the rights of rehabilitation center and nursing home residents, ensuring that they can recuperate in comfort. For a free consultation, call us at (800) 926-7565 or use our online contact form.

References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [2] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [3] New York State Nurses Association, [4] WHYY, [5] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [6] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [7] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [8] ProPublica, [9] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [10] ProPublica, [11] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [12] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [13] ProPublica