Seniors
The resources on this page are designed to assist adults over the age of 55 by connecting them to services and benefits to enhance their quality of life.
Activity
Delaware Creative Aging
The Access Creative Aging initiative, in partnership with the Delaware Division of Libraries, is designed to provide Delaware’s older population with opportunities for artistic expression, social interaction, and enhanced mental and physical health through meaningful engagement in the arts.
Focus Physical Activity for Healthy Aging
The Senior Olympics offer various fitness activities are available in Delaware to help older people enjoy the benefits of healthy, active aging.
Community
Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
A dedicated website to search for and locate services in your county.
Delaware Foster Grandparent Program
The Delaware Foster Grandparent Program places senior citizens, 60 years or over, with day cares, Head Starts, schools and detention centers to mentor and tutor special/exception needs children.
Financial Coaching
$tand By Me 50+ provides information, resources and support to increase the economic stability of those 50 and older. Older Delawareans can receive free one-on-one financial coaching, benefits access, workshops and retirement planning.
Senior Centers
A list of Senior Centers in Delaware.
Senior Community Service Employment Program
The Senior Community Service Employment Program provides paid, part-time work experience for eligible persons. Training available through the program takes place at various locations and is subsidized (e.g., paid for by the program). The program also provides its participants with supportive services, training workshops, and help with finding employment.
Health
Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol Program
The Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol Program provides public information to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to carefully read their Medicare summary notices and ask questions if they do not think the information is correct.
Nursing Home Transition Program
The Nursing Home Transition Program is a state-funded program led by Delaware Health and Social Services' Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). The overall goal of the program is to identify, inform and assist nursing home residents, especially those who are Medicaid-eligible, who want to move to a community-based setting. The program offers individualized case management to accomplish this goal.
Personal Emergency Response System
A Personal Emergency Response System is a device that allows a person at high risk (for example an older person who lives alone and has a health problem) to get immediate help in the event of an emergency.
Housing
2-1-1 Infoline
Property tax credits, housing options, financial and legal assistance for seniors at Delaware 2-1-1.
Housing counseling agencies
Counseling on buying, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues and reverse mortgages from Housing and Urban Development.
Legal
Abuse, Neglect or Financial Exploitation
Any abuse directed at those who are in nursing homes or any other long-term care facilities should be reported to the police as soon as possible. To report an incident or complaint of alleged abuse, neglect, mistreatment, and/or financial exploitation of a resident in a long-term care facility, contact the Complaint Incident Reporting.
Adult Protective Services
People may suffer harm because they have been abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected or they have neglected their own care needs. Adult Protective Services will support people who have been harmed.
Delaware’s Senior Protection Initiative
The Delaware Senior Protection Inistiative.
DDDS/First State Senior Center
The DDDS/First State Senior Center currently offers client services by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS).
Legal Assistance
Agencies in Delaware that offer low-cost or no-cost legal assistance.
Legal Services
The Legal Services Program assists older persons with legal issues. Specifically, the program provides help with matters such as powers of attorney; advance directives; and consumer, housing and benefits issues.
Reporting Suspected Financial Exploitation of Seniors
Financial institutions and employees can report suspected instances of financial exploitation of elderly adults.
Nutrition
Congregate Meals
Congregate meals are provided daily in group settings such as senior centers. Participants in the congregate meal program have the opportunity to socialize while enjoying nutritionally-balanced meals. As part of the program, nutrition counseling and nutrition education are also made available.
Home Delivered Meals
The Home Delivered Meals Program provides nutritionally-balanced, hot meals during the day to homebound persons. Some people also receive cold, bagged meals so that they will have food available in the evening as well.
Taxes
Tax Counseling for the Elderly
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax assistance to people who are age 60 and older.
Senior School Property Tax Relief
Homeowners age 65 or over are eligible for a tax credit against regular school property taxes of 50 percent (up to $400). This credit may only be used against property taxes on a primary residence.
Wilmington Senior Tax Assistance Program
The Wilmington Senior Tax Assistance Program is designed to assist homeowners in Wilmington who are 62 or older and facing imminent foreclosure due to delinquent property taxes, or sewer and water bills. The maximum grant amount available under this program is $3,000.
Transportation
Delaware Senior Driver website
Currently, Delaware has more than 250,000 drivers over the age of 60. With the fastest growing aging population in the United States, Delaware can not afford to ignore the needs of seniors. That is why Delaware is doing more for senior drivers, striving to keep you on the road as long as possible with safety to yourself and others.
SCAT – Senior Citizens Affordable Taxi
The SCAT program provides a 50% discount on taxi fares for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Here's how it works.
