Delaware ADRC: How the Aging and Disability Resource Center Helps Families

You have a parent who can no longer safely manage alone at home, and you have no idea where to start. The Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) exists specifically for this moment — it is the single point of entry into Delaware's eldercare system.

Here is what the ADRC actually does, what it does not do, and how to use it effectively.

What the Delaware ADRC Is

The ADRC is a statewide program operated under the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). It serves as a no-cost information and referral hub for seniors aged 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and their family caregivers.

When you contact them, an options counselor performs a preliminary telephone screening. They assess your parent's immediate safety risks, identify which state programs they may qualify for, and can assign a state case manager to coordinate next steps.

The ADRC does not provide care directly. It connects you to the right agencies, programs, and application processes.

Contact the Delaware ADRC:

• Toll-free: 1-800-223-9074
• Email: [email protected]
• Online inquiry forms at delawareadrc.com

Response time is typically 1 to 3 business days from initial contact.

What Options Counseling Covers

An options counseling session walks through the full landscape of available services based on your parent's specific situation:

• Home and community-based services under Medicaid's Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus), including personal care aides, home-delivered meals, and personal emergency response systems
• Respite care through the Lifespan Respite Care Network managed by Easterseals
• Adult day programs in your parent's county
• Saint Francis LIFE (PACE) for New Castle County residents who need nursing-level care but want to stay at home
• Home modification programs including the DSHP-Plus waiver benefit (up to $20,000 lifetime) and the Statewide Emergency Repair Program
• Caregiver support including peer groups, education, and consumer-directed care options

The counselor also screens for whether your parent needs a clinical assessment — the Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) that determines Nursing Facility Level of Care eligibility. This assessment must happen before DSHP-Plus services can be authorized.

What the ADRC Cannot Do

The ADRC is a navigation and referral service. It will not:

• File your parent's Medicaid application (that goes through DMMA via the ASSIST portal)
• Provide legal advice on power of attorney, guardianship, or estate planning
• Set up a Miller Trust or advise on asset protection strategies
• Negotiate with Managed Care Organizations on care plan hours
• Provide direct caregiving or clinical services

For legal authority and financial structuring, you need an elder-law attorney. For the Medicaid application itself, you work with the DMMA Central Intake Unit. The ADRC tells you where to go — it does not do the work for you.

How to Get the Most from Your ADRC Call

Before calling, have these ready:

1. Your parent's basic demographics and medical diagnoses
2. A rough picture of their monthly income (Social Security, pension, any other sources)
3. An estimate of their countable assets (bank accounts, investments — not the house or car)
4. A description of what daily tasks they struggle with (bathing, dressing, medication management, cooking, mobility)

This information lets the counselor give you targeted guidance instead of a generic overview. If your parent's income is above $2,982/month or assets exceed $2,000, the counselor can flag the Miller Trust requirement early, saving weeks of wasted effort.

The ADRC as Your First Step

The ADRC is free, statewide, and designed for families who do not know where to start. It is also the fastest path to getting your parent registered in the state system — which triggers the clinical assessment timeline that DSHP-Plus requires before authorizing services.

For a structured walkthrough of every step that follows the ADRC intake — from the UAI assessment through MCO selection and care plan authorization — the Delaware Home Care Guide maps the complete process with checklists and timelines built around DSAAPD's actual procedures.

See more Delaware guides →