12.9% of Wilmington’s 70,898 residents are aged 65 and up. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias impact an ever-growing share of older adults in Wilmington — dozens of seniors die from Alzheimer’s-related causes every year in the city. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Alzheimer’s-related fatalities in Wilmington rose from 141 deaths in 2014 to 224 in 2018. This equates to an increase of 58.8%, over four times the rate at which Wilmington’s total death rate increased during this same time frame (14.6%). Considering the disproportionate rate at which Alzheimer’s-related deaths are growing in the city, it’s obvious that dementia is becoming an increasingly grim concern for Wilmington.
However, Wilmington is home to many memory care programs that help slow the progression of dementia. These facilities utilize specialized therapies and care approaches to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s related symptoms such as memory loss, sundowning, aggression, wandering and personality changes. This guide provides a high-level look at memory care in Wilmington, including the benefits and downsides of retiring here, average memory care costs in nearby cities and local Alzheimer’s-oriented senior resources.
Memory Care Facilities in Wilmington, DE
2200 West 4th St., Wilmington, DE, 19805
The Lorelton is an assisted living facility nestled next to Woodlawn Park in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware. Residents and their loved ones compliment the community for their cheerful and homelike
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The Lorelton is an assisted living facility nestled next to Woodlawn Park in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware. Residents and their loved ones compliment the community for their cheerful and homelike ambiance and appreciate the kind and courteous staff. This facility receives rave reviews for their beauty salon, craft room and landscaped garden. Residents praise the delicious food and the restaurant-like dining room. They enjoy participating in a variety of entertaining activities, including bingo games, holiday sing-a-longs and trips to nearby shops and restaurants. The community welcomes residents’ small pets, offers housekeeping and laundry services.
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The Lorelton is an assisted living facility nestled next to Woodlawn Park in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware. Residents and their loved ones compliment the community for their cheerful and homelike
… (read more)
The Lorelton is an assisted living facility nestled next to Woodlawn Park in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware. Residents and their loved ones compliment the community for their cheerful and homelike ambiance and appreciate the kind and courteous staff. This facility receives rave reviews for their beauty salon, craft room and landscaped garden. Residents praise the delicious food and the restaurant-like dining room. They enjoy participating in a variety of entertaining activities, including bingo games, holiday sing-a-longs and trips to nearby shops and restaurants. The community welcomes residents’ small pets, offers housekeeping and laundry services.
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1212 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803
2215 Shipley Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803
Sunrise of Wilmington is an assisted living facility nestled between Springer Woods and Surrey Park near the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents agree that this is a well-maintai
… (read more)
Sunrise of Wilmington is an assisted living facility nestled between Springer Woods and Surrey Park near the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents agree that this is a well-maintained and homelike facility. They also appreciate the friendly, attentive and accommodating staff. Sunrise of Wilmington receives praise for its healthy chef-prepared food, which is served in an attractive and spacious dining room. Reviews mention the many activities scheduled at this community, including bingo games, piano recitals and ice-cream socials. Residents especially enjoy spending time in the lush outdoor garden courtyard.
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Sunrise of Wilmington is an assisted living facility nestled between Springer Woods and Surrey Park near the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents agree that this is a well-maintai
… (read more)
Sunrise of Wilmington is an assisted living facility nestled between Springer Woods and Surrey Park near the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents agree that this is a well-maintained and homelike facility. They also appreciate the friendly, attentive and accommodating staff. Sunrise of Wilmington receives praise for its healthy chef-prepared food, which is served in an attractive and spacious dining room. Reviews mention the many activities scheduled at this community, including bingo games, piano recitals and ice-cream socials. Residents especially enjoy spending time in the lush outdoor garden courtyard.
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2210 Swiss Lane, Wilmington, DE, 19810
2004 Shipley Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19977
407 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803
Foulk Manor South is an assisted living and memory care facility located minutes from Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents appreciate the knowledgeable and engaging
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Foulk Manor South is an assisted living and memory care facility located minutes from Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents appreciate the knowledgeable and engaging staff at this community and praise the nutritious chef-prepared food, which is served restaurant-style in an elegant dining room. Residents enjoy socializing in the recreation room, getting a new hairdo at the beauty parlor or relaxing outside in one of the courtyards at Foulk Manor South. They also compliment the many fun activities scheduled at this facility, including musical entertainment and trips to shops and local attractions.
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Foulk Manor South is an assisted living and memory care facility located minutes from Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents appreciate the knowledgeable and engaging
… (read more)
Foulk Manor South is an assisted living and memory care facility located minutes from Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors and residents appreciate the knowledgeable and engaging staff at this community and praise the nutritious chef-prepared food, which is served restaurant-style in an elegant dining room. Residents enjoy socializing in the recreation room, getting a new hairdo at the beauty parlor or relaxing outside in one of the courtyards at Foulk Manor South. They also compliment the many fun activities scheduled at this facility, including musical entertainment and trips to shops and local attractions.
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700 1/2 Foulk Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19803
We looked at a number of places and felt that Arden Courts would be the best. It was a good value with everything included in the price. For an institution, the food had good variety and was plentiful
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We looked at a number of places and felt that Arden Courts would be the best. It was a good value with everything included in the price. For an institution, the food had good variety and was plentiful and accommodated those on a special diet. Most importantly, the staff was very helpful and caring and some of them went out of their way.
While my father couldn’t take advantage of them, there were many activities available for residents—day and evening.
The rooms are drab but the common facilities and grounds are lovely.
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We looked at a number of places and felt that Arden Courts would be the best. It was a good value with everything included in the price. For an institution, the food had good variety and was plentiful
… (read more)
We looked at a number of places and felt that Arden Courts would be the best. It was a good value with everything included in the price. For an institution, the food had good variety and was plentiful and accommodated those on a special diet. Most importantly, the staff was very helpful and caring and some of them went out of their way.
While my father couldn’t take advantage of them, there were many activities available for residents—day and evening.
The rooms are drab but the common facilities and grounds are lovely.
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1519 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803
Rockland Place, an assisted living community in Wilmington, Delaware, is surrounded by parks, country clubs, museums and shopping centers. The modern facility is praised by visitors for its spacious,
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Rockland Place, an assisted living community in Wilmington, Delaware, is surrounded by parks, country clubs, museums and shopping centers. The modern facility is praised by visitors for its spacious, well-decorated common areas, as well as for its friendly staff. Visitors describe the facility’s resident rooms as beautiful, comfortable and cozy. Reviews offer high praise for the facility’s delicious meals, and for the upscale place settings in the dining room. Positive comments also note the full activity calendar. Residents are also able to take classes from visiting instructors or enjoy field trips to local destinations.
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Rockland Place, an assisted living community in Wilmington, Delaware, is surrounded by parks, country clubs, museums and shopping centers. The modern facility is praised by visitors for its spacious,
… (read more)
Rockland Place, an assisted living community in Wilmington, Delaware, is surrounded by parks, country clubs, museums and shopping centers. The modern facility is praised by visitors for its spacious, well-decorated common areas, as well as for its friendly staff. Visitors describe the facility’s resident rooms as beautiful, comfortable and cozy. Reviews offer high praise for the facility’s delicious meals, and for the upscale place settings in the dining room. Positive comments also note the full activity calendar. Residents are also able to take classes from visiting instructors or enjoy field trips to local destinations.
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315 Merion Avenue, Carneys Point, NJ, 08069
1778 Wilmington Pike, Glen Mills, PA, 19342
4175 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19713
I toured several places and I was very happy with Somerford House & Place Newark. It’s very bright and the staff is very friendly. The programs and the way that they run the memory care facility a
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I toured several places and I was very happy with Somerford House & Place Newark. It’s very bright and the staff is very friendly. The programs and the way that they run the memory care facility are excellent. I’m happy with the staff, the appearance, the cleanliness, and the programs they have. Some of their programs in the memory care facility are based onn the Montessori teaching methods, which is something that I thought was impressive. They have music therapists that come in and play instruments with and for the residents, which is important to my dad because he was a musician. We find their pricing to be very reasonable.
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I toured several places and I was very happy with Somerford House & Place Newark. It’s very bright and the staff is very friendly. The programs and the way that they run the memory care facility a
… (read more)
I toured several places and I was very happy with Somerford House & Place Newark. It’s very bright and the staff is very friendly. The programs and the way that they run the memory care facility are excellent. I’m happy with the staff, the appearance, the cleanliness, and the programs they have. Some of their programs in the memory care facility are based onn the Montessori teaching methods, which is something that I thought was impressive. They have music therapists that come in and play instruments with and for the residents, which is important to my dad because he was a musician. We find their pricing to be very reasonable.
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449 S Pennsville- Auburn Road , Carneys Point, NJ, 08069
201 Fifth Ave, P.O. Box 605, Carneys Point, NJ, 08069
COVID-19 Rules for Memory Care in Wilmington
Since most COVID-19 rules for Memory Care Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Memory Care in Delaware. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
What to Consider About Memory Care in Wilmington
The Division of Health Care Quality, a subagency of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, oversees, regulates and licenses assisted living facilities that offer memory care services in Wilmington. The Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection investigates allegations of abuse against residents, thereby promoting a high quality of care throughout the state’s memory care facilities.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Memory Care in Wilmington
- Seniors may consider moving to Wilmington to help their savings last longer. The city’s overall cost of living is 10.1% below the national average and 12.8% below Delaware’s statewide cost of living. Although seniors who move to memory care communities pay a monthly fee that’s inclusive of housing, seniors interested in buying homes may also appreciate Wilmington’s median home price of $257,200, 11.8% below the national median of $291,700.
- Wilmington is a magnet for crime in Delaware. On a scale from 1 to 100, where lower scores indicate less crime, Wilmington’s violent crime rating is 80.1, nearly four times the U.S. average of 22.7. Wilmington’s property crime rating is also high, being assessed at 68.7, nearly twice the national average of 35.4. Fortunately, assisted living facilities with memory care programs offer enhanced security measures such as closed-circuit camera systems, keycard-only entries and exits and fenced-in courtyards and other outdoor areas.
- Wilmington experiences average summers and cool winters. The city’s average July high is 86.1 degrees Fahrenheit, right in line with the U.S. average of 85.8 degrees. Wilmington’s average January low is 25.2 degrees, 3.5 degrees higher than the U.S. average of 21.7 degrees. The city receives just 13 inches of snowfall per year, less than half the national average of 28 inches.
- Delaware is one of just five states with no state sales tax. Wilmington also imposes no local sales taxes on local commerce, helping seniors make their finances stretch further.
- Wilmington has experienced significant urban decay due to significant economic decline in recent history. Even though most seniors who are considering moving to a memory care community won’t be affected by Wilmington’s high unemployment rate (10.3%), which is 71.6% higher than the national average (6%), Wilmington’s urban decay still presents several downsides that everyone, including seniors, has to deal with. Some of these downsides include increased poverty, increased crime, low citywide living standards and elevated pollution levels.
Paying for Memory Care in Wilmington
Assisted living communities sometimes provide memory care, typically offered as an add-on service. Memory care services cost 20-30% more than base-level assisted living care. There aren’t any authoritative resources about memory care costs in the United States, so we estimated the costs below by increasing the assisted living costs from Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey by 25%.
The Cost of Memory Care in Nearby Cities
On average, memory care providers in Wilmington charge $7,591 per month. This rate is $97 more than Delaware’s state average ($7,494) and $1,966 more than the national average ($5,625). Monthly memory care costs in nearby cities range considerably, starting at $5,938 (Baltimore) and rising as high as $9,363 (Ocean City). On average, memory care facilities in Philadelphia charge $7,106 per month, whereas those in Salisbury average $6,225.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Adult day care only costs $1,343 per month in Wilmington, thousands of dollars less than any other senior care option. Home care and home health care both cost $5,339, closely followed by assisted living at $6,073. Nursing homes charge between $12,653 for semiprivate and $12,836 for private rooms.
Nursing Home (semiprivate)
Note: Data for Wilmington was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Dover, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Wilmington
In Wilmington, there are options for seniors who need financial assistance paying for Memory Care. For more information about other options, who qualifies, and how to apply, Memory Care in Delaware page.
More Ways to Pay for Memory Care
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:
- Veterans Benefits
- Life Insurance Policy
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Reverse Mortgage
For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Delaware page.
Free Memory Care Resources in Wilmington
Although larger cities have significantly more resources for seniors who live in memory care facilities, Wilmington still has several supports and services for seniors with dementia. Local government agencies and nonprofit organizations provide several valuable resources, including health insurance information and assistance, civil legal representation, dementia-oriented support groups and mental health counseling.
The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau fulfills the role of Delaware's state health insurance assistance program, providing free health insurance counseling to seniors with the goal of empowering people to make better health insurance decisions by better understanding their options. DMAB, once known as ELDERinfo, employs well-trained counselors who provide answers, information and assistance on questions, issues and concerns..
The Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.'s Elder Law Program renders select legal assistance to older adults in Delaware ages 60 and up. Although CLASI's ELP only covers civil law, its trained, practicing attorneys assist seniors with advanced health care directives, powers of attorney, consumer protection, Medicaid and public benefit issues and housing problems. The nonprofit organization offers a slate of self-help resources on its website that help seniors understand the basics of the aforementioned areas of civil law.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association covers an eight-county area in southern New Jersey, southeast Pennsylvania and all of Delaware, providing various supports and resources to seniors with Alzheimer's disease and their friends, family members and caregivers. The Delaware Valley Chapter sets up and oversees area support groups and provides helpful online tools such as virtual education classes, a virtual library and a community resource finder.
The Wilmington Vet Center provides help for veterans and their families in a confidential, clinical yet non-medical setting. Licensed, skilled counselors provide cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other DSM-V diagnoses.
The Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center serves the Blue Hen State by acting as a one-stop access point for resources, supports and services related to aging and disability. The organization also assists seniors in deciding what services are best for them and helps them find the services they need. The Delaware ADRC's website hosts its free Services Guide, a comprehensive directory of local resources that help seniors.
Memory Care Laws and Regulations in Wilmington
Wilmington Memory Care Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Memory Care Facilities in Delaware are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Delaware page for more information about these laws.